About

Building Durham’s Cultural Vision Collectively

As part of the Durham Cultural Roadmap planning process, the City of Durham and Durham County have hired MJR Partners to better understand what the arts and culture community needs. This next step, called Phase II, builds on ideas and feedback gathered in Phase I.

We at MJR Partners will work closely with community members, the Durham Cultural Advisory Board, and the Cultural Roadmap Planning Group. Together, we’ll help shape a cultural plan for Durham’s future.

The MJR Partners team brings knowledge and experience grounded in the intersection of arts management, community development, and cultural planning.

MJR Partners values input from local steering committee members, agency staff, and community thought leaders to inform and guide our research protocols and resulting recommendations.

_{Public Art: “Here Comes the Sun”, 1975,}
_{Mural by Karen Stern Perkins.}

Your Voice Shapes Durham’s Cultural Future

Our team is here to listen. We want to understand your goals and hopes for a Creative Durham. We’ll focus on hearing from a wide range of voices. Your input will help us look at how people currently access arts and culture—and how we can make that better.

We hope you’ll invite us to your events or group gatherings over the next few months. Most of all, we want to hear what you care about and what you’d like this plan to explore.By working together, we can help build stronger support for Durham’s arts, culture, and humanities community.

We look forward to meeting you and hearing your voice!

Margie J. Reese

Principal

Margie is a veteran in the field of arts administration, who has served as the Executive Director of city arts agencies in Dallas, Los Angeles, and Wichita Falls, Texas.

Marlena R. McKnight

Marlena is the team’s chief research officer. Marlena’s focus areas include developing data-driven professional development, and guiding systemic change management through the lens of racial equity and inclusion.

Gerry McCants

With an extensive background in business analysis, Mr. McCants is passionate about providing
facilitation and consultation for companies, governmental agencies, and nonprofits.

Yolanda R. Alameda

As a member of the MJR Partners team, she sees her purpose as a resource to local communities to help demystify government processes that can lower access to civic resources, particularly to Latino residents and to communities of color.

James Adams

James is the logistics manager for the MJR Partners Consultant team. He oversees contract compliance, reporting, scheduling, and on-site coordination.

Brandon McKnight

Brandon is a passionate communications professional and graphic designer who focuses on supporting non-profit organizations.

Town Hall

Join us for the upcoming Town Hall designed to gather community input and inspire dialogue about Durham’s cultural future.

Thursday, September 25th, 6:00 PM

Holton Career & Resource Center 401 N Driver St, Durham, NC 27703