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Mission
The mission of the Durham Living Wage Project is to support worker livelihoods by urging employers to pay living wages, certifying and publicly recognizing employers, and promoting living wages as a matter of conscience within our community.
Vision
We envision Durham as a livable community where all workers can prosper.
Purpose
We exist to promote a just economy where workers are paid fairly, employers are successful, and our community thrives as a result.
Guiding Principles
We believe that a just economy provides:
- Jobs with dignity and living wages
- Economic prosperity for individuals, enterprises and communities
- Equal opportunity and justice for all people who have been marginalized in our society, with a particular focus on race, class and gender equity
We believe that we can help bring about a more just economy by promoting living wages and by collaborating with partner organizations that seek to:
- Reduce barriers to employment
- Place marginalized workers in living wage jobs
- Provide workers with a broader set of employment benefits and protections
Steering Committee
The Durham Living Wage Project is guided by a Steering Committee comprised of employers, employees, and community members committed to a just and sustainable local economy.
- Kevin Griffin: Kevin is the President and CEO of AVANT Group, LLC, a full service staffing and recruiting firm that is also a 3rd party certified sustainable company (B-Corp). The AVANT focus is matching the right candidates with the right positions, at the right times. Paying a living wage is a key component of a good career opportunity, and Mr. Griffin’s role is to present that fact to the business community, and to advocate for all companies to raise their standards of pay.
- Henry McKoy: Henry is on faculty at North Carolina Central University School of Business where he also serves as Director of Entrepreneurship. He is married with two children. He is interested in ensuring that all individuals live respectable and dignified lives by being paid a fair and livable wage for the work they do.
- Brian Nealon: Brian is the Director of Operations at EarthShare NC, a non-profit supporting the conservation movement by building partnerships between corporations and local conservation groups. His past work includes owning a small business and securing employment opportunities for underserved young people.
- Candace Rashada: While Candace works as a Program Coordinator at Durham Technical Community College Division of Corporate and Continuing Education, she serves as a community advocate for youth and adults in transition from homelessness, incarceration and abuse. She believes that education and living wages are the cornerstones of stability that transform lives.
- Carl Rist: Carl has spent over 20 years at Prosperity Now (formerly CFED) and is currently the Director of Children's Savings and Senior Advisor, Asset Building. Carl is also an active community volunteer and serves on the boards of the Durham People's Alliance, the Self-Help Federal Credit Union and NC Child.
- Brian Schneiderman: Brian is Director of Commercial Lending at Self-Help.
Thanks for the support and generous contributions from the following businesses, organizations, and artists:
- The PA Fund
- Cocoa Cinnamon
- Monuts Donuts
- Self-Help
- Center for Documentary Studies
- Durham Congregations in Action
- Durham CAN
- First Presbyterian Church
- KLP Designs
- Leslie Cunningham Films
- Just Economics
- NC Justice Center
The Durham Living Project is an endeavor of The People’s Alliance Fund. The DLWP officially launched in early 2015.