By Carl Kenney
October 3, 2018
The Durham Rescue Mission has been doing its part by serving the community longer than any other outreach center in North Carolina. The devastating effects of Hurricane Florence have dramatically increased the Center’s efforts. “You never know how it feels to go without, until a disaster hits home,” said Jalil Lewis, a volunteer at […]
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September 28, 2018
Local community-based, non-profit Healing with CAARE, Inc. was prepared for Hurricane Florence ahead of time. With the help of the Inter-faith Food Shuttle, they managed to provide plenty of food to about 40 senior citizens. They were the emergency shelter for the medically fragile, homeless participants who have substance abuse, and veterans. Those participants were […]
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When some school kids hear news of a hurricane, they might be glad because they may get out of school. Similarly, some adults may view the approaching storm as an excuse to take a day off. But for some people, a hurricane means more work — especially like the people working at the Durham branch […]
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September 10, 2018
The Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club on Alston Avenue in Durham has been serving the community since 1933, and since then, the program has contributed to major accomplishments for local children. The programs at the club have helped the children reach their full potential effectively. The goal of the Boys and Girls Club […]
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“Pride to me is a day where we recognize there is not just one way to live.” Helana Cragg is the executive director of the LGBTQ Center of Durham. Her vision began in 2014 when she recognized a need to establish a center in heart of downtown. She recognized the center in Raleigh could […]
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The Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People continued its legacy celebrating the eighty-third Annual Founders’ Day Gala at the Durham Convention Center on Aug. 25, honoring local community members who demonstrate black excellence. The mission of the DCABP, according to a statement from Chairman Omar S. Beasley, is to promote the welfare […]
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May 8, 2018
Maesa Al-Amin, 17, is a senior at Southern School of Energy and Sustainability. She is a competitive dancer on the school’s dance team with dreams of owning her own dance company and dancing in music videos. She has performed at the Durham Performing Arts Center for “An Evening of Entertainment” and at Hillside High […]
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April 16, 2018
Hard work deserves recognition. But more than that, it deserves celebration. This year’s Women’s Empowerment VIP breakfast held at the Raleigh Renaissance Hotel on Saturday, April 14, provided the perfect platform for such festivities. The breakfast was set to begin at 8 a.m. in the Renaissance Hotel’s ballroom. The room was reserved exclusively for […]
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April 11, 2018
On Earth Day weekend, April 20-21, the Scrap Exchange will celebrate both its 27th birthday and the grand opening of its new store, Scrap Thrift. It will also host its second DIY (Do It Yourself) Fest for the Durham community. The Scrap Exchange, founded in 1991, bought its current space, a formerly abandoned church, […]
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Getting a job has never been a problem for Tevin Guasp. The 26-year-old New York native is hard-working, friendly and eager to learn on and off the job. But, without a high school diploma, Guasp found his career options limited. “I found jobs,” he said, “it just wasn’t a job that I necessarily wanted. It’d […]
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Serena Sebring has helped bail out 23 black women from the Durham County jail. U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield has taken a stand for Durham residents affected by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The organization Bull City 150 has been devoted to telling Durham’s history of inequity to better understand the city’s current state. The youth […]
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Sixth-grader Sedra Khatib cried on her first day at Lakewood Elementary School in Durham last year. “[The school] didn’t have a bus to go to home. And they asked me, and I didn’t understand,” Sedra said. “They called my dad and they call him and he said he will come. They had to use [Google […]
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It was late morning, and the sun was peeking from behind the clouds as the students and leaders of Partners for Youth Opportunity arrived at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. But the slightly overcast day did not stop them from a having an adventure. The PYO students and staff members were visiting […]
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April 5, 2018
In 2013 StepUp Ministry, a Raleigh-based non-profit, sent an exploratory committee to Durham to discover if the city needed or wanted the program launched here, said Tim Wollin, 37, the program director for StepUp Durham. After two years and an invitation from the Durham community, StepUp Durham was born. Emily Dao-Forrester, 27, an employment […]
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April 2, 2018
Un sábado típico para Angel, quien tiene 10 años, consiste de un desayuno saludable y balanceado, jugando soccer con sus amigos y aprendiendo algo nuevo en los programas sabatinos de East Durham Children’s Initiative (EDCI) STEAM. Los sábados STEAM se enfocan en avanzar la educación en ciencia, tecnología, ingeniería, arte y matemática para los estudiantes […]
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March 29, 2018
The Durham Arts Council aims to provide resources for the community so people can reach their full creative potential. Through classes, funding, and cultural events the staff works towards making the council the hub of arts in the Bull City. Susan Tierney is the Artist Services Manager at the Durham Arts Council. She’s […]
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March 28, 2018
Plenty of people love to play basketball for fun. Now they can play the sport to help raise money for a good cause, too. Reynolds Chapman is the Executive Director of Durham Cares, a nonprofit that focuses on fostering collaboration, developing leaders and educating the people of Durham to care for their neighbors in […]
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Not only are trees visually appealing, they are important for quality of life. That’s why Keep Durham Beautiful decided to plant 1,000 trees across Durham. An affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, the organization has been around since 2004, holding strong partnerships with the City of Durham and Durham County. Tania Dautlick has been the executive […]
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Editor’s note: Some last names have not been disclosed to protect the privacy of individuals served by the East Durham Children’s Initiative. A typical Saturday morning for 10-year-old Angel consists of a healthy, balanced breakfast, playing soccer outside with his friends and learning something new at the East Durham Children’s Initiative’s (EDCI) STEAM Saturdays Program. […]
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February 28, 2018
Over 70 million people in the United States have a criminal record, ranging from minor crimes to serious offenses, according to the Council of State Governments Justice Center. Finding a job can be especially challenging for those with a criminal record. NCWorks Career Center is attempting to help former offenders become employed and overcome these […]
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February 14, 2018
Dennis Garrett is the ultimate philanthropist. After years of drug addiction, homelessness and going in and out of prison, Garrett realized he needed to change his lifestyle. He founded Love & Respect, a drug addiction recovery home, in 2002. Post-recovery, the 55-year-old now devotes his time to helping others who struggle with addiction and violence. […]
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“Wade in the water Wade in the water, children, Wade in the water God’s gonna trouble the water.” The negro spiritual “Wade in the Water” was lifted up in unison by the crowd gathered in the B.N. Duke Auditorium at North Carolina Central University. An older black woman sat center stage, singing the hymn along […]
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At the corner of Alston Avenue and Liberty Street is an army base…of sorts. The Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club has been serving Central Durham since 1934. Within these walls, neighborhood children find a safe haven, solace, joy, laughter and company. It is a much-needed break; a salve of normalcy to what awaits […]
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January 31, 2018
Aleem El-Amin has not had a permanent home in 10 years. He lives under a bridge. El-Amin, like many other homeless people in the city of Durham, had the opportunity to access resources during Project Homeless Connect Jan. 25 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. The Project Homeless Connect […]
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“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure” may seem like the perfect slogan, but it falls short of what the Scrap Exchange actually does. The Scrap Exchange takes one man’s trash and spins it into treasure for the whole community. The Scrap Exchange has been reducing waste and fostering creative visions since its opening in […]
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Sweet music fills the halls of the Holton Career and Resource Center in Northeast Central Durham every Saturday morning. From orchestra classes to ensemble choirs, Kidznotes aims to make the arts accessible to children. One of the biggest issues in music education is a lack of access to musical instruments. Teacher Rosendo Peña is combating […]
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Under the large shelter at Durham Central Park, a crowd is gathered for Book Harvest’s annual Dream Big Book Drive. For seven years, Book Harvest has been holding the event in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his legacy. The drive started after Book Harvest founder and executive director, Ginger Young, began collecting […]
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November 26, 2017
This article has been updated to include the winner of the GSK Employee Choice Award. GSK, an international pharmaceuticals company with a headquarters in the RTP, honored 10 area nonprofits at its 9th annual IMPACT Awards ceremony in partnership with the Triangle Community Foundation. The award winners, including Northeast Central Durham based Partners for Youth […]
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November 13, 2017
The Boy Scouts of America is known for being an organization founded on tradition and a strong sense of patriotism. But in the face of a changing cultural and political climate, the organization is doing its best to reach out to new members without changing its core values. They have had a strong presence […]
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October 18, 2017
The furnaces were fired up, and beer flowed steadily Saturday for the Liberty Arts open studio tour and sale. Liberty Arts has over a dozen artists working in its studio space on Pearl Street in Northeast Central Durham, working in a variety of mediums such as wood, metal, glass, printing, and textile media. The studio […]
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On a clear and sunny Saturday afternoon, many Durham locals chose to join the second anniversary celebration of the LGBTQ Center of Durham. The event was held on the Rigsbee Avenue between Geer Street and Corporation Street in the form of a family-friendly block party free to the community. The LGBTQ Center of Durham, along […]
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October 4, 2017
Walk into The Scrap Exchange on any given Monday, and you may just be greeted by Amy Schmiemann. Schmiemann often frequented this creative reuse arts center back when it was at its Golden Belt location. She loved her decoupage class so much that she decided to apply for a job. Schmiemann has been working […]
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September 21, 2017
When Sarai Chandler walked into her new classroom for the first time, she was greeted with empty desks and bare walls. This is the plight faced by many new teachers in Durham Public Schools, where one often must purchase his or her own school supplies. This burden falls particularly hard on new teachers in […]
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September 20, 2017
The apartment complex on Martha street just looks like any student housing. It has a hunter-green awning that shelters a bright green door, but still looks like any other apartment complex in the neighborhood. Walk through the doorway, though, and the LIFE Skills Foundation comes alive. According to the 2016 Housing and Urban Development (HUD) […]
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Among the cubicles, coffee makers, murals and plush couches, The Durham VOICE has found a new office at ReCity. “We are very excited about our move,” said Jock Lauterer, founding publisher of The VOICE, a community newspaper launched eight years ago to serve Northeast Central Durham. “It just makes good sense for The VOICE […]
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Gerald Elliott’s first solo trip as a young law enforcement officer left an impression. It was 1987, and he was to deliver a death notice to a family that had lost their 21-year-old son to drug overdose. Elliott was twenty-one, too. Thirty years later, Elliott and his family found themselves on the receiving end […]
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May 3, 2017
“I will make a way out of no way.” Master Derrick Richardson, 9th Dan (9th degree) black belt, has youth in his martial arts class say this often. Richardson, 55, has been teaching kids for about three years through an organization called Champions in Motion. He has appeared in international competitions, magazines like Black […]
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April 19, 2017
There was no single reason why Good Friday at the Durham Rescue Mission was a special event; there were thousands of reasons. With help from churches, businesses and individuals in the community, the Durham Rescue Mission, a homeless shelter and addiction recovery program, gave away over 1750 Easter baskets and 10,000 articles of clothing to […]
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When you imagine a beautiful environment, what comes to mind? You probably think of pristine, litter-free streams, an abundance of green trees and crisp, clear air. In Durham, volunteers interested in beautifying and protecting the environment work to make those images a reality for residents. Keep Durham Beautiful, Inc. is a nonprofit, volunteer-based organization that […]
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O’Morris Jones and Jeremiah Lewis may only be 17 and 18 years old, but their plans for the future reach far beyond their ages. The two young men entered the Triangle Literacy Council’s new Bull City YouthBuild program in March, which provides participants with a nine-month, intensive learning environment to receive their high school equivalency and […]
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As semi-trucks rumble noisily overhead, a sizable crowd gathers for food, faith and fellowship under the Durham Freeway Bridge. Even on snowy winter days and humid summer afternoons, you can find Pastor David Smith and his wife, Cheryl, beneath the bridge on the third Saturday of every month. As drivers honk their horns and […]
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Editor’s note: The interview was conducted in and translated from Arabic. Three days. Adnan Shareef and his family spent three days in the mountains of Syria waiting to cross the border to Turkey. Rain poured down on Adnan, his wife and their six children. The storms continued until they could sneak past the guards at […]
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April 16, 2017
Before I entered PYO two years ago, I had the reputation at school of being unmotivated and lazy. One day I got suspended from school for a week — and luckily got sent to a great program called “Rebound,” which helped me keep up with my schoolwork while out of classes. Once I finished […]
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April 5, 2017
Durham is home to the Durham Bulls, Duke University, the Durham Performing Arts Center and American Tobacco. It is also the new home for many refugees from across the world fleeing war, famine and natural disasters. They come to Durham hoping to start a new life, and World Relief Durham helps them do so. “World […]
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On a warm weekday morning in late March, while most Durham residents are at work or school, a group of about ten volunteers don bright green vests, sturdy gloves and old sneakers for a Creek Week cleanup event. They carry giant trash bags and begin making their way along the winding creek, picking up […]
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Durham Mayor Bill Bell has made a difference in the community he loves, and he will continue to do so after his final term expires later this year. Bell, who has served as mayor since 2001, sat down with The VOICE to discuss his impact on the city, mainly regarding his poverty reduction initiative, which […]
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Curtis, 16, and Isaiah, 14, Powell, brothers and residents of East Durham, grew up at the Holton Career and Resource Center located at 401 N. Driver St. There, Curtis and his 14-year-old brother have made friends, developed their basketball skills, attended youth camps, and most importantly, found a home away from home. Curtis is a […]
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For career and technical education students at the Holton Center, like senior Kaleb Shaw Lunsford, graduating is just one step along the path to a rewarding career – and they don’t have to travel it alone. Made in Durham, in partnering with the community, has made it their mission to ensure all Durham’s youth will […]
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The second I set foot inside Meals on Wheels of Durham, I was immediately greeted with an air filled by the smell of sizzling hamburgers, the sound of animated chit-chat and the sight of dozens of smiling faces. After hearing about President Trump’s proposed budget cuts that endanger thousands of local Meals on Wheels agencies […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
March 20, 2017
Opportunities. Not handouts. When you think about it, it’s really not too much to ask. A chance to work and to prove one’s self worth. A chance to get into a good college. A chance to land a job or start a business that provides for a family. A chance to live a safe, […]
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