EMPOWERment Inc: 30 Years of Transforming Lives

0:00It's April 22nd. This is Durham News Today, AI-powered stories from your city. Local non-profit EMP-awarement Inc. is marking 30 years of transforming lives in Orange County by connecting folks to affordable housing. Founded to boost access to quality homes while building community through organizing and economic growth, they've become a real force for change in. Places like Chapel Hill, staff bring personal stories that fuel their drive. Executive Director Dolores Bailey has led the charge since 2002, always pushing for fair housing. Deputy Director Leah Adoniji knows the struggle firsthand from childhood homelessness and housing counselors Sharon Reed started as a homeowner. Through their help 30 years back, their hands-on approach shines in recent wins like the Pine-No EMP-awarement Affordable Community Housing Apartments or PEACH, which opened in 2025. It targets workers earning 30-60% of the area median income, easing commutes and costs in a historic black neighborhood.

1:04For managing just 12 properties in 2009, they scaled up to over 70, thanks to constant tenant surveys and team huddles for better service. The town of Chapel Hill made it official by declaring March 25th, 2026, EMP-ost-rement day, and they're capping the milestone with a gala on September 19th at the story venue. These folks keep linking arms to lift families higher, proving real change sticks when it's community led.