Schools across North Carolina recently welcomed students back for the academic year, and the first-day experience at Neal Magnet Middle School was one for the books! At all started with a DJ and Soul Train style walkway welcoming students to campus. Students were greeted with cheers and positive words of affirmation by members of the […]
Frank Dumas IV recently participated in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, representing North Carolina, the Duke Office of Durham and Community Affairs, and Bethesda Elementary School. The 10-year-old is a testament to the excellence that can be achieved through dedication and community support. Frank Dumas IV sat down with Bethesda Elementary School alum Ariel Green […]
A new study found that a group of predominantly Black and Latino sixth-graders reported they were more likely to pay attention, work hard and participate in class discussions when they felt a greater sense of belonging in those classes. The findings support a series of strategies researchers proposed to help educators boost belonging for students who face […]
Students have unique ambitions and perspectives that they often voice through school projects. From learning how to effectively work with others to how to prioritize and set goals, these skills have strengthened individual avenues of activism that will prepare them for the challenges ahead as they pursue a college degree and further their career. In […]
What does it mean to cultivate the next generation of community organizers and game-changers? At times, rather than supporting youth in exercising their agency today, society has a tendency to tokenize young leaders through public speaking forums that end in verbal praise yet fail put their ideas into action. However, in Durham, North Carolina, such […]
As the country reacted to the murder of George Floyd and several unarmed Black men and women at the hands of those sworn to protect and serve, a surge of conversations around “who matters” resurfaced, not only in our larger social conversation, but also in discussions of schools and curriculum. Educators across the country are […]
When Black students can see themselves in their teachers, a strong community bond is formed. This can help build an environment of support around both the students and the teachers and help everyone feel like they belong. So, it is important to create a space where Black educators can connect and get insights into school […]
When students feel a sense of belonging in the classroom, it can increase their educational success and motivational outcomes in multiple ways, and teachers can help create this feeling of belonging by building connections between classroom and community, according to DeLeon Gray, Ph.D. Gray, an associate professor of educational psychology and equity in the NC State College […]
It seems that we have always existed in a tunnel with light at the end forever blocked And when they allow us to chip away at the barrier, We are only allowed long enough to have the warmth of that light gleam on our faces Long enough to dream But short enough to once again […]
A young Black girl in Durham decided to channel her belonging concerns into a form of artistic activism. Ariel, a budding entrepreneur who recently completed her freshman year at Early College High School, teamed up with DeLeon Gray to design a lapel pin about Black Hair. The design features alphanumeric codes that correspond to different […]