By many measures, we are doing quite well, even in the midst of a recession. Last year, Business Week magazine chose Durham as one of the best cities to ride out a recession, and Durham has been named one of the best places to live and one of the best places to start a business, among many other honors.
Durham's universities, health care industry, high tech employers and its smart and willing work force give its local economy resilience and vibrancy.
Still, there's the poverty paradox. Durham's 2008 poverty rate was more than 13 percent, which doesn't take into account the effects of the recession. And Durham's problems with dropouts, crime and the academic achievement gap are well-known, if not unique.
The good news is that while Durham has problems typical to other cities, it also has resources to tackle its problems, including people who are moved to try to make a difference.
Such efforts can be seen in the public schools, in charter schools and in exciting new endeavors like the Union Independent School. They can be seen in the push for high quality pre-school. And they can be seen in ventures such as the East Durham Children's Initiative, which had a community kickoff meeting Thursday at the Holton Career and Resources Center.
The Children's Initiative takes inspiration from the Harlem Children's Zone, which targets a section of Harlem with schools and programs for kids and families. The program is extensive, but it has shown remarkable results by helping nearly all children to perform at grade level.
The Durham program is in its infancy, but it has set geographic boundaries, a 120-block area bounded by Alston Avenue, Holloway Street, Miami Boulevard and Hoover Road and N.C. 147. At the Thursday meeting, about 100 people brainstormed about problems in the area and possible solutions. A volunteer committee has been at work, with nine subcommittees working on various issues.
This is an exciting development that bears watching. The committee's challenge will be to incorporate existing programs into something new that, like the Harlem program, can transform lives. By continuing to focus resources and energy on these difficult problems, Durham can continue to evolve into an even better place for all its citizens.
