Durham County Government

Minority and women-owned business owners will have a chance to learn how to connect their businesses with more opportunities during Durham’s 2024 Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week. But hurry, the deadline for registration for these events from Oct. 14-17 from the City of Durham, Durham County Government, and all of our wonderful sponsors is TODAY (Thursday, Oct. 3)! Registration and event information: https://lnkd.in/dq_xZQMx We hope to see you there!

Today in our Innovation Lab, the Durham County Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) met to chat with #DCo employees interested in joining one of the already existing groups or starting their own. ERGs are employee-led groups that are sponsored by Durham County Government through a shared sponsorship by the Office of Equitable Well-Being and Human Resources. They align directly with the DCo Strategic Plan goals of our organization. These groups are open to all employees who support their goals, focus area, and/or would like to use their network and resources to be an ally. Goals for our ERGs include increasing a culture of inclusion and belonging, professional development and leadership opportunities, internal and external community building, and organizational change. ERG members can use up to 4 hours per month in ERG activities and programming (for hourly and salaried employes. ERG leaders can use up to 10 hours per month in ERG activities. To participate, employees must complete the supervisory notification of ERG participation form. For more information about the Durham County ERGs – including how employees can start their own ERG, forms and documents, FAQs, and more – visit our website at  https://lnkd.in/da5jrSY3. Just another part of what makes working for #DCo Government a wonderful opportunity for everyone! Check out our job openings here: https://careers.dconc.gov/

Durham County’s Welcome Baby program was among those honored as Durham heroes during the Duke Blue Devils football game at Wallace Wade Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 14th!! Patience Mukelabai, Welcome Baby Program Manager, and Venessa Diaz, Welcome Baby Program Assistant, were on hand Saturday to receive the recognition. Welcome Baby staff were nominated by the County Manager’s Office for this prestigious honor, and we offer our hardy congratulations to these wonderful employees! Mukelabai and Diaz have helped Welcome Baby, founded in 1987, fulfill its stated mission to strengthen Durham families with young children … by providing accurate child development information and emotional and practical support through programs that help reduce Adverse Childhood Experiences, improve school readiness skills, increase caregivers’ knowledge of children’s changing ages and stages, help to break the social isolation felt by many parents and provide families with resources that help in their children’s daily care. “We are proud to recognize individuals and organizations who have had a profound impact in our community,” said Duke University President Vincent E. Price. “Duke wouldn’t be Duke without Durham, and we are committed to being a thoughtful and engaged partner in our hometown’s success.” Find out more about Welcome Baby and all of its amazing initiatives for families in Durham County on its website – www.welcomebaby.org. Read more about Duke’s honoring of Durham’s local heroes here: https://lnkd.in/giZCNStn

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! Durham County Government proudly celebrates the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of our Hispanic and Latino communities. Join us in recognizing the impact of the Hispanic and Latino communities right here in Durham and across the nation! We invite you to visit our Office of Equitable Well-Being's website to learn about what Durham County Government is doing to celebrate the month and other opportunities to embrace and honor the Hispanic and Latino communities during the month. Visit their website here: https://lnkd.in/ejn7uP3j

Check out the latest issue of DCo Life, our employee magazine! While the temperature outside might be dropping, summer is still in full swing in this issue. Full of engaging stories, this issue celebrates our diverse workforce. Dive in and discover what makes the DCo Team so unique! Read the issue here: https://lnkd.in/eAesMJ8k

The 2024 Innovate Durham Impact Report is live! Innovate Durham, is a partnership between Durham County Government and the City of Durham Government that allows entrepreneurs and startups to use local government as a lab to test out an idea, product, or service while having access to local government staff, data, and facilities for 16 weeks. Durham is the first community in North Carolina to start such a public-private innovation partnership program. Innovate Durham received 28 applications for this year’s program and selected four finalists based on their alignment with County and City strategic priorities. Durham County partnered with two startup businesses, SKILLD and Laughing Monitos, to help them test their products and services. SKILLD helps justice-involved individuals find employment using digital resumes, and Laughing Monitos provides teaching and coaching to help children aged 0-4 develop critical speech and language skills. To learn more about the four startups and the results of their 16-week pilot period, view and download the 2024 Innovate Durham Impact Report here: https://lnkd.in/e_ef5Ybx

BULLS Life Sciences Academy provides educational and personal support to Durham residents 18-25 through life stipends, academic support, success coaching, and skills training as they pursue careers in the Life Sciences Industry. The initiative features partnerships between Made in Durham, a local non-profit, Durham County Government, Durham Technical Community College, NC Biotech, and additional community-based organizations.  Check out Damon's story about how BULLS Life Sciences Academy was a life-changing opportunity for him. View the video here: https://lnkd.in/guTNNfCS. Recruitment for Cohort 10 will take place later this year. For more information on the program and recruitment for future cohorts, visit their website at https://lnkd.in/gCYSaAUY. 

Join us and City of Durham as we celebrate Durham Minority Enterprise Development Week October 14-17. The theme for 2024 is "Solidifying Your Next!" This year's theme is all about empowering business owners to navigate their journey with confidence. Whether you're an established leader or just beginning your journey, Durham MED Week offers a wealth of opportunities to network, gain insights, and advance your business.  Register now for this FREE lineup of engaging workshops, networking events, and a lunch and learn, you’ll have the chance to connect, learn, and propel your career and business to new heights.  For more information and to register for these FREE events visit: https://lnkd.in/dq_xZQMx

Yesterday, Durham County held a successful Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB) Vendor Meet and Greet event providing a space for connections between over 140 HUB-certified businesses and representatives from more than 20 county departments. The event, held during Black Business Month, provided a platform for HUBs to share their expertise and offerings with department representatives, opening doors for future partnerships. The vibrant atmosphere encouraged networking among HUB businesses, promoting collaboration and growth within the local minority and women-owned business community.  The HUB Meet and Greet was coordinated by the Office of Supplier Diversity, in collaboration with Durham County Leadership Academy, the County’s internal professional development initiative. The Leadership Academy team’s focus is on building strategies to increase MWBE program participation across the county.  MWBEs in Durham, interested in obtaining HUB certification, are invited to apply for the Certify & Succeed Program, a collaborative effort of Durham County Economic Development and community partner Infinity Bridges. The program assists businesses with the HUB certification process through one-on-one appointments offering support. More information on the program can be found here: https://lnkd.in/eiWe4mfS. For additional details about yesterday's HUB Vendor Meet and Greet and upcoming events from the Office of Supplier Diversity visit: https://lnkd.in/ey7Rtzyc