The inaugural Community Partner Development Course Certificate Program was offered in 2022. Over six months of classes, 12 amazing community members enhanced their ability to advance equitable community engagement and access the resources necessary for this hard work. 

Congratulations to Antonio Alanis, Ashley Robbins, Bonita Green, Charryse Fredrick-Omari, Helen Mangum, Joy Harrell Goff, Latoya Alston, MaKayla Booker, Maria Luisa Solis Guzman, Natasha Wayne, Rev. Dr. Tammy Rodman-Jones, and Yuki Temma!

Click here to sign up to learn more about this Program.

Antonio Alanis  Antonio is an artist and grant writer from Durham. He is seeking to develop a podcast where artists can learn about pursuing art entrepreneurship.
Ashley Robbins Originally from Sanford, NC, Ashley has been a Durham resident since 2015. She is currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration from NCCU. She has also been a leader, and promoted accessibility, with NCCU’s International City/County Management Association, Durham’s Citizen Advisory Committee, and the Engage Durham Outreach Team.  Ashley’s proposed project will provide training and consulting in the Hayti community to ensure local spaces and events are accessible and inclusive to all its residents. This work honors the legacy of Lyda Merrick-Moore who established the Negro Braille Magazine,  the first and only publication for Black blind folks.
Bonita Green Bonita is a very active community leader who is experiencing burnout.   Understanding that most community leaders lack adequate support and often experience burnout, Bonita’s proposed project will provide a safe space for BIPOC community leaders to share and learn.
Charryse Fredrick-Omari Charryse is a married mother of three incredible children, an educator, entrepreneur, community-rooted organizer, and faith leader dedicated to encouraging and empowering others. Her proposed project, Lakewood Community Kitchen Table Talks (Lakewood Cocina Mesa Conversacion), is focused on family engagement. This series of small, informal gatherings which will enable deeper community dialogue to discover and explore needs, values, and opinions.
Helen Mangum Helen is passionate about creating opportunities and solving problems for people who have not developed skills and trades. After having to become self-sufficient at age 17, she works to help others in similar situations.  Her proposed project creates consistent and sustainable training and job opportunities for adult/dislocated workers, which will also fill them with hope and joy.
Joy Harrell Goff  Joy is the the Visionary Conductor and Executive Director of BUMP: The Triangle. This nonprofit centers the cultural wealth of African diasporic visual and performing arts to create healing and liberatory spaces for Black and Brown youth. Joy’s proposed project will increase the access and reach of BUMPs annual programming by investing in reliable transportation for students and equitable compensation for teachers and staff.
Latoya Alston Latoya extracts the moral of a story to use as instructions and opportunities for growth.  Through her LLC, Kingdom Building Mentality Business Consultancy, she proposes to work with the West End - Lyon Park communities to create connections that meet needs and foster growth.
MaKayla Booker MaKayla is a catalyst for equitable economic and social justice taking pride in serving the communities that made her who she is today. Her proposed project, the Community Wealth Building Initiative (CWBI), will promote generational wealth and community sustainability in underserved communities through behavioral economics and community engagement.
Maria Luisa Solis Guzman Maria Luisa is Mexican with roots in the indigenous Mexica community. As a cofounder of Luma Consulting, LLC, she partners with local organizations to create strategies that increase engagement with vulnerable communities. She is also a leader on Duke University's Clinical and Translational Science Institute Advisory Board and Durham's Human Relations Committee. Her greatest accomplishment has been to give her daughters, both first generation immigrants, a better life.  Her proposed project, Embroidering the Path, will host arts and recreation activities for Latinx community members that create a space for conversations and popular education.
Natasha Wayne As the Director of Operations and Community Engagement at Reaching All Minds Academy, Natasha creates educational and career opportunities for students and families in East Durham. Her proposed project will create a mobile classroom designed to increase youth kindergarten preparation and future school success. The converted school bus will provide weekly, curriculum-based instruction to four year olds attending daycare centers in the East Durham area.
Rev. Dr. Tammy Rodman-Jones Tammy is the Founder/CEO of The Sanctuary Outreach Ministry and Volunteer Coordinator for Reality Ministries.  Her proposed project , Just -us, is a summer enrichment program which will focus on Black and Brown children ages 4 through 8 who have experienced trauma and been affected by education inequity and systemic poverty.
Yuki Temma Yuki is an award-winning dancer from Hiroshima, Japan, who has also performed in France, Australia, and the United States. Living and learning in different cultures opened her mind and developed a stronger appreciation for her Japanese heritage. As a member of the Sister City of Durham Toyama Committee, she builds connections and relationships between communities in Durham and Japan.  Her proposed project will increase understanding of different cultures and foster a more inclusive Durham community. Yuki will organize events around Japanese culture and arts, such as Spring Sakura celebration, calligraphy, origami, and Japanese tea ceremony.