Celebrating the 1st Annual Grant Street Community Block Party
Photo Credit: David Tran
On Saturday, August 22, neighbors, families, community organizations, and friends gathered for the 1st Annual Grant Street Community Block Party—and it was so much fun!
From the food and music to the children playing, giveaways, community resources, and neighbors old and new spending time together, the day was a beautiful reminder of what makes community so special. There was laughter, joy, and the simple gift of people being present with one another.
The block party was about more than hosting an event. It was about creating space for relationships to grow. In a neighborhood with such a rich history, gathering together is one way we honor the people who built Grant Street and continue strengthening the community they made possible.
Over the past year, Grant Street neighbors have been working together to reconnect residents, listen to one another, and imagine what we want for the future of our neighborhood. The block party allowed us to pause and celebrate that work—and to welcome new neighbors and friends into it.
We are especially grateful to Monument of Faith Church for being such an incredible partner. The church helped us create a welcoming space where our neighborhood could gather, celebrate, and connect. Our growing partnership is an important part of the work of caring for Grant Street and the larger Hayti community.
We also want to thank the community partners and sponsors whose generosity helped make the day possible:
North Carolina Black Alliance
Fayetteville Street Group, Inc.
Durham Housing Authority
North Carolina Second Chance CDC
Community N’ Brotherhood
Durham Community Land Trustees
Monument of Faith Church
Most of all, thank you to every neighbor, volunteer, family, organization, and friend who showed up. Whether you helped prepare food, set up tables, shared resources, served families, cleaned up, or simply came to enjoy the day, you helped make our first block party something truly special.
We are grateful for every opportunity to build relationships, honor the history and legacy of Hayti, and cultivate the kind of neighborhood where people know one another, care for one another, and look out for one another.
This was our first annual block party, but it is part of a much longer story—a story of neighbors reconnecting, building trust, and working together toward a flourishing future for Grant Street.
We cannot wait to gather again.
Celebrate. Connect. Build Community. 💛
