By Eliza Benbow
January 4, 2024
Pauli Murray is known nationally as a Black and LGBTQ+ civil rights activist, writer, teacher and Episcopal priest. But to Karen Ross, the founder and president of the Pauli Murray Foundation, Murray was family. Ross, the great niece of Murray, has been working since 2012 to provide students involved in their own activism with scholarship […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
December 21, 2023
The healthcare dilemma faced by Durham noncitizen residents. Durham, N.C – Forty-year-old Price Mundeke came to Durham in 2015 as a refugee from Africa seeking a better life. As an immigrant with refugee status, Mundeke, a former citizen of the Democratic Republic of Congo, was able to get government-assisted medical insurance. However, the insurance eventually […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
December 14, 2023
Community is one of the primary ways we connect with one another. It’s a key part of how we’re socialized; it determines who we are. As a community journalist, my job is to focus on the nuances of communities and provide a voice to the voiceless. Durham is a growing community with changing needs, but […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
After 4.5 hours of discussion, the Durham County Commissioners on Monday voted 3-1 to approve Simplifying Codes for more Affordable Development — a decision which follows months of advocacy from various Durham community members against the implementation of SCAD to rural areas outside of the city of Durham limits. On November 20, the Durham city […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
On September 7, The Southern Environmental Law Center filed a lawsuit in federal court against Clayton Properties Group, Inc. for ongoing pollution into the Durham creek, Martin Branch, which connects the Lick Creek watershed to Falls Lake. Clayton Properties Inc. owns several prominent housing developments in southeast Durham, including the Fendol Farms retirement community along […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
December 12, 2023
This semester, I grew as a storyteller by serving as a student writer for The Durham Voice. Some of the stories I wrote covered important issues in Durham such as environmentalism, politics, and affordable housing. As a Raleigh native, I wasn’t too familiar with the Durham political landscape. From what I’ve learned, Durham’s rich, multi-cultural […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
Holland Bodner December 12 2023 Aya Shabu is one of Durham’s leading dancers, paving the way for a new generation. Her career in Haitian dance has developed throughout her lifetime as she has found success as a storyteller. Shabu wants to tell a new story by reminding Durham about the beauty and power that lies […]
Read moreBy Ava Dobson
Rusted railings and a worn-out exterior reflect a city’s sentiments surrounding a long-empty building on 505 W. Chapel Hill Street. Once the Old Durham, North Carolina Police Headquarters, the site has been vacant since 2019, as per the city’s official website. However, change may be on the horizon. During the city council meeting on Nov. […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
By Hannah Adams Published Dec. 12 I extend my deepest gratitude to Durham VOICE for providing me with unforgettable experiences that have been instrumental in propelling my journalism career to new heights. Prior to my involvement with your esteemed platform, I contributed to Black Ink Magazine, where I enjoyed the freedom to explore diverse topics […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
By Hannah Adams Published Dec. 12 Despite not securing victory in the Durham mayoral primary, 35-year-old IT sales leader Marshall Williams Jr. remains dedicated to addressing key issues and emphasizes his commitment to collaborative solutions. With a track record including captaining a football team, ranking top nationally in pharmaceutical sales, and pioneering technology startups, Williams […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
Durham, NC- Bus drivers in Durham, N.C are calling for enhanced safety measures on buses in the wake of increasing crime levels in the city. While there have been only one reported cases of bus driver assault over the past year, drivers are urging city officials to prioritize safety measures. Violent passengers are pushing many […]
Read moreBy Audrey Kashatus
December 11, 2023
Elijah King was born and raised in Durham with his mom and little sister. By the time King turned 18-years-old, he had moved 11 different times. King grew up witnessing things most kids his age couldn’t have imagined. He saw eviction, moving places under 24 hours, crashing at his grandparent’s house and even different pastor’s […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
What was supposed to be a heartwarming union between Garnell Hill and his discovered son takes several legal turns with the Durham County Department of Social Services, posing unforeseen challenges three years later.
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
December 5, 2023
Coming into my assignment working for the Durham VOICE through my class at UNC, I was basically blind. I had never lived in Durham, known anyone from Durham or even read any news about Durham. To say I felt underqualified to fairly and competently cover stories regarding important and weighty topics was an understatement. The […]
Read moreBy Emma Hall
November 30, 2023
“The sensory friendly film series is a series that we’ve created to be very welcoming and supportive of individuals with autism or other folks that may have sensory accommodations.”
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
November 29, 2023
Caroline DalyNovember 29, 2023 For Shelia Huggins, a former candidate for Durham City Council, life has always revolved around elections and politics. Huggins’ mom, Ann, first introduced Shelia to the political world during her childhood, as she has been involved in public service for a long time. “I was already in it,” Shelia said. “So, […]
Read moreBy Emma Hall
November 25, 2023
The chaos of the 2023 municipal elections will only crescendo in the 2024 presidential election. My hope is that the messy, divisive nature of Durham politics doesn’t serve as a prequel to the federal elections this next year.
Read moreBy Ava Dobson
November 23, 2023
Reflecting on my time reporting for the Durham community has been the hardest task assigned to me yet. Not because I don’t know what to say, but because I feel unqualified to in so few words. I believe the most significant takeaway I can provide is the least obvious: while media outlets often portray Durham […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
November 22, 2023
Caroline Daly November 22, 2023 The election season for Durham mayor and city council were intense at times. I was not surprised by the outcome of the mayoral election because Leonardo Williams came out on top which was expected. However, my reporting focused more on the city council elections. Shelia Huggins was the candidate I […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
November 16, 2023
by Christina Polge Uploaded November 16 at 3pm Writing for the Durham Voice has been a powerful experience for me. It reminded me about the true value of journalism: the readers. When writing my stories, I spent a lot of time considering what would be important for Durham residents to know and then I centered […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
November 9, 2023
Blair LM Kelley, author of Black Folk: The Roots of the Black Working Class, shared insights on incorporating her ancestral line into her book’s writing process during the Writer’s Discussion Series Lecture last Thursday evening, November 2. Kelley is a Ph.D. holder in History with certificates in African and African American studies and women’s studies […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
November 6, 2023
By Hannah Adams Published Nov. 6 Durham comes to life through vibrant and diverse community murals. These pieces of art celebrate Durham’s rich history, culture and diversity, and have become an integral part of the city’s landscape. “While some states attempt to remove the historical truths that shaped this country; Durham has decided to embrace […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
November 5, 2023
Holland Bodner November 5, 2023 General election day is a couple of days away in Durham and the race for city council has intensified. Khalilah Karim is continuing to push for advocacy and voter engagement through her platform, as well as social media. Karim is setting the stage as she proves to herself and Durham […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
November 3, 2023
Caroline Daly November 2, 2023 On Wednesday, Oct. 18, Huggins held a press conference where she announced that she and her team made the decision to suspend her campaign for an at-large seat on the Durham City Council. Following the primary election on Oct. 10, Shelia Huggins was among the top six choices for Durham […]
Read moreBy Ava Dobson
November 2, 2023
Carl Rist recently achieved a monumental milestone in his campaign. The city council-member- hopeful was one of six candidates to receive enough votes to secure a spot on the city of Durham, N.C.’s general election ballot. Instead of celebrating, he plans on immediately preparing for the upcoming electoral event. “I’m focused on the next steps,” […]
Read moreBy Emma Hall
Williams went to North Carolina Central University in Durham, N.C., and has worked as an educator and entrepreneur in Durham since. He also emphasized that as a Black man, he believes he can better connect to Durham issues than Woodard.
“A lot of Durham problems that we are experiencing right now, they are personal, lived experiences to me,” he said.
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
November 1, 2023
With a master’s degree and the ability to speak two languages, kindergarten teacher Nancy Gonzalez had her pick of jobs at top-rated schools across North Carolina when she graduated in 2022. She chose Durham’s Glenn Elementary School, which was labeled as a “D” school at the time. Last spring 100% of teachers replied “Yes” when […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
From sensory spaces to advocacy, experts recommend a comprehensive approach DURHAM, NC — Durham accessibility experts are calling for the use of sensory spaces and better teacher training to support students with disabilities. Experts and community leaders say that more needs to be done to accommodate the needs of students with a disability, particularly those […]
Read moreBy Audrey Kashatus
October 31, 2023
As Durham gets closer to its municipal elections this year, one demographic has important topics on its mind when deciding between candidates. The remaining two candidates for the mayor of Durham are Mike Woodard and Leonardo Williams. Sylvester Williams, who has previously opposed gay marriage and cited sexuality as a contributor to the high drug […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
October 17, 2023
Ricky Hart has known about his ancestry since he was a child, when his father took him on visits to their family home, the Hart House: a small cabin located on what used to be the Bennehan-Cameron Stagville Plantation and is now home to Historic Stagville. Historic Stagville is located 10 miles north of downtown […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
October 16, 2023
Holland Bodner Published October 16, 2023 Durham citizens are facing an affordable housing crisis as companies gentrify Durham neighborhoods. This year, Durham residents saw a 6.3 percent increase in housing prices with newly developed properties. The Durham community is seeing the detrimental effects of gentrification through environmental destruction from rising temperatures, water pollution, and tree loss. […]
Read moreBy Audrey Kashatus
October 12, 2023
Sylvester Williams, a candidate for the mayor of Durham and former financial analyst, is now a pastor at The Assembly at Durham Christian Center. This campaign will mark Williams’ fourth time running for the mayor of Durham. During his previous run in 2017, Williams received less than 2% of the vote. Despite his three unsuccessful […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
By Caroline Daly, October 12th Shelia Huggins is running for election to Durham City Council in North Carolina. The focus of her campaign is increasing the number of better paying jobs and opportunities for Durham residents, despite the rising presence of automation and Artificial Intelligence (AI). One of her main concerns relates to the impact […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
Published 3:02 pm on October 12, 2023 (N.C. Sen. Mike Woodard, D-Durham, shakes Council Member Monique Holsey-Hyman’s hand at Holsey-Hyman’s press conference after she got cleared from an extortion investigation. (Photo taken by Jailyn Neville) N.C. Sen. Mike Woodard, (D-Durham), finished second in the primary for Durham mayor, making him a finalist for the seat. […]
Read moreBy Emma Hall
The municipal primary election results are in. Only a month away from Election Day, Durham held primary elections on Oct. 10 to determine the candidates for mayor and City Council in the 2023 general election. Every precinct in Durham voted in the primary elections. Out of the over 200,000 residents in Durham, 23,684 Durham residents […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
October 9, 2023
“I’m 61 today!” Donning a simple black t-shirt and khakis, city council member hopeful Carl Rist stands outside of Durham Main Library to greet potential voters. It’s early voting week, and Rist is the only individual on the ballot present. Confetti and presents appear to be low on the tier list of importance- […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
October 6, 2023
By: Noel Harris October 6, 2023 As reporters and supporters gather at Durham City Hall, Councilwoman DeDreana Freeman stands about ten feet away with an unforgettable presence. Council member Monique Holsey-Hyman addresses being cleared of extortion allegations before turning her attention to Freeman. She says Freeman supported her during it all. She says Freeman risked […]
Read moreBy Emma Hall
October 3, 2023
“Going from educator to entrepreneur and all the things that I’ve experienced in between, also being a consultant in policy, really set me on par to be an effective contributor to the policymaking process,” Williams said.
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
Nate Baker sees a problem with Durham city development and is running for City Council to fix it. Born and raised in Durham, Baker is a product of the Durham County public school system. He is 34 years old and the youngest candidate in the running. Baker holds an undergraduate degree from Cornell University in […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
By Caroline Daly, October 2nd Shelia Huggins is running for election for the Durham City Council in North Carolina. Huggins has lived in Durham for a little over 20 years with her husband and daughter. Over the past nine years, she has worked in three different Durham city departments and is involved with many organizations […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
October 2, 2023
City Council candidate Khalilah Karim By Holland Bodner, October 2nd 2023 As election season continues in Durham, one candidate is doing the work in hopes of securing a seat on the city council. Khalilah Karim amplifies the voice of the city by advocating for voters. Karim started in her hometown of Decatur, Georgia and has […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
Marshall Williams Jr., candidate for Durham mayor By Hannah Adams Published Oct. 2, 2023 When I drove up to the house, I felt anxious. It was strange to be interviewing a mayoral candidate in their household. But when I saw Marshall Williams Jr. on his porch, carrying two cases of water bottles inside, my anxiousness […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
Oct. 2, 2023 As candidates and voters prepare for the Oct. 10 elections in Durham, another participant in the city’s politics is raising its voice. Durham’s political action committees (PACs) are instrumental in informing and encouraging voters to participate in this year’s general elections, where 12 candidates are running for three seats on the Durham […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
by Mazin Elnagheeb, Oct. 2 2023 J.J. Campbell at Sandy Creek Park on October 1, 2023 (Photo by Mazin Elnagheeb) J.J. Campbell, a man with an eclectic background including dolphin training, experience with nonprofits, and geophysics, is running for Durham City Council with a people-centric platform. Campbell said his eclectic background will aid him in […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
Published 11:58 am, October 2nd, 2023 (Mike Woodard greets Durham voters at a press conference. (Photo by Jailyn Neville) North Carolina Senator Mike Woodard (D-Durham) did not receive endorsements from INDY Week or Durham People’s Alliance in his run for mayor due to questions about his recent voting history. In its recently published list of […]
Read moreBy Audrey Kashatus
Sylvester Williams is one of eight candidates running for mayor of Durham in the upcoming municipal elections scheduled for this November. Williams has previously run for mayor in 2011, 2013 and 2017. Williams was born and raised in Durham, except for the time he went to school in Atlanta. He is currently the pastor of […]
Read moreBy Carl Kenney
Bonita Green, community advocate and director of the Merrick-Moore Community Development Corporation, is running for City Council At-Large this fall with one significant campaign objective in mind: to promote meaningful and sustainable grassroots change. After moving back to Durham from Florida in 2012, Green noticed not only how much her community had changed, but how […]
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