Durham activists create 'safe spaces' in communities prone to violence

The goal of activist groups across the city is to open up new doors of opportunities for children and teenagers by creating "safe spaces" in communities prone to violence.

A new community center is coming to the corner of East Main Street and Angier Avenue.

Community leaders hope it will become a safe haven for young people. Leaders state for every minute a young person is out on the streets, they’re more likely to be involved in a violent crime or a become victim of one.

“I don’t want to see another mother have to bury their child like I had to bury mine,” said Sherly Smith. For Smith, the fight is very personal. Her son was shot and killed in 2005.

“This is what my fight is about. To save our youth,” Smith said.

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She’s lived in Franklin Village for over a decade and said over the past few years the violence has gotten out of control due to a lack of positive outlets for teenagers and yound adults.

“All our children have to do is walk around the community. Stand on the corners and then when they get bored, then that’s when they want to start committing crimes,” she said.

So far this year, there’s been more than 640 shootings in Durham. After years of advocating for a community center to help curb the violence in her neighborhood, Smith is thrilled its finally here thanks to support from other community members.

“The vision is to bring people together. To help save our children," Smith said. "To make sure they get the resources, the programs that they need to become successful adults.”

Community Builders of Calvert Place Apartments provided the space. Supporters have donated supplies and beautified the landscape of the building.

Activists all over are using this same concept as a tool to bring change.

"I hope more communities take the initiative. Crime is up and any little thing that we can do is an awesome thing to save our children and keep them off the streets,” said Terrace Resident Council President Ashley Canady, Mcdougal.

Canady recently helped launch a digital resource center in Mcdougald Terrace so that people don't have to travel to the library for a place to use the internet.

“They can start doing job applications, and the kids are in a safe haven. They have people here who will work with troubled youth, any youth that will be in this building there will be somebody that can work with them in that capacity,” Canady said.

The resource center aims to inspire and catapult those in need for a brighter future.

“So it’ll lead to future leaders, future city councilman, future doctors, future lawyers,” she added.

From providing mentorship, tutoring, jobs and professional development – people who live in Durham are taking it upon themselves to create the change they want to see.

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“We don’t want anymore talking. We don’t need anymore meetings. We need action. And this is just the beginning of the action,” Smith said.

The resource center will be open to youth who live at Calvert Place Apartments, Franklin Village, and Main Street Townhomes. It will offer tutoring, mentorship, access to Internet, Black history classes and more.

The goal is to have the center up and running by December. Donations and volunteers are still needed.

Anyone interested in donating or volunteering at the center, can call Sheryl Smith at 919-937-0368 or Cory Rawlinson with the Community Builders at 919-475-9655.