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.
Featured in The News & Observer for Grocery Store Advocacy
Grant Street Community’s advocacy for equitable food access and a Black-owned grocery store in historic Hayti was recently featured in The News & Observer—marking the second major news feature highlighting the neighborhood’s growing campaign. The story explores how residents are working to turn research, visibility, and community knowledge into meaningful investment and lasting change.
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.
Garden Funding Received & Expansion Conversations Underway
The Grant Street Community Garden has reached an exciting milestone. With funding now in hand from the City of Durham, planning is officially underway for garden beds, soil testing, water access, and volunteer workdays. We're also exploring the possibility of expanding onto the neighboring lot to grow more food and create a vibrant gathering space for the community. Read the latest updates and see what's coming next.
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.