PROVIDING EQUITABLE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HOW IT TRANSLATES TO OUR COMMUNITY’S WELL-BEING
A LEGACY LIVES ON I N PA RT N E R S H I P W I T H
CITY OF DURHAM | COUNTY OF DURHAM | DUKE UNIVERSITY | DUKE UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEM | DURHAM CAN | DURHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS DURHAM CONGREGATIONS IN ACTION | GREATER DURHAM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | INTERDENOMINATIONAL MINISTERIAL ALLIANCE LINCOLN COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER | PROJECT ACCESS OF DURHAM COUNTY | PARTNERSHIP FOR A HEALTHY DURHAM TRIANGLE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | THE INSTITUTE
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as rust, mold urleaks, city lost MaryAnn Black, a community and lack of heating leader remembered for her warmth, grace are issues that andalleagerness to listen, in March 2020. residents in low-income MaryAnn accomplished much over the course of her housing says life: She recently started afaced, private clinical social work practice Atinuke Diver, the executive and, in 1994, was named “Social Worker of the Year” director of Durham CAN by both the state and the (Congregations, Associations National Association of Social and Neighborhoods). People Workers. She served on the are living in “conditions Durham County Board of that many of us would Commissioners for 12find years, not only intolerable and eight of which she served as inhumane, alsoShe a threat the board’sbut chair. was to health,” Atinuke says, elected to the N.C. House of which is why demanding Representatives in 2017. In each accountability around chronic of these endeavors, colleagues repair issues in low-income admired her collaborative skills housing communities is one and desire to help others. But of Durham CAN’s priorities. perhaps the work she is best “Severe housing problems” known for, and that displays her as established by the Healthy character to the fullest, is the North Carolina Task Force work she did with Duke Health. 2030, such maintenance, are a social determinant While on as thepoor county board, of health. oversaw Housing falls under the umbrella of physical MaryAnn the leasing environmental factors, which account for 10% of the of Durham Regional Hospital impact on health outcomes to the Duke Health system. – length and quality of life – according to the Task Force’s Dr. Ralph Snyderman, DukeJanuary 2020 report. “Homes have always been an essential Health’s President/CEO at the component of wellness,” says John Killeen of DataWorks NC,PHOTO “for BY individuals and time, was impressed by her BRIANA BROUGH communities as well.” thorough decision-making “Housing costs, or no haveto a process. Not onlyhousing did she quality work with thehousing community dramatic and direct outcome says determine if the lease shouldon bepeople’s sold, thehealth,” community Peter Skillern, executive director of Reinvestment also trusted her judgement. In 2002, Dr. Snyderman Partners, an agencytoactive and now community recruited MaryAnn whatin is housing now known as the development. Reinvestment Partners currently provides
F I N D A C O M P L E T E L I S T O F H E A LT H Y D U R H A M P A R T N E R S AT
Office of Community Health, as its director of community affairs for DUHS. MaryAnn was later promoted to associate vice president of community relations. MaryAnn continued to emphasize community collaboration in her time with Duke. “MaryAnn stressed the importance of working with people in the community – not in or on, but with the community,” says Kimberly Monroe, one of MaryAnn’s colleagues at the Office of Community Health. “By … meeting people where they are, it is possible to achieve a common goal.” As a member of Covenant Presbyterian Church, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, a ladies literary tea book club and an avid Durham Performing Arts Center attendee, MaryAnn was equal parts encourager and leader. One of her most notable safe housing for the homeless and those transitioning out achievements within Duke of rehabilitation programs through Health wasthe theHotel seriestoofHome health project. It provides 32 rooms at the Carolina Duke Inn, summits she initiated, which where people can recuperate on their way faith to permanent brought together leaders, housing – just one example in the very broad government officials,scope healthof solutions to folks findingcare affordable places to live. “Within workers and community that [issue of] affordablemembers. housing is“It a variety of different is important needs,” Peter says, such that as transitional housing or specific organizations involve health needs of one population. people who may be affected by the decisions it makes are another issue that Durham seeks orEvictions programs that are developed,” KimberlyCAN explains. to address. “There were folks like Durham Human MaryAnn worked tirelessly to facilitate such involvement. Relations Commission and Legal Aid [of North Her spirit is the embodiment of collaboration. Carolina] who had already identified that Durham had an
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