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2007 "It's Cool to Care" Award Recipients
It was a magical night in Durham on July 4th with a magnificent fireworks display and the unveiling of the first ever Light Up Durham “It’s Cool To Care” Award recipients.
Dr. Carl E. Harris, Honorary Chairperson for Light Up Durham and Tommy Schenck, Light Up Durham Board of Directors Chairperson, handed out Awards to three individuals and one group of individuals who are making a difference in the lives of Durham’s youth front of a standing room only crowd at the DBAP right before the night sky lit up with fireworks.
The recipients of the Awards were:
- Reverend Dr. Verly Powell
- Erroll Reese
- Leigh Bordley
- Habitat of Durham’s “Youth United” Leadership Team
REVEREND DR. VERLY POWELL:
 Dr. Powell is a positive role model, who is admired, respected and loved by those she has touched. I shall never forget these words I heard her speak to a group of young males and females during one of our street crusades, “God loves you and so do I, and there is nothing that you can do about it!” These profound words not only spoke life into them, but into my life as well. At that moment, their lives and minds changed in an instant! She wholeheartedly wants to see our youth aspire to become what ever their hearts desire. These are the words of Ivey Taylor who was one of Dr. Powell’s nominators who works with Dr. Powell at New Aggressive Church of Deliverance.
Dr. Powell was also nominated by Katlynn Carver, a member of the congregation at New Aggressive Church of Deliverance, here’s what she had to say:
Dr. Powell has impacted the youth of Durham by giving us back to school items and transportation to and from Vacation Bible School. She is my mentor, friend and an Angel in my life. She brought my mom and I together by giving us advice, prayer and the love we needed to be a family.
Congratulations, Reverend Dr. Verly Powell – You know “It’s Cool To Care!” and all of us at Light Up Durham are glad to give you this Award – and thank you for caring about the youth of Durham.
ERROLL REESE:
 Erroll is one of the biggest hearted people I know. He has been the Chair of Communities In Schools of Durham for the last two years and in that capacity has worked tirelessly to help Durham’s youth. He has raised tens of thousands of dollars for the organization so that CIS of Durham can help more kids succeed in school. He also lends his expertise in computer technology to CIS and other organizations. Currently, CIS and the Durham Public Schools are putting together a nontraditional high school for youth at risk of dropping out of school. He has volunteered many hours in acting as a liaison between RTP’s major technology companies and the school system to get computers donated to the school. He clearly feels that it is important for him as an African-American male business leader to be giving back to the community both as a role model for young African-American males and for the good of Durham. These are the words of Bud Reiter-Lavery with CIS of Durham who nominated Mr. Reese.
Congratulations, Erroll Reese – You know “It’s Cool To Care!” and all of us at Light Up Durham are glad to give you this Award – and thank you for caring about the youth of Durham.
LEIGH BORDLEY:
 The primary reason we continue to work with Ms. Bordley and the reason why her organization continues to grow is because of her tireless dedication to improving the lives and prospects of youth in Durham’s West End. Like many cities with concentrations of low-wealth neighborhoods, Durham is home to several organizations that are designed to address the social and academic challenges for urban youth, but Leigh’s homegrown program, Partners for Youth is special. The program is dedicated to serving a specific neighborhood in Durham, and it does so through a unique and comprehensive collaboration of community-based, job-based, and school-based supporters who work with students throughout their high school careers and into their first year of college. Leigh gives unconditionally, completely, and with no thought of receiving, and it is her love for and devotion to the students with whom she works that continues to bring a whole community together to make a difference in the lives of young people in Durham’s West End. These are the words of The Partners for Youth Advisory Board – Mayme Webb-Bledsoe, Trip Stallings (Secretary), Kelly Lynn Mulvey, Sue Wasoilek, Valjeanne Estes, and DeWarren Langley.
Congratulations, Leigh Bordley, - You know “It’s Cool To Care!” and all of us at Light Up Durham are glad to give you this Award – and thank you for caring about the youth of Durham.
HABITAT OF DURHAM’S “Youth United” LEADERSHIP TEAM:
 Members of the team include:
Adriel (A.J.) Holland
Aisha Ansano
Alexander (Alex) McDouall
Benjamin Berg
Holly Prater
John Bailey
Kaitlin Thorpe
Kristyn Schomp
Shivam Joshi
Derek Rhodes
Together, these youth raised more than $60,000 in cash and in-kind donations to sponsor a home in Northeast Central Durham – what’s truly remarkable is that this is the first youth-run project for Habitat of Durham – and they outpaced the adults in all areas of their build!
They pulled in youth from many public and private schools in Durham. To raise money, they held dollar drives and letter writing campaigns and engaged literally hundreds of youth across Durham in philanthropy and the opportunity to contribute to making Durham better.
We are so proud of our “Youth United” project leadership team. They are all stars and they shine. These are the words of Mitzi Viola and Roxanne Little of Durham Habitat who together nominated this team of exceptional youth.
Congratulations, HABITAT’S “YOUTH UNITED” LEADERSHIP TEAM – You know “It’s Cool To Care!” and all of us at Light Up Durham are glad to give you this Award – and thank you for caring about the youth of Durham.
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