Spotlight on Former DHA Board Member
Congratulations to former Commissioner Gloria Nottingham for this recognition from the City of Durham.
The City Clerk's Office Presents the Monthly Board Member Spotlight:
GLORIA NOTTINGHAM, DURHAM HOUSING AUTHORITY
DurhamNC.gov
Posted on February 1,2021
Click here to read the original story.
Why would you encourage someone in the community to apply to be on a board, committee, or commission?
Serving on a Board allows you the opportunity to become involved in your city. You are able to offer views and suggestions based on the "resident" perspective. You become a part of the decision-making process for the city in which you and your family live. As a Board member, I participated in the approval of the Agency's budget and I also advocated to make sure the Resident Services Department was a benchmark in the CEO's plan for the upcoming year. Being at the table on issues that affect you should be an experience that we all strive to obtain.
What do you enjoy most about serving on your particular board?As a member of DHA's board, I have gained a diverse knowledge of Public Housing and the Housing Choice Voucher Program and its responsibilities to the residents. The training received allowed me to gain insight into the changing standards of federally funded housing, while continuing to fight for residents to live in safe and healthy communities. Serving as a Commissioner, I enjoyed "connecting" with the residents of DHA and being an advocate for them. I also participated in the organization of Resident Councils at the various properties. This role afforded me the opportunity to attend Resident Council meetings, visit residents in their homes, participating in back-to-school functions and all holiday functions. I thoroughly enjoyed educating the residents on the various programs that were sponsored by DHA including the Family Self-Sufficiency Services, home ownership workshops, education and youth services, resident safety programs, and internships.
What is your favorite part about living in Durham?
I grew up in the old Hayti communities (now called Southside) and McDougald Terrace communities. McDougald Terrace was the model for other public housing developments in North Carolina. Back then, there were 500 black-owned businesses in Durham. Durham was home to KFC and Hardees. During that time, the athletic park provided baseball games and famous artists performed there, including James Brown. Durham Civic Center entertained us with Otis Redding, and others including the Manhattans, the Stylistics and Sweet Honey in the Rock. Durham was home to Durham Business College where including an education, you could watch a wrestling match as seen on TV. Duke University now leads the nation in heart surgery and cancer research among other specialties and is one of the largest employers in this area. North Carolina Central became a University and Durham Tech became a community college. Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC) is the largest performance arts center in the Carolinas. The history of Durham, along with the innovative progress the city is experiencing, makes you proud to be a part of such a great place to live. It has a big city flare, but a small-town feel.
