Fayetteville Street Elementary Reopens Family Resource Center as a Bridge for Families

by Brittany Gregory, ncforum.org

On a cold, brisk morning in Durham, Fayetteville Street Elementary School welcomed families, educators, community partners, and local leaders inside for the reopening of its Family Resource Center — a space designed to strengthen families by meeting them where trust already exists: inside their public school.

The event had always been planned indoors, but the sharp chill outside only underscored the warmth inside the building. Known proudly as the Pride of Durham, Fayetteville Street Elementary lived up to its name as the room filled with parents, elders, business owners, city and county representatives, Durham Public Schools staff, and community partners.

More than a ribbon cutting, the reopening marked a renewed commitment to collective care — rooted in dignity, partnership, and connection.

A Space Built for Community

The Family Resource Center is intentionally designed as a multi-use space. During the school day, it supports small-group learning and student needs. Beyond school hours, it becomes a hub for family workshops, meetings, and access to essential resources.

Shelves stocked with food, clothing, hygiene supplies, and household items reflect the work of many hands coming together. North Carolina Central University (NCCU) students played a key role in preparing the space — donating items, building clothing racks, sorting clothing, and collecting food to stock the pantry.

Faith-based and community organizations also stepped in. New Hope Church and Triangle Grace Church contributed food and supplies, with Triangle Grace Church and NCCU also providing ongoing support for hygiene items.

The school’s pantry is sustained through consistent contributions from community partners, including PORCH Durham, Bagging It 4 Kids, DINE, The Lab-Bar, and Brick City Barbershop, all of whom regularly donate food to help keep shelves stocked for families.

Together, these partnerships ensure the center is not a one-time effort, but a living, responsive space built to meet real needs over time.

“This Family Resource Center is a labor of love,” one partner shared. “It’s made for the people, by the people.”

Walking Beside Families

For Community School Coordinator Chantal Cassells, the work unfolding inside the center is deeply personal.

“Being a Community School Coordinator is more than a role — it is a commitment to walk beside families as they build new beginnings,” Cassells said.

“At Fayetteville Street Elementary, the students and families we serve often remind me of my own journey of migrating to the United States, filled with uncertainty, courage, and hope. Because I understand what it feels like to be new to a country, I strive to be a source of comfort, connection, and trust through conversations, understanding, and presence.”

“Every interaction is an opportunity to remind families they are seen, valued, and never alone. This work is not just what I do — it is deeply rooted in who I am.”

As families toured the space following the reopening, the center was immediately put to use. Conversations began, resources were gathered, and connections were made — a clear sign that the space was already fulfilling its purpose.

A Bridge Between School and Home

Principal Dr. Quincey Farmer described the Family Resource Center as an extension of Fayetteville Street’s mission to support the whole child by supporting the whole family.

“At Fayetteville Street, we pride ourselves on our ability to truly impact our families in ways that matter, and our brand-new Family Resource Center strengthens our impact,” Farmer said.

“It gives us a place to empower our families — whether through resources, connections, learning opportunities, or simply support when life gets hard.”

That empowerment, Farmer explained, directly affects student outcomes.

“When our families are empowered, our students win. We’ll see it in academics, in social-emotional growth, in confidence, and in the overall health of our school community,” he said.

“Spaces like this create outcomes that ripple far beyond these walls. This is not just a room — this is a bridge between our school and our families.”

Collective Care in Action

Fayetteville Street Elementary proudly calls itself the Pride of Durham, a nod to its Lion mascot and the belief that strength comes from moving together. That identity was on full display at the reopening — families, educators, students, faith partners, nonprofits, local businesses, and public agencies standing together in shared purpose.

As part of Durham Public Schools’ growing Community Schools network, the Family Resource Center at Fayetteville Street Elementary stands as a reminder of what is possible when schools serve as hubs of care, connection, and collaboration.

Not just a room.
A bridge — built by community, and already in use.