Centennial Projects for Community Engagement
Duke’s engagement with communities via scholarship, service, and collaboration has taken many forms since the university was founded in 1924. As a research university, healthcare provider, employer, partner, and neighbor, Duke is committed to prioritizing the needs of our neighbors and improving the quality of life in our region. Through our Strategic Community Impact Plan, which was developed in partnership with community members, we have identified five priority areas—health, housing, education, employment, and community—that guide our efforts to forge and sustain partnerships that offer mutual benefit and the greatest positive impact to communities.
As we look ahead to our second century, the university’s strategic vision sets forth five visionary goals, one of which is to forge purposeful partnerships with our neighbors in the region. Through the events listed below, as well as others across Duke, faculty, staff, students, and alumni will have opportunities to honor the centennial celebration by engaging with our neighbors and advancing priorities aimed at improving health and well-being in Durham and beyond. A full list of events celebrating Duke’s centennial can be found at 100.duke.edu.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Meal Packaging
January 15, 2024
The Duke School, 9 am – 12 pm
In partnership with Southwest Durham Rotary, Duke faculty, staff, and students will volunteer from the Durham community to package 150,000+ meals to be distributed in Durham, Orange, Wake, and Johnston counties through Interfaith Food Shuttle. Please note that signups for the 2024 event are full. Registration for the 2025 MLK Meal Packaging event will be available in December 2024 on the ConnectCommunity platform.
Centennial Community Health Summit
March 28, 2024
Durham Convention Center (300 W Morgan Street), 9 am – 4 pm
In spring 2024, the Office of Community Health will host the Centennial Community Health Summit. The centennial edition of the annual summit, which raises awareness of key health issues and offers solutions that can lead to a healthier community, will focus on timely and important health needs in Durham and the region.
Centennial Durham Day Football Game vs. UConn
September 14, 2024
Wallace Wade Stadium, 6 pm kickoff
Community partners and leaders are invited to be guests of Vincent Price, president of Duke University, at a home football game. Durham Day is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate community members who strengthen the relationship between Duke and its hometown of Durham and highlight Duke’s commitment to forging purposeful partnerships as the university enters its second century. The Centennial Durham Day football game will be held in the fall of 2024.
Centennial Volunteer Fair
October 1, 2024
Penn Pavilion, 4 – 7 pm
In partnership with the Triangle Nonprofit and Volunteer Leadership Center, the Centennial Volunteer Fair will present Duke community members with an opportunity to explore volunteer and service opportunities with dozens of community nonprofits. Now in its 48th year, the 2024 Volunteer Fair will celebrate Duke’s commitment to service in its first hundred years, as well as feature a live demonstration of The Partnership Platform, a digital resource for mapping, matching, and measuring impact across Duke’s community engagement efforts.
Centennial Build with Habitat for Humanity
Fall 2024
The university will renew its longstanding partnership with Habitat for Humanity and build a home in the centennial year to celebrate the milestone. Members of the Duke community, including alumni, are invited to participate in the build.
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