Durham’s Youth Have Spoken — the Kids Voting Results are in! Durham’s youth, like Durham adults, voted Elaine O’Neal as Durham’s first female Black Mayor! However, youth gave challenger Javiera Caballero, who suspended her campaign earlier in the month, a larger portion of their votes than over-18 voters did. Also like their adult counterparts, kids re-elected Council Member Mark-Anthony Middleton to a 2nd term in City Council, preferring him to candidate Sylvester Williams by a 3-1 margin. Kids parted ways with adult voters when it came to Ward I and Ward III City Council seats. In Ward I , youth preferred newcomer Marion Johnson to incumbent DeDreana Freeman in a close race with Johnson getting 53% of the kids’ vote to Freeman’s 47%. Adults re-elected Freeman by a wide margin. The race for Ward III was extremely close in both the KVD and adult elections, but youth chose AJ Williams by less than 200 voters over challenger Leonardo Williams. Adults favored Williams by 600 votes that won him the Council Seat. Check out the full KVD results — including individual school results — in the slides below. Use the arrows to navigate and click on a school’s name to see….

Countdown to Election Day 2020 is an interactive guide designed to prepare you and your family for this year’s election.

YOUTH SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES FALL 2021 | info@kidsvotingdurham.org | 919.560.7321 Kids Voting Durham, a non-partisan organization that seeks to help young people understand & believe in the power they have as engaged citizens and informed voters, is are looking for youth, 13-23, to serve as volunteers to help develop civic engagement materials, including Kids Voting’s widely used Election Guide, for other youth.   For Fall 2021, all service opportunities will be mostly virtual, a mix of group activities at set times and/or independent work and optional in person outreach work. Youth service volunteers will work individually or on a project team and should be interested in doing work in one or more of the following areas: Research & writing Outreach & Education Video production & editing/ Multimedia Graphic Design/Info Social Media/Instagram Guide Administrative Support   Youth service volunteers will: Receive service hours & leadership experience Use your voice & ideas to make a difference Have opportunity to interact with government officials and other Durham leaders Be partnered with adult allies who are experienced in their field to serve as supports and sources of support and advice   Interested youth should: Be comfortable working in groups and independently Be willing to share opinions….

Kids Voting Durham (KVD) is offering youth age 14-24 virtual internship opportunities this summer. KVD is looking for volunteers who want to deepen or develop their outreach, writing, technical, design or other skills while empowering other youth to be civically engaged. All opportunities are virtual, to be completed by youth with virtual support and direction from Kids Voting staff. Working on the KVD 2021 Election Guide, KVD civic education materials, and other projects, will youth have the opportunity to learn new skills and deepen existing ones while creating materials and resources that are valued by youth ,educators, and leaders in the Durham community. Youth work in a fun, inclusive team environment where youth voice is valued and youth have a genuine decision-making role.

Kids Voting Durham Announces New Advisory Board Co-Chair Shirley Garrett Kids Voting Durham is thrilled to announce that Shirley Garrett, a long-time Kids Voting youth leadership volunteer & intern and board member, has been appointed as Co-Chair of the KVD Advisory Board. JC Swansey, who has chaired the KVD Advisory Board for the last 7 years, said “Having Shirley move from youth volunteer to youth leader to now the top level of Kids Voting leadership on the Advisory Board, takes Kids Voting another step toward being youth-led in direction and vision at all levels.” Shirley described her long history with KVD: I began volunteering with Kids Voting Durham when I was a freshman at Durham School of the Arts. I remember our Director, Carolyn using a whiteboard to draw out the differences between the responsibilities of City vs. County government. Until that point, I never realized how much of my life was deeply influenced by decisions made by people who lived mere miles from me. That day I rushed to my parents’ car when they picked me up and excitedly shared everything I had just learned. They were long-time residents of Durham but had never voted in a municipal election…..

Kids Voting Durham 2020 Annual Report Use arrows on left and right to navigate between pages 2020 Annual Report by Kids Voting Durham

In April’s issue: Learn about how the arts have inspired civic engagement, create a civic artwork and win a giftbag of goodies courtesy of the Nasher Museum of Art, and wish Durham a Happy Birthday!

Kids Voting Durham Youth Service Opportunities Winter/Fall 2021 Interested? Fill out form at bottom of post.

At 23 years old, Durham County’s recently elected Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor Anjali Boyd is the youngest elected official in Durham’s history. Hear Anjali’s perspective on the importance of youths’ voices, how she went from a Kids Voting Durham voter to an elected official, and the encouraging message she has for young people who are thinking of a future as an elected official!

Share your #Dream4Durham with us by Friday, Jan. 22 in honor of Dr. King — and be entered into a drawing for a KVD mask (with our cool new logo!) and be featured on our social media!