Let’s Get Political : Civil Engagement in Durham
Did the midterm elections leave you yearning to make change in your community? Fortunately, Durham has a bunch of avenues for civic engagement, depending on your interests and how much time you’re looking to commit. Don’t be afraid to speak your voice to improve our community; Durham is a city built on its residents fighting for what they believe in and working together to make real change.
*Disclaimer: With Durham being the liberal bastion of North Carolina, some of the below information will tend toward the progressive.
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VOTE
It seems easy, but it can feel overwhelming and confusing, especially when there are local candidates and races that you don’t even anticipate being on the ballot. To become an informed voter in Durham, follow these steps:
1. Register to vote: You can register in advance online or in person at the DMV or by mail. You can even do same-day registration at the polls if you vote early.
2. Find your polling place: During early voting before any Election Day, you can typically vote at any number of polling locations. However, if you vote on Election Day, you can only vote at your designated polling location. You can search for your polling location by name or address. You can also look up a sample ballot for your specific polling location, which can help alleviate Election Day anxiety.
3. Check out local endorsements: Durham is home to several organizations that vet political candidates and provide endorsements or recommendations of who to vote for. These endorsements can be particularly helpful with local elections when there isn’t national media coverage of the candidates. Think of them like your friend in the know who’ll give you the Cliff’s Notes version of the best candidate’s platform. Here are some progressive groups in Durham that provide political endorsements:
a. Durham For All: A multiracial, cross-class progressive movement led by people of color and working-class people
b. Durham People’s Alliance: A grassroots organization that has been advancing a progressive vision for Durham and our state for more than 40 years.
c. Indy Week: A Triangle-wide paper (founded by former Durham mayor Steve Schewel) that supports local and progressive politics
d. Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People: A PAC focused on the election of persons who are sensitive and responsive to the concerns of the Black community
Contact Elected Officials
Sometimes there are concerns within your neighborhood, school, or just the City/County as a whole that you want to voice to the powers that be. Your elected officials are those powers that be and you hired them to help facilitate improvements in your community. So feel free to reach out to them to ask them questions or share ideas. They may direct you to a particular group or committee to address your specific concern, but let them be your guide to at least getting started on solving your problem. You may also choose to address them at one of their meetings and get your issue (and their responses) on public record. See the various options for contacting your City and County officials below:
1. Contact City Council Members or County Commissioners directly: Each City Council member and County Commissioner has direct contact information (email, phone number) listed on the public website, along with their resume’ of committees and community involvement. You may choose to select your point of contact based on whomever seems most involved with your issue. You may also email all of City Council or the County Commission at once via their collective email address: citycouncilonly@durhamnc.gov or Commissioners@dconc.gov respectively.
2. Speak at a public meeting: City Council and County Commissioner meetings are open to the public for both viewing and comment. Public comments can only last 3 minutes, though, so be sure to use your time wisely. Also be sure to follow the rules of decorum (City and County) so you don’t get cut off or kicked out. You can participate virtually or in-person.
a. Comment on a current agenda item:
i. City Council Meeting – Register on the meeting agenda by 2pm on the day of the meeting to speak virtually or using the yellow Speaker Request Cards at the meeting to speak in person.
ii. County Commissioner Meeting – Submit your name and address to the Clerk of the Board (clerk@dconc.gov or 919-560-0025) by 12pm the day prior to the Monday meeting to speak virtually or complete a Public Comment Regarding Agenda Items form prior to the start of the meeting to speak in person.
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b. Add an agenda item to an upcoming meeting:
i. City Council only accepts new agenda items (called “Citizen Matters”) at their Work Sessions, held on Thursdays at 1pm. What’s cool about these Citizen Matters is not only can you bring something new to the attention of City Council, but you’re also allowed to share a presentation. Just make sure you have it all prepared to upload at least 10 days before the scheduled Work Session.
ii. The Board of County Commissioners hosts a 30-minute citizen comment period on the first Monday of each month at 9:00am. Any citizen who wants to speak need only fill out the Citizen Comment form at the start of the meeting.
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Join a Board, Committee, or Commission
If you get fired up about a particular topic, like parks and trails, public safety, or affordable housing, consider joining one of the many boards, committees, and commissions offered by the City and County of Durham. Each group consists of citizen volunteers and elected official liaisons to mediate issues within each particular topic. Most boards typically meet monthly and might have sub-committee options that meet more regularly if you have the time and special interest.
Some boards are seeking members representing particular communities, like Durham Open Space and Trails Commission (DOST) is currently seeking someone to represent Lebanon Township; others are seeking members with particular experience, like Historic Preservation Commission is seeking a registered landscape architect or the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council is seeking a substance abuse professional. Many are seeking “at-large” members who could be any citizen of Durham.
There are currently over two dozen volunteer board, committee, and commission positions available. Deadlines for applications range from November 17 th to December 1 st , so take a look at the City and County lists and apply ASAP.
Join an Advocacy Organization
Want to get a little more political than the aforementioned government boards may allow? Durham boasts some incredible advocacy organizations that embrace challenging societal norms and push barriers in the name of supporting and uplifting vulnerable populations.
In addition to the political action groups mentioned in the Vote section, these groups below invite volunteers and workers to fight for their social causes:
LGBTQ Center of Durham: An affirming, supportive, and celebratory space for all LGBTQ+ people
Southern Coalition for Social Justice: Partnering with communities of color and economically disadvantaged communities in the South to defend and advance their political, social, and economic rights
we are: Working to Extend Anti-Racist Education provides anti-racist training to children, families and educators
Bike Durham: Addressing safe, affordable, and sustainable transportation regardless of who someone is or where they live
Religious Coalition for a Nonviolent Durham: Community working alongside neighbors most impacted by community violence and the criminal legal system
Run for Office
Take the leap and become the next City Council Member, County Commissioner, Mayor, or hell, even Senator! Everyone’s gotta start somewhere, so why not you and why not now? You’ll probably have to wait a little while since we just finished an election, but here are the general requirements for state elected positions and here is the filing information for running in Durham County. Take a look at those qualifications and clean up your social media as you prepare to take that next big step.
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I’m Chrysti!
Durham real estate agent and enthusiast for all the best the area has to offer.
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