August has been a big month regarding all of the topics I’ve been writing about in this newsletter! This first section is long but there’s more exciting news after, so please keep reading.
I’m starting off with “showing up” because I had the rare experience of a big win after contributing to resistance actions this year. We don’t always get to feel or see the results of resistance! As a white person committed to antiracism work, showing up can mean attending discussions, listening to fellow white antiracists and helping one another notice the influence of white supremacy culture in our own behavior or thoughts. From these discussions we can learn to notice when we are not staying in our lane and curb that tendency…and know that it’s almost impossible to avoid missteps, and that it’s OK to keep learning!
The win happened after a community of white, antiracists that I’m part of attended Durham city hearings and community gatherings at the request of a Black-led group named Hayti Reborn. This group formed to forward the voices of Hayti neighborhood residents and resist a rezoning request from developer, Sterling Bay. The request, if granted, would allow construction of a multi-phase project, including a life science tower and parking deck on the site of a former shopping center called Heritage Square.There’s a history of harm in Durham resulting from the construction of highway147, started in1962, which cut the city in two and isolated this success-filled,vibrant neighborhood from the rest of downtown.
I’m not going to explain that entire history or the rezoning request because I am not an authority on that info. I’m giving some background to say that the showing up part mattered most to me. It mattered because I care about my neighbors. Their voices alone should have been enough to shape how this project came about but if my presence boosts interest for stakeholders to listen and take my Black neighbors’ resistance more seriously, then that’s what I’m doing. Showing up is simple, you just need to be there in the room, and sit with the group (or groups in this case) that asked you to show up. I think some white folx feel that they need to be better informed or do something “more” in situations like this. I found it easy to learn more as I went to the gatherings and generally avoid getting in anyone’s way.
I sat with my antiracist friends at the city council meeting on August 4. There are a lot of things I don’t get about city functions, so I brought chocolate and snacks to share, and my sketchbook because I knew I’d get bored and tired. We weren’t sure if the Council would vote in favor of the developer, but instead, Sterling Bay opted to remove their rezoning request and essentially take the project off the table! It was a big win and pressure from Hayti Reborn’s organzing and years of push-back was the reason this happened. Of course, exclusion of the community’s voice, needs, and equity concerns around development in general are not going away.
With so much out of our control in the world it was satisfying to have something positive and tangible happen and I’m glad I could help. If you want to donate funds or learn more, check out their website: HaytiReborn.com
ART STUFF↓
Saturday, August 16 is the final day to view “Changing and Unchanging” at Soul Sanctuary, which shares land with the North Durham Farmers’ Market.
Please see the details below and SHOW UP if you can. I am proud to have created the show here and the farmers and vendors always appreciate new customers! The farmers’ market will continue through November, with rotating art shows each month.
Changing & Unchanging
Internal and external forces can change, define, or disrupt our lives and result in further change; create chaos or opportunity and build resilience.
Octavia Butler wrote “Everything you touch, you change. All that you change changes you. The only constant is change.” These works are brought together to highlight art as an agent, element and result of change in our communities.
Artists
Laura Bell, Barbara Berry, Myles Brown, Kiki Farish, Mer Haggerty, Melanie Hockabout, Bryant Holsenbeck, Kelly Hazen Klug, Kriss Lowrance, Lee Nisbet, Nancy C. Sampson, Tim Thayer
Gallery dates and hours
Saturday, August 2, 2025 & Saturday, August 16, 2025
12 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Location
North Durham Farmers Market & Soul Sanctuary
1016 Old Oxford Rd, Durham, NC 27704
Instagram Links
@Northdurhamfarmersmarket | @TheNancydrawsShop | @NancyCSampson
I GET SH*T DONE↓
I’ll get right to the punchline here: I’ve got a damn job! Full-time, even. It was a relief after the longest job search of my life (I hope), and I’m not sure what to say about that, but as-of August 4, I’m an Experience Campaign Manager at The Association of International Certified Public Accountants. My focus will be reviewing and scheduling marketing campaigns to promote learning products, webinars, and conferences about auditing. I’m thrilled to be a part of this international organization and everyone on the team is so supportive and helpful.
