Red Cross

They are helping by giving money to people affected by the fires. The store’s Hot Topic, Honda, and Starbucks are collaborating with the Red Cross. People who buy from these places can donate money too. According to the Red Cross, millions of dollars have been given to people affected by the fires.

Fire Aid LA

In tribute to the people who lost their lives in the fires in Los Angeles, these people are getting together to sing for a week. They raise money for people who lost everything in the fire. Fire Aid LA was on January 30, 2025. The performance was at the Kia Form. Artists Billie Eilish, No Doubt, P!nk, Green Day, Olivia Rodrigo, and more performed at Fire Aid LA.

Anyone who misses the live concert can watch it on YouTube Channel.

It’s great that everyone is doing something to support Los Angeles, California.

Metro

All Metro buses in Los Angeles California and Metro trains give free rides to people in need.

Salvation Army

Some people have come to the Salvation Army Thrift stores to give out bed covers and new clothes.  These people affected by fires need new clothes to wear and bed covers when they are cold. If someone buys other items from the Salvation Army, they give money to people affected by fires in Los Angeles as well.

211

People need help with food, shelter, and clothes and shelters are doing their best to help out. Homes Shelters have been developed people can go to Hart High School, 24825 Newhall Ave Santa Clarita, and Valencia High School 27801 Dickson Dr. Valencia. People who are affected by the fires evacuation even have shelters for their animals at Lancaster Animal Care Center, 5210 W Ave 1, Lancaster

Palmdale Animal Care Center, 38550 Sierra Hwy, Palmdale.

Big animals can evacuate to shelters at Pierce College, 6201 Winnetka Ave, Woodland Hills

Ventura County Fairgrounds, 10 E Harbor Blvd, Ventura

Los Angeles YCMC and Restoration Life Church

People give out a pack of water bottles to places to give out to people affected by fires. These people who are affected by fires do need water to help stay alive.

It is good that people are coming together to help people who are affected by fires. People are giving things they do need shows how connected we are as a community and that we can overcome any hardship thrown at us.

People from the city can volunteer at events. They can help city workers by participating in city events and holiday events. There is a “Clean-Up” event where trash is picked from the park and city. The event is one time in the Spring and Fall seasons. People participate by cleaning up trash from the city and park, helping to keep the area clean.

City events and holidays have active games so the community can participate. Also, city events support small vendors and local school activities. The community can volunteer and help out small businesses to encourage a fellow neighbor.

The Community Services Center hosts holiday events and city events. Inside the building, people can get information on dance classes, a senior lunch room, senior classes, a computer lab, a game room, learning the history of the city, a fitness room, hosting a party room, watching movies, and reading books.

One community did use a room for a big haunted house last year. They invite all their neighbors to all their holiday events. On December 6, 2024, Lawndale held Angle Tree. They invited and supported local vendors and a cooking high school class vendor. They headed outside the Community Services Center. They put up Christmas lights on and have Santa Claus. They have school band performances and dance performances to help show their talent. They had a free photo booth where people could take photos. These events create a connection with the community and are a good opportunity to support your neighbors.

Every June Lawndale host a “Pet Safety,” where they give discount booster shots for neighbors’ pets. They support some pet vendors on “Pet Safety.”

Every September a “Blues Concert” takes place, which supports blues bands. The community workers serve food to the Seniors. The workers also get free lunch.

A favorite place in the community center is the fitness room because people use fitness equipment for free, and it promotes a positive lifestyle for the community.

There are many ways to help your community and stay in touch with your fellow neighbors it creates connections and positive relationships with those close to you. It’s an easy process to get involved with and it’s often just a click away.

DJ Hair
This place is closer to Lawndale, California. It has barbers who cut anybody’s hair type so well. They properly dye clients’ hair well highlights. They have good reviews on the Yelp application. This place is popular, and people in the surrounding area make many appointments there.

DTL Hair Salon
It is also in Lawndale, California. These workers have good ability in cutting hair and any hairstyle. Many people love their hair how turns out. They never leave upset with the hairstyle. They have so many good reviews on the Yelp application. These clients stay with the hair salon.

Nery’s Hair Beauty
This hair salon is in the Lawndale community. The staff is nice and honest. Nery’s Hair Beauty has the best reviews on Yelp, and many people like their hair color. The clients keep coming.

Bella Rose Salon
This salon is by the community of Lawndale and has the best hair salon. Most clients love how their hair turns out. They are good hair workers who cut hair well. Bella Rose salon five stars in Yelp application. There is nothing bad about the hair salon.

The best thing for anyone to have the best hairstyle is to show people. The hair salon that fits their needs is one worth keeping.

Who: City of Durham Transportation Department

When: Monday, December 9, 2024, at 2 p.m.

Where: Durham Station Transportation Center, 515 W. Pettigrew Street

Event Highlights

The City of Durham will celebrate the start of a $26 million renovation project to improve the Durham Station Transportation Center for the 14,000 bus riders who use it daily. Local leaders and project partners will speak about the upgrades and what they mean for Durham’s future.

Project Benefits

Enhanced rider experience: Expanded canopies for shade and weather protection, more restrooms, additional seating, and a new customer service and security kiosk.
Increased transit capacity: The number of bus bays will grow from 20 to 28, accommodating more local, regional, and intercity buses.

Zero-emissions ready: Reinforced drive lanes and bus loops will support heavier battery-electric buses, helping the City move closer to its zero-emissions transit goals.
Improved safety and convenience: A relocated kiss-and-ride area will make drop-offs and pick-ups easier and safer.

Funding and Timeline

The $26 million renovations are made possible by federal and local funding, including:

A $10.8 million Federal Transit Administration award and $1.7 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, bringing the total federal contribution to $12.5 million.
A $13.5 million local match funded through the Durham County Transit Plan.

The project was designed by Perkins & Will and will be constructed by a joint venture led by Samet Corporation and W.C. Construction Company, LLC. As part of this construction contract, $8.6 million is awarded to certified Minority- and/or Women-Owned Businesses.

Construction begins at the end of this month and is expected to finish in December 2026. The center will remain open and fully operational during construction, minimizing disruptions for riders while improvements are made.

On-Site Assistance

For media questions or assistance on December 9, you can contact Imani Johnson, public information and communication analyst with the City’s Transportation Department, at (919) 338-6747 (mobile).

North State Bank President and CEO Larry D. Barbour shared, “From the start, we set out to create a
fundraiser in support of a local organization helping local people—our families, friends, and neighbors. Transitions LifeCare does just that—meeting one of life’s hardest moments with compassion and care. Through an energetic committee, dedicated sponsors, and a team of employees who work hard and work well together, Summer Salute has surpassed all expectations. Next year, as our Bank celebrates its 25th year in business, Summer Salute is on track to pass the mark of $2.5 million donated to Transitions Lifecare. We look forward to crossing that milestone.”

“I echo Larry’s comments,” said Dr. Adam Wolk, Transitions LifeCare’s CEO. “And we extend dignity
and respect, not only to our patients, but to their families and friends, during their time with us and
following the loss of their loved one. The funds raised by this dedicated committee and through the
support of committed sponsors helps to assure care and support are available to everyone. A big thank you to North State Bank and to the Summer Salute committee for their hard work this year and for the past two decades.”

With Summer Salute 2024 in the books, initial plans for next year are underway for a great evening of
fun, celebration, and fundraising on Saturday evening, May 31, 2025, at Raleigh’s North Ridge Country
Club.

###

North State Bank (NorthStateBank.com and SummerSalute.com) Founded in 2000, North State Bank is a full-service community bank serving Wake and New Hanover counties through seven full-service offices.

Transitions LifeCare (TransitionsLifeCare.org) Transitions LifeCare is the leading provider of hospice,
palliative care, and bereavement services in Wake County and the surrounding area.

News Media Contacts

City of Durham Communications Department: CommsMedia@DurhamNC.gov

Durham County Public Information Office: PublicInformationOffice@dconc.gov



###

Beverly B. Thompson, Communications Director, City of Durham

919.560.4123 x11229 

Beverly.Thompson@DurhamNC.gov

Dawn Dudley, Sr. Public Information Specialist, Durham County

919.560.0008

ddudley@dconc.gov

DURHAM, N.C. – The City of Durham and Durham County governments announce the return of their longtime resident academy program, Durham Neighborhood College, after being on hold for three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The award-winning program, co-sponsored by the City of Durham and Durham County, provides an opportunity for residents to learn about the operations and services of both local governments. The program features a series of interactive classes facilitated by City and County employees who work hard to provide quality services to make Durham a great place to live, work, and play.

Classes will be held on seven Thursday nights beginning September 14 through October 26, from 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. A light meal is served prior to the start of each class and sessions are held at local government facilities. Residents accepted into the program must pay a $35 fee. A limited number of need-based scholarships are available.

Residents looking to play a more active role in their neighborhoods and the Durham community are encouraged to apply. Some past graduates from the program have gone onto elected and appointed positions for local and state governments.

Applications are accepted through Thursday, August 17. Space is limited to 25 participants with the goal of creating a diverse cohort representing different neighborhoods as well as youth, Hispanic residents, and residents outside the city limits.

To learn more about Durham Neighborhood College visit webpages for the City of Durham or Durham County.Click here to apply. Hard copy applications are available at the Durham County Clerk to the Board of Commissioners Office, Administration Building I, 200 E. Main Street, 2^nd floor.  To receive an application by email, reach out to publicinformationoffice@dconc.gov.

For more information, interested applicants may also contact the City’s Communications Department at (919) 560-4123 or the County’s Public Information Office at (919) 560-0000.

Read on to learn more about two compelling nonprofit organizations and their extraordinary missions to help individuals in need.

Fayetteville Urban Ministry 

 Fayetteville Urban Ministry has been a staple in the Fayetteville community since 1974. Throughout the years, they have continued to modernize and add more programs. The organization operates with four major programs that have grown throughout the community. The programs are: 

1. The Nehemiah Project: The project entails home repairs for low-income homeowners who live within the Fayetteville city limits. The City of Fayetteville has partnered with Fayetteville Urban Ministry and has given grant funding to hire contractors to execute home repairs in order to bring these homes up to living conditions. Some examples include HVAC replacements, wheelchair ramps, roofs, floors, plumbing, and more.
2. The Adult Literacy and Education Center: This program does everything imaginable to improve the literacy skills of the homeowner or anyone in the home. It helps with GED preparation,

ESL classes, career readiness, job resume building, budgeting, and building an individual’s overall literacy skills.  The program also matches people with tutors. 

3. The Emergency Assistance Program: During the pandemic, this program grew even larger because so many individuals were let go from their jobs. It includes a huge food pantry, a clothing closet, and provides financial support by helping individuals pay their rent, utilities, or mortgage.  
4. The Find-A-Friend Program: This program serves at-risk kids through interpersonal skills, life skills workshops, mentoring, and tutoring. A brand-new facility has been built for this program because it has grown so much. The goal is to match each child with an adult mentor.   Background training is conducted, and the mentor is required to spend eight hours a month with the child.

“Between both facilities and the four programs, we easily serve over 10,000 people at this time,” said Johnny Wilson, executive director of Fayetteville Urban Ministry.  “Due to the pandemic, in the last couple of years we have doubled to serving 20,000 people and we serve all of them free of cost.”

For every dollar that is donated to the organization, 93 cents of it goes back into the community.

For more information visit www.fayurbmin.org or call (910) 483-5944.

H.A.I.R. (Having Aunties in Reach)  

In 2019, Tameka Shipman, founder of H.A.I.R., was thinking about the start of the school year and wondered how she could give back to the students. She knew that everyone usually donated book bags, but she wanted to do something different. Shipman reminisced about being raised by her grandparents, and her grandma did not know how to do her hair, so she decided it would be a great idea to braid female students’ hair free of charge for back-to-school.

“I wanted to do a back-to-school braid drive being that I am a natural hair care specialist,” said Shipman. “We braided 40 female students’ hair for free two days before school started and the organization has been running with it ever since.” 

Shipman has been doing hair since the tender age of 12 and she wanted the organization’s name to have the acronym H.A.I.R. She had to strategically think about what words could stand for in H.A.I.R. The words “Having Aunties In Reach” literally rolled off of her tongue immediately and she stuck with it.

The nonprofit currently serves Wake County and Columbus County. They are looking to expand to other counties. Shipman’s ultimate goal is to have a chapter in every state so they can be a blessing to more kids.

H.A.I.R. caters to children 5 – 12 years old. They plan monthly activities for kids for 2-3 hours each month. Some of the activities or skills include self-esteem, early entrepreneurial skills, hair braiding tutorials, juice & paint, personal hygiene care, how to take care of your body, and more.

This past April, a 12-year-old entrepreneur came to teach the students how to bake and the pre-teen shared how she established her own cupcake business. In June, they will offer a look and learn for 15 kids. “I will teach them how to braid, do basic cornrows, or fix basic single plaits,” said Shipman.

“We have aunties, uncles, grandparents, and older cousins raising children so we can take them off of their hands for a few hours each month,” said Shipman. “We do this so the adults can have some free time to work on their mental health, go grocery shopping, or get the supplies that the kids need.”

Sponsors and donations are welcome. For more information call (919) 895-2642 or email havingauntiesinreach@gmail.com.

To be featured in a future issue, setup a Discovery Call at www.thecityinsightmag.com/be-included-in-our-expansion

Let’s talk for a moment about where this idea comes from. Believe it or not, it’s corporate America. I remember early in my corporate career being trained to be a leader and facilitator of what they were calling “quality circles”. The idea was that the people closest to the problems the company was facing were likely the people who best understood the root causes of the problem, and were best able to brainstorm and come up with a new solution. That makes sense, right?

In the corporate environment, it involved not only digging into the root causes of a problem, but also determining what that problem was costing the company. The team would then talk through the root causes until they could develop a solution – not just a band-aid – that would make the problem disappear. When the problem disappeared, the profit would go up. As long as the cost of the solution could be covered by the increase in profit, it would make sense to move forward, and the managers would normally approve of it.

Now imagine this. What if you can take a group of small business owners who are well versed in some of the challenges that are disrupting our communities and get THEM to brainstorm together about how to solve them? What if those same small business owners can engage with groups in their communities to find out where their greatest concerns are? Is it possible that we can all work together to build real solutions in our communities, instead of waiting for “someone else” to do it for us?

Our experience would suggest that it’s not only possible, it’s necessary. Here’s an example.

We recently spent some time in a local high school talking to students. We found that about 1/3 of them planned on going to college after high school. About 1/3 wanted to start their own business. The final 1/3 really had no clue. We know that our high schools serve the college-bound students very well, but what about the other two thirds of the population? Does this start to explain why we only have a 40-50% graduation rate in many of our colleges?

If the problem with our graduation rates is actually caused by our students not being given enough career options to seriously explore during their high school years, is there something we can do about that?

We have a small business team that says there is, and they are calling it “Careers Reimagined”. In this case, a group of small business owners have come together and created an apprenticeship-style learning experience that gives students hands-on experience in learning some of the key skills for becoming an entrepreneur.

This core program can also be modified and adapted to work with mentors from any industry that has an interest in helping to build a pipeline of future employees. The trades industry is one possibility that has been suffering from a lack of skilled talent.

The program not only addresses the hard skills of entrepreneurship like sales & marketing, but also addresses communication skills, technology skills and self-care that leads to physical and mental wellness. What other new ideas can be created through collaborative problem-solving teams? Do small businesses hold the key to helping our communities find more health, more prosperity, and more peace? Stay tuned to this series to explore further!