Month: September 2016

Bryanna Williams sings anthem for President Clinton

By Carl Kenney

September 26, 2016

Bryanna Williams, who sang the national anthem for President Bill Clinton when he visited Durham on Sept. 6, talks about making vocal runs in her songs. She sang for us in Hillside High School’s choir room, which Bryanna calls her sanctuary. (Photo by Raina Matthews of Hillside High School)  

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A look inside SEEDS of Durham

By Carl Kenney

September 22, 2016

SEEDS is a nonprofit organization based in Durham, NC that works with the youth by providing a place for kids to learn and explore gardening and other Earth-friendly values. SEEDS started as a partnership with Phoenix House, a homeless transitional housing program for men, but over the years SEEDS changed with the needs of the […]

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Activist artist returns to CenterFest

By Carl Kenney

Luis Franco’s graphic art stood out from the row of oil paintings and handmade pottery and jewelry at CenterFest, drawing in crowds passing by. His art is meant to gain attention. Since he graduated from North Carolina Central University, Franco has used his art as activism, promoting the interests of people of color. With race […]

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Kidznotes holds annual instrument drive

By Carl Kenney

  Kidznotes, the non-profit that brings music lessons to children in underserved communities including Northeast Central Durham, is having their annual instrument drive to support the students of the program who may not have the money for an instrument. Used instruments of all kinds as well as monetary donations are accepted anytime of the year. […]

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Cocoa Cinnamon: Community based coffee shop holds historic roots

By Carl Kenney

  Designed with unique renovated urban architecture, customers can walk in, smell the satisfying aroma of espresso, and enjoy the experience of this award-winning coffee shop. Located on West Geer Street, near the old Durham Bulls stadium, Cocoa Cinnamon has received many accolades including the Durham Weekly’s 2014 Winner Platinum award for best coffee shop. […]

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A day in The life of your child at Eastway Elementary

By Carl Kenney

  The hallway is filled with chatter as students and their families poured into the building, on Thursday, September 15, Eastway Elementary School hosted its annual Parents Night out. “This night is a way for parents to come into the building after school has started to meet with their child’s teacher and to get a […]

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Sharing real thoughts about community college

By Carl Kenney

  There is a level of perception when it comes to community colleges that they are not as good as four-year schools. I decided to question one of my long-time friends who just started a semester at Durham Tech about the school in general and its level of education. My first impression about places on […]

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KIPP Durham cuts the ribbon on new school

By Carl Kenney

  Friday was a day of celebration, a ribbon-cutting ceremony inaugurated KIPP Durham College Prep’s new home at 1107 Holloway Street.  School leaders and members of the community spoke about the great promise and potential the public school brings to Durham. The ceremony began with the KIPP Pride High School Marching Band performing. The budding […]

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Town hall held in response to protests over conditions in Durham Detention Facility

By Carl Kenney

September 21, 2016

Durham’s Human Relations Commission (HRC) officially recognized years-long protests over conditions inside the Durham County Detention Facility on the evening of Thursday, Sept. 15. Approximately 100 community members gathered at City Hall for a two-hour forum on how the jail impacts Durham County residents. The Inside-Outside Alliance, an activist group including incarcerated and formerly incarcerated members, has […]

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Durham Co-op Market off to a good start

By Carl Kenney

It’s a sunny Saturday afternoon at the Durham Co-op Market at 111 W. Chapel Hill St., and the yellow picnic tables on the shady square outside the store are full. Kids and senior citizens alike line up for free grilled cheese sandwiches and creamy tomato soup in small styrofoam cups. Young couples chat over local […]

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SEEDS embraces changes for new year

By Carl Kenney

  As SEEDS (South Eastern Efforts Developing Sustainable Spaces) approaches its annual Harvest Dinner on Thursday, Sept. 22, the nonprofit organization reviews this past year and what changes it can make to better serve its ever-changing community. “We can do many things, or one thing really well,” said Laurel Shulman, operations manager of SEEDS. “We […]

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Walltown experiencing gentrification, the "wall" has come down

By Carl Kenney

  Once an almost exclusively black neighborhood, Walltown Village with its close proximity to Duke, has been undergoing gentrification for more than a decade. However, according to Walltown residents, Sammy Lucas and Felix Hayes, the process hasn’t been all bad, and the newcomers are becoming a part of the community. According to “Walltown: The History […]

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EDCI’s growth shows with new office building

By Carl Kenney

Inside Angier Avenue Baptist Church, Lauren Stephenson, development manager for the East Durham Children’s Initiative (EDCI), painted over the bright blue walls diligently, priming them for new colors to come. The church now houses EDCI, which moved into the space about two months ago. The initiative, along with partner groups, works as a cradle-to-college program, […]

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Students with part-time jobs still lack sleep with new bell schedule

By Carl Kenney

  High schools in the Durham Public School System now start and end about an hour and a half later, leaving some students with little time for after-school jobs and activities. In August 2015, after a decade of deliberation and research, DPS voted to switch the elementary school and high school bell schedules, in order […]

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Coach Harrison: little things matter

By Carl Kenney

  Any sports team that is competitive every season can usually trace its success back to a single person. That person is responsible for creating a winning culture that is bigger than any individual. For the Hillside High School football program, that person is Ray Harrison, and after eight years of coaching high school football […]

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The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Durham expands to Chapel Hill

By Carl Kenney

The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Durham not only provides the Durham community with the care its children need, but also now is reaching a helping hand to the Chapel Hill community. Up until recently, the small Chapel Hill club at Northside Elementary was under the umbrella of the Boys and Girls Clubs of […]

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Viajeros Melodiosos bringing people together through music

By Carl Kenney

  Throughout time, music has been connecting people all over the world. Local group Viajeros Melodiosos hopes to strengthen community with their original songs and covers. Viajeros Melodiosos has an eccentric style and feel-good vibe. In English their band name means “melodious travelers.” The group took to the Herald-Sun Stage at Bull McCabes in downtown […]

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VOICE kicks off new semester with site visit

By Carl Kenney

The fall 2016 Durham VOICE kicked off its eighth year with its traditional Durham community orientation tour and site visit, Sat., Sept. 10. With the slogan of “Our Community. Our Times, Our Voices,” the Durham VOICE is a collaborative effort between the journalism program at UNC-Chapel Hill and N.C. Central University. Launched in September 2009, […]

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Six teens, five days, two papers and one island

By Carl Kenney

September 15, 2016

  Editor’s note:  The Durham VOICE and the Durham NGO Partners for Youth Opportunity teamed up this summer with the Ocracoke Observer to bring six Durham high school student interns to the Outer Banks island to spend the better part of a week learning about island culture and documenting the stories of some of the […]

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