Health

Durham man turns to community to rally support for kidney transplant

By Stella Griffin

March 7, 2024

In 2007, Raymond was diagnosed with Focal Segmental Glomerculosis (FSGS), a rare kidney disease that creates scar tissue around the kidneys and prevents them from filtering toxins from the blood. This  led to kidney failure for Raymond. He is in desperate need of a kidney transplant to live.

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A cry for access and equality

By Amina Accram

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 […]

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LGBTQ Community Thoughts After Durham’s Primary Elections

By Audrey Kashatus and 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 […]

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Frontline Fellowships help youth learn and give back during pandemic

By Carl Kenney

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 […]

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Furry friends providing support and companionship during pandemic

By 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 […]

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Managing the stress of Covid-19

By Carl Kenney

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, […]

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East Durham Children’s Initiative and Partners for Youth Opportunity merge to become Durham Children’s Initiative (DCI)

By Carl Kenney

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 […]

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NCCU Awarded $1M in Funding for New COVID-19 Project

By Carl Kenney

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 […]

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‘This is all new territory’: How essential workers are coping with COVID-19

By Maydha Devarajan

April 2, 2020

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 […]

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Pen Pals Across the Pacific: ‘It’s a small world after all’

By 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 […]

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NARAL NC petitions for a pro-choice voice in the presidential debate

By Aaliyah Bowden

November 17, 2019

Abortion, women’s reproductive rights, and gender equality will be on the ballot in the 2020 presidential election.  With that in mind, NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina, located in Durham, has joined 10 other participating organizations in launching a petition to make affordable reproductive health care an important topic on the debate stage. “The petition is asking […]

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Women do Trap Yoga to benefit Autism

By Heaven Gullate

July 30, 2019

Katrina Hayes, an Autism advocate, is passionate about bringing her craft into the streets of Raleigh and the surrounding areas. Hayes is a mother of a child with Autism and has occasionally hosted fundraising events to help the cause.  “As the mother of a child with Autism, I have to be very cognizant where my […]

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GirlTrek: Walking with women

By Heaven Gullate

April 2, 2019

  Although many people dread exercising, Cheryl Waters, a published author and 20-year educator, says that GirlTrek reminds her to think radically and outside of the box when it comes to taking care of her health first. According to their website, GirlTrek is a movement that aims to advocate healthy actions within black women and […]

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Friday blessings: Free food provided by Salvation Army

By Cheyenne Beasley

February 28, 2019

Everyone goes through ups and downs in life, and Suzanne Clark openly shared that things have been very rough since she became homeless in September. Fortunately, the Salvation Army is helping her. On the morning of Friday, Feb. 22, she stood in a line outside the Salvation Army along with about 50 other people with […]

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A day at the Black Farmers’ Market

By Isaiah Ball

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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East Durham front porch providing needed resources

By Cindy Chen

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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Line dancing helps improve health and coordination

By Cameron A. Rogers

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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Dance floor too hot for the flu

By Aaron Faison

March 29, 2018

  With the flu season still upon us, and many people getting sick, you wouldn’t think there would be time for a dance? But Keith DosReis Jr. and the Durham Parks and Recreation staff were confident that people would show up for the second annual Mothers & Sons Dance at the Holton Center. At 6 […]

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Durham’s new trail will add color and connect communities

By Tessa Platek

February 28, 2018

In busy urban areas, sometimes there’s nothing better than escaping the city to enjoy nature. An addition to the West Ellerbee Creek Trail is making it easier to do for more of Durham’s residents. “It’s going to connect people to parts of Durham they haven’t seen before,” said Jessica Kemp, Durham senior project manager in […]

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Durham’s Ronald McDonald House: A house of blessings

By Julian Keeler

December 6, 2017

  In 1973, when Philadelphia Eagles tight end Fred Hill learned about his daughter’s leukemia diagnosis, he and his wife noticed the inconveniences parents had to go through to support their sick child while in the hospital. They teamed up with a local McDonalds to purchase and restore a house near the hospital where these […]

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Dental Bus visits Riverside High

By Nile Foxx

November 26, 2017

The sound of dental drills rang through the hallways of Riverside High School on Nov. 15. A mobile dentist office visited the school to provide dental care to about 50 students in need. “I never knew how much need there was until I started this job,” said Melody Daniels, team leader and Registered Dental Hygienist. […]

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Durham Tech aims to ‘close the gap’ in community healthcare

By Allison Tate

How many of the students here are in this for the money, asks instructor Erica Hall. No hands rise. Hall looks out at the class, about a dozen faces, and tells them that what they’re learning to do won’t be about the fame either. Becoming a community health worker is all about helping your neighbors […]

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Children of Durham at high risk for lead poisoning

By David Fee

November 8, 2017

Lead poisoning in children poses a serious risk to children in Durham, and late last month, PEACH hosted a town hall-style meeting and dinner to talk with community members about their concerns with such hazards. “We wanted to give you some information about lead poisoning,” said La Verne Reid, the host of the event. “But […]

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Black Men Run meets new faces weekly

By Autavius Smith and Carl Smith

October 26, 2017

Casual joggers and athletes may get up in the morning to run for all intended obvious health benefits; lose weight, improve self-esteem, and prevent disease. But for North Carolina State University Economics professor Jason Coupet and a few of Durham’s running clubs, exercise is just part of the health equation for an advantageous lifestyle. A […]

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Inside Outside Alliance demands change at Durham County Correctional Facility

By Sarah Cline

October 18, 2017

The conditions at the Durham County Correctional Facility need to change, according to the Inside Outside Alliance. And they’re doing everything in their power to make it happen. As part of ongoing protests for prison reforms at the correctional facility, protesters gathered outside of the jail last Friday to voice their grievances with the treatment […]

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Collective Wellness offers classes to support health journey

By Tiayana Ford

October 4, 2017

  On a recent Wednesday, a small group of women took a break from the demands of the outside world to focus on themselves at Collective Wellness in Durham. The free Wednesday workshop, this particular week, focused on reflecting on individual values, beliefs and language to live one’s best life. Each week there is a […]

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Durham Parks and Rec hosts free farmers’ market

By Chrissy Murphy

  On a sunny Thursday morning, Clarice Page walked down the hallway of the second floor of the Holton Career and Resource Center, home to Durham Parks and Recreation. Page was one of many Durham residents walking down the hallway that morning headed for Parks and Recreation’s farmers’ market event for seniors over the age […]

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PEACH warns about dangers of lead poisoning

By David Fee

In an earlier version of this story, the VOICE stated incorrectly that PEACH had 300 contractors trained. The correct number of contractors trained by PEACH is 700. The story also incorrectly stated that PEACH was responsible for removing lead hazards in more than 200 buildings; rather it has been responsible for identifying more than 200 […]

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Mature adults find fun and companionship at Durham centers

By Daija Graves

September 21, 2017

  Durham is known for being a vibrant, active community and that holds true for its mature citizens as well as its younger ones. The Durham Center for Senior Life and CAARE, Inc. meet the needs of the community in different ways. The Durham Center for Senior Life was founded in 1949 to enhance the […]

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SEEDlings nurturing the next generation

By Vanessa Luo

September 20, 2017

How did the meal start? Where did it come from? For many, these are not questions that would cross people’s minds before a meal. But it’s the norm for the children at SEEDlings. In front of them are scrambled eggs and fried rice with eggplant, topped with mint, basil and marigold. The children helped cook […]

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TRY: Out to overcome overdose

By Allison Tate

  Gerald Elliott’s first solo trip as a young law enforcement officer left an impression. It was 1987, and he was to deliver a death notice to a family that had lost their 21-year-old son to drug overdose. Elliott was twenty-one, too. Thirty years later, Elliott and his family found themselves on the receiving end […]

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New generation revitalizes Angier Avenue Neighborhood Farm

By Camari Jones

September 19, 2017

  There’s a new generation among Northeast Central Durham trying to make their community brighter and healthier through gardening. Angier Avenue Neighborhood Farm is a community farm located on the corner of Maple Street and Angier Avenue. It was started by Bountiful Backyards, a Durham-based edible landscaping business in 2012 when they raised money through […]

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Kicking discipline with youth

By Nafisa Shah

May 3, 2017

  “I will make a way out of no way.” Master Derrick Richardson, 9th Dan (9th degree) black belt, has youth in his martial arts class say this often. Richardson, 55, has been teaching kids for about three years through an organization called Champions in Motion. He has appeared in international competitions, magazines like Black […]

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ACRA helps Durham community members living with HIV and AIDS

By Mckenna Lea

April 19, 2017

After 30 years of service in the Durham community, the AIDS Community Residence Association (ACRA) has helped many individuals and their families live with HIV and AIDS. Located in South Durham, ACRA Durham provides education and innovative housing for their residents. ACRA currently has two “scattered site” housing facilities which allows residents to live more […]

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Musical duo Meek Noise brings joy to senior center

By Avery Rodriguez

  For almost six years, Durham residents and close friends Noah Goyette, 40, and Sloan Meek, 29, have entertained seniors at the Durham Center for Senior Life. Meek and Goyette arrive every Tuesday and Friday at noon to play a variety of instruments for onlookers. “Noah jokes that we’ve outlasted three center directors and seen […]

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Creek Week keeps Durham beautiful

By Elise Clouser

April 5, 2017

  On a warm weekday morning in late March, while most Durham residents are at work or school, a group of about ten volunteers don bright green vests, sturdy gloves and old sneakers for a Creek Week cleanup event. They carry giant trash bags and begin making their way along the winding creek, picking up […]

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Commentary: My Ride with Meals on Wheels

By Molly Smith

The second I set foot inside Meals on Wheels of Durham, I was immediately greeted with an air filled by the smell of sizzling hamburgers, the sound of animated chit-chat and the sight of dozens of smiling faces. After hearing about President Trump’s proposed budget cuts that endanger thousands of local Meals on Wheels agencies […]

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DCSL: keeping the older adults healthy and active

By Diamond Gwynn

March 31, 2017

  Durham Center for Senior Life, founded in 1949, is a happy, safe place for community senior citizens. DCSL has four different centers, one being in the heart of downtown Durham. Each facility offers a wide selection of programs and services for older adults. Their motto is “enhancing the lives of older adults through education, […]

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Children learn, grow in SEEDS

By Rashaan Ayesh

March 1, 2017

  The school bus driver drops the kids off at the entrance of the garden. Kareemah Abdusamad rushes out of the building on 706 Gilbert St. to greet all of the children who are running down the dirt pathway. Abdusamad welcomes each child and asks about their day. She notices that 10-year-old Adrian Platt has a hole […]

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Wytha Balance Yoga provides classes for all

By Diamond Gwynn

February 22, 2017

  About five years ago Ingrid Saddler-Walker, a certified yoga instructor, spoke with a Durham VOICE reporter about her passion for yoga and her new children’s yoga camp. Since then, Walker has opened up her own yoga studio, Wytha Balance, and has continued to teach yoga in the community. “I wanted to have a location […]

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SEEDS After School: Children learn math, science and art through gardening

By L'erin Jensen and Rob Gourley

November 9, 2016

South Eastern Efforts Developing Sustainable Spaces (SEEDS) has been teaching gardening to the Durham community since 1994, but, here lately it is the after-school program that has become the focus of the organization’s work. According to Program Manager Leslie Simonds, the after-school program spun out of the community gardening program at SEEDS. Gardeners would bring […]

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Commentary: The view from the inside

By Christian Phillips

October 5, 2016

  In 1985, a group of seven men and women formed what was then known as the National Senior Olympics Organization. After joining up with other groups who were already conducting games for seniors, the first National Senior Olympic Games were held in 1987. The inaugural games were well received with 2,500 competitors. The number […]

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Swapping food for community engagement

By Tanner Boggs

April 20, 2016

  Bull City Food Swap, organized by Erin Urquhart, is set to make its debut at Fullsteam Brewery on May 9. This will be the first such event to take place in the Triangle area. Urquhart first came up with the idea of holding food swap events when living in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Inspired by […]

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Neighborhood Improvement Services brings the city together

By Dominick Askew

March 25, 2016

  The City of Durham Department of Neighborhood Improvement Services, located at 101 City Hall Plaza, has five divisions to help keep the city regulated. The five divisions consist of code enforcement, community engagement, Impact team, human relations, and administration. Assistant Director of Neighborhood Improvement Services, Vonzennia Gore, says she thinks of NIS “as being […]

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The School of Hard Knocks rocks

By Ebony Sain

February 11, 2016

  It was a cold, rainy night when David Johnson wandered into The School of Hard Knocks. Twenty-eight-year old Johnson is a Durham resident currently staying at the Durham Rescue Mission. “I was just wandering by when I seen the lights on,” Johnson said, “It’s my first time here, but I’ll be back.” He spent […]

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Durham senior center as vital as ever

By Travis Butler

February 3, 2016

Since 1949, the Durham Center for Senior Life (DCSL) has served the elderly community of Durham. Though it has seen its name changed twice over the years, DCSL has never given up on enhancing the lives of seniors in the community, according to Liz Lahti, director of senior programs at DCSL. DCSL is an independent […]

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Sunrise Recovery helps people find brighter days

By Eric O'Neal

October 1, 2015

On East Geer Street, a relatively new, flashy yellow two-story building stands out from the rest of the block. The color seems symbolic of the organization housed there. Sunrise Recovery Resources Center, a peer-led organization helps substance abusers turn their lives around. SRRC is a non-clinical organization and branch of the Alcoholic Drug Council. They […]

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Three partnering programs do their part in beating hunger

By Rowland Givens

September 18, 2015

Many families around Durham don’t have a lot of money to spend on food. In fact, the latest reports show that 1-in-4 children and 1-in-5 residents worry about where their next meal may be coming from. The Farmer Food Share program, Porch, and the Food Shuttle work in tandem to help families get fresh, nutritious […]

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