Wildlife and nature

Animal shelters and rescues

Theater and dance

Rivers, parks and trails

Hunger and food

Schools and learning

Housing and homelessness

Community health

Mental health

Mentoring and foster care

Legal help and rights

Jobs and money help

Atlanta

The Triangle

Everywhere

The Collective Workshop

Royal Animal Refuge

Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta

Georgia Advancing Communities Together

Atlanta Writers Club

Cobb Collaborative

Bosleys Place

Jewish Fertility Foundation

Cashmere Bentley

Meg Olhasque

LARHONDA LESLIE

CARY CAIN

PAULINE ROBINSON

CLINT MCSHERRY

KEVIN MORIN-KENSICKI

BILL DEFULVIO

NAKEETA THARPE

Samantha Alexander

Chonna Campbell

Citlalli Alaniz

Programs

Events

About

Step

Meet Kayla! 👋 New to Durham and looking for a job, she came to StepUp after her mother, a former participant, shared her positive experience. Now we’re here to support Kayla as she takes her next step. 💙 You can help more people like Kayla through our Ready. Set. RISE! fall campaign. Donate at the link in our bio or contact meg@stepupdurham.org about sponsorship opportunities. Then come celebrate with us at Fall Fest! 🎉 📅 Friday, November 13 | 3:30–8 p.m. 📍 Hi-Wire Brewing, 800 Taylor St., Durham Enjoy local creatives, artists, and entrepreneurs, plus beer, food, games, and more! Admission is free, and the whole family is welcome. Bring your friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors. Pull up, pop out, and have some fun with us! 🎨🍻

🎉 Congratulations to StepUp Durham’s October Step 1 Jobs Week grads! 👏 Scroll through to meet the faces of those who showed up ready to take on the challenge of employment, connect with resources, and build a community in their corner. Taking that first step takes courage, and these grads did it! Now, they’re ready to move forward and take on the job search. We’re cheering you on. Now, let’s get you back to work! 💼🙌 #StepUpDurham #JobsWeek #CareerReadiness #DurhamNC

Did you know? StepUp Durham began with local residents asking how they could help more Durham neighbors find work and build brighter futures. That community commitment helped open our doors in 2015—and it’s still at the heart of our work 11 years later! 💙 To our participants, staff, volunteers, and supporters: YOU are part of this story. Thank you for showing up, believing in possibilities, and taking the next step with us. Want to help us celebrate? Donate or sponsor our Ready. Set. RISE! Fall Campaign. Let’s keep building a future full of hope and opportunity! Link in bio.

There are many paths toward stable work. Whatever brings you to StepUp Durham, we’re glad you’re here. 💙 You bring the determination. We’ll bring job training, coaching, resources, and ongoing support to help you take the next step.

Oh look, it’s our favorite supporter. YOU! 👀 Haven’t donated to StepUp Durham’s Fall Campaign yet? There’s still time to help us reach our $50,000 goal. Your gift supports people navigating all kinds of paths back to stable work: 💙 A mom returning to the workforce after years spent raising her kids. 💙 An uncle rebuilding after incarceration. 💙 A dad recovering from a workplace injury. 💙 A sister ready for a career change. 💙 A son transitioning from military service to civilian work. 💙 A parent seeking safety after domestic violence and working toward financial independence. 💙 A neighbor rebuilding confidence after a period of mental health challenges. Each person brings determination. StepUp brings job training, coaching, resources, and ongoing support to help them take the next step. Your support today helps someone move forward tomorrow. Can we count on you? Link in bio to donate or sponsor our fall campaign. Or visit www.stepupdurham.org/campaign-26.

A big thank you to HUBZone Technology Initiative (HTI) for donating laptops to Step Up Durham! 💻 Your generosity helps us continue our work in the Durham community and expands access to the technology needed to learn, work, and thrive. We’re grateful for this partnership and for HTI’s commitment to bridging the digital divide. Thank you for helping us create more opportunities for our community! @hubzonetech

Ready. Set. RISE! 🚀 This fall, we’re raising $50,000 to help Durham job seekers move beyond barriers and toward stronger careers, lasting stability, and brighter futures. Every gift helps provide the training, coaching, resources, and support that turn determination into opportunity. ✨ Give. Sponsor. Be part of someone’s next step. Interested in becoming a Ready. Set. RISE! sponsor? Contact Meg at meg@stepupdurham.org to learn more. #ReadySetRISE #StepUpDurham #DurhamNC

A big shoutout to our August Jobs Week participants on completing Step1! 🎉👏 You showed up, put in the work, and took an important step toward job readiness, greater stability, and new opportunities. And you’re not doing it alone. At StepUp Durham, you have a community that cares, believes in you, and is here to support you along the way. We can’t wait to keep the momentum going. Step2 awaits! 💙

Every new skill is a step toward new possibilities. Tell us what you’d love to learn this year. 💙

Congratulations to our newest Jobs Week graduates! 🎉 📩 Learn more: info@stepupdurham.org Completing Step1 is more than building job readiness—it’s taking the first step toward new opportunities and joining a community that’s here to support you along the way. Ready to take your first step? We offer FREE employment readiness training, personalized job coaching, employer referrals, and support for job seekers, including those with barriers to employment. 📩 Learn more: info@stepupdurham.org

Step up. Turn up. Show up. 😎🎶 Confidence starts with the first step. What’s a tune that makes you feel unstoppable? 👇

Still reflecting on the incredible energy from @walltownchildrenstheatre at our IMPACT26 event last month. Grateful for the way our Durham community continues to show up — celebrating young talent, uplifting local organizations, and creating spaces where connection and community truly shine. Proud to see so many impactful partners visible, engaged, and building together for Durham. 🩷🧡💜💙💛

Of course, all of our Success Coaches and Program Leaders bring great communication, organization, and amazing vibes to the team. But give it up for Nakeeta and Bill for playing along for this fun trend! 👏✨ #friyay #feelgoodfriday #stepupdurham

We’re excited to welcome Walltown Children’s Theatre (@walltownchildrenstheatre) as the entertainment for IMPACT26! 🎭✨ Since 2000, WCT has empowered young people from diverse backgrounds through performing arts and youth development—helping them build confidence, express creativity, and strengthen our community. Rooted in Walltown and serving Durham and the Triangle, their performances celebrate connection, opportunity, and the power of youth voices. We can’t wait for them to bring that energy to the IMPACT26 stage! 🎟️ Secure your tickets or support the mission today. Visit the link in bio or go to www.stepupdurham.org/impact26 to purchase tickets or make a donation. 💙

Our Back-to-School Block Party was a wonderful reminder of the power of community! Families came together to connect, have fun, access resources, and celebrate our children as they head into a new school year. We were also excited to help students start the year prepared with backpacks and school supplies. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended, volunteered, donated, and helped make the day possible. We’re especially grateful to our community partners @ibm, @legalaidnc @bikedurham, and @bridgespointenc and to Keith Bullard with USSW @raiseupthesouth for donating 150 backpacks filled with school supplies for our community. A special shoutout also goes to StepUp Durham participant Jamie Leacock of True Colors by JBird for bringing even more joy to the day with face painting! It truly takes a village, and we’re grateful for ours. Thank you for making this year’s Back-to-School Block Party one to remember! 💙

🎉 Congratulations to our September Jobs Week graduates! Step1 is officially in the books! Each participant has now been matched with a Success Coach who will walk alongside them as an accountability partner throughout their journey. We can’t wait to continue working with you all through Step2 as you work toward landing a job, finding greater stability, and building a stronger foundation for your future. From mock interviews and resume strengthening to navigating work gaps, professionalism, and so much more, our team goes beyond the modules. We build confidence, provide encouragement, and create the supportive community so many people are looking for as they take their next steps. Here’s to the journey ahead! 👏

A heartfelt thank you to @lakewood_social for choosing StepUp Durham as your July Nonprofit Partner of the Month, and to every guest who dined with purpose on Tuesdays throughout July. Together, you helped raise $1,779.69 to support Durham job seekers as they build sustainable careers and brighter futures. We’re so grateful for this incredible partnership and for a community that shows up to make a difference. 💙

We have complete confidence in our ENERG Coordinator/Success Coach Kevin… …and that’s exactly why we let him star in this trend. 😂 Disclaimer: Everyone in this reel is genuinely tech-savvy. Any social media mishaps depicted are purely fictional and for entertainment purposes only.

Warming up for the week ahead… 💪 Stretching into Monday and getting ready for another week of showing up, creating opportunities, building connections, and taking steps forward. Because at StepUp Durham, we know a little preparation goes a long way. 😉 Let’s get to work! 👏 #StepUpDurham #MondayMotivation #DurhamNC

A big thank you to @ibm for making an impact! 💙 During IBM Impact Day, volunteers created digital STEM flashcards, personalized pencil cases, and filled 50 backpacks with supplies for families attending our Back-to-School Block Party. We’re also grateful for the opportunity to share StepUp Durham’s mission with the IBM team. Thank you to everyone who gave their time and talents to support our families. Stay tuned for photos and a recap from the Block Party!

Happy National Intern Day to our incredible intern, Citlalli! 💙 We’re so grateful for everything she brings to the StepUp Durham team. Citlalli joined StepUp through her interest in workforce development and community-based economic policy, and she loves getting to know our participants, supporting workshops, and seeing careers take shape. Outside of StepUp, she enjoys exploring Durham’s restaurants and cafés, reading outside, traveling, trying new foods, and finding new ways to connect with the community. Thank you, Citlalli, for your hard work, positivity, and the impact you’ve made. We’re so glad you’re part of the StepUp family! 📸 Gillian Ward

💙 Join us today and support StepUp Durham, July’s Nonprofit Partner! @lakewood_social is donating 10% of sales every Tuesday in July to help provide job readiness training, personalized coaching, employer connections, and supportive services for job seekers working toward their goals. Your Tuesday plans can make a difference. Learn more about StepUp Durham at www.stepupdurham.org. #nonprofitorganization #community #investincommunity #durham #jobready

What are these two brewing up? 👀 It’s a Friday First Peek at something fun and festive in the works, and we can’t wait to share more! Stay tuned in the weeks ahead for a fall announcement you’ll want to be part of! 🎉 @hiwirebrewing_durm

A polished résumé. Stronger interview skills. A whole lot more confidence. 🙌 After completing Jobs Week, part of Step1 at StepUp Durham, Aundrea says the pieces are coming together. Having a certificate that says you can do the job is one thing—knowing how to land it is a whole different ball game. Now, he feels prepared and ready to take on his job search, with StepUp Durham beside him every step of the way. We’re cheering you on, Aundrea! Here’s to the opportunities ahead. 💙

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