Two New Family Resource Centers Signal Durham’s Growing Commitment to Community Schools

By Brittany Gregory, ncforum.org

During the same week in Durham, two very different North Carolina days set the stage for a shared story.

On Wednesday afternoon, Lakewood Elementary opened its new Family Resource Center under a warm, shape-shifting fall sun — the kind of day where you can feel all four seasons before dismissal. Families, students, and neighbors filled the outdoor space with the familiar hum of a community gathering.

By Thursday morning, a cold, brisk wind greeted everyone arriving at Fayetteville Street Elementary. The event had always been planned indoors, but the sharp chill made the school’s welcome feel even warmer. Families, elders, local business owners, district leaders, and community partners crowded into the multi-purpose room, shaking off the cold and settling into the celebration.

Two openings.
Two distinct settings.
One district-wide message.

Over the span of a few days, Durham Public Schools expanded its network of Family Resource Centers — places where families can access support with dignity and ease, all within the schools they already trust.

Lakewood Elementary: A Hub at the Heart of the Neighborhood

Lakewood’s new center sits in a standalone building directly across from the school’s community garden — a gentle reminder that nourishment comes in many forms. Inside, the wide, organized room holds clothing racks, food, hygiene supplies, and a comfortable space for families to connect with staff or partners.

The principal shared that before this opening, resources were scattered throughout the school. Now they’re unified in one welcoming hub.

Speakers echoed what Lakewood has long represented:

• “Be a hub for the community. It’s how we get through hard times together.”
  
• “This work isn’t about one person; it’s all of us passing the baton.”
  
• “The FRC represents the heart of Lakewood.”
  

Staff and families leaned into the school’s Bulldog spirit, noting that Lakewood moves as one pack — playful, proud, and united.

And as families stepped inside, the space immediately came to life. Clothing was selected, food was picked up, conversations began. The center didn’t sit still for long; the resources were already being used in real time.

Fayetteville Street Elementary: The Pride of Durham

Later in the week, Fayetteville Street Elementary — proudly known as the Pride of Durham — opened its Family Resource Center with just as much heart. The Lion mascot added a playful throughline to the morning: if Lakewood is one pack, Fayetteville Street is one pride.

The new center is designed to be flexible. It’s a multi-use space that shifts from small-group learning during the day to parent workshops, community meetings, and resource access after school. Families walked through admiring the shelves and workspaces built through many hands coming together. Local business owners along the Fayetteville Street corridor were one of several partners who helped collect food and supplies, joining forces with Neighborhood Improvement Services, community volunteers, and school staff.

The language of the day reflected deep collaboration:

• “This FRC is a labor of love. Made for the people, by the people.”
  
• “It’s not just a room. It’s a bridge between the school and families.”
  

City and county representation alongside DPS staff underscored how meaningful it is when public agencies and community partners pull in the same direction.

A District Stepping Forward Together

Though separated by a day — and dramatic swings in temperature — the openings shared the same throughline: Durham is strengthening its neighborhoods by strengthening its schools.

Across both events, several themes emerged:

• Resources offered with dignity
  
• Families welcomed as essential partners
  
• Spaces infused with local pride and identity
  
• Coordinators, volunteers, and partners working seamlessly
  
• Community contributions woven into every detail
  
• Schools doubling as hubs of stability and belonging
  

Two schools.
Two new centers already in use.
One district choosing to invest in the power of community.

Durham didn’t just open two rooms.
It expanded its capacity to care — as one pack, one pride, one community.