DukeEngage | Duke Center for Civic Engagement

photo by Eric Van Danen

Derek Williams didn't have to cross the globe to embark in meaningful service this summer through DukeEngage.  The junior elected to remain in his hometown of Durham to give back and see "home" through a different lens.  Below he describes what attracted him to this particular DukeEngage opportunity.

1.  What drew you to this particular program in your hometown of Durham?

I thought it would be really neat to do service in my hometown and see it from a new perspective. I've always seen it through the eyes of a Durham citizen. This summer, I was able to see it through the eyes of a Duke student, as well as someone providing service on a full-time basis to Durham.

2.  What excited you about working with your community partner, the North Carolina Minority Support Center?

From the moment I met my program contact, Ms. Kimberly Knox, I knew she would be really cool to work with She's very nice, but at the same time she's about business.  I'm the same way. I could tell thhat she really wanted a hard-working student to intern with her when we talked in our interview.  I felt that I was that student and I could bring something to the table to help her just as she is helping me. Also, Ms. Knox is the director of marketing for the center, which is exactly the field I intend to go into after I finish school.  It was a perfect situation for me.

3.  What benefit did you hope your service  would have for the NC Minority Support Center and for Durham?

I went in hoping that my service could be of great use for the NCMSC and Durham. I really wanted to give back to the city that made me, and I hoped the Durham students I would be working with enjoyed and appreciated what I had to offer.  As for the NCMSC itself, I went in expecting to be of assistance whenever I was needed to help the organization move forward.  I think the NCMSC is doing big things and I love what they're doing. I was very excited to be a part of it.
 
4.  How do you hope to put into action what you learned through your DukeEngage experience now back at Duke? 

In general, I think I have a better understanding of how to serve a community what they need in a way that is effective. I want to give to others, but in a way that helps them and allows them to take full advantage of my services. What I learned this summer will be very helpful with my work on Quad Council and the Duke Marketing Committee this academic year.