From the desk of the County Manager for December 5, 2025
From the desk of the County Manager,
As we all experienced, the COVID-19 pandemic created widespread economic, social, and public health challenges in the Durham County community. These impacts were particularly acute for the County’s youth, who experienced disruptions in school instruction and academic progress, increased mental health challenges, and reduced physical activity. These consequences disproportionately affected low-income youth, intensifying existing disparities in academic achievement, health outcomes, and access to enrichment opportunities and other essential resources.
In recognition of the significant challenges that the pandemic created for our County’s youth, and as part of its longstanding commitment to youth well-being and development, the County allocated a significant portion of its American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLFRF) to provide our County’s youth with expanded access to high-quality enrichment and academic programs. To maximize the impact of the County’s ARPA funding, the County established the ARPA Nonprofit Grant Program in July 2022, a two-year initiative designed to fund nonprofit-led community projects addressing the diverse effects of the pandemic. The program launched its Request for Proposals (RFP) with seven categories, three of which (Categories 3, 4 and 5) focused on accessible youth enrichment and development. Eligible applicants for these categories were required to have previous experience delivering youth programming in the County and were required to serve only youth living in the County through their programs.
RFP Category 3 solicited grant proposals aimed at fostering positive childhood experiences and supporting youth in addressing challenges such as domestic violence, substance abuse, and suicide for children ages 0 to 12, while Category 4 allowed for submission of proposals with a similar focus to serve youth ages 13 to 24. RFP Category 5 supported youth enrichment programs related to education, the arts, recreation, and sports for youth ages 0 to 18, with a specific emphasis on removing barriers to participation in enrichment activities for underserved youth and those with disabilities.
While these three RFP categories allowed for proposals covering a broad age range from 0 to 24, the County received numerous proposals from organizations outlining projects designed to serve youth between the ages of 5 and 18. Following a rigorous evaluation process for these and other proposals, the County awarded $4.3 million to 27 local nonprofits whose projects included services for these age ranges. While the County is proud to support all of our ARPA projects, we wanted to take this opportunity to highlight a few of the specific projects administered by some of our community partners and the opportunities that they have provided for our County’s youth:
North Carolina Arts in Action
Durham County awarded $165,000 to North Carolina Arts in Action (AIA) to deliver curriculum-integrated dance residencies to 624 students at three Title I schools including C.C. Spaulding, Eastway, and Holt Elementary. During the academic year, AIA teaches live music and dance to help students develop self-esteem, resilience, critical thinking, and collaboration skills. Their innovative model brings performing arts education to students who might otherwise lack access due to cost or transportation barriers. During the grant period, 82% of students reported having healthier lifestyles and 77% of parents reported that their child had an increased interest in school academics following participation in the program. As Mary Casey, Director of K-12 Arts Education at Durham Public Schools (DPS), shared, “Arts in Action is a one-of-a-kind program. It teaches critical thinking and life skills as well as builds appreciation for the performing arts.
Book Harvest:
Through a $150,000 ARPA Non-Profit Grant award, Book Harvest provided interactive, community-based literacy services and resources to underserved youth and families in the County. The grant funding supported the organization’s Book Hub program, which expands access to free, high-quality books for youth. As of June 2025, the organization has expanded their Book Hub locations from 33 to 103, while distributing over 160,598 books to stock the Hubs (find your nearest hub here). In addition, Book Harvest completed a renovation of their Family Space, a welcoming environment for learning, play, and connection, where the organization was able to host story times, kid’s book clubs, and literacy programs; over the life of the grant, Book Harvest was able to offer 97 individual sessions utilizing the expanded service space.
Bike Durham
To address increased inactivity and limited access to safe walking and cycling spaces during the pandemic, the County awarded $175,000 to Bike Durham to support healthy living and well-being for students through physical activity from walking, bicycling, or rolling to school. Over the course of the program, Bike Durham taught biking and walking safety skills to over 3,000 DPS elementary school students. Bike Durham also provided 135 bicycles to students in need, and engaged 20 DPS elementary schools in seasonal Walk, Bike, and Roll to School Days. In addition, 20 DPS Physical Education teachers obtained Continued Education Unit (CEU) credits through the organization’s Bicycling/Walking Safety Education courses, helping to build long-term capacity within schools to deliver active transportation education and promote a culture of safe, healthy mobility among students.
SwingPals
Lastly, Durham County awarded $200,000 of ARPA funds to SwingPals to expand its innovative youth development program for middle and high school students. The grant allowed SwingPals to enhance program delivery in six DPS middle schools, establish a new Topgolf program, and further develop their after-school program for students in 7th to 12th grades. By combining mindfulness, mentorship, and golf instruction, the program creates a supportive environment that fosters social-emotional growth amongst Durham youth. As one participant’s mother reflected, “SwingPals helped [my son] build his confidence and today he supports his classmates when they are going through tough situations.” With support from the grant, SwingPals has expanded its capacity, enabling over 3,600 students to complete its programming. The organization continues to provide meaningful and engaging experiences that help youth navigate challenges and develop essential social, emotional, and physical skills.
These highlighted projects are only a few examples of the larger network of strategic community-driven programs that the County has supported through the deployment of its ARPA funding intended to enhance the well-being and development of our youth. We are incredibly grateful to all of our partners and their dedication to uplifting our youth and promoting a more resilient, brighter future for generations to come.
Until next time,
Claudia Hager | County Manager