Community News
Community news for Grant Street is a way of keeping neighbors informed about what’s happening in and around our neighborhood—projects, events, decisions, and opportunities that impact our shared life together. It helps us stay connected, build trust, and make sure everyone has access to what they need to participate in shaping the future of our community.
A Conversation with Ryan Smith and Sarah Viñas About Unhoused Neighbors and the Former Boys & Girls Club
Grant Street Community and BLK South recently met with Durham Community Safety Director Ryan Smith to discuss a community-centered vision for the former Boys & Girls Club and learn how Durham is supporting neighbors experiencing homelessness. Although Housing & Neighborhood Services Director Sarah Viñas was unable to attend, we look forward to continuing the conversation with her and other City and community partners.
Celebrating the 1st Annual Grant Street Community Block Party
The 1st Annual Grant Street Community Block Party brought neighbors, families, organizations, and friends together for an unforgettable day of food, music, laughter, and connection. Celebrate this beautiful milestone and the community partners who helped make it possible!
Haven Design Build Offers Support for the Boys & Girls Club Vision
An encouraging conversation with Haven Design Build brought valuable insight, potential planning support, and promising new connections for the former Boys & Girls Club property. This relationship marks another meaningful step toward transforming the site into a community-centered space shaped by the vision and needs of Grant Street residents.
Pollinator Garden Grant Awarded as Community Calls for Greater Transparency
Over the past several months, Grant Street neighbors have worked together to imagine a brighter future for Grant Street North Park. In this update, we share exciting news about a newly awarded Burt's Bees Foundation grant for a pollinator garden and gathering space, reflect on the importance of transparent communication with residents, and outline the next steps—including adopting the park, partnering with Durham Parks & Recreation, and advancing a resident-led vision for one of our neighborhood's most important public spaces.
How Grant Street Community Is Preparing for the Future of the Boys & Girls Club
For decades, neighbors in Durham's historic Hayti District have dreamed of bringing a Boys & Girls Club back to the community. As that vision moves closer to reality, the Grant Street Community is beginning the important work of listening, planning, and building alongside residents and partners to ensure this becomes more than a building—it becomes a lasting community asset shaped by the people it serves.
Communicating a Desired Partnership with Durham Housing Authority
What does it look like for neighbors to have a seat at the table? This week, members of the Grant Street Community attended the Durham Housing Authority Board meeting to advocate for opportunities that support neighborhood wealth-building, student housing, local property management, and the future Villages of Hayti grocery store. We left encouraged by a positive response from the Board and hopeful about building a stronger partnership as Hayti's future continues to unfold.
A Conversation with The New York Times: When Research Is Done With Community
Grant Street Community recently sat down with The New York Times to discuss an innovative partnership with Duke University's wastewater research team and how community-driven research can help advance food justice, public health, and neighborhood development in Hayti.
The conversation explored a larger question: How can research move beyond simply studying neighborhoods to genuinely serving them? Read how trust, collaboration, and a shared vision are helping shape a new model of community-led research in Durham.
Building Partnerships for Housing Solutions
Behind the scenes, we're building new partnerships to explore long-term housing solutions for our neighborhood's unhoused neighbors. A recent meeting with the City of Durham's Housing & Neighborhood Services Department opened the door to conversations about what's possible for Grant Street Community.
From tiny home villages and nonprofit partnerships to potential funding and local development, we're connecting people who share a vision for housing rooted in dignity, stability, and community. While these conversations are still in the early stages, we're excited to keep neighbors informed as new opportunities emerge.