Southeast Raleigh Oct-Nov Newsletter

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012 SOUTHEAST RALEIGH ASSEMBLY, INC.

WHAT ’S NEW CO M MU N IT Y

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T HE

SERA, INC. YOUTH AMBASSADOR SOCIAL JUSTICES OPEN MIC / OPEN TALENT SHOWCASE

SERA, Inc. ‘s Youth Ambassador Chairperson Nina Simone Barrett

SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST: 

Open Mic/Open Talent showcase

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SERA, Inc. Supports The Pretty In Pink Foundation

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SERA, Inc. request for Community Support

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Get Out The Vote in Southeast Raleigh

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Family and Money— Formerly Know as Women & Money

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College Internship

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Innovative Multicultural Outreach Award

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Letter from the President/ CEO—Rita Anita Linger

A seed was planted on June 29, 2012 at Barwell Road Community Center, grown to Worthdale Community Center where Director, Carletta Moore and City of Raleigh Parks & Recreation has partnered with Southeast Raleigh Assembly for Social Justice expression a program which falls under our Youth Ambassador Leadership Division and is designed to provide Southeast Raleigh youth, and other Raleigh residents regardless of age a way to express their voice, and talents to the community.

Where so many communities are divided by crime statistic Southeast Raleigh is turning the negative tones of our communities to a positive outcome. Local Raleigh talent preforming on the Mic such as A.B. da Best and Rizio provided a voice of created energy. On Friday, October 26 SERA, Inc. launch an great evening of family, youth entertainment at Worthdale Community Center where we enjoyed a creative and inspiring time. Our special guest to

cap off the night was Poetic Artist Langston Fuze.

SERA, Inc. would like to thank all who took the time to express an interest in hearing the people in your community activating their minds and celebrating a generation of doers. If you have not heard of SERA, Inc.’s new program “Social Justice Open Mic/Open Talent Showcase” welcomes participants between the ages of 13-27 (or Older). This program is not simply and entertainment venue, but involves mentors who are between the age of 20-50, and are committed to supporting the youth in developing their gifts and talents through art expression whether it be poetry, positive rap, singing, or expressive dance to face everyday life challenges with a since of pride fullness joy.

Check out our website to find out about other youth focused programs.

SERA, INC. SUPPORTS THE PRETTY IN PINK FOUNDATION On October 26th, during “SERA, Inc.’s Youth Ambassador Open Mike Night”, SERA Inc. Purchased 7 t-shirts for volunteers, board members and youth, in support of a Raleigh based nonprofit called “Pretty In Pink Foundation”. This non-profit provides financial assistance to uninsured and underinsured North Carolinians who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and unable to

pay for life-saving treatment and/or surgery. SERA, Inc.’s commitment to health and wellness as a vehicle for enhancing the quality of life for Raleigh residents is well known.

In the picture from top to bottom Nahjee Dunston, Carletta Moore, Angela Jackson-Mann, Leslie Robbin, Mahogany Nelson

WHAT’S NEW IN THE COMMUNITY

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SERA, INC. COMMUNITY REQUEST SERA, Inc. recently applied for the Bridging The Gap Award from the Pearlman Foundation. This grant award will assist us in continue to provide quality services and support to the residents of Southeast

Raleigh and the Triangle. In order for us to win the grant we need as many people as possible to go on-line and vote for our video which describes all of the flagship programs we offer at SERA, Inc. Voting started on November 1, 2012 and will end on November 15, 2012 at 11:59pm PST. The Bridging Gap Award is a grant that assist charitable organizations that

provide tangible services that positively impact the lives of children and families.

**Note: Individuals may only VOTE ONCE PER DAY

SERA, Inc. would like to thank you so much for your continued support and please forward this request to your friends and families so they 1. Like the Perlman Foundation can vote for us as well.

Facebook page www.facebook.com/ ThePFoundation Sincerely, 2. Choose from the list of Rita Anita Linger approved organizations President & CEO 3. Vote for SERA, Inc. as Southeast Raleigh Assembly your choice.

Voting opens November 1, 2012. To vote you must:

Local Raleigh Poetic Artist Langston Fuze and Guest attend Youth Ambassador Event

GET OUT THE VOTE IN SOUTHEAST RALEIGH Grammy Award winning Alicia Keys came to Raleigh to spend time at one of our local community gathering places in Southeast Raleigh “Chavis Community Center ” with the objective of getting people fired up to vote. She spent time with local volunteers and supporters at this early voting

event . SERA, Inc. was represented at this event & regularly encourages community members to assert their civic responsibility to research candidate positions, register to vote, and then vote for the candidates they believe will best meet their individual, family and community needs.

COLLEGE INTERNSHIP SERA, Inc. is looking for college interns who have a passion for community services. Duties include: Marketing support, supporting local community events. Interns can act as a student ambassador while fielding

Grammy Award winning Alicia Keys attending “Get Out The Vote” in Southeast Raleigh

questions and concerns from youth in a personal, and professional matter.

If interested in a college internship with SERA, Inc. please email your resume: angela.jackson-mann@southeastraleigh.org

SERA, Inc. Board Member – Vivian McCoy attending Youth Ambassador Event

SOUTHEAST RALEIGH ASSEMBLY, INC.

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SERA, INC. “Family and Money”, Formerly Known as “Women and Money” Series

The Original Goal Was to Teach Women to Enhance Their Quality

President/CEO Rita Anita Linger with SERA, Inc. Volunteer Ajuba Joy

More than a fifth of the families in Southeast Raleigh have incomes below the

“purse” and how each cent earned and each cent spent can impact an individual

poverty level. The unemployment rate in Southeast Raleigh was more than three times the rate for the city of Raleigh as a

and family for years to come. We now have a waiting list for SERA women who are eager and waiting to participate in

fact exist in Southeast Raleigh; however most of that entrepreneurial energy centers on traditional busi-

whole and four times the rate in Wake County. With the decline of the economy and income generating opportunities for the communities we serve becoming more

these sessions on an ongoing basis. The sessions will be held monthly.

ness venturing. When we consider declining government resources for local community and economic devel-

challenging, we felt this was in fact, an opportune time to teach women how to leverage whatever financial resources

opment - SERA, Inc. believes that we as a leading flagship Southeast Raleigh non-profit agency with the goal of “Enhancing the quality of life for

they have, no matter how small. Building wealth is a process which occurs with one right action at a time.

better financial decisions were made as a result of the information and ongoing support they received from SERA, Inc.,

of Life Through Leveraging Resources Given its rich and storied history, an entrepreneurial culture and desire to participant in financial growth does in

Southeast Raleigh residents and residents of the greater Raleigh area”, need to become more actively involved in trying to solve some of the area’s most pressing problems around economic empowerment.

With our “Women and Money” series we designed an asset-building and sustainability program which focused on the women of Southeast Raleigh.

Women make up an over-abundance of the population within Southeast Raleigh and many of these women are either managing single parent households or are elderly. 74% of Southeast Raleigh residents are African American,10% are Hispanic, and 21% are White. According to demographic data, the median income within historic Southeast Raleigh is $31,189 per year.

The Community Has Asked for Help When SERA, Inc. began holding its Community Development Summits in January through April of 2010, much of what we heard were pleas from local southeast Raleigh residents (primarily women) informing us that they wanted to learn how to save and spend their income responsibility. As a result, our “Women and Money” Series was born.

Monthly Sessions Teach Goal Setting Women through these monthly sessions were able to learn how to maximize the income they currently have and learn how to build wealth within the scope of their current financial situation in order to expand their financial viability. We believe part of enhancing the quality of life for SER residents is helping those residents to understand the power of the

longitudinal study with attendees over the course of several years to assess if

and if in fact their income/resources are being leveraged according to what they have learned in the sessions. Participants are encouraged to attend all of the entire series and will be provided with customized support as they need it.

Program Name Change SERA, Inc. has decided to change the name “Women and Money” to “Family and Money” after woman began asking if their husbands and partners could attend. Men were also inquiring if they could participate. Both men and children began attending; consequently, we have now open this program to all family members interested in participating.

SERA, Inc. Programs

WWW.SOUTHEASTRALEIGH.ORG

Business/Equity Programming Civic Engagement Programming/Public Policy Community Empowerment Programming Health & Wellbeing Programming

Southeast Raleigh Assembly, Inc. 19 West Hargett Street

Youth leadership programming

Suite 200 Phone: 919-747-8423 Email: angela.jackson-mann@southeastraleigh.org Editors: Angela Jackson-Mann & Rita Anita Linger

SERA, INC 2012 INNOVATIVE MULTICULTURAL OUTREACH AWARDS RECIPIENT On Oct. 11th, AARP honored five outstanding organizations that have demonstrated excellence in working in North Carolina with diverse communities at an awards ceremony.

SERA, Inc. was a recipient of one of these awards for Innovative Multicultural Outreach. SERA, Inc.

SERA, Inc. staff members: David Brown, Rita Anita Linger, Karl Brustmeyer, Angela Jackson-Mann

thanks AARP NC which works and supports initiatives from advocacy to retire-ment planning.

“AARP has been busy with new programs and initiatives for African American, Hispanic/ Latino, and Asian communities around the country to show that real

change happens when we work as one. Collectively, we can create positive social change. We will recognize organizations that have demonstrated the power of our combined interest, energy and commitment to helping make life better for all,” Tyler Horton

SERA, Inc. Board Members John Reaves, and Vivian McCoy attending AARP Multi-Cultural Award

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT/CEO Welcome to SERA Inc.’s newsletter. Our newsletter will provide you with valuable information about Southeast Raleigh Assembly, our programs, partners, mission and values as well as how you can join us as we commit to the change necessary to enhance the quality of lives for Southeast Raleigh citizens. SERA, Inc. cannot and will not be successful if our communities do not provide us with not only articulated goals and desires, but the commitment and person power to

actualize the goals and objectives we set. Getting everyone to join together from the unemployed, those entrenched in poverty, middle class residents, community organizations such as institutions of higher learning, k-12 educational institutions, the medical community, other non-profits, and for profit businesses both large and small, to put their nose to the grind stone is the only way we can affect change.

Don’t be afraid of change, be part of it! With our focus on community organizing

and community engagement, we can accomplish all of the goals set before us and we will.

SERA, Inc. President/CEO Rita Anita Linger