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Recently: Feeling emPOWERed to give

Posted on December 10, 2008December 11, 2008 by Staff

Photo by Valarie Schwartz. Nathaniel Dickerson played Santa to his niece, Delores Bailey, at the EmPOWERment fundraiser.By Valarie Schwartz
Staff Writer

Dour as the times may be, the unflappable Delores Bailey continues to find ways to turn some of the least fortunate in our community into feeling very fortunate. As executive director of EmPOWERment Inc., Bailey works front and center insuring that affordable housing isn’t just a cruel joke in Chapel Hill and Carrboro.

Last week, Iris Chicas Chavarria and her family joined in the reverie at the Carolina Inn as EmPOWERment celebrated 12 years of “Putting the Pieces of Community Together” and providing people the wherewithal to be homeowners. Through EmPOWERment and Bailey’s efforts, the Chavarria family was one of three families who bought a home in 2008.

“Houses here are very expensive,” said the El Salvador transplant. “But we got a lot of help and are very happy to be here.” The Carrboro home she has owned since August, which she shares with her son, Josue, and her parents, Maria and Ricardo, is within walking distance of town and Carrboro Elementary School, where Josue attends kindergarten.

The fundraising auction and party provided a steady stream of people eager to pay tribute to Bailey for her leadership, including the president of the EmPOWERment board, Jacqueline Overton, and host Lillian Lee.

“I think with the economy being what it is and the dream of people to own their own home, it’s important that we support organizations like EmPOWERment,” Lee said. “Delores works so hard and if there’s any way she can get help for people in a position to own a home, she’ll make it happen.”

State Sen. Ellie Kinnaird said, “This is one organization that works on every level for families. Their folks aren’t in trouble with their loans — they were well educated on the economics of buying a home” through homebuyers’ education classes offered at EmPOWERment. “North Carolina is way ahead of other states because of our work on predatory lending and other pitfalls for those easily led into a shady deal,” and because of caring people like Bailey and her staff, which includes Deanna Carson, director of community programs; Timberly Cheek, property manager; Jacqueline Mayo, financial manager; and Tom Ganter, construction manager.

“Everybody cares about EmPOWERment, including the man in charge of $2 billion a year while leading the university,” said Aaron Nelson, the master of ceremonies, as he introduced UNC Chancellor Holden Thorp. “He’s sitting in the corner playing the piano, showing how much he cares.”

Indeed, since guests first started trickling in, Thorp had flawlessly tickled the ivories in accompaniment of singer Terri Houston, never hitting a wrong note even when guests ambled over to speak to him.

Thorp was happy to chime in with kudos for Bailey. “Like everybody else here, I’m a member of the Delores Bailey fan club,” he began. “A primary objective of the university is to make Chapel Hill-Carrboro the best place for students, staff and faculty to live and work and we can’t do that unless organizations like EmPOWERment are successful.”

Besides helping people get into homes, EmPOWERment helps them get started in business through its business incubator, where jeweler Karl Linger, now a member of the EmPOWERment board of directors, got his start after moving to Chapel Hill. He shared his story, concluding with, “It was a wonderful experience in the business center. Whatever you do in this room, whatever you give, that woman and her staff will make sure it goes to the right place.”

Chapel Hill Police Chief Brian Curran spoke of the collaboration with Bailey through the Good Neighbor Initiative. “She has worked with us as partners to make the neighborhood a better place to be. EmPOWERment has been very positive for Chapel Hill.”

The live auction brought more than kudos for Bailey. She led the way in bidding for the last item, a computer system. She pushed the bids past its value in a heated attempt to make it hers, until she was finally outbid, but —surprise, surprise — her last competitor was Nathaniel Dickerson, an uncle, who bid on it to give to her.

A few days later, Bailey’s gratitude extended far beyond her uncle to all who donated — be it money, time or auction items.

“We raised about $21,000 total,” she said, noting that it was below the goal. “We’re appreciative of all that was given, but the doors are still open until Dec. 31. We’re hopeful of making it to our goal of $25,000. The giving can continue!”

Make donations at www.empowerment-inc.org or by calling 967-8779.

Contact Valarie Schwartz at 923-3746 or valariekays [AT] mac [DOT] com.

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