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The West End Community Foundation, Inc. (WECF) is a long-standing nonprofit organization that was established to improve the overall quality of life for the residents of the City of Durham, with a particular focus on those in Southwest Central Durham. Since its inception in 2002, WECF has been actively managing the Community Family Life & Recreation Center at Lyon Park.
The roots of the Community Family Life & Recreation Center at Lyon Park trace back to its origins as a school catering to African-American students during Durham’s era of segregation. Over time, it has evolved into a dynamic focal point where families come together.
In the present day, the Center, in collaboration with the West End Community Foundation, Inc. (WECF), plays a crucial role in promoting community well-being. Their efforts encompass initiatives aimed at maintaining family health, educating the youth, offering diverse enrichment opportunities, and more. The hard-working staff and the dedicated volunteer board of directors are committed to creating a better Durham for all.
In a spirit of collaboration, WECF partners with various community entities . Through a diverse array of programs , they extend services to over 3,000 individuals each month. These programs span from early childhood development services to specialized programming tailored for senior citizens.

Fall Fundraiser 2026 & Quilting Exhibit

Chipotle Fundraiser for Westend Community Foundation Inc

She's That Girl Conference

Lyon Park Steam Room

Record, Reclaim The Dream

27th George C. Smith Golf Tournament

Hot Dog & Ice Cream Social

Tutor local students in education programs

Pack or deliver food boxes

Give

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Dosali Reed-Bandele

Melissa Bradley

Wilhelmenia Thornton

Barbara Parker Hayes

Destiny Quick

Gloria Davis

Sparkle Yates

LaRhonda Leslie

Lisa Green

Djuana Langley

Tony Mangum

Tosh Mitchell

Cecil Yates

Aniya Spears

Christopher Ordonez

🦇🎃 GET READY FOR HALLOWSTEAM: COME TO YOUR SENSES! 🎃🦇 It's going to be a SPOOK-TACULAR day of discovery, creativity, and fun! Join Duke University (CTSI) and West End Community Foundation for HallowSTEAM 2026, where curious minds will use their senses to explore, create, experiment, and learn! 👀 SEE the wonders of science! 👂 HEAR the excitement of discovery! 👃 SMELL the creativity in the air! 👅 TASTE some Halloween treats! ✋ TOUCH your imagination through hands-on activities! 🔬 Science | 💻 Technology | ⚙️ Engineering | 🎨 Arts | ➗ Mathematics 👻 Calling all curious kids in Grades K–5! 📅 Saturday, October 24, 2026 ⏰ 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM 📍 Community Family Life & Recreation Center at Lyon Park 1309 Halley Street, Durham, NC 27707 🎃 FREE EVENT! Registration is required. Call (919) 536-4201. Come ready to engage ALL FIVE SENSES in this frightfully fun STEAM adventure! Treats are included to fuel your creativity. 🕸️ Bring your curiosity, bring your imagination, and COME TO YOUR SENSES! SIGN UP NOW! #HallowSTEAM #ComeToYourSenses #WECF #WestEndStrong #STEAMEducation #DukeUniversity #LyonPark #DurhamNC #ExploreCreateLearn

DATE CORRECTION! (corrección de fecha) 🌎💬 ¡Tu voz importa! | Your Voice Matters! 💬🌎 This Hispanic Heritage Month, the West End Community Foundation wants to hear from our Spanish-speaking neighbors! ❤️💚 Join us for a Spanish-only Community Listening Session at the Community Family Life Center at Lyon Park. This is an opportunity to share your ideas, needs, hopes, and expectations for our community and to learn more about the programs, services, educational opportunities, wellness activities, and resources available to you and your family. 🌟 What to Expect: 💬 Community conversation in Spanish led by Humberto Trejo of Juntos por la Educación 🧘🏽‍♀️ Zumba with Ivania Gutierrez of Connecting Community 🍽️ A delicious, healthy lunch 🎁 A wellness kit for every participant 🤝🏽 An opportunity to connect with your community 📅 THURSDAY, October 15 ⏰ 1:00–2:30 PM 📍 Community Family Life Center at Lyon Park – Auditorium FREE parking • Accessible by bus • FREE to attend 📲 Register: Scan the QR code on the flyer or text Sr. Trejo at 919-641-8466 Please share this post with a Spanish-speaking friend, neighbor, family member, or organization that may want to participate! ¡Ven, comparte tu voz y ayúdanos a construir un futuro más fuerte para todas nuestras familias! 💙 #HispanicHeritageMonth #CommunityListening #YourVoiceMatters #LyonPark #WestEndCommunityFoundation #DurhamNC #DurhamCommunity #LatinxCommunity #HispanicCommunity #CommunityStrong

🌎💬 ¡Tu voz importa! | Your Voice Matters! 💬🌎 This Hispanic Heritage Month, the West End Community Foundation wants to hear from our Spanish-speaking neighbors! ❤️💚 Join us for a Spanish-only Community Listening Session at the Community Family Life Center at Lyon Park. This is an opportunity to share your ideas, needs, hopes, and expectations for our community and to learn more about the programs, services, educational opportunities, wellness activities, and resources available to you and your family. 🌟 What to Expect: 💬 Community conversation in Spanish led by Humberto Trejo of Juntos por la Educación 🧘🏽‍♀️ Zumba with Ivania Gutierrez of Connecting Community 🍽️ A delicious, healthy lunch 🎁 A wellness kit for every participant 🤝🏽 An opportunity to connect with your community 📅 Wednesday, October 15 ⏰ 1:00–2:30 PM 📍 Community Family Life Center at Lyon Park – Auditorium FREE parking • Accessible by bus • FREE to attend 📲 Register: Scan the QR code on the flyer or text Sr. Trejo at 919-641-8466 Please share this post with a Spanish-speaking friend, neighbor, family member, or organization that may want to participate! ¡Ven, comparte tu voz y ayúdanos a construir un futuro más fuerte para todas nuestras familias! 💙 #HispanicHeritageMonth #CommunityListening #YourVoiceMatters #LyonPark #WestEndCommunityFoundation #DurhamNC #DurhamCommunity #LatinxCommunity #HispanicCommunity #CommunityStrong

🌍🧵 CELEBRATE CULTURE. HONOR HERITAGE. CREATE COMMUNITY. 🧵🌍 The West End Community Foundation, Inc. is excited to invite you to our Fall Fundraiser 2026: “A World of Culture, A Night of Impact!” This year, we’re bringing the community together through food, music, culture, art, and quilting with our special exhibition: ✨ THREADS ACROSS THE DIASPORA ✨ This beautiful quilting exhibition features works from Liberia, the African-American Quilters Circle, and local quilters, celebrating quilting as a powerful expression of creativity, memory, culture, and heritage. 🧵 QUILTING EXHIBITION 📅 September 24 – October 4, 2026 📍 Community Family Life & Recreation Center at Lyon Park Available during regular business hours 🎉 SPECIAL VIEWING & FALL FUNDRAISER 📅 Friday, October 2, 2026 🕕 Doors Open: 6 PM (Silent Auction Items and Viewing of Quilts) 🎟️ Fundraiser: 7–9 PM 📍 Community Family Life & Recreation Center at Lyon Park 🌎 FEATURING: 🍽️ International bites 🎶 Cultural performances 🧵 Threads Across the Diaspora quilting exhibit 🤝 Community connection 🎁 Silent auction ❤️ An opportunity to support WECF’s programs and the community we serve 🎟️ Tickets are FREE — donations are welcome! Register HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wecf-fall-fundraiser-2026-a-world-of-culture-a-night-of-impact-tickets-1997054279108?aff=oddtdtcreator Donate HERE: https://thewecf.org/fundraising/ Your support helps us sustain programs, serve families, and build a stronger West End and Durham community. Come for the culture. Stay for the community. Leave inspired by the threads that connect us all. ❤️🧵🌍 #WECF #FallFundraiser2026 #ThreadsAcrossTheDiaspora #QuiltingExhibition #LocalQuilters #AfricanDiaspora #CelebrateCulture #CreateCommunity #DurhamNC #WestEndDurham #CommunityImpact #SupportLocalNonprofits #ACultureOfCommunity

🌱✨Exciting Things Are Happening at the West End Community Foundation! ✨🌱 There’s always something growing at the West End Community Foundation! 🧘🏾‍♀️ Yoga is now part of our Community Dance Series! Join us as we continue creating spaces for movement, wellness, and connection. Happening on Thursday evenings! 🌿 @langleycommunitygarden workdays are coming back in August and September. Come help us grow together! We will also host a community cookout to garner more interest in garden sustainability. Stay tuned! Thanks to the Love Your Block Team for the grant and support! 💚 Coming this September...Live, Learn, Grow: A Listening & Wellness Series featuring opportunities for community conversation, reflection, and wellness. A big thank you to the City of Durham (Community Engagement) for the grant to put on this series! We’re building healthier, stronger, and more connected communities! We hope to see you there! #WestEndCommunityFoundation #DurhamNC #CommunityWellness #LangleyCommunityGarden #LiveLearnGrow

🌯 Support West End Community Foundation at Chipotle! 🌯 Looking for dinner plans? Make them count! Join us for our Chipotle Fundraiser and help support the programs and services that strengthen our community. When you order from Chipotle during our fundraiser, 25% of event sales will be donated to the West End Community Foundation, Inc. 📅 Tuesday, July 21 🕔 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM 📍 Chipotle 2115 E NC 54, Durham, NC 27713 🌯 Ordering online for pickup? Use code: 42P628Y 📄 Dining in? Simply show this flyer when you place your order. Every meal purchased helps support educational programs, youth development, wellness initiatives, and community services at the Community Family Life & Recreation Center at Lyon Park. Invite your family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors to join us. Together, we can enjoy great food while making a meaningful investment in our community. ❤️ Thank you for supporting the West End Community Foundation! #WestEndCommunityFoundation #WECF #DurhamNC #ChipotleFundraiser #SupportLocal #CommunityStartsHere #FUNdraiser #GiveBack #EatForACause

☀️🍽️ Summer Café is Open! 🍽️☀️ Looking for a free, nutritious meal this summer? Join us at the Community Family Life & Recreation Center at Lyon Park for our Summer Café Program, open to all children and teens in the community! 🥞 Breakfast: 7:45 AM – 8:45 AM 🥪 Lunch: 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM 📍 Community Family Life & Recreation Center at Lyon Park 1309 Halley Street Durham, NC 27707 No registration required...just stop by and enjoy a healthy meal in a welcoming environment. Help us spread the word so every child in our community has access to nutritious food this summer! #SummerCafe #SummerMeals #WestEndCommunityFoundation #DurhamNC #LyonPark #FeedingOurCommunity #HealthyKidsHealthyCommunities #SummerNutrition #CommunityStrong ☀️💚🍎

THANK YOU to everyone who attended the budget hearing last night and stood with us in support of the Community Family Life and Recreation Center at Lyon Park. Your presence, testimony, emails, and encouragement remind us of the power of community. While we are grateful for the overwhelming support, our work is not done yet. The Durham City Council is scheduled to adopt the FY 2026-2027 budget on Monday, June 15th. We would appreciate your continued advocacy. If you haven’t done so already, please take a few moments to email City Council members and share why preserving this partnership and investing in the West End community matters to you. Most importantly, we encourage you to attend the June 15th Council meeting at 7 PM to once again show your support for WECF! #WestEndStrong #SupportLyonPark #CommunityMatters #DurhamNC #InvestInCommunity

For over 20 years, the West End Community Foundation has collaborated with the City of Durham and DPR to support the West End community through the Community Family Life and Recreation Center at Lyon Park. In 2025 alone, through the power of partnership with our tenants and community organizations, we served 43,803+ Durham residents through youth programs, wellness initiatives, food assistance, and community-centered services. We recently received notice of a proposed budget recommendation that would end this partnership and terminate our lease agreement with DPR. Our center is more than a building; it is a vital community hub for West End families and residents. A CALL TO ACTION! WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT! ACTION 1 — Email Durham City Council Send an email to the Durham City Council urging them to restore funding for the Community Family Life and Recreation Center at Lyon Park in the FY 2026–2027 budget. ACTION 2 — Show Up at the Budget Hearing Your presence is powerful, even if you don't speak. Date & Time: Monday, June 1, 2026, at 7:00 PM Location: Durham City Council Chambers 101 City Hall Plaza, Durham, NC 27701 ACTION 3 — Support by Donating Your financial support helps ensure that the West End Community Foundation can continue its work, regardless of what happens to the City's budget. Donate online: https://thewecf.org/fundraising/ #WestEndStrong #DurhamNC #CommunityMatters

Calling all middle & high school girls! Join Curated Space Counseling & Consulting for the 3rd Annual SHE’S That GIRL Conference, a powerful day created for teens, by teens, filled with empowerment, connection, and growth! 💜 WECF is excited to partner as a host site for this wonderful event! 📅 Saturday, May 30, 2026 ⏰ 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM 📍 Community Family Life and Recreation Center at Lyon Park 1309 Halley Street, Durham, NC 27707 Hosted by Quinandria Lee, Ed.S, LCMHC, LPC, NCC 🌟 What to Expect: ✔️ Interactive Teen Workshops ✔️ Intentional Conversations ✔️ Mental Health Resource Fair ✔️ Parent Panel ✔️ Adult Workshops ✔️ A safe and empowering space for teen girls to connect, learn, and be inspired This conference is designed to uplift, encourage, and equip young women with tools for confidence, wellness, leadership, and self-expression. 🎟️ Get your tickets today! Curated Space Counseling & Consulting Conference Registration #ShesThatGirl #STGConference #TeenEmpowerment #GirlsConference #MentalHealthMatters #DurhamNC #YouthLeadership #EmpoweredGirls #CommunitySupport #ForTeensByTeens

Step into a Living Classroom! Join us for the Lyon Park STEAM Room as part of @ncscifest on Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 10 AM – 2 PM! Travel back to the 1960s, where history, science, and imagination collide in this hands-on, interactive experience. 🌱 Perfect for youth of all ages & families! Learn how plants support the mind and body! FREE ENTRY! MUST REGISTER! 📍 Community Family Life and Recreation Center at Lyon Park 1309 Halley Street | Durham, NC 📲 Scan the QR code on the flyer to register! #NCSciFest #DukeCTSI #STEAMLearning #DurhamNC #FamilyFun #CommunityLearning

Operation Spring Break Food Program complete! Thanks to our partners Bagging it 4 Kids, the WECF Board of Directors and hard working staff, we were able to fill 125 bags with nutritious snacks and easy-to-make meals for youth and families that visit the Community Family Life and Recreation Center at Lyon Park! #CommunityScholarsAfterschoolProgram #FightingforFoodJustice #WECF #Baggingit4Kids

🌟 Camp Calvary 2026 Registration is NOW OPEN! 🌟 Get ready for an unforgettable summer of fun, learning, leadership, health, and growth! Join us for Camp Calvary & SPARK Academy: Health Hero Adventures 🚵‍♀️🏀🍇🧠 📅 June 22 – August 14, 2026 🕢 Monday–Friday | 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM for Camp Calvary and 7:30 AM - 1:30 PM for SPARK Academy 📍 Community Family Life Center at Lyon Park ✨ What to Expect: Hands-on S.T.E.A.M. learning Weekly themed adventures like Future Health Tech Lab, Mind & Brain Discovery, and Sports Science & Wellness Field trips, recreation, and engaging activities Leadership development for middle schoolers through SPARK Academy (Grades 6–8) 💻 Quick & Easy Online Registration 💲 Affordable weekly rates + multi-child discounts 🎟️ $60 Registration Fee Spots fill quickly every year, so don’t wait! Secure your child’s place for a summer full of discovery, creativity, and growth. Scan the QR code on the flyer or come to the in-person registration on Saturday, March 28th, from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM. 📩 For more information, contact us: Camp Calvary: campadmin@thewecf.org SPARK Academy: campdirector@thewecf.org (919) 536-4200 #CampCalvary2026 #SPARKAcademy #SummerCamp #DurhamNC #YouthDevelopment #HealthHeroAdventures

⛳️ Join Us on the Green & Get into the Spring Swing!⛳️ We’re excited to announce the 27th George C. Smith Memorial Golf Tournament, a day of fellowship, friendly competition, and community impact! Whether you're a seasoned golfer or just enjoy being out on the course, this tournament is a great way to support our mission while having a fantastic time. 🏌🏾‍♂️ Form a team 🤝 Connect with community leaders 🌟 Support programs that make a difference Your participation helps us continue serving and uplifting our community through meaningful programs and initiatives. 📅 This Saturday, March 21, 2026 📍 Historic Hillandale Golf Course (1600 Hillandale Road | Durham, NC | 27705 📝 There is still time to register onsite! Let’s come together to honor the legacy of George C. Smith and drive change, one swing at a time! #GolfTournament #CommunityStrong #PlayWithPurpose #WECF #GeorgeCSmithLegacy

The West End Community Foundation is proud to partner with @organicallypretty on an upcoming Free Expungement Clinic to help community members clear eligible charges and move forward with new opportunities. If a past charge is holding you back from jobs, housing, or education, this event is your chance to connect with licensed legal advocates who can help you understand your options and begin the process of clearing your record. 📅 Saturday, April 4, 2026 ⏰ 12 PM – 2 PM 📍 Community Family Life and Recreation Center at Lyon Park 💲 Free to attend ✔ Qualifying Criminal Charge Expunction ✔ Know Your Rights Workshop ✔ Access to Free Legal Support ✔ Reclaim Your Power & Possibility Open to all, with priority for Black young women ages 18+ with eligible records. Light refreshments available while supplies last. #DurhamNC #CommunitySupport #SecondChances #KnowYourRights #WestEndCommunity #OrganicallyPretty

✨ A Legacy of Learning Lives On ✨ Step into the 1960s and experience the Lyon Park STEAM Room, our living classroom where history, science, culture, and imagination collide. 🌱📚🔬 On Saturday, February 28th (11AM–5PM), we’re bringing this immersive experience to Village of Wisdom’s Black Genius Fest on Black Wall Street in Durham, NC! This isn’t just a classroom, it’s a tribute to the brilliance rooted in our community. From hands-on exploration to honoring the legacy of learning that shaped generations, the Lyon Park STEAM Room reminds us that innovation has always lived here. Bring your family. Walk through history. Celebrate Black genius. ✊🏾✨ #BlackGeniusFest #LegacyOfLearning #LyonPark #BlackWallStreet #VillageOfWisdom #STEAM #BlackExcellence #DurhamNC #WestEndStrong

This holiday season, we pause to celebrate what we have accomplished together. Thanks to your partnership and support, The West End Community Foundation continued to serve as a hub of opportunity, uplifting youth through education, supporting families through food access and wellness programs, and creating spaces where community can truly thrive. Your belief in our work strengthens not only our programs, but the people and neighborhoods we serve every day. We are honored to be in community with you and look forward to deepening our impact together in the year ahead. Wishing you a season filled with joy, reflection, and renewed hope. ❄✨💫

The Community Family Life and Recreation Center at Lyon Park will be CLOSED on Friday, December 5, 2025, due to the threat of inclement weather. Please be safe!!

This Giving Tuesday, we invite you to join us in our work of community care, empowerment, and hope. At The West End Community Foundation, every day we: ==> nurture young leaders through our after-school and summer programs, ==> support families with free food markets and essential resources, ==> create safe spaces for wellness, learning, and belonging, and ==> honor the legacy of the West End by investing in its future. Your Giving Tuesday contribution directly supports these programs and helps us continue to show up with compassion and purpose. Donate at https://thewecf.org/fundraising/

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