The Office of Durham and Regional Affairs formed its Education Architecture to help meet the challenges of low student achievement and high teacher turnover in Durham public schools. Enlaces is one of the research-based programs in the continuum of the Architecture. Other programs and support services are featured here each month.

 

In 2008, a Duke-Durham Neighborhood Partnership middle school principal approached Duke's Office of Durham and Regional Affairs  (DARA) with a problem: More and more of his Latino students were engaging in risky behaviors, joining gangs, and otherwise setting themselves on a path to drop out of school and become disconnected.

 

As DARA staff reached out to other Partnership principals and to partner non-profit organization El Centro Hispano, it became clear that local Latino students, who comprise a growing percentage of the Durham Public Schools population, were struggling in both the academic and social arenas and that their families were generally disconnected from school activities and resources.

 

DARA and El Centro Hispano, in collaboration with local schools, launched the Enlaces Latino youth outreach program in October 2009. Enlaces serves fourth- to seventh-grade Latino students -- at  E.K. Powe, Lakewood and Watts Elementary Schools; Durham School of the Arts; and Rogers-Herr Middle -- to build protective factors against gangs, teenage pregnancy, and dropping out of school.

 

Now that Enlaces is in its second year, the program participants and coordinators see the many ways that the weekly student workshops, monthly parent workshops, and new support network are having an impact on the students and families served.

 

"The Enlaces parents are more comfortable and interested in having contact with their children's teachers, and they're expressing a greater appreciation for the importance of education," said Carmen Soto, one of two Enlaces facilitators employed through DARA by El Centro Hispano.

 

"Children are also bonding as participants of Enlaces," Soto continued. "They encourage good behavior. If a friend is acting up, they say things like, 'Don't do that. We are in Enlaces. We have to be better than that.'"

 

Read the rest of the story.
See the full Durham and Regional Affairs Education Architecture.
Learn more about the Office's Latino outreach.

The 2011 Duke-Durham Campaign kicks off this week! For more than 50 years, local businesses and individuals have contributed cash and in-kind donations through the campaign, which supports community organizations and the Duke-Durham Neighborhood Partnership. The 2011 campaign kicks off January 25 at the Walltown Recreation Center.

Below are just a few of the school, non-profit and neighborhood initiatives supported by the 2010 campaign. Check back in the coming months for more on how the Duke-Durham Campaign is making a difference; in the next issue, we will feature Housing for New Hope.

Reality Ministries/ New Horizons
With funds and support from the Duke-Durham Campaign, non-profits Reality Ministries and New Horizons contracted with a local consulting firm to plan for the sustainable merger of their organizations, both of which focus on the welfare of Durham's young people. Follow the link above for more information about New Horizons and the campaign.

Durham Economic Resource Center
Duke-Durham Campaign funds support the work of DERC, a local non-profit and project of End Poverty Durham. DERC runs a distribution center where low-income Durham residents can find affordable goods, and where the unemployed can find both work and training. Follow the link for a story about one DERC trainee graduation ceremony.

Durham Community Land Trustees
The Duke-Durham Campaign supports the work of DCLT in providing affordable housing for Durham residents. Follow the link above to learn more about one of the many DCLT collaborative projects, the Southwest Central Durham Quality of Life Project land bank.

Chemistry 109: Duke Service-Learning
Every year, Professor Kenneth Lyle leads teams of Duke students and other volunteers on dozens of trips to local elementary schools and science festivals, peaking young students' interest in science with presentations like "Elephant's Toothpaste," "Witch's Cauldron," and "Grape Juice to Water to Milk."

The Office of Durham and Regional Affairs kicked off the new year with a new partnership between Duke, Durham Public Schools, and The Herald-Sun: Duke University's Durham Student of the Week program.

With support from Duke, The Herald-Sun will feature every week a DPS middle or high school student nominated in recognition of his or her inspiring qualities or ability to overcome obstacles. Every DPS secondary school will have a chance to nominate at least two students by the end of the year.

"A lot of great things are happening at the schools, exciting learning opportunities and dynamic learning environments," said Vice President for Durham and Regional Affairs Phail Wynn Jr. "We wanted the opportunity to highlight on a regular basis each of the schools, along with the students who are doing great things at the schools."

So far, the featured students include Chewning eighth-grader Breanna Burch, Neal eighth-grader Lauryn McMiller, and Lowe's Grove sixth-grader Travon Andrews.

Look in The Herald-Sun's Schools section every Tuesday to see the rest of the year's honorees.

Follow the links below to see how the Office of Durham and Regional Affairs and its partners in Duke community engagement have made headlines.

"Citing top-notch students"
The Herald-Sun, 1/1/11
The Herald-Sun gives an introduction to the new Duke University's Durham Student of the Week and shares why the program is important to Durham Public Schools and the community.

"Morgan volunteers in New Orleans"
GoDuke.com, 1/3/11
Duke senior and football player Bryan Morgan participated in a service project in New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward as part of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, a national award honoring 22 players from all levels of college football who stand out for their volunteer efforts.

"A fair price for Duke clothing"

The Durham News, 1/5/11 

Jim Wilkerson, director of Duke Stores, has been a national leader in lobbying for improved factory conditions around the globe, helping to defend the rights of workers who make clothes - particularly items bearing the logos of Duke and other universities.

 

"Reaching all newborns"

The Herald-Sun, 1/5/11

Durham Connects, which provides in-home health support for families with newborns, will expand this year to reach all newborns delivered in Durham hospitals whose parents live in Durham county. Durham Connects is a partnership of the county health department, Center for Child and Family Health, and Duke's Center for Child and Family Policy.

 

"A special field trip to India"

Duke Today, 1/5/11

The Duke Center for Civic Engagement coordinated a tour of India for 12 educators from southeastern North Carolina, allowing them to discuss education with Indian teachers and learn how they use standardized tests. The Center's immersion study tours are designed to offer a global perspective for North Carolina teachers.

 

"Smith named 3rd MLK Community Caregiver Award winner" 

Inside Duke Medicine, 1/14/11

Duke Hospital patient transporter Walter Ray Smith was named the hospital's third Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Caregiver Award Winner for his local service to Caring House and global service to support better infrastructures in a small Nigerian village. 

 

"NCCU honors Sarah Woodard's service"

Duke Today, 1/18/11

Duke Medicine employee and Duke-Durham Campaign volunteer Sarah Woodard received the Martin Luther King Jr. Social Justice Community Award from North Carolina Central University for her work encouraging student involvement in service through St. Titus' Episcopal Church.

 

"Rescue Mission gets $800K gift from Atlanta bank"

The Herald-Sun, 1/19/11

The Durham Rescue Mission received an $800,000 grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta, to help the non-profit expand. The funds will reach the mission through BB&T with help from 2011 Duke-Durham Campaign Chair Earl Tye. 

 

"Crayons2Calculators offers giveaways to Durham teachers"

The Herald-Sun, 1/21/11

Doing Good in the Neighborhood Community Care Grant Fund recipient Crayons2Calculators opened the doors of its new facility, where local public school teachers can find free supplies for their classrooms.