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Tuesday, February 4, 2025 --Tracey Magaraci Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines addresses attendees at ESR's EITC Awareness Day event. On Friday, January 31, more than 55 people—including several notable community figures from Winston-Salem—gathered with Experiment in Self-Reliance (ESR) to celebrate Annual EITC Awareness Day. ESR hosted a lunchtime event featuring Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines. Cathy Drabble from United Way and members of Leadership Winston-Salem also attended. During the event, Mayor Joines read the 2025 City of Winston-Salem Proclamation, officially recognizing EITC Awareness Day. Marsha Smith, Chair of ESR’s Board of Directors, and Executive Director Fred Bazemore participated in the proclamation reading. Mayor Joiness with ESR Executive Director, Fred Bazemore Mayor Joiness with ESR Board Chair, Marsha Smith, and ESR Executive Director, Fred Bazemore Shirley Abdullah, the VITA Program director, highlighted one of the event’s unique aspects: attendees witnessed the VITA program in action, as several taxpayers had their returns prepared on-site. Members of the Leadership Winston-Salem Action Team were also present. This initiative is developing a system to recruit, onboard, and retain volunteers, which will be invaluable to the VITA Program because the volume of returns ESR’s VITA program can process directly depends on the volunteer workforce. The celebration informs the community about the importance of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for low-income families and promotes ESR’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program—also known as Forsyth Free Tax. Many of those who are eligible to have their tax returns prepared at a VITA site are also eligible for the EITC. The EITC is a refundable tax credit that eligible low-income taxpayers can receive as part of their refund, even if they owe no taxes. As the IRS website explains, “Tax credits are amounts you subtract from your bottom-line tax due when you file your tax return. Most tax credits can reduce your tax only until it reaches $0. Refundable credits go beyond that to give you any remaining credit as a refund. That's why it's best to file taxes even if you don't have to. Many people who qualify for refundable credits miss out on refunds because they don't file.” ESR’s VITA program prepares free tax returns for low-to-moderate income taxpayers. The volunteer tax preparers are IRS-trained and certified each year to be sure they have the most recent tax knowledge. Although most returns processed at VITA sites are straightforward, the program also handles additional filings—such as prior year and amended returns—after the April 15 tax season conclusion. In addition to saving money by not going to a professional tax agency, taxpayers who utilize a VITA site can connect with other services in the community if they have the need and interest. This year, ESR’s VITA services are available at two sites: a walk-in location at ESR and an appointment-based service at the central library.

GET IT, AND GET IT RIGHT WITH FREE TAX HELP AT A VITA SITE! Winston-Salem, North Carolina — Workers may get a larger tax refund this year because of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). But to get it, you must file a tax return and claim it. Friday, January 31, 2025, is EITC Awareness Day, a nationwide effort to increase awareness about EITC and free tax preparation sites. This year, the IRS is promoting EITC and providing information on other refundable tax credits that you may be eligible for. EITC, or Earned Income Tax Credit, is a refundable credit. This means that if you qualify for the credit, you can get the amount you qualify for whether you are required to file or not, even if you're not expecting a refund. This is in addition to any other refund you may be due. However, you will not just automatically receive a check -- you will have to file a tax return. Last year, approximately 803,000 North Carolina taxpayers received about $2.25 billion in EITC or an average of $2,800 in EITC per taxpayer. You might qualify for EITC if you worked last year and had a joint income of less than $66,819. EITC can mean up to a $7,830 refund when you file a return if you have qualifying children. Workers without a qualifying child could be eligible for a smaller credit up to $632. Why is it important to have an EITC Awareness Day each year? One-third of the EITC population changes each year. The IRS estimates that only four out of five workers claim the EITC they earned. This leaves billions of dollars on the table each year. We want to get the word out to those who are eligible to file a tax return even if they don’t owe any tax to claim the EITC. It’s money workers can use for groceries, rent, utilities, and other bills. EITC is complex. It varies by income, family size, and your filing status. To be eligible, you must have earned income or certain disability income. This means you must have income from working for someone or working for yourself. Volunteers – trained by the Internal Revenue Service – ask you the needed questions to find out if you qualify for the EITC and other refundable tax credits. Volunteers at Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites , also prepare and e-file (electronically file) your tax return at no cost to you. "Our community volunteers help you get EITC and the maximum refund you’re due. Our goal is to help you get it and get it right. This is money you can save or use to pay off bills, buy that car to get to work or make a down payment on a home. Let us help make your life a little easier, “said Shirley Abdullah, VITA Program Director at Experiment In Self-Reliance, about ESR's VITA site. Visit our free tax preparation sites at: Experiment In Self-Reliance, 3480 Dominion Street, Winston-Salem NC Monday - Thursday, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM Fridays 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM Walk-In ONLY! No appointments Forsyth County Public Library, 660 West Fifth Street, Winston-Salem NC Saturdays, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM By Appointment Only! No Walk-ins OR: Find a volunteer free tax return preparation site at IRS.gov Locator Tools Call 211 or 311 to find a volunteer free tax return preparation site   Bring the following to make sure our volunteers get you the right amount of credit you deserve: A valid driver's license or other photo ID card Social security cards, a social security number verification letter for all persons listed on the return Birth dates for all persons listed on the return All income statements: Forms W-2 and 1099, Social Security, unemployment, and other statements, such as pensions, stocks, or interest, and any documents showing taxes withheld All records of expenses, such as tuition, mortgage interest, or real estate taxes Copies of last year's state and federal tax returns, if available Bank routing numbers and account numbers to direct deposit any refund Dependent childcare information: name and address of who you paid and either the caretaker's SSN or other tax identification number If you purchased coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace , Form 1095-A PDF , Health Insurance Marketplace Statement Both spouses to sign forms to e-file a joint tax return

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina - On Halloween, Thursday, October 31st, Experiment in Self-Reliance (ESR), in conjunction with Mechanics & Farmers Bank and its community partners, proudly hosted their 1st annual Trunk or Treat event at Mechanics & Farmers Bank, located at 770 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Winston-Salem, NC. This fun-filled afternoon invited families to enjoy a safe and festive Halloween experience while learning more about the important work ESR does. "I’m here to provide the kids with a safe place to come and engage with other community members while collecting candy," said Chief William H. Penn, an ESR Board Member and Chief of the Winston-Salem Police Department. "We are celebrating Halloween in a fun, safe environment, and all the participating community agencies not only talk about loving kids but also demonstrate it by engaging with them. "Trunk-or-treat events are becoming increasingly popular, and it’s easy to see why. Parents of young children especially appreciate these Halloween gatherings. Families can stroll among cars decorated for Halloween and let their children experience the excitement of trick-or-treating without the stress of navigating their neighborhoods. Little ghosts and goblins can put on their costumes and collect candy without getting tired. "It’s wonderful to see a community come together to support one another, and to watch children enjoy themselves, knowing there are people who stand behind them and their families is powerful, especially in this community," shared Dr. Phygenia Young, another ESR Board member. Through this event, we were able to provide a fun experience and delicious candy to many children and families, thanks to our community partners, which included Mechanics & Farmers Bank, the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Department, the Winston-Salem Police Department, Sifted Sugar, Inc., United Way, the Delta Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., the Children’s Law Center, and the ScottCares Foundation. As ESR celebrates 60 years of serving this community, these efforts enable us to continue providing essential services to clients and fulfill our goal of facilitating access to education, homeownership, and free tax preparation for individuals and families with low to moderate incomes. Experiment in Self-Reliance is a non-profit agency chartered in 1964 and has been supporting the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County community for over 60 years. Our mission is to empower social and economic self-reliance for low-income and homeless individuals. We are dedicated to creating a judgment-free zone and treating everyone with respect, all while pursuing our vision of reducing poverty and homelessness in our community. To learn more or make a donation, visit us at  www.eisr.org  or give us a call at 336 722-9400. #END

Hours of Operation | Phone | Physical and Mailing Address | Inquiry Form Contact Us Let's Connect Hours of operation: Monday- Friday 9am - 5:30pm Note: Our office is closed every year on the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. Phone: (336)-722-9400. Physical Address: 3480 Dominion Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27105 Mailing Address: PO Box 135, Winston-Salem, NC 27102 For inquiries about our programs or events, fill out this form and we’ll get back to you within the business week. First name Last name Email Phone What are you interested in? Choose an option If you selected "other," please specify. Thanks for submitting! Submit Join Our Mission to Empower Self-Reliance! Donate Now

VITA Tax Program Manager Primary Role: The VITA Manager is responsible for supervising the operations for the asset building coordination through the VITA program by recruiting volunteers, training volunteers, and supervising and aiding staff and volunteers in setting up tax sites. This individual will manage and execute all free tax preparation with volunteers at community sites. The VITA Manager will work in concert with the economic literacy activities for IDA clients, agency wide clients, and community partners when appropriate. The unified coordinated efforts will aim to address the changing trends that impact families/individuals facing asset poverty. Additionally, the VITA Manager will aid in doing presentations to inform the public/clients in the importance of free tax preparation and information associated with taxes. This individual will lead the efforts of evaluating existing programs and activities in order to make suggestions/changes based on reported client/community needs and business trends. Reports to: Director of Agency Operations with guidance from the Executive Director for community collaborations. Duties: Organizational Program Leadership: Trains volunteers and ESR staff on the benefits of EITC specially the EITC for clients pursuing self-sufficiency and housing stability. Also train staff on the basics of how to use tax system to benefit working families including the use of the Child Tax Credit, the Education Tax Credit and the Savers' Tax Credit. Conducts training for VITA volunteers, set up current tax sites, facilitate process for new sites in concert with the IRS standards Conducts training for tax site host and create site standards in concert with IRS standards Attends and facilitates meetings for Forsyth County Working Family Partnership. Develops strategic plans for the changing community and professional trends by designing and implementing progressive educational programs. Maintains tracking system and data to monitor accomplishments on-going. Contributes to the effectiveness of the program by maintaining active interest in the field, consulting and advocating for change. Assists Executive Director in marketing services to the community or others as directed. Maintains professional competency by participating in continued education, workshops, seminars, etc. and personal growth experiences. Meets regularly with supervisor to discuss community needs, workload, communication concepts and, make suggestions for changes/new programs, etc. Works in concert with IDA Director to promote asset building efforts. Participates and provide written and oral updates to Community Collaborators during scheduled meetings. Maintains working relationships with participants and provide suggestions and/or recommendations as needed. Fulfills other related job duties as needed. Programmatic Marketing and Communication: Develops all outreach materials so that materials can be customized as needed for both the free tax sites and for VITA outreach materials for both eligible individuals and employers. This will include but not limited to fliers, brochures, employer toolkits, and other materials as agreed to by partner agencies. Develops an outreach strategy to reach employers, non-profits who serve low-income clients and eligible families on the benefits of the EITC. Provides educational presentations and marketing presentations to a wide variety of audiences, ensuring a broader range of potential sites and lead financial partners for VITA and asset building efforts. Promotes a positive image of the program by ensuring an understanding of the services available and conducting oneself according to a professional code of ethics. Programmatic Fundraising and Development Aids in grant writing and fundraising for VITA and asset building projects. Enhance Community Collaboration Develops strategic plans to recruit and assist in training volunteers and strengthen alliances for expanding and promoting VITA through the community. Aligns asset building strategies with community-wide expectations to address poverty in families/individuals. Maintains harmonious working relationships with co-workers, United Way, educators, and other related service agencies and collaborative contacts. Risk Management Maintains tax certifications to prepare taxes and attend related training sessions to expand knowledge of tax related laws and expectations. Renews and creates MOU's with tax site host Ambassadorship Serves as an ambassador for ESR and all collaborating partners and maintain the integrity of the organizations involved. Serves as a team player and assist in furthering the mission of the organization. Reasoning Ability Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. Physical Demands The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to walk, stand, crawl, bend, stoop, climb, use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms, here. The employee frequently required to sit and talk. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job includes close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception. Work Environment The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is rarely exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate. Specifications The information presented indicates the general nature and level of work expected of employees in this classification. It is not designed to contain, or to be interpreted as, a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and objectives required of employees assigned to this job. Licenses, Registrations, Certifications Valid Driver’s License and reliable transportation that may be used in the performance of duties. Qualifications: Should possess a 4-year college degree in business or related field, volunteer recruitment experience, tax preparation, and five years’ experience in financial, education or related field. Preferred candidates will have a Human Services, Business, Marketing, Operations or related degree, with two years related experience. Must have working knowledge of computer data entry process of Microsoft programs and other related software programs with strong computer skills in Microsoft Excel and tax software. The position also requires the ability to speak in public and to relate and maintain relationships with educators, clients, businesses, creditors, other agencies, etc.

Experiment in Self-Reliance has exciting events throughout the year! From Golf Tournaments to Galas, we have special occasions you won't want to miss! Upcoming Events 9th Annual ESR Golf Tournament Fundraiser Fri, Aug 15 Winston-Salem Experiment in Self-Reliance (ESR) is thrilled to invite you to our 9th Annual Golf Tournament Fundraiser held at Winston Lake Golf Course on Friday, August 15th, 2025. This event is not only a highlight of our year but also an invaluable opportunity to collaborate with our friends, and funders. Click Here Support Our Mission Donate Now