MEET THE DUKEENGAGE DURHAM STUDENTS
Emma Achola
Class: 2017
Hometown: Juliette, Georgia
Durham, NC Community Partner Site: Durham Economic Resource Center
Why Durham: I chose DukeEngage Durham because Durham is a place that is interesting to me. It is very much a tale of two cities (or two Durhams). There is the Durham that we, as Duke students see. The Durham that is apart of RTP and is seen as a force for innovation. There is also the Durham that many people who have lived in the city for generations know; the Durham that is plagued with poverty. I chose this program because I want to explore and get to know these two Durhams more. This summer I hope to educate myself more about this city that has now become my own during the course of my first year at Duke.
Tim Brown
Class: 2017
Hometown: Brush, CO
Durham, NC Community Partner Site: Durham Office of Economic and Workforce Development
Why Durham: I want to explore and learn about the histories of both Durhams and to make an effective impact in my short time of service.
Taylor Anne Dorsey
Year: 2016
Hometown: Baltimore, MD
Durham, NC Community Partner Site: Durham Office of Economic and Workforce Development
Why Durham: I chose the Durham/Durham program because I wanted to serve and have it be somewhere and something that I can continue to do even after the program is over. Even though I attend Duke, I don’t really know Durham that well. By the end of the summer, I hope to be feel like I have a better knowledge of Durham and the problems its residents face. I am also very excited to be serving in England and look forward to a new experience in a country foreign to me!!!
Canshu Hu
Class: 2016
Hometown: Mianyang, China
Durham, NC Community Partner Site: Durham Economic Resource Center
Why Durham: For most of the students here at Duke, Durham is represented by its restaurants and entertainments. By taking a few service-learning classes through the past two years at Duke, I started to learn more about this community. I have been tutoring with my after school tutor program for three semesters. Watching how much the teachers are devoting to the students and learning how people are trying to make it a better place, I want to explore more about this city with a long history and inspiring stories
For this summer, I'm working with Durham Economic Resource center to recruit tutor for them. After 10 weeks, I hope I will learn more about the community here in Durham. By working with the local non profit organization and reach out to people from different backgrounds, I'm also looking forward to understand this city from various perspectives. Most importantly, I wish we can actually do something to help DERC and make some positive effect on this community.
Julia Huang
Class: 2016
Hometown: South Setauket, NY
Durham, NC Community Partner Site: TROSA
Why Durham: I want to learn more about the community I live in and actively participate in movements toward community pride and empowerment.
Courtney Jones
Class: 2015
Hometown: Burtonsville, Maryland
Durham, NC Community Partner Site: TROSA
Why Durham: I chose to do the Durham/Durham program to be able to see and experience all this city has to offer that cannot be seen just through attending Duke University. And through understanding the diversity and depth of this city, I hope to do the same with Durham UK.
Cord Peters
Class: 2016
Hometown: Vienna, VA
Durham, NC Community Partner Site: Durham Office of Economic and Workforce Development
Why Durham: I am very excited to work in the DukeEngage Durham program because it gives me an opportunity to give back to my community and gain perspective. Through my 2 years at Duke, I have come to love Durham and look forward to working at Durham Office of Economic and Workforce Development. My goals for the summer include having an impact on the people with whom I will be working and gaining experience and perspective.
Brian Pollack
Class: 2017
Hometown: Stamford, CT
Durham, NC Community Partner Site: Durham Office of Economic and Workforce Development
Why Durham: The Durham/Durham program was really appealing to me because it gives me the opportunity to experience two different cultures. I hope to learn a great deal about a culture that is completely foreign to me (Durham, UK) as well as one that I call home during the school year (Durham, NC). I think that my experiences in each location will help me to serve better in the other locale, and also provide me lessons in perspective that I couldn't get anywhere else.
Juliana Posen
Class: 2017
Hometown: Chappaqua, New York
Durham, NC Community Partner Site:
Why Durham: I am very excited to have the opportunity to serve in both Durhams this summer. While I am thrilled that I finally get to travel to England, the country I've dreamed of visiting since childhood, I am particularly excited about my time spent in North Carolina. During my first year at Duke, I did not have the chance to become as involved with my community as I had hoped. However, through my work with the Community Empowerment Fund, I hope to make a positive impact on the Durham community. The sister cities program is unique because it not only allows the opportunity for students to serve in two discrete locations, but also since the first portion takes place near Duke's campus, it allows continued relationships and further work with community partners. I can't wait to begin this incredibly journey!
Katie Saveliff
Class: 2015
Hometown: Westport, CT
Durham, NC Community Partner Site: Durham Office of Economic and Workforce Development
Why Durham: I am a part of Duke's Teacher Preparation Program, so next spring I will be teaching in Durham's Jordan High School. I want form a stronger relationship with the Durham community before entering into the Durham Public Schools and before my time in Durham ends next May! Additionally, after studying abroad in London last fall, I am excited to learn and live in another city in the UK.
Abby Snyder
Class: 2016
Hometown: Pinehurst, NC
Durham, NC Community Partner Site: Threshold
Why Durham: When I was growing up, I spent a lot of time in Durham. Now that I go to school here, it's officially my second home! I hope to make a positive impact on the part of Durham that I'm not so familiar with, but is perhaps even more important than the parts of Durham I fell in love with as a young girl! I am sure that I will learn a lot about myself this summer and I am looking forward to helping others be the best versions of themselves that they can be.
Jennifer Sunmonu
Class: 2015
Hometown: Jericho, NY
Durham, NC Community Partner Site: Community Empowerment Fund
Why Durham: I chose Durham because I wanted to be a part of a long term commitment to a community development project rather than one only spanning a short summer term. I hope to learn more about the services that Community Empowerment Fund for myself and so that I can impart that knowledge to member of the community that need it most. I am learning life skills that and I think that it is super important for all individuals to understand that they can and should be financially independent and I am really hoping to learn more about what the consists of on all levels.
Jessica Wang
Class: 2017
Hometown: Naperville, IL
Durham, NC Community Partner Site: Durham Economic Resource Center
Why Durham: I'm really looking forward to this program and the opportunity to serve in two different geographic locations. While we are in North Carolina, I'm particularly excited to get off campus and explore Durham, something that I did not really get a chance to do during my freshman year. Through my service at the Durham Economic Resource Center, I hope to gain a better understanding of Durham and its history, as well as give back to the city that has provided so many great experiences for me in the past year. Going to Durham, England will be my first experience traveling to Europe, so I am definitely extremely excited about the second leg of the trip too. While in England, I hope to immerse myself in a foreign culture and learn as much about the city as I can! I have no doubt that this summer will lead to many memorable experiences, and I can't wait to start this adventure with the rest of my DukeEngage group!
Jiayu Yang
Class: 2015
Hometown: Toronto, Canada
Durham, NC Community Partner Site: Threshold
Why Durham: I want to get to know Durham and to feel that I really immersed myself in the city when I graduate. I would also like to apply my classroom knowledge to working in the real world, in the process learning more about other people's lives and becoming a more mature person.
Liaowang Zou (Zoey)
Class: 2017
Hometown: Jiujiang, China
Durham, NC Community Partner Site: Community Empowerment Fund
Why Durham: I want to explore our neighborhood more. In addition, I was once offered a place to study at Durham University in UK. I figured even though I didn't pick there eventually, it is a nice opportunity to walk around Durham, UK and live in Durham University for a month.
Class: 2017
Hometown: Juliette, Georgia
Durham, NC Community Partner Site: Durham Economic Resource Center
Why Durham: I chose DukeEngage Durham because Durham is a place that is interesting to me. It is very much a tale of two cities (or two Durhams). There is the Durham that we, as Duke students see. The Durham that is apart of RTP and is seen as a force for innovation. There is also the Durham that many people who have lived in the city for generations know; the Durham that is plagued with poverty. I chose this program because I want to explore and get to know these two Durhams more. This summer I hope to educate myself more about this city that has now become my own during the course of my first year at Duke.
Tim Brown
Class: 2017
Hometown: Brush, CO
Durham, NC Community Partner Site: Durham Office of Economic and Workforce Development
Why Durham: I want to explore and learn about the histories of both Durhams and to make an effective impact in my short time of service.
Taylor Anne Dorsey
Year: 2016
Hometown: Baltimore, MD
Durham, NC Community Partner Site: Durham Office of Economic and Workforce Development
Why Durham: I chose the Durham/Durham program because I wanted to serve and have it be somewhere and something that I can continue to do even after the program is over. Even though I attend Duke, I don’t really know Durham that well. By the end of the summer, I hope to be feel like I have a better knowledge of Durham and the problems its residents face. I am also very excited to be serving in England and look forward to a new experience in a country foreign to me!!!
Canshu Hu
Class: 2016
Hometown: Mianyang, China
Durham, NC Community Partner Site: Durham Economic Resource Center
Why Durham: For most of the students here at Duke, Durham is represented by its restaurants and entertainments. By taking a few service-learning classes through the past two years at Duke, I started to learn more about this community. I have been tutoring with my after school tutor program for three semesters. Watching how much the teachers are devoting to the students and learning how people are trying to make it a better place, I want to explore more about this city with a long history and inspiring stories
For this summer, I'm working with Durham Economic Resource center to recruit tutor for them. After 10 weeks, I hope I will learn more about the community here in Durham. By working with the local non profit organization and reach out to people from different backgrounds, I'm also looking forward to understand this city from various perspectives. Most importantly, I wish we can actually do something to help DERC and make some positive effect on this community.
Julia Huang
Class: 2016
Hometown: South Setauket, NY
Durham, NC Community Partner Site: TROSA
Why Durham: I want to learn more about the community I live in and actively participate in movements toward community pride and empowerment.
Courtney Jones
Class: 2015
Hometown: Burtonsville, Maryland
Durham, NC Community Partner Site: TROSA
Why Durham: I chose to do the Durham/Durham program to be able to see and experience all this city has to offer that cannot be seen just through attending Duke University. And through understanding the diversity and depth of this city, I hope to do the same with Durham UK.
Cord Peters
Class: 2016
Hometown: Vienna, VA
Durham, NC Community Partner Site: Durham Office of Economic and Workforce Development
Why Durham: I am very excited to work in the DukeEngage Durham program because it gives me an opportunity to give back to my community and gain perspective. Through my 2 years at Duke, I have come to love Durham and look forward to working at Durham Office of Economic and Workforce Development. My goals for the summer include having an impact on the people with whom I will be working and gaining experience and perspective.
Brian Pollack
Class: 2017
Hometown: Stamford, CT
Durham, NC Community Partner Site: Durham Office of Economic and Workforce Development
Why Durham: The Durham/Durham program was really appealing to me because it gives me the opportunity to experience two different cultures. I hope to learn a great deal about a culture that is completely foreign to me (Durham, UK) as well as one that I call home during the school year (Durham, NC). I think that my experiences in each location will help me to serve better in the other locale, and also provide me lessons in perspective that I couldn't get anywhere else.
Juliana Posen
Class: 2017
Hometown: Chappaqua, New York
Durham, NC Community Partner Site:
Why Durham: I am very excited to have the opportunity to serve in both Durhams this summer. While I am thrilled that I finally get to travel to England, the country I've dreamed of visiting since childhood, I am particularly excited about my time spent in North Carolina. During my first year at Duke, I did not have the chance to become as involved with my community as I had hoped. However, through my work with the Community Empowerment Fund, I hope to make a positive impact on the Durham community. The sister cities program is unique because it not only allows the opportunity for students to serve in two discrete locations, but also since the first portion takes place near Duke's campus, it allows continued relationships and further work with community partners. I can't wait to begin this incredibly journey!
Katie Saveliff
Class: 2015
Hometown: Westport, CT
Durham, NC Community Partner Site: Durham Office of Economic and Workforce Development
Why Durham: I am a part of Duke's Teacher Preparation Program, so next spring I will be teaching in Durham's Jordan High School. I want form a stronger relationship with the Durham community before entering into the Durham Public Schools and before my time in Durham ends next May! Additionally, after studying abroad in London last fall, I am excited to learn and live in another city in the UK.
Abby Snyder
Class: 2016
Hometown: Pinehurst, NC
Durham, NC Community Partner Site: Threshold
Why Durham: When I was growing up, I spent a lot of time in Durham. Now that I go to school here, it's officially my second home! I hope to make a positive impact on the part of Durham that I'm not so familiar with, but is perhaps even more important than the parts of Durham I fell in love with as a young girl! I am sure that I will learn a lot about myself this summer and I am looking forward to helping others be the best versions of themselves that they can be.
Jennifer Sunmonu
Class: 2015
Hometown: Jericho, NY
Durham, NC Community Partner Site: Community Empowerment Fund
Why Durham: I chose Durham because I wanted to be a part of a long term commitment to a community development project rather than one only spanning a short summer term. I hope to learn more about the services that Community Empowerment Fund for myself and so that I can impart that knowledge to member of the community that need it most. I am learning life skills that and I think that it is super important for all individuals to understand that they can and should be financially independent and I am really hoping to learn more about what the consists of on all levels.
Jessica Wang
Class: 2017
Hometown: Naperville, IL
Durham, NC Community Partner Site: Durham Economic Resource Center
Why Durham: I'm really looking forward to this program and the opportunity to serve in two different geographic locations. While we are in North Carolina, I'm particularly excited to get off campus and explore Durham, something that I did not really get a chance to do during my freshman year. Through my service at the Durham Economic Resource Center, I hope to gain a better understanding of Durham and its history, as well as give back to the city that has provided so many great experiences for me in the past year. Going to Durham, England will be my first experience traveling to Europe, so I am definitely extremely excited about the second leg of the trip too. While in England, I hope to immerse myself in a foreign culture and learn as much about the city as I can! I have no doubt that this summer will lead to many memorable experiences, and I can't wait to start this adventure with the rest of my DukeEngage group!
Jiayu Yang
Class: 2015
Hometown: Toronto, Canada
Durham, NC Community Partner Site: Threshold
Why Durham: I want to get to know Durham and to feel that I really immersed myself in the city when I graduate. I would also like to apply my classroom knowledge to working in the real world, in the process learning more about other people's lives and becoming a more mature person.
Liaowang Zou (Zoey)
Class: 2017
Hometown: Jiujiang, China
Durham, NC Community Partner Site: Community Empowerment Fund
Why Durham: I want to explore our neighborhood more. In addition, I was once offered a place to study at Durham University in UK. I figured even though I didn't pick there eventually, it is a nice opportunity to walk around Durham, UK and live in Durham University for a month.