All the latest social impact happenings in the BullCity and beyond!

New & Noteworthy

Why Frederick Douglass’s 1852 speech is still being read today…

As we celebrated Independence Day over the weekend, a special reading of Frederick Douglass’s 1852 speech ‘What to the slave is the Fourth of July’ was read at Stagville Plantation in Durham, once one of the largest plantations in North Carolina that enslaved hundreds of people. Durham City Councilman Mark-Anthony Middleton reflected on the importance of Douglass’ speech against the backdrop of Independence Day: “Even today, his speech is useful because it reminds us of the ongoing work we need to do when we look at disparities between blacks and whites,” he said. “Every time we participate in the Fourth of July, we need to look around and think who isn’t free? Who is not enjoying the blessings of prosperity? Who is not participating in this incredible wealth in this country made on the backs of slaves?”

Audacity Labs visit ReCity…

Local teen entrepreneurs tour ReCity's co-working space to explore how to embed social impact into their businesses.

ReCity recently had the opportunity to host the first cohort of teen entrepreneurs of Audacity Labs, a start-up incubator program for teens, where teams of student entrepreneurs work together to conceive, develop, and launch a start-up enterprise. Audacity Labs is a collaboration between the Museum of Life and Science, Duke University’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship initiative, American Underground and ReCity.

Learn more about the program and what these 12 audacious entrepreneurs are cooking up here!

New summer intern!

The ReCity team is expanding this summer, adding a new summer intern, Kathryn Thacker. Kathryn is a Durham-native who loves all things soccer (congrats US Women’s team!) hiking and the Marvel Universe. Kathryn is also deeply passionate about seeing her city become a place where everyone can thrive. Read more about her story and be sure to say hello next time your in the ReCity neighborhood!

Our Partners In The News!

NOLIA Coffee + Crew

We’re thrilled to support ReCity partners Natalie and Justin Minott as they launch NOLIA Family Coffee. Nolia is designed to connect families through great coffee. It’s a coffee-shop created by parents, for parents. The ReCity team swung by during their launch last week to show some love and actually ran into Beyonce (no joke, ask to meet her when you go!)

Network Happenings

Workshop: Storytelling for Nonprofits

Looking for practical tools to tell your nonprofit’s story? This workshop will provide strategies to leverage existing background stories of your organization to gain the attention of your target audience. Ken Branson and Kenia Thompson, from MasterM.I.N.D Productions, will teach participants how to create and leverage stories as a powerful marketing tool designed to emotionally connect with customers. Space is limited, grab your spot today!

Presented by the Durham Chamber in partnership with ReCity.

Documentary Screening: True Justice

For more than three decades, Alabama public interest attorney Bryan Stevenson, founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative, has advocated on behalf of the poor, the incarcerated and the condemned, seeking to eradicate racial discrimination in the criminal justice system. An intimate portrait of this remarkable man, True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality follows his struggle to create greater fairness in the system and shows how racial injustice emerged, evolved and continues to threaten the country, challenging viewers to confront it.

Join ReCity Network for a free screening of the documentary on Wednesday, July 24th. Dinner will be served!

New Desk Space!

Summer Reading List

‘You Can’t Lift People Up by Putting Them Down’: How to Talk About Tough Issues of Race, Poverty, and More

by Trabian Shorters, Founder of BMe Community

Back Row America

by Chris Arnade

Durham Tech teacher shares stories of local refugees through film project

by Stephanie Turner

Durham Tech instructor Grace Beeler has a passion for filmmaking.

Her latest project blends that passion with her desire to help a group of people she often interacts with — refugees. Beeler teaches English as a Second Language, or ESL, at Durham Tech. The project, known as the Triangle Refugees Film Project, is to produce several short documentary films about local refugees.

How to Use Stories to Bring ‘Us’ and ‘Them’ Together

by Annie Neimand and Samantha Wright

To build more inclusive movements, social advocacy organizations and activists need to create stories that can engage both familiar and new communities.

ReCity Network is the Triangle’s hub for social impact. Based in downtown Durham, ReCity is home to a rapidly growing network of almost 100 community leaders from over 40 organizations, all committed to pursuing a shared vision of building thriving communities that are rooted in justice.

Grab coffee with our team and join the movement today!

By Rob Shields
ReCity Network is the Triangle’s hub for social impact. Based in downtown Durham, ReCity is home to a rapidly growing network of almost 100 community leaders from over 40 organizations, all committed to pursuing a shared vision of building thriving communities that are rooted in justice.