Opportunity & Ownershiip

Too many people in Durham are locked out of the very opportunities their labor, creativity, and sacrifice helped make possible.

• Access to jobs, capital, contracts, and city resources is uneven—gatekept by red tape, favoritism, and outdated systems that benefit the few.

• Durham’s artists, makers, and creatives are economic drivers—rich in vision, but too often starved of space, capital, and public support.

• Minority entrepreneurs face higher barriers to capital. Too many young people are shut out of clear paths to learn, earn, lead, and thrive.

• Ownership—of land, businesses, and decisions—still feels out of reach for too many.

The ladder to economic mobility was never built with everyone in mind—and the people carrying this city forward are still being denied the opportunity to play a role in its future.

What kind of city are we building—if the people who carry its promise cannot share in its prosperity?

• A city where opportunity is visible, attainable, and real—not locked behind privilege.

• A city where small businesses thrive—where creative talent is treated as essential infrastructure.

• A city where culture, commerce, and community life are funded—not just applauded.

• A city where investment uplifts and growth does not come at the cost of our people.

Equity requires more than access. Equity demands power—and a real stake.

As Mayor, I will work with my colleagues and our community to:

• Advance a citywide Opportunity & Ownership Strategy that expands access to capital, contracts, land, and leadership for historically excluded communities.

• Transform procurement and development practices—so local, small, and minority-owned businesses receive a growing share of city contracts.

• Invest in community-rooted entrepreneurship and creative infrastructure—including storefront grants, permitting reform, public art, and shared cultural space.

• Expand paid workforce pipelines into civic, trade, and creative sectors—so residents can build lasting careers and shared ownership in Durham’s future.

Two years is not a long time—but it is enough to prove what happens when opportunity is created with the people, not just spoken about in promises made by those with power.

Forward—Together, we will:

• Co-design economic policies with residents—and build public tools to track results.

• Build new pathways to ownership—through cooperatives, community trusts, and first-look purchasing rights.

• Align education, employers, and nonprofits to connect residents—especially youth—to real careers, not just classroom promises.

• Reinvest in public spaces—like parks, greenways, and creative venues—as drivers of connection, wellness, and wealth.

We will not build a better Durham by chance. We will build it on purpose, with purpose, and for the people who call it home.

You should not have to fight for scraps in your own city—or leave it to make a living.

• Opportunity is not just about income. It is about dignity, creativity, and staying power.

• If you can build it, serve it, or grow it—you should have a stake in it.

• Artists and entrepreneurs should not have to beg for what they help build.

• Durham should not grow around its people. It should grow with them.

We are not just opening doors—we are changing who holds the keys.