Durham C.A.N. bringing hope, empowering new leadership.
(Congregations, Association, and Neighborhoods)
919-530-8515
Durham C.A.N. (Congregations, Associations and Neighborhoods) is a broad-based coalition of twenty three dues-paying institutions in the City and County of Durham. C.A.N. is a mix of Black, White and Latino people, plus diverse people representing various income levels, political backgrounds and different parts of the city and county. Durham CAN is an Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF). IAF organizations were founded by Saul Alinsky.
Durham CAN ratifies Get Out The Vote action team at October 10 Delegate Assembly.
Read the Durham Herald Sun Article Regarding the Get Out The Vote Campaign.
Be one of the first to vote in this election
We will be gathering at the Durham Board of Elections office on this Thursday, October 14 at 8:45 to open the early no excuse voting period. Please spread the word so that we can get some pictures and information out to Durham residents regarding the One Stop No Excuse voting opportunity.
Article from the Independent Weekly regarding Durham CAN's achievements
Durham CAN History
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From January to April 2001, 1,671 Black, White and Latino people participated in crafting a framework for our organizing in Durham. Based on the concerns identified by our families and households, we intend to focus on concerns of Education and Youth, Housing and Neighborhoods, Health, and Jobs and Economic Development. Since the Spring of 2001, through our research and action, we are focusing on: 1) the creation of an county-wide infrastructure that will establish free or very affordable after-school programs for all children in all schools and neighborhoods in Durham 2) the efficient and timely response to neighborhood conditions and abandoned and substandard properties by city agencies 3) The creation of an infrastructure to evaluate and establish criteria to provide top-quality job training programs throughout Durham 4) The testing of all children in Durham (ages newborn through 6 years primarily) for lead poisoning before they enter daycare and/or kindergarten, plus increasing funding for lead testing of all houses and buildings, built before 1978 in the City of Durham, where children with high risk of lead exposure reside 5) The hiring of bilingual staff (Spanish-English) at all city and county government agencies. 6)
Durham CAN is focusing on ensuring Living Wage jobs for Durham workers
through the creation of a Durham County Living Wage Ordinance for all
County Government employees and service contract workers, and through
ensuring an increase in the Living Wage standard for Durham City
Government workers and service contract workers. |
Participating congregations, associations and neighborhoods
All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church
Asbury Temple United Methodist Church
Blacknall
Presbyterian Church
Calvary
United Methodist Church
Duke
Memorial United Methodist Church
Durham
Affordable Housing Coalition
Eno
River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
El
Centro Hispano
Greater
St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church
Habitat
for Humanity
Holy
Infant Catholic Church
Immaculate
Conception Catholic Church
Morehead
Avenue Baptist Church
Mount
Level Missionary Baptist Church
Nehemiah
Christian Center COGIC
Reconciliation
United Methodist Church
Religious
Coalition for a Non-Violent Durham
St.
Matthew Catholic Church
Trinity
United Methodist Church
Union
Baptist Church
Zion
Temple United Church of Christ
Watts
Hospital-Hillandale Neighborhood Association
What
are others saying about Durham CAN?
“Political arena gets new player”: Durham CAN makes its bow
News & Observer 04/26/2002
“Group
steps from shadows into spotlight”: Meeting since ’97 Durham political body to unveil
presence today
Herald Sun
11/03/2002
“CAN
political action group serves notice on Durham’s leaders”:
Group targets lead poisoning as first issue for action
Herald Sun 11/04/2002
“170
students undergo lead-poisoning test”: Officials set spring as target date for all
elementary schools
Herald Sun 12/17/2002
“Job
efforts found in need”: Durham group wants more focus
News & Observer 2/1/2003
“Group
asks city for $50,000 to develop job programs”:
Durham CAN aims to connect business with unemployed
Herald Sun 2/1/2003
“Residents
speak out on housing affordability, quality”: We want to send the message that even in the
poorest neighborhoods we expect quality living conditions.
After soliciting an enthusiastic endorsement from Durham Police Chief Steve Chalmers, the community group Durham CAN got commitments from three City Council members Thursday to spend more money in the coming year on after-school and other programs to keep children out of trouble.
Council members Eugene Brown, Diane Catotti and Howard Clement -- put on the spot in front of at least 200 people at a rowdy meeting -- all pledged to increase funding for the youth initiatives, particularly through the city's Parks and Recreation Department.
"I certainly feel, as I've stated over and over, that as a community, we really need to concentrate on providing activities and resources on the front end," Chalmers told the crowd when asked if he supported the funding.
Herald Sun 3/26/2004
Unitarian Universalists have been involved with many different IAF organizations.
The following site highlights the important changes that the IAF has made in areas across the country.
Click on Blue titles for access to websites.
The First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Antonio, Texas
Omaha Together One Community (OTOC)