mchen@heraldsun.com; 419-6636
DURHAM — Community organizers, nonprofit operators and small-business owners came out for a local jobs forum that Durham officials held to mirror President Barack Obama’s recent jobs summit, voicing support for youth programs, green technology and help for local businesses.
The “Job Creation & Economic Growth Forum” drew a crowd that filled the council chambers in City Hall on Wednesday night, many of whom came from the neighborhoods and congregations group Durham CAN.
Mayor Bill Bell gave the opening remarks, and the forum’s purpose was to try to answer questions on what parts of the local economy are thriving and what opportunities there are for growth, with the different organizations mostly presenting information along their own interests.
“It was organic,” said Kevin Dick, director of the Office of Economic and Workforce Development. “People were going to come and just talk about whatever was on their minds.”
Clarence Laney Jr., pastor of Monument of Faith Church and a member of the Clergy Caucus of Durham CAN, was the first of many speakers who focused on youth development. Durham CAN would like to organize a “Youth Employment Summit” for some time this year, he said.
“It is said that you can tell a lot about a community from the way it treats its youths,” he said. “We want to make Durham County a place where employing the youth is the norm.”
Lauren Koehler, a program associate at MDC Inc., a nonprofit in Chapel Hill, echoed Laney’s comments. “There are so many youths in Durham whom the existing programs don’t touch.”
The forum also brought out some small-business owners who sought help.
Sandra Rorie, who owns a restaurant, Nana’s Café, and a copy center at 308 S. Driver St., said she has sought help from the Office of Economic and Workforce Development but got only $300 for a façade grant, which she turned down.
“Right now, my business is struggling. I hope the city of Durham will see the importance of helping small businesses,” she said. “If they can help business in that area, they can help reduce the crime and get people off the streets.”
Marc Dreyfors, founding manager of Carolina Biodiesel, spoke on the importance of supporting local, green businesses.
As a lesson to be taken from the recession, he said, “We need to think about self-sufficiency in everything we do.”
“We need to start speaking a common language of what it means to grow locally,” he added.
Dick said the city will compile all the comments and the OEWD might discuss some of the general issues raised with various organizations and forward the comments to the White House.
Durham County had an unemployment rate of 8.0 percent, reflecting 11,265 people without jobs in October, the latest month available.
