Hero Talks

Funding Justice: Jes Averhart & Farad Ali

In Part Three of our four-part series, Funding Justice, we chatted with Jes Averhart, CEO of Jes & Co. & co-host of the JUST podcast, and Farad Ali, Board Chair of Triangle Community Foundation. Jes and Farad shared how their journeys led them to philanthropy, how Triangle Community Foundation is fighting for racial equity, and tips and how-tos when it comes to fundraising and development.

Partner Spotlight: Katie Rose Levin

Katie Rose Levin, the Executive Director of Trees Durham, details the ways that racist policies from the early 1900s dictated the way that trees were planted in Durham - in white-designated ares only. This structural racism creates racially disparate social, medical, economic, mental health, and quality-of-life implications for people of color in Durham, and around the US. Katie Rose shares her expertise, research, and vision for what an equitable, healthy, happy Durham could look like.

Partner Spotlight: Camryn Smith of Communities in Partnership

Camryn Smith is a proud resident of Old East Durham and a community activist & organizer. She has been serving in place-based development work for over 18 years both stateside and abroad. Camryn is a founding member of Communities In Partnership (CIP), a grassroots community organizing and education group based in Old East Durham and serves as the Executive Director. CIP focuses on addressing policy and systemic inequity for communities of color and materially poor people within Durham focusing on social determinants of health, economic development, gentrification, and housing.

Building Resilience

Wanda Boone is the Champion of Change Facilitator. She has engaged almost all formal and informal leaders with a large segment of youth and parents to be involved in the advancement of prevention activities. Wanda is a member of influential national, statewide and local committees that will further advance the goals of TRY's comprehensive prevention action plan to reduce the outcomes of drug use and misuse that can be linked to crime, school suspensions, health, mental health, addiction, suicide attempts and accidental overdoses.

Mass Incarceration and Mass Employment

Juan Nelson was a part of starting StepUp Durham’s Step2 program which is geared towards partnering with StepUp workshop graduates and individuals referred by community partners as they pursue their goals and maintain support in their careers. The Step2 program runs 32 weeks out of the year in four 8-week phases. The curriculum empowers participants through topics related to personal development, financial education, and career pathways.