Durham County Government

On Monday, North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein presented Ontario Joyner, Local Reentry Council Coordinator for the Durham County Justice Services Department, and Durham County Sheriff Clarence F. Birkhead with the Attorney General’s Dogwood Award. The award recognizes individuals across the state who are committed to ensuring the safety, health, and well-being of their their fellow North Carolinians. At the ceremony, Attorney General Stein celebrated the work of Ontario and Sheriff Birkhead, alongside other honorees from the Triangle area. Attorney General Stein praised Ontario’s dedication to helping those leaving incarceration reintegrate into society. “I am truly honored to receive the Dogwood Award,” said Ontario Joyner. “This recognition reflects not just my efforts, but the collective dedication of everyone in our community, especially Durham’s Local Reentry Council and the entire Justice Services Department. Together, we are making strides to uplift and support individuals seeking a fresh start, and I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to such important work.” Attorney General Stein also recognized Sheriff Birkhead’s dedication to public safety. “As the sheriff of Durham County, I often say that everything we do is designed to save lives – whether inside the jail or across our communities,” said Sheriff Clarence Birkhead. “This is my life’s work. I am both humbled and honored to have those efforts recognized as a recipient of Attorney General Josh Stein’s Dogwood Award.” Congratulations, Sheriff Birkhead and Ontario Joyner! Read more here: https://lnkd.in/egQSEK3W

Early Voting is underway! We have several locations open all across the county including our new Board of Elections Office at 3825 S. Roxboro St 27713!

That's a wrap on Durham County Employee Appreciation Week! This week-long celebration has highlighted what makes Durham County such a great place to live, work, grow, and thrive—our amazing employees! Thanks to our Human Resources Department and Employee Engagement Team, this week was packed with professional development, health and wellness activities, opportunities for connection, and of course, fun! The first day kicked off with an opportunity for employees to get a professional headshot. Throughout the day, there were professional development events, including sessions on "Self-Care: Personal and Professional, "Everyday Leadership", as well as one on "Understanding Generations in the Workplace." On Day 2, it was all about Durham County’s new strategic plan, DCo Forward 2029! Our Office of Strategy and Performance hosted an engaging event that highlighted the County’s new mission, vision, and core values. Midweek, staff enjoyed activities focused on health and wellness. Employees enjoyed stress relief massage chairs and reflexology sessions. We also honored #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth with our annual "Streets of Pink meets Walktober Wellness Walk". Employees donned pink to raise awareness for breast cancer and gathered for a walk around downtown Durham to stand in solidarity with and to honor those affected by breast cancer. On Thursday, we took a trip down memory lane with a fun-filled "Throwback Thursday" appreciation lunch. Employees enjoyed food, games, and music. Our DCo Wellness Clinic also set up a booth to share health-related resources and answer health questions. Throughout the week donations were collected to support Western NC recovery efforts. Thank you to all our employees for your hard work and dedication! We appreciate each and every one of you!

Our Durham County Utilities Division held its quarterly appreciation event on Tuesday! Each quarter, they recognize an employee based on the County’s core values of ACE IT – Accountability, Commitment, Exceptional Customer Service, Integrity, and Teamwork & Collaboration. The Quarterly Employee recognized for 4th Quarter is Lee Williams, who has been with DCo Utilities for 6 years as maintenance technician. Lee is trustworthy, dependable, hardworking, and always willing to lend a hand! The Utilities Division’s Quarterly Employee award winner gets their name on a plaque that will be hung in the Utilities office, a gift card purchased by management using no Durham County funds, and a challenge coin that Utility leadership designed for our division. Giving Lee his award are: Utility Superintendent Wade Shaw; Deputy Director of Engineering, Utility Division, Stephanie Brixey; and acting County Manager Claudia Hager. Congratulations to Lee and the entire Utilities Division! Learn more about our Utilities Division here:

Durham County entrepreneurs, have you heard about 3rdThu with E3 Durham? Third Thursdays is an opportunity for Durham-based founders and business owners to connect each month for learning and support. If you: Have an IDEA for a business but don't know how to make it a reality; Need SUPPORT launching, growing, and/or pivoting your business; Are looking for CAPITAL to take your business to the next level. The E3 Durham community is ready to support you! Thursdays is a monthly event that is free and open to everyone! This month’s event is Thursday, Oct. 17 from 5:30-8 p.m. at the NC Mutual Building, 411 W. Chapel Hill Street in downtown Durham. Third Thursdays takes place on the lower level of the tower building. Register here: https://lnkd.in/e2zkkfd2.

October 14 is Indigenous Peoples' Day and honors the first inhabitants and the Tribal Nations that continue to thrive today. We take time to recognize the painful history Indigenous people have faced in what is now the United States and to celebrate local Indigenous history and important sites. Durham County Government honors the lands of the Eno, Tuscarora, Lumbee, Occaneechi, Cheraw, Shakori, Saponi, and Catawba tribes on which we are located. To Durham County’s Indigenous citizens and employees, we honor your history, your knowledge, and your stories, and we humbly celebrate the richness that you bring to our community.

Last night, members of the 2024 Durham Neighborhood College cohort had an exciting opportunity to learn about the work of various City of Durham, and Durham County Government departments at our City/County Open House Night! Neighborhood College participants had the opportunity to connect and speak one-on-one with staff, learning about the services and resources provided to residents that keep Durham thriving and updates on current and new initiatives from these departments. Participants also learned about civic engagement and volunteer opportunities, discovering ways to get involved and make a difference in the Durham community. Thank you to all staff who shared their insights, and to our Neighborhood College participants for their curiosity and enthusiasm for making a difference in our community! Learn more about Durham City-County Neighborhood College here: https://lnkd.in/edK6CEMY

Minority and women-owned business owners will have a chance to learn how to connect their businesses with more opportunities during Durham’s 2024 Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week. But hurry, the deadline for registration for these events from Oct. 14-17 from the City of Durham, Durham County Government, and all of our wonderful sponsors is TODAY (Thursday, Oct. 3)! Registration and event information: https://lnkd.in/dq_xZQMx We hope to see you there!

Today in our Innovation Lab, the Durham County Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) met to chat with #DCo employees interested in joining one of the already existing groups or starting their own. ERGs are employee-led groups that are sponsored by Durham County Government through a shared sponsorship by the Office of Equitable Well-Being and Human Resources. They align directly with the DCo Strategic Plan goals of our organization. These groups are open to all employees who support their goals, focus area, and/or would like to use their network and resources to be an ally. Goals for our ERGs include increasing a culture of inclusion and belonging, professional development and leadership opportunities, internal and external community building, and organizational change. ERG members can use up to 4 hours per month in ERG activities and programming (for hourly and salaried employes. ERG leaders can use up to 10 hours per month in ERG activities. To participate, employees must complete the supervisory notification of ERG participation form. For more information about the Durham County ERGs – including how employees can start their own ERG, forms and documents, FAQs, and more – visit our website at  https://lnkd.in/da5jrSY3. Just another part of what makes working for #DCo Government a wonderful opportunity for everyone! Check out our job openings here: https://careers.dconc.gov/

Durham County’s Welcome Baby program was among those honored as Durham heroes during the Duke Blue Devils football game at Wallace Wade Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 14th!! Patience Mukelabai, Welcome Baby Program Manager, and Venessa Diaz, Welcome Baby Program Assistant, were on hand Saturday to receive the recognition. Welcome Baby staff were nominated by the County Manager’s Office for this prestigious honor, and we offer our hardy congratulations to these wonderful employees! Mukelabai and Diaz have helped Welcome Baby, founded in 1987, fulfill its stated mission to strengthen Durham families with young children … by providing accurate child development information and emotional and practical support through programs that help reduce Adverse Childhood Experiences, improve school readiness skills, increase caregivers’ knowledge of children’s changing ages and stages, help to break the social isolation felt by many parents and provide families with resources that help in their children’s daily care. “We are proud to recognize individuals and organizations who have had a profound impact in our community,” said Duke University President Vincent E. Price. “Duke wouldn’t be Duke without Durham, and we are committed to being a thoughtful and engaged partner in our hometown’s success.” Find out more about Welcome Baby and all of its amazing initiatives for families in Durham County on its website – www.welcomebaby.org. Read more about Duke’s honoring of Durham’s local heroes here: https://lnkd.in/giZCNStn