By Jock Lauterer
December 23, 2020
Story by Madison Reese DCI Intern The Durham VOICE Photos by Khadijah McFadden Teen Editor-in-Chief Durham Children’s Initiative (DCI) created “Holiday Zone” seven years ago to provide Christmas gifts for Durham families who need them. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, however, the traditional way Holiday Zone is executed had to change. The Holiday Zone […]
Read moreBy Jock Lauterer
December 18, 2020
Annual Durham Production Streams On Demand for the 14th Christmas Season One of Durham’s top traditions continues this weekend in a nontraditional way. Triangle Performance Ensemble presents Black Nativity Durham as a virtual production for the first time in its history due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Produced by Wendell Tabb and co-produced by Xavier Cason, […]
Read moreBy Jock Lauterer
November 28, 2020
By Leslie Santos DCI Intern My friend, Lauryn Perry, and I were looking for something to do one day this fall, but with Covid-19 throwing things into chaos, we didn’t know exactly what. In late October, with Halloween just around the corner, we decided to hunt for sunflowers and to go to a pumpkin patch. […]
Read moreBy Jock Lauterer
November 6, 2020
By Khadijah McFadden Teen Editor-in-Chief Covid-19 has changed many people’s lives, some for the better and others for worse. One of those changes include their work predicaments. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, almost 19 million people lost their jobs or stopped working for a period of time due to Covid. The BLS found […]
Read moreBy Jock Lauterer
November 4, 2020
By Nway Dee DCI Intern The Durham VOICE This year’s in-person voting, as part of Election 2020, began October 15 for North Carolina residents. People started rushing to polling locations during the first week and many of those voting are also urging others to vote early or as soon as possible. Voting is vital and […]
Read moreBy Jock Lauterer
October 30, 2020
By Jock Lauterer Founding Publisher The Durham VOICE Fifty years ago this past spring, four outstanding 18-year-old Black graduating high school seniors from a rural high school in Western North Carolina teamed up to express their gloves-off opinions about the first year of school integration and the state of race relations. Earlier this fall, those […]
Read moreBy Palace Jones
The dire prospect of a shortage among Durham’s election poll workers, for fears of contracting and spreading Covid-19, could have resulted in even longer lines than we’re seeing in early voting. Fortunately, more than enough residents of Durham rose to perform a treasured civic duty by signing up to help voters enjoy a smooth and […]
Read moreBy Madison Reese
October 7, 2020
I recently lost my long-time companions, Simba and Nala. The pair of Rottweilers, both dying from old age — Nala at 12 and Simba at 13 — were integral family members since I was a toddler. I think about my dogs daily and often wonder how pets and their owners are faring during this pandemic […]
Read moreBy Jock Lauterer
By Antoine Freeman In early August a man in Pennsylvania was charged with shooting at an employee of a cigar shop. This violence started when the cigar shop employee told the man, Adam Zaborowski, 35, to wear a mask. According to local news reports, Zaborowski allegedly fired shots at the store clerk and later, […]
Read moreBy Margaret Gaw
September 18, 2020
https://overcast.fm/+gbOiCoPJI Jem is a student at Durham Tech Community College. Join us for a conversation with Jem! Listen through the link above or on Spotify!
Read moreBy Margaret Gaw
https://overcast.fm/+gbOjSL2iU Kira Lee is a former member of PYO’s Youth Advisory Board and a student in Durham. Join us for a conversation with Kira — listen through the link above or on Spotify:
Read moreBy Margaret Gaw
https://overcast.fm/+gbOgHtBVU Khadijah McFadden is the Teen Editor-in-Chief of the Durham VOICE and a senior at Research Triangle High. Join us for a conversation with Khadijah! Listen by clicking the link above or going on Spotify:
Read moreBy Jock Lauterer
September 2, 2020
https://overcast.fm/+gbOg96pas Nathan Gomez is a former member of PYO’s Youth Advisory Board and a student at City of Medicine Academy. Join us for a conversation with Nathan! Listen on the link above or on Spotify:
Read moreBy Margaret Gaw
https://overcast.fm/+gbOiLG2lk Rocky Jones is a contributor for the Durham VOICE and senior at C. E. Jordan High school. Join us for a conversation with Rocky! Listen above or on Spotify:
Read moreBy Margaret Gaw
https://overcast.fm/+gbOhM7Jxg Chamiya Edwards is a former member of PYO’s Youth Advisory Board, founder and owner of Knicknack Cupcakes (https://wopita.com/knicknack.cupcakes) and a student at Durham Tech Community College. Join us for a conversation with Chamiya! Listen by clicking the link above or on Spotify:
Read moreBy Khadijah McFadden
August 15, 2020
After a long, unexpected and crazy break during the coronavirus pandemic, it is now time for students to “return” to school. School this year will look a lot different than any other. This year the majority of local schools will be online for probably the entirety of the fall semester however, chances could creep up […]
Read moreBy Samantha Martinez
May 16, 2020, was the day I was going to transform into a young woman. That is, until Covid 19. This is the story of how Covid 19 impacted what was supposed to be a day to remember. I know what you might be thinking: “What is a quinceanera?” A quinceanera, also referred as a […]
Read moreBy Madison Reese
Editor’s Note: This story was written just before the NCHSAA announced the postponement of high school athletics for fall 2020. Volleyball and cross country are the first sports that will be allowed to practice: both start practice Nov. 4 with the first competition set for Nov. 16. Covid-19 has affected the world in ways we’d […]
Read moreBy Margaret Gaw
August 14, 2020
Covid-19 Chronicles: Zooming in on Durham Youth is a podcast series produced and reported for the Durham VOICE and community. Through this series, we are connecting with students who are involved with Durham Children’s Initiative (DCI), allowing them to share their journeys and experiences during Covid-19. My name is Margaret Gaw, and as a fellow […]
Read moreBy Nway Dee
August 13, 2020
Ever since George Floyd’s murder, there has been huge outrage from citizens of the United States. Many protests took place in every state in order to show support for the Black Lives Matter movement. Back in June, a peaceful protest took place in Durham downtown where numerous people marched. I believe that this is a […]
Read moreBy Jock Lauterer
July 28, 2020
By David Reese, DCI President July 1 marked a monumental day in the history of the Durham Children’s Initiative (DCI). Not only have we officially changed our name to reflect our county-wide work with families and our support of the development of the Durham County Early Childhood Action Plan (ECAP), but we have also signed […]
Read moreBy Jock Lauterer
By Ayana Hernandez North Carolina Central University is one of six institutions awarded funds from a $6 million grant from the N.C. Policy Collaboratory at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for COVID-19 research and care. The announcement was made June 11 by the University of North Carolina Board of Governors’ Historically Minority […]
Read moreBy Jock Lauterer
June 11, 2020
Of late, there has been much talk about “the talk.” Now, a year and a half after a dramatic play by the same name debuted in Durham, a video version will begin streaming for a month, beginning today, Friday, June 12. (See details below.) “The Talk” dramatizes the frank conversation a black father must have […]
Read moreBy Khadijah McFadden
May 6, 2020
“The yellow brick road with a pot of gold at the end,” are the words that David Reese, President and CEO of East Durham Children’s Initiative, uses to describe the upcoming merger between two local NGOs dedicated to helping Durham’s children have a better life. On July 1, Partners for Youth Opportunity, led by Julie […]
Read moreBy Olivia Browning
Editor’s Note: With the passing of Kenneth W. Edmonds, publisher of the Carolina Times, we offer as a tribute this profile of Edmonds, his family and the long, proud legacy of the Carolina Times. Originally published in the Durham VOICE, spring of 2017, this article was written by then UNC-CH staff writer and VOICE co-editor, […]
Read moreBy Landon Bost
April 2, 2020
Durham is revered for Black Wall Street as a place where African Americans found economic prosperity in the early twentieth century. Now, a group that honors that legacy inspires the next generation of Durham entrepreneurs Wall Street Juniors Inc., a nonprofit founded by a Hillside High School alumna in 2018, teaches financial literacy to Durham […]
Read moreBy Maydha Devarajan
As the COVID-19 pandemic worsens, public health groups such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization are emphasizing the importance of engaging in social distancing and other methods of isolation to reduce the risk of spreading the virus. However, for essential workers such as first responders, grocery store cashiers […]
Read moreBy Victoria Johnson
Hillside High School math teacher Raychelle Baptist had planned to teach her students about exponential curves after spring break. But then one such curve forced Durham Public Schools to close its doors. North Carolina reported its first case of COVID-19 on March 3, and just a few weeks later, the state now has over 1,800 […]
Read moreBy Victor Hensley
The 1981-82 Denver Nuggets. The 1989-90 Loyola Marymount Lions. The 2013 Denver Broncos. All of these teams have one thing in common: each is the greatest offensive team in its respective league’s history. But before those teams came along, there was the 1965-66 Hillside High School Hornets, also known as the “Pony Express.” “No one […]
Read moreBy A.J. O'Leary
He grew up around his family’s stone masonry business in Durham. Now, he wants to build on that foundation. LaMon Jones, 21, recently started a job with the Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association, a nonprofit that works to protect water quality in Northeast Central Durham. Jones said he was able to get his job at ECWA […]
Read moreBy Julia Masters
Crouching with a power tool in hand, Durham artist Stephen Hayes pressed chicken wire over an aluminum base and drilled it into place. Soon the structure was covered in smooth slate, and the acrylic top covered in a collage of old news clippings and photographs was placed on top. This marker now sits permanently outside the […]
Read moreBy Celia Farmer
Two local nonprofits have announced exciting news: Partners for Youth Opportunity (PYO) and Durham Children’s Initiative (DCI) decided to merge as one nonprofit to scale their impact in Durham. On March 5, PYO held their annual Rise and Shine Breakfast fundraiser. During the breakfast the group discussed its report from the previous year and then […]
Read moreBy Jazmine Bunch
With Durham County surpassing 100 confirmed cases of COVID-19, everyone is feeling the presence of the coronavirus. From social distancing to increased health and sanitation practices, the virus has caused everyone to make major changes in their lives. This includes Durham business owners. Those who’ve put blood, sweat and tears in to their businesses — […]
Read moreBy Molly Weisner
Publisher’s Note: Ordinarily, a news outlet doesn’t write stories about itself; this is the exception to the rule. When my 7th study/teaching trip to China got cancelled this spring due to the virus, I began wondering if there wasn’t something we could do anyway. And therein lies the tale. Over 7,000 miles separate the students […]
Read moreBy Sasha Schroeder
Samuel and Sons Barbershop on Angier Avenue has been a pillar of community in Northeast Central Durham for years. The coronavirus pandemic isn’t changing that. Samuel Jenkins, owner of Samuel and Sons, decided to transform the barbershop into a Zumba studio in order to keep people moving while many of Durham’s recreational facilities and gyms […]
Read moreBy Brooklyn Brown
“StepUp Durham connects people with hope,” Tim Wollin, 39, of Minneapolis, program director for StepUp Durham, said. StepUp Durham is a nonprofit that offers services for job seekers in the Durham community. Located at 112 Broadway St., Suite B, Durham, StepUp Durham is a resource for free employment readiness training, personalized job coaching, employer referrals […]
Read moreBy Andrew Dundas
Editor’s Note: The Barbershop Revival, originally scheduled for March 27 and 28 at North Carolina Central University, has been postponed until fall. Barbershop singing likely brings to mind an image of four old-timey white men in striped suits and little straw hats. While that image has been fairly accurate for much of barbershop’s history, Andy […]
Read moreBy Gianna Tahan
As the COVID-19 threat continues and thousands of families and children face hunger every day, Durham residents are mobilizing to deliver hot meals to make sure no one goes hungry. Durham Public Schools Foundation strives to support food security and remote learning for students due to public school closures caused by the coronavirus in North […]
Read moreBy Korie Dean
Although the doors are temporarily closed at all Durham County Library locations due to the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, Durham County residents can still take advantage of many online resources the library has to offer. The library closed March 15 after Gov. Roy Cooper issued Executive Order 117, which prohibits mass gatherings of more than […]
Read moreBy Sophia Wilhelm
Alysia Johnson is not the ordinary teenager who rolls out of bed to attend her last classes as a senior at Hillside High School. Instead, at 17 years old, she wakes up early before school to go to Planet Fitness. Then she goes to track practice after school. And, since that’s not enough, she does […]
Read moreBy Matthew Audilet
Despite school closures and government-issued stay-at-home orders, the Durham Kidznotes program is working to make sure their students and teachers can continue learning and teaching music in a virtual setting. “It’s been a really interesting and honestly kind of invigorating time for Kidznotes,” Nick Malinowski, the executive director of Kidznotes, said. The program, which partners […]
Read moreBy Jock Lauterer
March 24, 2020
Publisher’s Note: Back in late February, before COVID-19 became a reality for the U.S., I had my Community Journalism students at UNC-CH write letters of concern to Chinese college students. And the Chinese kids, in deep quarantine, wrote back. Now, a month later, the tables have turned, and we are in the cross-hairs. Thus, the […]
Read moreBy Jock Lauterer
March 10, 2020
Celebrating 10 years of publishing a lab community newspaper for Northeast Central Durham, the Durham VOICE hit the streets Feb. 22 with the first print edition of the spring, affording student writer-photographers the legacy experience of personal, hands-on newspaper delivery. With over 40 drop spots and a circulation of 2,000, the Durham VOICE is printed […]
Read moreBy Brooklyn Brown
I was raised on the Cherokee Indian Reservation, the Qualla Boundary in Cherokee, N.C. When I came to UNC in 2016, I felt an isolation that I did not expect. I was an Indian kid at a predominantly white institution, and I needed someone who knew how I felt. I met a Lumbee girl named […]
Read moreBy Landon Bost
February 27, 2020
Former Chicago Bull, six-time NBA Champion and Hall of Famer Michael Jordan rose from the ground at Madison Square Garden in the first round of the 1991 Eastern Conference Playoffs against the New York Knicks and displayed one of his greatest moments of Air Jordan. Nearly 30 years later, 6-foot-5-inch Southern High School senior guard […]
Read moreBy Brandon Callender
If you asked Austin Royale what he wanted to do with his life 10 years ago, he’d tell you he had no idea. But in 2020, he has a defined vision for a future where the children of Durham are free to explore all of their interests and have new ways to express themselves and […]
Read moreBy Victoria Johnson
Durham native Monica Daye was sexually assaulted in a church when she was 11. “My whole life completely changed,” she said. “I went from an A/B student — outgoing, dancing — to being a student that was failing with D’s and F’s, rebelling, cursing teachers out and getting in trouble.” When she was 19, Daye […]
Read moreBy A.J. O'Leary
Most people come to Zweli’s for the only Zimbabwean food in town, but some come to talk politics. On Friday, Feb. 21, Zweli’s, located in Durham, hosted an Elizabeth Warren presidential campaign event as part of its Dinner Table Talks speaker series. Leonardo Williams, who runs the restaurant with his wife, Zweli, said events like […]
Read moreBy Anthony DeHart and Matthew Audilet
For more than 15 years, a group of dancers and drummers – some experienced, some not – have come together once a month at the Hayti Heritage Center on Old Fayetteville Street for its Hayti Rhythms dance class. The class offers community members the chance to practice movements from the African diaspora and listen to […]
Read moreBy Molly Weisner and Sasha Schroeder
Northeast Central Durham is no stranger to interactions with law enforcement — but a program that connects youth with police through athletics is attempting to reduce juvenile crime and foster positive relationships between the community and officers. Sgt. Jessica Butler, unit supervisor, said the Durham Police Athletic League not only runs athletic camps, but also […]
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