From the Desk of the County Manager, May 9, 2026

Greetings, Durham Neighbors

I am Donna Rewalt and I have the honor of serving as Director of Durham County Cooperative Extension, a department of Durham County Government and part of a statewide educational partnership through  North Carolina Cooperative Extension and our state’s two land grant universities—North Carolina State and North Carolina A&T—and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. to provide research-based education community services for our Durham County community.

This week on May 6, 2026 at our Briggs Avenue Community Garden, we showcased Durham County Cooperative Extension’s 2026 Report to the Community,  Educate. Invest. Grow., which details a small portion of the outstanding work and impact we produced together with the community and community partners. The report highlights our work in: Food and Nutrition; Family, Children and Youth; Agriculture and Farms; Horticulture and Gardens; Volunteering; and Community Capacity Building.

From launching new programs under our Food and Nutrition focus area--like the first Extension Master Food Volunteer cohort—which trained residents in food safety and nutrition—to sessions with 525 families that taught cooking and food safety, we provided practical and essential research-based education to Durham residents.

Volunteers remain at the center of our work. Whether serving as an Extension Master Gardener or a 4‑H Mentor, community volunteers make our work possible. In 2025, their combined efforts totaled 22,404 hours of service, which equals more than $779,365 invested back into Durham. We are thankful for the investment of time that each volunteer contributed last year.

Our Horticulture and Gardens programs brought neighbors together to learn hands‑on ways to support local ecosystems, including through extensive master gardener volunteers who served more than 24,282 residents. The Pollinator Census engaged dozens of families, and volunteers at Briggs Community Garden donated nearly a ton of produce—showing how shared gardens grow both food and connection.

We also saw powerful examples of investment in our local food system through Agriculture and Farms. Small farmers continued to benefit from affordable access to the Mobile Poultry Processing Unit, and our disaster‑readiness workshops helped producers create personalized plans that strengthen long‑term farm resilience.

Families, children and youth experienced meaningful support through programs like Welcome Baby, which provided essentials each week to ease financial strain and promote healthy child development and ultimately reached nearly 2,000 families this year. And when winter arrived, Durham showed up for their neighbors, donating thousands of coats and socks to keep families warm

Youth leadership also flourished: Kids Voting Durham engaged more than 12,000 young voters, and 4‑H Juntos helped students and parents navigate the path to higher education together.

Through our Community Capacity Building efforts in Food Security, we wrapped up the USDA‑funded Farm Campus feasibility study, which laid the groundwork for a multi‑year plan to strengthen agriculture training and food system innovation.  And you can look for more news about our Farm Campus work in 2026.

Together, these examples reflect the heart of the Durham County Cooperative Extension, which ultimately helps us grow stronger through shared learning and service. As we look ahead, it is clear the Durham community remains rooted in resilience, connection, and shared purpose. We’re ready for the growth and possibilities that lie ahead.

Thank you!

Donna Rewalt

Director

Durham County Cooperative Extension