City of Durham NIS Community Engagement

Albright Celebrates PAC, Community and a Re-Designed Open Space

Community news submitted by Gwyn Silver, Albright Open Space Re-Design Project Coordinator

FIRST PHOTO:  At start of NNO with Pastor Wilhelm of The Shepherd’s Flock Baptist Church taking the selfie.  SECOND PHOTO: Albright President Mrs. Dorothy Kelly with District 1 Police Officers  –Photos courtesy of Jesse Gibson

Pre-Submittal Conference Set for August 27; Request for Qualifications Closes September 7

DURHAM, N.C. – Now that the City of Durham has been notified that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be awarding a 2018 Brownfields Assessment Grant to Durham, qualified and experienced engineering and environmental contractors are being sought to assist with the management and execution of this grant.

With this additional 2018 award, the City’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development will use these brownfields assessment grant funds for community outreach, environmental assessment, and cleanup planning activities to support the redevelopment of brownfields properties in targeted areas of the city.

Under the leadership of Mayor Steve Schewel, the City of Durham is one of six cities that will be      expanding its fight against childhood hunger thanks the recent award of a CHAMPS grant.

The National League of Cities (NLC) and the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) has awarded the City a $125,000 grant and 18-months of technical assistance to help expand afterschool and summer meals programs to reduce the food insecurity many local families face.

Do you know what to do when a stranger approaches you?  This question was asked by Officer Laurence Brown to students in Ms. Boyd’s afterschool class. Students were in encouraged to asked questions of Officer Brown and tell their stories about safety.

Officer Brown stressed the importance of knowing their surroundings and given safety tips on what students should do if they are in dangerous situations.

Transformation in Ten (T²) Initiative has partnered with Boys and Girls Club to provide 8- week educational summer camp programming to 30 children, ages 6-18, living in the Census tract 10.01, Block groups 2 & 3. Summer camp transportation is provided, as well as programs include yoga, coding, tutoring, STEM, reading, writing, physical, education, health education, mentoring, and more.

August 31 Application Deadline; Durham Continuum of Care Free Memberships Also Available

The City of Durham Community Development Department is inviting interested organizations to apply for $163,282 in Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funds.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services recently informed the department that the Durham Continuum of Care was eligible to apply for up to $97,969 to fund operating costs of emergency shelters and street outreach activities, and at least $65,313 to rapidly re-house people who are currently homeless and targeted homeless prevention. Eligible applicants must be private nonprofit organizations or units of local government.

On Thursday, July 19, 2018, Brian Smith of the Office of Economic and Workforce Development visited 18 students at Durham Nativity School Summer Camp. The school enjoyed his previous workshop so much, they invited him back!  In April, the students developed murals focused on their neighborhoods.  For this classroom, Brian focused on other forms of public art, specifically sculptures.  The students developed their own whirligigs, after learning about the Whirligig Park in Historic Downtown Wilson, North Carolina.  In addition, the students all got to visit and learn about City Hall on the Go!