Categories
Community Conservation

Make Your Voice Heard in Durham’s UDO Planning

On behalf of the New Hope Bird Alliance (NHBA) UDO Working Group, I am writing to invite you to co‑sponsor a joint letter calling for important environmental protections in Durham’s new UDO. We believe your support would add significant weight and help ensure that decision‑makers are aware of our community’s concerns and priorities around the environment and development in Durham. The UDO timeline has been shortened, so please respond by or before October 31, 2025.

The letter is attached and also available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vTIrj2cT8n6Fwu9ieIwBJxOlbZqFDc99u1DhzqXMnWLuq86PT_7-HnYtoZuP-RTNzBs6ekUktYZGhlT/pub


What co‑sponsorship entails
1. Endorsement of the letter and related policy’s content (with the opportunity to propose minor edits or annotations)
2. Inclusion of your name / logo / organization in the final signatories list

Next steps
1. If you’re willing to co‑sponsor, simply reply “Yes, we’ll join,” with specific formatting for your name / organization / position, and I’ll add your organization’s name to the list. The letter will then be sent to individual elected official on the City Council and Board of County Commissioners, and the Durham Planning & Development Department.

2. Attend a UDO engagement presentation and ask questions! Module 3 (Environmental Protections) public engagement sessions have been scheduled for 11/13 (in person) and 11/16 (virtual). We highly encourage in-person attendance to demonstrate how many people care about the impact of the UDO and its effects on our natural environment. The 11/13 meeting is 6-7:30pm at the Durham County Administration Building II (201 E Main St), Room 126. RSVPs are requested, but not required.

3. In addition to the co-sponsored letter, we hope that groups and individuals will send comments directly to Durham City Council, BoCC, Planning & Development and NewUDO@durhamnc.gov. Encourage your members to comment. The more comments, the louder our voices.

We understand you are busy. We invite you to sign up to our email list to get updates on the UDO process and environmental implications, opportunities to get involved, and more directly to your inbox.

Get more information about the new UDO on the Engage Durham website.


Thank you for considering this request. Your voice would be an important addition to this collaborative effort. We look forward to partnering with you.

Warm regards,

Astrid Cook Dail– 
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Categories
Citizen Science Community

Part-Time Citizen Science Educator Position in Raleigh

Part time collaborative (aka citizen) science educator position open in Raleigh. Are you passionate about getting people involved in scientific research in an outdoor, environmental education setting?  Do you enjoy introducing visitors of all ages to nature?  Do you like developing new and creative outdoor programs?  If so, send a cover letter and resume by Monday, September 29.

This position is part-time (up to 29 hours a week) and time-limited through June 2026.  The ideal candidate will work Saturdays and at least one other day (Tuesday-Friday) in person at Prairie Ridge Ecostation in Raleigh.  Partial remote work  for remaining hours is negotiable.  Wages will be $19-23 per hour.

Categories
Community Conservation Events Partner Organizations

May 31 – Trash Trap Cleanouts

Help keep our waterways clean by volunteering at Haw River Assembly’s litter traps! These devices catch trash in urban streams before it reaches major waterways, while protecting local wildlife. You can choose from multiple locations in the watershed! Registration required to ensure adequate equipment and staffing.

To volunteer: Sign up for our Trash Trap list-serv for updates (Be sure to pre-register monthly to confirm attendance.)

Categories
Community Events Partner Organizations

Backyard Bird Count – Feb 15

The 2025 NC Bird Count is part of the Great Backyard Bird Count and takes place Friday, February 14 through Monday, February 17. You can participate anywhere in North Carolina! More information …

Categories
Events

Durham – Community Conversations

Would you like to be more engaged in your local community? Are you willing to help us learn more about the things that are important to you, your neighbors, and other Durham residents? Please register now to join us for Community Conversations. Registration is requested to help us plan. The 2024 Community Conversations will focus on budget priorities for the upcoming 2024-2025 fiscal year. This is an opportunity to help City officials better understand YOUR priorities for City spending. Conversations will be guided by the City of Durham’s Strategic Plan. Please share this with your networks and encourage them to attend. 

Dates and locations for in-person sessions: 

Each in-person session will provide: 

  • A $50 gift card for attendees 16 and over. Participants will be asked to sign for their gift card. 
  • Food and beverages for all participants. 
  • Childcare for children of attendees. 
  • Spanish Interpretation services provided by Tilde. 
  • Register for any of the in–person options today!

There will be a virtual option on January 30 from 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. on Zoom. Active participants will be eligible for a $50 gift card. Register for the virtual session today.  For more information visit our website https://www.durhamnc.gov/5175/Community-Conversations.

Categories
Partner Organizations

What does a Naturalist do?

Emily Sutton, Haw Riverkeeper for the Haw River Assembly, is part of opposition to the Buc-ee’s mega gas station proposed for Mebane. Education, advocacy, and outreach are important functions for all of our Partner Organizations. Read more: https://hawriver.org/from-www-newsobserver-com-is-buc-ees-too-big-for-this-nc-town-why-some-oppose-the-mega-gas-station-again/