By Carl Kenney
December 14, 2018
Kidznotes, the Durham-based non-profit music program devoted to giving kids a passion for music, is back with their annual Winter Concerts. This year’s first free concert will be held Fri., Dec. 14, 5:30 – 7 p.m. at Fayetteville Elementary School located at 2905 Fayetteville St. The second concert will be presented in the same […]
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November 23, 2018
On the Sunday afternoon of Nov. 18, excited members of the Durham community assembled at 411 West Chapel Hill St., across from the bustling Greyhound bus station for an organic occasion. The upbeat sound from the DJ assisted farmers, entrepreneurs and small business owners in conversation as they gathered under the brightly patterned canopies which […]
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November 22, 2018
The Hillside High School Theatre Department, under the leadership of veteran director Wendell Tabb, launched its fall production season by bringing “The Color Purple’ to the stage. Durham VOICE photographer Cameron Rogers was there to capture these images. Before the production begin on Nov 9, African dancers graced the stage at Hillside High School, giving […]
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November 21, 2018
Empowered Minds Academy sits in a friendly looking red and white corner building at 1217 Holloway St. Entering the small intimate academy, you are greeted by posters, kid friendly signs, and Valine Zeigler, founder and head of school. Zeigler is a warm woman who is passionate about her school and the children who attend. In […]
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November 15, 2018
Empowered Minds Academy is a small independent school of 12 students. Seven are in elementary school and five are in middle school. “We are a non-traditional school where (our students) are in control of their own learning,” Valine Zeigler, Head of School/Founder/MS Guide. Thanks to this non-traditional school, Durham was able to host 12 […]
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Enthusiastic and dedicated Durham residents crowded into Epworth United Methodist Church on Oct. 15 to listen to and workshop with Richard Rothstein, author of “The Color of Law: A forgotten history of how our government segregated America.” Epworth hosted the event which gathered members of the N.C. Council of Churches, public school advocates, parents, teachers […]
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On the outskirts of the Durham Farmers’ Market – where Foster Street meets Hunt Street, one of the friendliest vendors greets people with samples of liquid sunshine – the best sweet tea. Roman Gabriel, the founder of Romanztea, has traveled thousands of miles physically and spiritually to find himself in Durham, sharing the tea he […]
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November 14, 2018
Dr. Yaba Blay had promised the room full of eagerly awaiting professional black women an evening of “black girl magic,” and she did not disappoint. In continuance with its mission to increase the position of black people in the community and break down barriers to economic participation in ethnic markets, the Durham Business and Professional […]
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Nobody likes being told what to do, but the truth is without regulations there is no order. But does this mean the government can literally set children up for failure? The school-to-prison pipeline is not new — in fact, according to NC Child, an advocacy organization for North Carolina kids, the school-to-prison pipeline began […]
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With the holiday season approaching, many look forward to their once-a- year rituals, but this may not be accessible to everyone. For 40 years, Meals on Wheels has been combating food scarcity among Durham’s senior population. Community Outreach Director Arnette Read explained, “Usually clients are homebound, living alone, unable to cook, and unable to shop.” […]
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November 7, 2018
Durham Parks and Recreation and Beyond Fences teamed up to provide an entertaining afternoon for dog lovers as well as a way for the organization to give back to the community. The 4th Barktoberfest was held Oct. 27 in Durham Central Park. The overcast chilly day didn’t stop people from coming out with their dogs. […]
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Little did sisters Savannah, 10, and Sienna Forrester, 11, imagine that when their father taught them to make shea butter using a family recipe, they would be able to turn it into a business — The Brown Sugar Sisters. Last week the girls were gearing up for their third young entrepreneurs’ career fair and the […]
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November 5, 2018
North Carolina voters concluded an 18-day early voting period on Saturday, Nov. 3, for the 2018 midterm election with a record number of ballots cast, according to the North Carolina State Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement. One reason for the surge in this year’s early voter turnout can be attributed to the nearly […]
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October 22, 2018
Durham locals are turning to an environmentally friendly alternative to dumping garbage. Local service CompostNow has provided a new green aid in reducing the Bull City’s waste. CompostNow aims to fight the Triangle’s landfill issue by turning residents’ food scraps into soil. Meat, dairy, pizza boxes and other materials can be given to CompostNow. […]
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Located on 212 West Main Street is a unique recording studio. The “BlackSpace” is an Afro-futurism digital creation space home to Durham’s youth. This makerspace offers the youth a “wokeshop” series offering personal training in the digital and creative arts including videography, spoken word poetry, puppetry, coding, 3D printing and electronic music production. Kids, […]
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October 19, 2018
Homelessness and addiction are phenomena that have pushed so many over the edge. But the men living at the Durham Rescue Mission have high hopes for a better life. Located at 1201 East Main Street, the Mission takes in on average 300-320 men on a daily basis. The Durham Rescue Mission was launched 45 years […]
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October 12, 2018
Editor’s Note: During her senior year at UNC-Chapel Hill, Elise Clouser served as a staff writer-photographer for the Durham VOICE. Upon graduation in 2017, she was hired as a reporter by the Carteret County News-Times of Morehead City, which donates the printing of the Durham VOICE as a public service. We wanted to know […]
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October 10, 2018
Hillside High School’s award-winning drama department is in rehearsal for ” The Color Purple,” a musical version of the classic novel, produced and directed by veteran drama teacher Wendell Tabb, November 9-11, at Hillside High School theatre auditorium, 3727 Fayetteville St. There are almost 100 students working to create the production, including actors, dancers, offstage […]
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October 9, 2018
Normally when people hear of professional or business conferences, they immediately think of an adult event. However, the Emily K Center, Durham Youth Commission, Made in Durham and Partners for Youth and Opportunity, all youth-serving non-profit organizations in Durham, decided to switch up the old format by hosting a youth conference earlier this fall […]
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October 8, 2018
Saturday! The day that everyone looks forward to. What better way to enjoy a relaxing Saturday morning, than at the Durham Farmers’ Market? The market is open every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. April through November and 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. December through March. The market also offers a mid-week market, […]
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October 5, 2018
“For a quarter of a century, SEEDS has sought to uplift communities in Downtown Durham through growing, cooking and sharing food,” said the SEEDS foundation on their Harvest Dinner invitation. “We hope that you will join us for a celebration of 25 years of SEEDS history and to support the next 25 years of building […]
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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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October 2, 2018
As cooler weather knocks on our doors, Change Paths Ministry (910 N. Guthrie St.) opens its doors, welcoming those in need of clothing or food. Change Paths Ministry, located in East Durham, was founded in 2015 by Pastor Allen Jones and his son, Tyrone (Redd) Nelson. From Jones’ home, he takes in donations of […]
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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 24, 2018
Durham based African Fashion Week NC (AFWNC) boosted local business and startups again this year with a week long events. On Sept. 8 at The Fruit, 305 S Dillard St. the African Fashion Week NC (AFWNC) hosted the Afro Marketplace. The event allowed vendors to come and sell their products, from jewelry, to bonnets, to the […]
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The fall season may be in full swing as Durham prepares for its 17th annual Phoenix Fest. Held at 908 Fayetteville Street, the free public festival will be on Saturday, Oct. 6 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. This year’s theme “Come Early, Stay Late” encourages visitors to participate in numerous activities and enjoy […]
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September 21, 2018
Determination, faith and humor. These are just a few words Karen Lewis, the niece of one of the actresses and a member of the Antioch Baptist Church uses to describe tomorrow’s gospel musical, “The Glory Train.” For the last three years for Black History Month the Drama Ministry of St. Matthews in Greensboro, N.C holds […]
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September 20, 2018
With Hurricane Florence threatening off the coast of North Carolina last week, one local grocery store took precautions to be prepared for the storm. Durham VOICE reporter Wade McCreary went to the Food Lion grocery store at 3500 N. Roxboro St. to check out the scene and see what preparations had been made there. […]
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September 19, 2018
Dancing has always been a unique way for someone to express themselves, but for Rosalyn Reed, dancing has become the core of her health. Every Tuesday she attends a 7 p.m. line dancing class at the Holton Career and Resource Center on Driver Street. The line dancing class is organized by a group of […]
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September 17, 2018
When there is no barrier between adolescence and adulthood, what makes a person “grown-up?” Standing at the Durham bus terminal one day, I asked a random young male what did he think makes him an adult. “I’m not an adult, but I’ve been through so much more than the average adult and have taken […]
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September 12, 2018
The impending threat of a Category 4 hurricane barreling towards Durham creates chaos in the community. Preparing for the worst, individuals and families stock-up on nonperishable food items and water, wait in excessively long lines at gas pumps, ensure the structural soundness and safety of their homes and belongings, and contemplate evacuation. But for […]
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September 11, 2018
Normally when we hear the term “fake news,” we immediately think of Donald Trump. Especially when talking about Russia rigging the election. But, just because someone says news is fake doesn’t mean that it is. “In this day and age of fake news, accuracy in the Durham VOICE is more important than ever,” said […]
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In mid-July, a few weeks ago, my friend and fellow PYO (Partners for Youth Opportunity) student, Tyee Meek, and I biked from Chapel Hill to the Outer Banks — a distance totaling over 700 miles — with Triangle Bikeworks. Triangle Bikeworks is an organization that promotes youth leadership development through biking. Our bike tour […]
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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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What started as a small one-person operation, known as East Durham Pie Company, has now blossomed into a cozy, independent bakery shop. On the corner of Driver Street and Angier Ave., in Old East Durham, sits one of the sweetest delights. The East Durham Bake shop, launched last March by Ali Rudel, has now […]
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A modern revival is slowly underway for historic Old East Durham. But one thing has remained constant for this neighborhood, small businesses. For local owners, Ali Rudel and Ben Filippo, running East Durham Bake Shop has been a labor of love. At the intersection of South Driver Street and Angier Avenue, lies the East […]
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N.C. Central University’s Men’s Achievement Center and National Council of Negro Women teamed up with Burton Elementary School to hand out school supplies to kids on their first day of school on Monday, Aug. 27. This event was planned as a way to connect with the community and increase engagement because schools make up […]
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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 20, 2018
Through the exhibit “Faith in Color: A Photographic Exploration of Race, Religion, and America in Tribute to C. Eric Lincoln,” a Duke senior aims to change people’s perceptions. The exhibit is on display in the Duke University Chapel until May 1. Evan Nicole Bell is from Columbia, Maryland, a planned community founded by Jim […]
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April 17, 2018
Sixth-grader Sedra Khatib cried on her first day at Lakewood Elementary School in Durham a year ago. “[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 he said he will come. They had to use [Google Translate]. I was […]
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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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They say love can move mountains, and Joe Bushfan is a mountain of a man. He is big of stature, of smile and of food. Joseph Bushfan owns the Commissary on 2100 Angier Avenue. Although it looks like a quiet location, inside is a buzz of activity. Behind the building, rows of food trucks, […]
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A new pastry restaurant has opened up on Driver Street. Helmed by an award winning owner and a trained staff, this new shop aims to provide the neighborhood with a space where neighbors could meet, grab coffee, and hang out. Enter Ali Rudel and Ben Filippo. When expecting their first child, the couple moved to […]
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The Chicago-born rapper who calls Durham home, “Go79man” (pronounced Goldman) Walter Gilmore is making big strides with his signature sound that steals the show every time he is on stage. When the crowd hears his raspy signature sound, they go wild. During his rap career, Gilmore started from the bottom like every other rapper […]
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Durham-based, fashionably-gifted YouTuber, Domonique Robinson has quite the journey as a social media influencer and owns a make-up line for all beauty lovers. She has been into beauty since helping out her mom in the beauty salon when she was younger. Robinson discovered her passion for doing makeup around 10th grade. “I would always […]
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Entrepreneur Ithiopia Meekeda, has launched her all-pure organic line of body products, “Blush Essentials” to the public this year. She is a Durham native and N.C. Central University graduate who believes in her business. “I founded Blush Essentials Natural Body Products in March 2017. I had a soft launch last year to get an […]
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April 11, 2018
Obtaining the job of Miss North Carolina is no easy task, but Savannah Culbreth and Maya Bryant believe they are up for the challenge. Once a year, 49 women gather in Greensboro to prepare themselves for the annual Miss North Carolina competition in June. For Culbreth, Miss Durham 2018, this is her first year competing […]
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