By Carl Kenney
October 21, 2013
Some high school students who enroll in the Josephine Dobbs Clement Early College High School might think they can coast, but the first lesson they’ll be learning is that coasting is not in the curriculum. Desiree’ Lewis, a senior in Early College double majoring in psychology and Spanish with a minor in business and liberal […]
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Some know her as a civil rights activist, feminist and the first African American ordained Episcopal priest. Others know her as a LGBT icon, lawyer, poet and author. Regardless of what society knows her as, those that attended the fundraiser for the Pauli Murray Project on Oct. 1 agreed on one thing: Rev. Dr. Pauli […]
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By India Wagner, NCCU Reporter October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and organizations in Durham are working to bring awareness and assistance to people living in this situation. N.C. Central University’s School of Law hosted a discussion on expectations in civil and criminal cases related to domestic violence on October 8th. The program, “Going to […]
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October 4, 2013
“Give me two pair, I need two pair,” raps Nelly in his song “Air Force Ones” which is also Nike’s number one selling sneaker to this day. The economics of the sneaker culture is supply and demand in its simplest form. When exclusive Jordans or other sneakers retail, sneakerheads flock to malls, retail stores […]
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Northeast Central Durham is easily associated with the term “food desert.” Food deserts are typically found in low socioeconomic communities. Places classified as this have no options for healthy affordable food. Bountiful Backyards is an edible landscaping company in Durham, NC. They have planted over 1500 fruit trees and berry bushes over the Triangle […]
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Liberty Arts metal artist and board president Jackie MacLeod gets her inspiration from artwork all around Durham and that has led to a campaign that, if successful, will shower Durham with more large scuptures for about six months next year. “Picture all the cool things in Downtown Durham like the Lucky Strike Tower, Durham Central […]
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Northeast Central Durham contains a mix of housing: newer homes, historic homes, apartments and neglected homes. For homeowners or renters, living next to a neglected, vacant house causes challenges and the city is limited in what it can do to change this. Rick Hester, Assistant Director/Housing Code Administrator for Durham County says that neglected housing […]
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He had a vision to help those that are in dire need to be saved from the streets, and from themselves. He had the determination to clean Durham up, one street at a time, starting with Angier Avenue. He had the drive to see to it that every man that walks through the doors of […]
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In prison, inmates are guaranteed a bed, at least three meals a day, access to education and a bathroom. Being incarcerated isn’t a luxurious experience but it provides the bare necessities. After prison, those necessities are harder to find. According to a 2008 survey from the N.C. Interagency Council for Coordinating Homeless Programs, 6.5 percent […]
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September 21, 2013
As we enter our fourth year of publication, it’s important to remember that the VOICE was born out of tragedy. Many of you will remember the spring 2008 murder of beloved UNC student body president Eve Carson, and how the two young black men, subsequently caught, tried and convicted, are from Durham. The late-night abduction […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
September 19, 2013
Resuscitating someone back from apparent death can be quite challenging but not impossible. I discovered my interest in writing during my internship with YO:Durham, a year long program for Durham teens that focuses on a summer career academy, an internship, service learning and being paired with a mentor. I interned at the Durham VOICE […]
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Situated in the heart of East Durham, stands the oldest school building in the city. The historic East Durham Graded School building was built in the 1890s and was replaced by a larger school in 1910. According to City of Durham documents, the school was transformed into a workshop by the Durham Exchange […]
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What is a “role model?” A common answer would be someone that one looks up to, giving that person praise for the good deeds that he or she has done in their life. Role models are often adults, for young people and could usually be a mom or dad. But for me, my role […]
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This past summer we celebrated the 50th Anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s heroic march on Washington. It made an immediate impact with people all over the country. You can see the changes in 2013 that those courageous, marchers wanted to see back then. Schools are no longer segregated, we can all drink from the […]
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Have you been looking for a place that has real, tangible arts that reflects the dynamic personality of Durham? Liberty Arts, located on 923 Franklin St., is a non-profit arts community whose collaborative practice does just that. Tripp Jarvis, a long-time North Carolinian, is just one of the many artists within Liberty Arts who showcases […]
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September 18, 2013
Looking for a better way to spend your Friday nights? Well, you may just be in luck – and the whole family is invited. Until Oct. 18, the W.D. Hill Recreation Center will host Family Roller Skating every Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. The outdoor rink is located behind the Center at 1308 […]
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Last weekend the Eagles of N.C. Central University traveled to Charlotte, but for the kids who play for the Durham Titans, an away game for the Eagles means O’Kelly Riddick Stadium becomes their official home. The Durham Titans, part of the Piedmont Youth Football and Cheer League is one of the many youth programs provided […]
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Crowds of people came out daily for the Triangle Residential Options for Substance Abusers (TROSA) recent yard sale. People in search of bargains were not disappointed with the abundance of furniture, electronics, clothes and books. One local shopper, Laura (who did not want her last name used), was impressed with more than just the selection. […]
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The community garden that has been a fixture in Northeast Central Durham for almost 20 years is moving into a new facility by mid November. SEEDS’ new 5,000 square foot building will change the landscape of the garden and how it interacts with the community. Executive Director Emily Egge wanted to implement “Engaged Design” […]
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By VOICE teen writers Mahdiyah Al-askari, Raeshawn Wall and Ana Aguilar Imagine scenes of war. Headless bodies, limbs blown off and fumes from burnt flesh. It’s not a first-person shooter video game, but grisly words from a combat photographer. “You know death is around the corner because you can smell it,” said Jerry Rogers, […]
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The mural speaks to us of history. The vibrant yellows, the hissing blues and the bull’s hard stare remind those who walk past it on the first floor of the Holton Resource Center: This, here, is the Bull City. Tough as nails. Hard as bricks. But soft, too, like the carefully painted green leaves. […]
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On one of the VOICE’s first student bus tours years ago, I remember Earl “Big Earl” Phillips, at the time, the city’s assistant director for community engagement, telling us that in a few years some places we visited would not be recognizable. Back then, many of the houses around the Golden Belt complex had […]
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May 9, 2013
Are you a teen looking for some excitement over the summer? To some people, summertime is boring — and to others it is relaxing. But for almost everyone it’s their time to do what they want. Durham’s YMCA offers many summer activities for the young, but the most popular might be its camps. Brian Huffman […]
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April 25, 2013
A father smiles down at his son as they walk hand-in-hand down the street. On a nice Sunday afternoon, when daddy could be inside watching football, he decides to take a walk with his son. Everything is quiet. Everything is calm – until it is not. “The road is a dangerous place,” freshman John Malik […]
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April 19, 2013
Hillside Senior Cameron Hall, the student body president, is very involved with school and community activities. Hall said he became involved with activism after Hillside History Teacher Bryan Proffitt introduced him to social justice movements. Hall revealed that he feels that his greatest accomplishment was the “Stop The Violence” walk to honor Hillside Senior Kaaylon […]
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The curtain rises for the opening of the show and reveals a stage filled with elementary, middle, and high school students from all around Durham. This happens yearly at the DPAC for An Evening of Entertainment (EOE), a performance headlining singing and dancing that raises money for scholarships. High school seniors performing in the […]
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U.S. Senator Kay Hagan visited Hillside High School on March 15 to announce a new educational grant program. “It is great that she has chosen Hillside High School, where she will re-launch legislation for school transformation and turnaround. She couldn’t have chosen a better place,” Hillside Principal William Logan said. Sen. Hagan revealed that she […]
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As a parent, when I heard the words “sex offenders need friends too,” my first thought was “huh?” Where was this conversation headed? But that is the message shared during the most recent community luncheon roundtable hosted by the Religious Coalition for a Nonviolent Durham. Held every fourth Thursday from noon to 1 p.m. at […]
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It was early 2001 when Malcolm Clemens came home to find his belongings piled in the middle of the floor. Everything he owned — clothes, shoes, keepsakes — was there. The only thing missing was his family. Earlier that day, Clemens made plans to party with his friends. Before leaving, his wife made a promise. […]
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April 10, 2013
Editor’s note: TROSA partners with the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide assistance to veterans in Durham. Two recipients are Herman Williams, a TROSA staff member, and William Touchstone, a current program participant. For at least 15 years, Herman Williams drank his breakfast in a yellow, 11-ounce tumbler. He filled the tumbler three-quarters full with […]
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April 3, 2013
Community based programs are often a necessity in order to help impoverished areas thrive. But connecting citizens to those resources can be a challenge. Healthy Families Durham, located at 411 W. Chapel Hill St., Suite 908, is a program of the Center for Child & Family Health. It was established to help fight the odds […]
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April 1, 2013
Oppression. Suppression. Burdens. These are all words that might be familiar to many in the community. But how do you express a concept like oppression in art? One local artist seems to have found a way. “Structured as Such: Architecture of the Oppressed” is an exhibit by local artist Joe Bigley that debuted at Liberty […]
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I enjoy spending time with family. Just getting together with the entire clan and “kicking it.” My father, son and I recently visited my 87-year-old grandmother and my aunts in Carrboro and it brought back memories for us. With busy lives, we don’t get to do it as often as we’d like. There we were […]
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“Some kids take things for granted,” said Patricia Muschette, a Durham parent. “They need to learn responsibility.” Muschette said this is the reason local teens need to work. Most teens try to find a part-time job for after school so they can start to earn their own money. Many teens may hate asking parents for […]
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It’s everywhere you look around town. Bull City restaurants. Bull City blogs. There are little bulls in art all over the city. Even the downtown bus line carries the “Bull City” namesake. But have you ever wondered where the nickname comes from? Asking around why Durham is called the Bull City finds some residents coming […]
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He always wore a suit and tie. Tipped his hat to the ladies. In his portrait, he is immaculate — staring dead into the camera, eyes betraying a fierce intellect. The streets might have called him “clean,” but the best description of James E. Shepard is this: Visionary leader. “James Shepard had more respect than […]
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March 28, 2013
No matter how big or small, there’s a story to be told behind the door of every old house in a neighborhood. “All my life I have always liked old houses,” said Denise Harrison, a Durham homeowner and board member of Preservation Durham, a historical preservation society. Her affinity for houses is clear: Harrison has […]
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March 4, 2013
N.C. Central University’s Campus Police and Public Safety building on the corner of Fayetteville St. and Pekoe Ave. holds a special place in history — it was the first Durham fire station to have an all African-American crew salaried by the city. The 1,088 square-foot building was the old engine house for Fire Station No. […]
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“Hey Mister., have you heard about the big bad flu?” “No son, I can’t say I have. Care to explain?” “Sure, Mister. Well, let’s see. The flu is a respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus. When the influenza virus gets into the body, it moves into the respiratory tract. Once there, it binds to the surface […]
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Several recent high-profile murders in town have community youth talking. I talked to a group of seniors at Hillside New Tech High, on their views on this predicament. My main question…. why? According to N.C. Division of Juvenile Justice, which is under the N.C. Department of Public Safety, show that out of a total population […]
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February 19, 2013
It can be hard to find jobs, especially summer jobs, for teens. Many store policies state they only look for workers ages 16 and up. At Urban Hope, located in the Walltown area at 1902 Perry St, there is a camp that local kids say they cannot forget. The camp focuses on a job […]
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February 15, 2013
Muralist Brenda Miller-Holmes is working with 30 others to paint a mural of Durham’s Civil Rights history. She is seeking 30 Durham residents to help paint the mural, and students can apply for 15 of those spots. At the interest meeting on Jan. 30, students filtered in and out asking questions and trying to figure […]
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February 10, 2013
Early College High School programs have been gaining a bit of buzz lately. States from California to Texas to North Carolina have been paying attention to the concept of early college high schools, and their ability to make lasting impressions on the local communities they represent. In North Carolina, the number of early college high […]
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In memory of the Civil Rights movement, YO:Durham and a couple of students recently traced the footsteps of civil rights leaders who struggled during the 1961 Freedom Rides. Just before this past holiday season, YO: Durham Internship and Mentoring coordinator Eric Olson-Getty and YO: Durham Alumna Brittany Dunn participated in the 21st Century Freedom […]
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February 6, 2013
Although not in a gang herself, one teenage girl has seen several of her peers choose to join a gang in search of acceptance. Money, drugs and relationships with members of the opposite sex serve merely as bonuses. The ultimate prize is the attention and the recognition given to teens by gang membership, said Eleycia […]
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January 22, 2013
The choice a felony offender must make once he or she leaves prison seems simple: either earn a living in an honest, legal way or resort back to crime. However, a perceived lack of options can compel a felon to make the wrong choice and continue a life of crime, according to justice department officials. […]
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By Imani Burrell YO: Durham Intern the Durham VOICE thedurhamvoice@gmail.com Are you a kid who needs a computer at home or unable to get to one when needed? If so, Kramden Institute, located at 4915 Prospectus Drive, Suite-J in Durham, is a nonprofit willing to help if you’re willing to help yourself. At Kramden […]
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“Mahdiyah, do you bathe in that?” This is one of many questions that I’ve been asked regarding my hijab, or headscarf. At first, I used to get irritated and used sarcasm as a way to brighten up my mood. But as I got older, I realized…some people just don’t know why. According to a Google […]
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November 28, 2012
By Christa Watson NCCU Staff Writer the Durham VOICE thedurhamvoice@gmail.com Standing proud just south of the Durham Freeway in the Rolling Hills neighborhood of the historic Hayti district is a building that once-upon-a-time thrived with high school and junior high school students. For about 30 years the abandoned building on Umstead Street – built […]
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November 27, 2012
By Matt Phillips NCCU Staff Writer the Durham VOICE thedurhamvoice@gmail.com Residents of Wellons Village are without easy pedestrian access to a grocery store after Lowes Foods at 1001 North Miami Blvd. shuttered its doors this past September. The store, formerly a key retail asset in The Village Shopping Center, closed after providing service to […]
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