Experiment in Self Reliance, Inc.

ESR was chartered in 1964 and has served the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County community for nearly 50 years, working to eliminate poverty and homelessness, and helping people help themselves. Like its sister Community Action Agencies (CAA’s) across the nation, ESR was born of the Equal Opportunities Act of 1964, the economic twin to the Civil Rights Act. In North Carolina, ESR was one of the original 11 CAA’s supported by Governor Terry Sanford’s North Carolina Fund.

Throughout its history, ESR has been a beacon of hope in the community; but like any harbinger of safe harbor, it must from time to time test the waters and set its direction anew. Over the years, ESR has reconstructed the architecture of its programs and re-envisioned its service delivery in an effort to stay abreast of changing times, changing needs, and the changing face of poverty. This work has seen us through the years – from the War on Poverty to Welfare Reform.

Today, our menu of proven cutting-edge programs, our extensive community collaboration, or expertise in critical areas such as family financial stability and housing, and our longevity in the community, combine to form our strategic framework of cost-effective empowerment. We serve hundreds of families in a variety of situations that many of us could conceivably find ourselves in – victims of house fires and domestic violence, those who have encountered a major financial setback due to health care cost or job loss, those who have experienced a change in life circumstances such a divorce or death of a family member, and people who are caught up in the endless cycle of generational poverty and chronic homelessness. And we do all this using our methodology of intense case management that ensures effective outcomes while using our funding dollars most efficiently.

We provide hope in the face of hopelessness, a powerful combination of encouragement and accountability through what we call “success coaching,” and real, practical help for those in need – both in the short-term and over the long haul.

After its founding, ESR’s growth institutionalization during the 1970’s and early ‘80’s was assured under the leadership of the legendary community servant Louise Wilson. Its mission was preserved and fostered through the 1980’s and ‘90’s by Bob Law. And its change to a self-sufficiency agency addressing the new challenges posed by the welfare reform movement has been ensured under the 21st century leadership of current Executive Director Twana Wellman.

Although it has undergone many transformations through the years to stay on the cutting edge of providing community services, ESR has remained committed to its mission of “helping people help themselves.”

From its early pivotal role in launching such integral local organizations as Head Start, Crisis Control, TransAid, Legal Aide and others; to the Senior, Youth and Emergency Assistance Services of the middle years; to its current efforts to fill the gaps in welfare-to-work, including promoting long-term self-sufficiency for the working poor, transitional housing for working homeless families and permanent support housing for the chronically homeless, first-time homeownership, tax services, vocational and college education, and Hispanic/Latino services; ESR has been here for the community and its families. The latest new initiatives are in the areas of economic literacy, asset building, credit repair, and wealth accumulation, which are the next steps for a family after the establishment of economic and social self-sufficiency.