Mayor Leonardo Williams

Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams gave his first State of the City Address, expressing optimism about the community’s future and calling on residents to be bold in their vision for the city. The Mayor outlined Durham’s community, economic, and workforce development efforts while acknowledging the city’s achievements and path to success.

The city of Durham is focused heavily on youth development and providing them with the tools necessary to be successful. The Mayor shared the efforts being led by the Office of Youth in amplifying the voices of young people and providing a platform for them to enhance services and programs for their peers. He also announced plans to launch a Taskforce on Black Men and Boys later this year to provide actionable recommendations for the community to support them better.

The Mayor outlined plans to energize Durham’s economic development and invest in projects that build opportunities that make the city the best place to live, work, and travel. He discussed workforce development initiatives, including reimagining Durham YouthWorks’ city-wide workforce program and new partnerships supporting high school students interested in healthcare careers. Mayor Williams also announced the upcoming launch of the Bull City Apprenticeship Program, which will provide on-the-job training to upskill workers and provide residents with sustainable employment opportunities.

Mayor Williams is leading efforts to achieve affordable living for every resident and shared initiatives to address the housing supply issue, including projects with city-owned land. The city is also working to protect historically marginalized neighborhoods and shared funding that was secured to help construct over 50 affordable multifamily rental units. The Mayor shared collaborative efforts with community partners, such as the Durham Housing Authority, and how they are in the process of building 2,000 multi-income units downtown.

Watch the Mayor’s full address here.