Responding to COVID-19

by Kimberly Moore

The COVID-19 pandemic caused unprecedented challenges throughout our society. For the nonprofit sector, the impact was particularly intense. Some saw demand for their services increase, while others addressed new needs created by the pandemic. All had to figure out how to safely provide their services. This occurred as revenues and donations plummeted.

The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation and the Jenny Lillian Semans Koortbojian Trust partnered to provide $365,000 in operating support to area K-12 education and arts nonprofits to help with these challenges. We also partnered to provide $50,000 to five organizations that offer emergency relief to individuals and families in need. Below, we highlight just a few of the nonprofits to applaud their spirit, tenacity, and ability to adapt as they reinvented their service delivery models and responded deftly to needs in our communities. (Full list follows.)

Children were significantly impacted by COVID-19 pandemic as school went virtual, out-of-school programs closed, and parents lost jobs. The Durham Children’s Initiative (DCI) answered the call of the more than 800 children in their community. Parent surveys revealed that over half of the respondents were unemployed and unsure about future employment. Parents were concerned about their children’s academic progress. DCI moved their entire service portfolio to various online platforms. They started Zoom calls, produced and shared YouTube videos, broadcasted Facebook Live for story time, produced STEAM Saturdays and Parent Cafés, and created a virtual preschool program. The DCI staff also created the Frontline Fellows program, which placed older students in organizations that were doing COVID-19 outreach and matched their salaries. These students were able to save over $20,000 and many of them used the money to support their families.

The Chatham Education Foundation (CEF) responded to the needs of students in the Chatham public schools in several ways. Instead of the book fair usually held in schools, they collaborated with the Chatham County Nutrition Department to distribute books based on grade level at the various food distribution sites. Staff worked for weeks to package and distribute the books. They also moved the Students Obtaining Advancement in Reading program to a virtual environment. The internet infrastructure in this predominantly rural county is limited, and CEF provided hotspots where possible and traditional school supplies like paper, pens, pencils, and lap desks for those students who could not access the internet.

The arts are vital to thriving communities, particularly during times of duress, providing personal enjoyment to individuals and families and giving voice to the human condition. Arts organizations and artists have struggled as a result of the loss of in-person performances, teaching opportunities, and other events. Many have responded to these challenges through creative use of online platforms and safe performance practices.

El Vínculo Hispano delivers school supplies and care packages to students in Siler City, NC.

Walltown Children’s Theater (WCT) implemented virtual classes, such as a creative writing class that produced a 70-page story and poetry book. WCT reached out to students who were “super interested” in the arts and found there was a sense of hopelessness especially among teens. Walltown staff responded with “Company Connect.” This weekly meeting uses Zoom to encourage sharing with the goal of highlighting the positive aspects of their lives. An unexpected role of the theater has been its location in a residential neighborhood and a safe place the children gravitated to during the past year. They marked their 20th Anniversary with a socially-distanced celebration promoting community as an asset even during challenging times.

One of Durham’s most distinctive nonprofits, the African American Dance Ensemble (AADE) also made significant shifts in their operations in 2020. With the season canceled in March, this led the organization to redefine themselves. Their goal is to bring awareness to the injustices and unfairness plaguing their communities through the art of African dance, community activism, engaging more young people, and expanding opportunities for artists. AADE opened a satellite space in Raleigh and finalized a name change to the African American Community Collaborative.

Several artists were given computers to facilitate virtual performing, teaching, and workshops. Over more than 30 years, the Collaborative has used African dance with the hope of creating positive change in their community. Their motto of “Peace! Love! Respect! For Everybody” is timeless.

Though 2020 was filled with challenges, these nonprofits and many others met unforeseen obstacles with resilience and determination. They reinvented and recalibrated their service models and stretched their limits in ways that will continue to influence our community long after the pandemic comes to an end. The entire Durham community and region will benefit from this for years to come.

COVID-19 GRANTS • $225,000

These organizations received additional support totaling $140,000 from the Jenny Lillian Semans Koortbojian Trust, which partnered with the Biddle Foundation’s COVID-19 response.

Arts and K-12 Organizations

African American Dance Ensemble Durham, NC • $10,000 Chatham Education Foundation Pittsboro, NC • $25,000 Durham Arts Council Durham, NC • $12,500

Durham Children’s Initiative (DCI) Durham, NC • $12,500

DCI community gardeners at work. DPSF providing students digital access. St. Joseph’s Historic Foundation/ Hayti Heritage Center Durham, NC • $10,000 TheGifted Arts Raleigh, NC • $10,000 Walltown Children’s Theatre Durham, NC • $10,000 Student U Durham, NC • $12,500

Artists and Arts Relief Funds

Durham Public Schools Foundation Durham, NC • $25,000 The Hispanic Liaison/El Vínculo Hispano, Siler City, NC • $12,500 NorthStar Church of the Arts Durham, NC • $10,000 Chatham County Arts Council Pittsboro, NC • $15,000 Durham Arts Council Durham, NC • $20,000

Orange County Arts Commission • $15,000

Baba Chuck puppet honoring Chuck Davis, founder of the African American Dance Ensemble.

Community Relief Organizations

Chatham Outreach Alliance Pittsboro, NC • $5,000 Chatham Solidarity Fund • $5,000 Inter-Faith Council for Social Service Carrboro, NC • $5,000 Urban Ministries of Durham Durham, NC • $5,000 Walltown Neighborhood Ministries Durham, NC • $5,000