Durham Colored Library, Inc.

DCL Congratulates Duke’s Recognition of George Wall DCL congratulates Duke University on dedicating its East Campus Student Union in honor of the Wall family and their decades of service to the university. Earlier this year, Duke trustees voted to rename the building the Wall Center for Student Life. George Wall was a formerly enslaved person who, starting in 1870, spent decades working as a custodian for Duke followed by his son George-Frank Wall. His investment of $50 to purchase land to build a family home near the campus was the beginning of the thriving Walltown neighborhood. https://lnkd.in/gycNztYQ

August is National Black Business Month   DCL (the Durham Colored Library) celebrates National Black Business Month. Its founders were responsible for the foundation of Durham’s strong Black business community that led W.E.B. DuBois to dub Durham’s Parrish Street with the nickname of Black Wall Street. This is the street where a Black bank, a life insurance company, and a savings and loan company were located. The names of these anchor companies were - Mechanics and Farmers Bank (now M&F Bank), NC Mutual Life Insurance Company and Mutual Savings and Loan Company.    For over 100 years Black businesses have continued to support DCL in its cause of community uplift. After more than 100 years, M&F Bank, a strong financial institution, remains a supporter of DCL. This month we salute these historic Durham Black Businesses along with other Black businesses and their founders who support our work: Gail and Tommy McNeill of Gail’s Hair Salon, Thomas G. Sampson, managing partner of TKST Law Firm, Sherrod Banks, of the Banks Law Firm, Dr. Desiree T. Palmer of Palmer & Associates, and our newest Black business a Merrick Washington Magazine advertiser -Todd Bond of Fast Frames. “the place to go when you need your artwork to be beautifully framed”.   DCL has a wonderful past but would have no present, and no future without our consistent supporters. DCL could not succeed in its work of reducing the achievement gap for African American children, while creating a more comprehensive picture of the American experience without the support of both its Black and white benefactors. Please go to our website to donate, currently all donations will be matched during the DCL Double the Love Campaign which will continue through the end of 2024.

Empowering Excellence Through Exploration is the theme of the E3 Camp where Carol Thomson, IT Designer, and Meredythe Holmes, DCL Outreach Director worked with Anissa McLendon, Director of the E3 camp and their middle schoolers to develop ideas to gamify our Techies4TomorrowTM  program. This program engages children with online activities to excite them about careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine. Please donate to help us inspire elementary school children to consider STEM careers.  www.durhamcl.org #BlackInSTEM #stemeducation

Empowering Excellence Through Exploration is the theme of the E3 Camp where Carol Thomson, IT Designer, and Meredythe Holmes, DCL Outreach Director worked with Anissa McLendon, Director of the E3 camp and their middle schoolers to develop ideas to gamify our Techies4TomorrowTM  program. This program engages children with online activities to excite them about careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine. Please donate to help us inspire elementary school children to consider STEM careers.  www.durhamcl.org #BlackInSTEM #stemeducation

Wendy Logan Ashford, Eileen Watts Welch, and Ferne Thorpe Dixon These three former students are standing in front of the W.G. Pearson Elementary School building where they attended school so many years ago. They were there to attend the NC Community Schools Coalition Conference where Eileen was the dinner speaker. Eileen is the Executive Director of DCL and she spoke about the power of storytelling to preserve a community’s cultural heritage. She spoke about her family’s leadership of the Durham community and their impact on healthcare (Lincoln Hospital), education (Rosenwald Rural Schools for Black children across the state), and entrepreneurship (M&F Bank and the NC Mutual Life Insurance Co.). More broadly she encouraged all attendees to record their own family stories and also to encourage their students to do the same. This is to ensure their histories will be maintained and shared across the generations. For more information about DCL, Storytellers of Black Culture, go to www.durhamcl.org. #blackstorytellers #storytellersofblackculture #blackhistory

JULY IS NATIONAL MINORITY MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH First designated in 2008, this month aims to raise awareness of the unique mental health challenges faced by racial and ethnic minorities in the United States, and to promote strategies to reduce stigma and break down barriers Discrimination, inequalities, and reduced resources can lead to anxiety, depression and mental illness. This year’s theme is “Be the Source for Better Health: Improving Health Outcomes Through Our Cultures, Communities, and Connections”. This theme calls on each of us to better understand how the unique environments, cultures, histories, and circumstances (known as social determinants of health, or SDOH) of racial and ethnic minority and American Indian and Alaska Native populations impact their mental health. As storytellers of Black culture, DCL recognizes that storytelling can break down barriers, reduce stigma, and promote mental well-being for everyone. Please join us in sharing your family stories by retelling memories and keeping journals to share with friends and future generations. Reach out to those who need support and recognize that seeking help is a sign of strength. Mental health is health. Let’s break the stigma and promote wellness for all. #NMMHAM #SourceForBetterHealth #blackhealthcare #blackstorytellers #blackhistory

June is African American Music Appreciation Month! Created by President Jimmy Carter in 1979, this month celebrates the African American musical influences that comprise an essential part of our nation's treasured cultural heritage. Black music connects with DCL’s mission to lift-up stories of African American figures both current and historic to create a more comprehensive picture of the American experience. As we close out this month, we ask you to make a donation to our Double the Love campaign to help us ensure that the stories of Black culture continue to be shared. www.durhamcl.org #durhamcoloredlibraryinc #blackmusicmonth #africanamericanmusicappreciationmonth

JUNETEENTH President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, announcing, "that all persons held as slaves" within the rebellious areas "are, and henceforward shall be free. However, it wasn’t until June 19, 1865, when some 2,000 Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas and read the Proclamation to them, did the more than 250,000 still enslaved black people in the state learn that they were no longer in bondage. This day came to be known as "Juneteenth." Observed annually on June 19, Juneteenth recognizes the emancipation of America’s enslaved community. It became a federal holiday in 2021.  The Juneteenth Flag was designed by Boston Ben (Ben Haith). The design of the Juneteenth flag depicts a bursting “new star”, on the horizon. The star represents A New Freedom, A New People, A New Star. The red, white, and blue colors communicate that the American slaves and their descendants were all Americans.” #durhamcoloredlibraryinc #junteenth #blackexcellence #BlackHistory

When your art is framed by an artist, your walls will be truly artistic. Todd Bond, is the owner and manager of Fast Frames. As a former artist, he uses his many talents to create custom frames for art. Bring your treasures to Todd and you’ll be pleased with the professionalism and beauty of his framing. Click the link below to be taken to our website for a coupon to receive 10% off your next order. You are welcome to print it out or show it on your device to receive the discount. Thank you for your support of a DCL Merrick Washington Magazine supporter! https://lnkd.in/gkY2_YA6

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