Community Safety & Wellness Task Force

Task Force Members

Term Length: It is anticipated that the Task Force shall complete its mission within twenty-four months of the initial appointment of its members. However, this work is critically important and should be completed with due care and all needed time and attention. If at the end of twenty-four months, the Task Force has not fully completed its work, the Task Force may by two-thirds vote of the membership add six months to its period of work.

• Xavier Cason, Co-chair
• Marcia Owen, Co-chair
• Jesse Huddleston, City of Durham Appointee
• Isaac Villegas, City of Durham Appointee
• Shanise Hamilton, City of Durham Appointee
• Dr. Jennifer Carroll, City of Durham Appointee
• Tyler Whittenberg, Durham County Appointee
• Dr. Mike Sistrom, Durham County Appointee
• Jatoia Potts, Durham County Appointee
• Manju Rajendran, Durham County Appointee 
• Andrea Hudson, Durham County Appointee
• Samuel Scarborough, Durham Public Schools Appointee 
• Nori McDuffie-Williams, Durham Public Schools Appointee 
• Dr. Wanda Boone, Durham Public Schools Appointee 
• Alec Greenwald, Durham Public Schools Appointee
• Alejandra Gomez, Durham Public Schools Appointee 

October 15, 2021: Amended Durham Community Safety & Wellness Task Force Bylaws (PDF)

2020-2021 Community Safety & Wellness Task Force Meeting

2nd & 4th Wednesdays of each month

6:00 - 7:30 PM

2021-2022 Community Safety & Wellness Task Force Meeting

2nd Wednesday of each month

6:00 - 7:30 PM

Link for public to view monthly meetings. Meetings are also livestreamed on the City's YouTube Page.

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85956174014

All Community Safety & Wellness Task Force meetings are livestreamed on the City of Durham's YouTube page.

Links to view past meetings and events can be found below.

FY 2020-2021

FY 2021-2022

Crisis Response in the Bull City: A Virtual Town Hall, Day 1 | Oct 15, 2021

Crisis Response in the Bull City: A Virtual Town Hall, Day 2 | Oct 16, 2021

Special Meeting Community Safety & Wellness Task Force | January 18, 2022

FY 2022-2023

April 28, 2021: Durham Beyond Policing Report (PDF)

May 12, 2021: Durham Sequential Intercept Map 2019 (PDF); Durham Stepping Up Initiative Committee Final Report (PDF)

May 26, 2021: Roundtable Discussion Slides (PDF)

June 10, 2021: 911 Calls for Service Presentation (PDF); Open Meetings Law (PDF); Public Records Law (PDF)

July 14, 2021: Connecting the Dots: Guidance for Roundtables (PDF)

November 10, 2021: Capital Improvement Plan, Durham County, NC,  Fiscal Years 2020-2029  (see page 46 for description of New Youth Home)

February Community Safety & Wellness Task Force Roundtables

Related to the specified area of interest, roundtables evaluate and identify gaps in existing services and practices. Roundtables consist of Task Force members. Meetings are led by two designated co-chairs, and are open to the public to attend. 

Guiding Questions

• How does the area of interest impact individual safety? 
• What interactions take place? 
• Can Sequential Intercept Mapping be applied to identify points of need & appropriate responses?
• Who is currently required to respond to the harm? 
• What is their capacity for service? 
• What is their cost for service (and from what source)?

List of Current Roundtables

If you have questions about specific roundtables, please contact Task Force Co-chairs and staff at [email protected].

School Resource Officers Youth Listening Session for DPS Students - $125 Stipend for Organizing Session at Youth School

Crisis Response in the Bull City: Public Town Hall, October 15-16, 2021 

School Resource Officers Roundtable: Listening Sessions for Durham Public Schools Educators

Crisis Response in the Bull City Town Hall: Tuesday, April 26, 2022

Are members of the Safety & Wellness Task Force are currently being paid or are receiving any financial assistance for their expenses?

• Task force members are not currently being paid. This is entirely a voluntary effort from residents’ need to fulfill their civic duty to Durham, NC. No task force member has received financial assistance for their expenses. We should note, however, that this year's City budget includes funding which will allow any board, commission, or task force member to request a stipend to offset their costs of participation. Details about the stipend and request process will be announced at a later date.
• 10/25/21 Update: Durham City Council has approved a stipend program for eligible Board, Committee, Commission, and Task Force members. Equitable compensation will be available for members who are experiencing financial hardship and require support in their volunteerism in the form of stipends. The stipends are intended to offset related expenses such as babysitting, parking, transportation, and meals. More information can be found on the City Clerk's website..

 Who is responsible for the fiscal management of these funds allocated to the Safety & Wellness Task Force ?

• To date funds have been used to support language access (including interpretation and translation) and stipends for residents participating in listening sessions. We anticipate that the taskforce will come forth with a proposal to the City Council on how to spend the remains of the $1,000,000. The Community Safety Department is responsible for managing these funds.