Day in Durham 2006 – Fuqua gets involved with the local community

Fuqua’s Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship (CASE) and the Social Impact Club (SIC), along with the Duke Durham Neighborhood Partnership, hosted the third annual Day in Durham on August 26, 2006 with over 100 daytime MBA students, partners and staff in attendance.

The event kicked off in Geneen Auditorium with a keynote address from Fuqua Class of 1991 alumnus Tom Niemann, managing partner of Blue Devil Ventures, LLC, a Durham-based community development company whose mission is in part to use the renovation of abandoned historic properties in downtown communities as a catalyst for urban revitalization and economic development. Mr. Niemann challenged the students to make full use of the resources of Duke and Fuqua, chart their own course and follow their passions into meaningful careers, and seek ways to incorporate social impact in their professional and personal lives.

"Tom has a unique passion for taking risks aimed at changing Durham and the
world. His energy and ethical exuberance were the ideal way to kick off the
school year." Kyle Stanzel, Fuqua Class of 2007.

Duke’s Senior Vice President for Public Affairs and Government Relations, John Burness, welcomed the students to Durham and applauded Fuqua’s community involvement efforts, including Fuqua on Board, Junior Achievement, the STEP entrepreneurship mentoring program, and the "At Bat for Habitat" campaign to raise funds for the Habitat for Humanity "House that Fuqua Built."

Following the opening session, students boarded buses and headed out into various Durham neighborhoods traveling on three separate itineraries. Each itinerary included presentations from business and community leaders to introduce students to the issues facing the organizations and communities.

One group of participants visited Triangle Residential Options for Substance Abusers, Inc. (TROSA), an entrepreneurial nonprofit that helps recovering drug and alcohol abusers to change their lives through involvement in a portfolio of earned income ventures.

"Before coming to Day in Durham, I knew about TROSA but had never been to the campus,” noted Fuqua second year student Stephanie Nelson. "Going on a tour of the TROSA facilities, learning from the staff, and meeting the workers were amazing and my only regret is that I did not go on the tour last year!"

The second group of students toured Southwest Central Durham and stopped at the Emily Krzyzewski Center for Family Life for a panel discussion on innovative private and social sector models of affordable housing in use in Durham including representatives from Habitat for Humanity, Self Help Credit Union, Durham Community Land Trustees and Woodland Properties.
The final itinerary included a panel discussion with local socially responsible entrepreneurs and sustainable businesses, including representatives from New Morning Solar Realty, Carolina Green Energy, Finca Esperanza Verde (eco-tourism), Greenfire Development, SJF Ventures, Unique Places, and The Conservation Consultant, LLC.

CASE Associate Director Matt Nash noted, "Day in Durham is a great opportunity for our students to move beyond the walls of Fuqua and learn about how business skills are being used for social, environmental and economic impact in the lives of local residents. As a result, we hope that students will decide to roll up their sleeves and get involved in the community during the two years that they call Durham 'home.'"

The third annual Day in Durham was sponsored by GM, John Deere, and Fox Student Center Catering.