Mrs. LuAnn Davis, Dr. Amy-Jo Fischer,
Dr. Charles Record,
Dr. Kirk Walker (seated center),
Mr. Tony Ebron,
and Mrs. Ronda Winters

Everyone knows that children require love, along with proper nutrition, plenty of sleep, and regular exercise to be healthy.  But most people do not realize the critical need for each child to feel connected to his or her adult community.

“This was paramount in my life,” said Dr. Kirk Walker, whose life story was featured in the October 2013 issue of this magazine.  “It was knowing that the community’s adults cared for me that kept me making healthy choices.”

Dr. Walker, founding pediatrician at Novant Health Forsyth Pediatrics in Kernersville, is urging each citizen in Kernersville to actively encourage each child in town, by smiling, waving, or engaging in a positive conversation.

Dr. Charles Record, at Novant Health Kernersville Family Medicine, agrees.  He said, “When young people feel like they really belong to their community, they will generally stay away from self-destructive decisions.  That is where caring adults can really make a difference.”

LuAnn Davis, a former juvenile probation officer, noted, “I have noticed that when young people feel misunderstood or unaccepted by adults, they tend to ignore them or even punish them with ‘bad behavior.’  But once those bridges are mended, the young people blossom.”  LuAnn now works as a mortgage lender at Premier Bank in Kernersville.

Dr. Amy-Jo Fischer, at Smiles By Design, has noticed that children really do respond to adult attention.  She shared, “I have never met a child yet that I could not coax to smile.  Children crave adult attention and they want us to respond to them in positive ways.”

Sometimes this is a matter of bringing the community to the children.  That is what Tony Ebron, president of the Winston-Salem Federal Credit Union did.  He brought the first school based credit union—Union Cross Student Credit Union—in North Carolina to Kernersville.  Additionally, like all the others on this page, he brought the town’s story to local students by donating classroom sets of the book Under the Influence: The Town that Listened to its Kids. Tony Ebron believes, “We need to support the schools and each student in every way that we can.”

Ronda Winters, office manager at Advanced Oral and Facial Surgery, stands in honor of her late husband, Keith Winters, who was featured on the cover in the July 2013 issue of this magazine. (Check out past issues of Kernersville Magazine online at www.KernersvilleMagazine.com)  “Keith not only donated books, but he had planned to volunteer in the elementary school because he knew there is a shortage of dads in the schools.  He really understood the need for men to be actively engaged with children.”  Maybe some other men will volunteer in Keith’s honor.

Even citizens without children in their households can reach out.  They can attend youth sporting events, greet children at the store or park, notice young people in the neighborhood, and attend youth focused community events.  After all, it is often the compliments that we receive from ‘strangers’ that really make an impression on our lives.

Oh, and anyone curious about the book, Under the Influence, can find a copy at Musten & Crutchfield Food Market, Eclection, the Kernersville News, or Country Cupboard Crafts & Friends—all in Kernersville and all welcoming visits by young people.