Meet Sydney! Durham Office & Community Organizer

Your Role: In your own words, how would you describe the work you do at CEF and why is it important? 

As Office & Community Organizer in Durham, my role is largely providing stability to the office to
ensure everything runs smoothly on a day-to-day basis. Another large responsibility is
the community advocacy portion, which provides CEF Members with opportunities to lead
initiatives surrounding the issues most important to them such as affordable housing, fair
consideration for employment, and building multigenerational wealth.

Your Background: What experiences, strengths, and skills do you bring to work at CEF?

I am a young, Black woman trying to make it in this world and I have a testimony in some ways
very similar to the Members we serve at CEF. Being in my position, serving folks that look like me
and have some of my same struggles, is a very humbling experience that brings both joy and
sorrow. There is power in representation and relatability, that strengthens my ability to reach
more than a person’s individual mind, but more importantly their hearts. The work I strive to do is
done very personally and with great intention.

Connecting to CEF: What led you to work with CEF generally, and also in this particular role?

More generally, I began volunteering with CEF in search of a community. I moved to Chapel Hill
mid-pandemic at the beginning of adulthood as a college student and knew absolutely nobody. I
wanted to be in community with other changemakers like myself and CEF allowed me to build a
home away from home. In the last two years, I have held the positions of Advocate, full-time
summer intern, part-time staff support, and now full-time office & community organizer. The
various positions I have held at CEF give me the ability to view our functions and operations from
many viewpoints, and deepen my understanding of who we are and what we do.

Energy: Where do you find energy and renewal?

I find energy and renewal by having meaningful conversations with other people about the work I
do. I like to talk to people and have heart-to-heart conversations about larger systematic issues
that show up every day in the world around us. I find joy in “stirring the pot” and talking about the
things that matter but are sometimes considered taboo. I would probably describe my personality
as an armchair philosopher.

Challenge: What are the biggest challenges in your work and how do you seek to find the best way forward?

One of the biggest challenges I face in the work I do is seeing the influx of people in need and the
lack of resources in the community to support them. There is an overwhelming amount of folks
that are not having their basic needs met. It is not easy to ignore or justify because it exists right
in front of us, every day. My commitment to the work I do is to at least make a dent in the pool of
injustice and continue to advocate for change that will impact those who need it most. Housing is
a human right.

Anything Else You Would Like To Add:

Never give up on yourself and pay close attention to the world around you. People may have
their doubts and opinions, but the truth can not be silenced… YOU MATTER!

Meet Hannah! Staff Support

Your Role: In your own words, how would you describe the work you do at CEF and why is it important? 

As full time Staff Support at CEF, I work with Members, Advocates, and other CEF staff to respond to Member’s needs in real time. During Member meetings, I am in the office and available to answer any questions or provide additional support that may be needed. Being a flexible member of staff who works in both the Durham and Chapel Hill offices is important in order to ensure that Members and Advocates are getting the support they need in order to achieve the goals that Members have identified for themselves.

Your Background: What experiences, strengths, and skills do you bring to work at CEF?

I have been a part of and worked in the substance use and recovery community for over five years. My background working with individuals experiencing situations that are complex and mutli-faceted has given me skills that allow me to engage with CEF in similar ways. My passion for this work stems from my personal life experiences as well as my background working with communities who are systematically denied access to knowledge and resources that can help them achieve their goals.

Connecting to CEF: What led you to work with CEF generally, and also in this particular role?

I have a passion for people. One of my greatest joys in life is connecting with others. I believe that, at the core of each of us, we are seeking connection with ourselves, others, and the world around us. CEF is a place where folks can find connection in many different ways. What I love seeing is so many individuals from different backgrounds, each with their own unique lived experiences, finding ways to connect and support each other. While a lot of the work CEF does is challenging and can be heavy to carry, witnessing true human connection on a consistent basis is, I think, what makes CEF so successful in their work.

Energy: Where do you find energy and renewal?

Within CEF, I find energy and renewal by witnessing the connections that are made between Members, Advocates, and staff. CEF’s work is based on relationships and seeing those relationships develop and grow brings me a lot of joy. Witnessing injustice and oppression in such an intimate way on a daily basis can be trying, but knowing that folks who engage with CEF have a place where they can feel heard and their experiences are validated helps to renew my passion for this work.

Challenge: What are the biggest challenges in your work and how do you seek to find the best way forward?

I think one of the biggest challenges for me at CEF is witnessing the injustice and oppression that Members are experiencing. At CEF, we trust that Members are fully capable of making their own decisions about what is best for themselves and their own lives. When thinking about the situations that Members face, I believe that the best way forward is to listen to Members, hear what their needs are, and work alongside them to find solutions that feel like the right way for them.

Anything Else You Would Like To Add:

I am very grateful for the opportunity to work at CEF and to be a part of an organization that is intentional about the services they provide and the relationships they build in the community. I am looking forward to my journey with CEF and seeing how my skills and my personal experiences can inform that.