The news stories below are written by N.C. Central University students in Lisa Paulin’s advanced reporting course, and by Campus Echo staff reporters. The stories were first published with stories written by Jock Lauterer’s community journalism students at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Northeast Central Durham was once a prosperous textile and tobacco industrial zone, but today the area, located just east of downtown, faces some of the toughest challenges facing America’s cities: dilapidated housing, unemployment, crime, drugs, lack of economic development, and lack of health care.
Stop a local at the corner of Angier Avenue and South Driver Street in Northeast Central Durham and ask about the large three story brick church on the corner. What you’ll find out is that it’s a“ mostly white” church that has been in the neighborhood “forever.” You’ll also find out that its pastor is a “good man.”
For 20 years Welcome Baby has been in the business of creating happy families. Located at 721 Foster st. in Durham NC and funded by Durham's Partnership for Children, Welcome Baby has a number of programs including a car seat safety program and a free clothing closet. Welcome Baby also helps individuals link to outside community resources
Nestled in the corner of Taylor Street and Alston Avenue sits a gem of urban Durham living: Eastway Village. Eastway Village, single family homes and condominiums, was built on the property of the former Few Gardens Housing Project.
Whether you’ve lived in Durham your whole life or a recent transplant, the influences of TROSA (Triangle Residential options for Substance Abusers) are hard to miss.Established in 1994 by Kevin McDonald, TROSA has been impacting the lives of people in 80 counties across the state. Acceptance into TROSA is granted on one condition: you must have a strong desire to change your life.
NECD community members might have felt like they were back at school last Thursday at the East Durham Children’s Initiative community meeting.Despite the socializing, smiles, food and beverages, attendees got down to business when organizers asked them to put their vision to paper.
Many people might like the ice cream flavor named “rocky road,” but they might not enjoy driving on— or living on — that rocky road.“There are currently 20.97 miles of unpaved road in Durham, which the city maintains,” says Nathan McHenry, Engineering Services Supervisor at Public Works. Many streets like Kate Street and S. Briggs Avenue are a few of the 175 roads in Durham that have yet to be paved.
As we launch this inaugural edition of the Northeast Central Durham Community VOICE, I need to thank a whole bunch of good souls who have made this moment possible:
