A new pathway to better jobs, made in Durham

Image © Made in Durham

Damon Sanders was commuting to his job in a warehouse freezer section, when an accident left him injured and unable to work.

“It left me in a really low spot. Then my mom came across a flyer for a BioWork certificate,” he says. “Growing up, sciences weren’t my strong suit. But now I’ve got a job as a manufacturing operator at Novo.”

Novo Nordisk is one of the major employers in North Carolina’s ‘Research Triangle’, a region known for its universities and burgeoning biotech sector. Within the triangle, the city of Durham is home to Duke University, North Carolina Central University, and employers like GlaxoSmithKline and IBM. Yet for many young people here, these opportunities are out of reach.

A 2012 report on disconnected youth by MDC Inc highlighted that around 12 per cent of Durham’s young people aged 16-24 weren’t in school or work,[1] putting them at higher risk of future social and financial hardship.

The report also identified the fundamental building blocks needed to change this picture – real opportunities that prepare young people for careers, and a dense network of community support.

Building on this is Made in Durham, a US not-for-profit organisation that supports young people to complete a post-secondary qualification and begin a rewarding career by the age of 25. It works through partnerships, engaging communities, young people, and corporations, to ensure its success is supported and sustainable.

“This model benefits everyone,” says executive director Casey Steinbacher. “By enhancing an effective Education-to-Career system, we can help build a pipeline of talent to help regional companies compete and grow.”

BULLS Life Sciences Academy is Made in Durham’s flagship programme, and in partnership with Durham Technical Community College, it connects young people to new life sciences careers. Students like Damon follow a five-month BioWork course to graduate as certified process technicians, which opens up a range of careers in chemical and pharmaceutical production.

“Graduation was amazing – hearing them call your name and getting a certificate, it gives a sense of accomplishment,” says Damon. “Now I’ve settled into my new job, and you get a sense of family here too. It’s a life-changing opportunity.”

Courses like these aren’t provided in isolation – Made in Durham offers vital wraparound support to break down barriers to enrolment. This helps with things like finances, childcare referrals, and counselling, while coaches guide students into the corporate world and support them after graduation.

Made in Durham is on track to change many more lives. It’s already working with 10 community organisations to support 200 young people to apply to BULLS through to 2026. “The model we’ve created is transferrable to other communities and industries,” says Dominique Oliver, director of systems and initiatives. “It can grow and be impactful for young people throughout our nation.”

“When I started, we only had two students in graduation,” says Therese Daye, youth engagement director. “Now we have cohorts of 30 students, so we’re graduating 90 students a year!”

Watch the video below to learn more about Made in Durham’s work:

Oak supports Made in Durham through our Special Interest Programme, which provides the space and flexibility to support a diverse range of partners around the world, reflecting the interest of Oak’s Trustees.

[1] ‘The State of the Triangle’s Disconnected Youth’ (2012). PDF download: https://www.mdcinc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/disconnected-youth.pdf