Hayti Heritage Center Ushers In Bold New Chapter with Leadership Transition

DURHAM, NC — The St. Joseph’s Historic Foundation Board of Directors has announced a significant leadership transition as the Hayti Heritage Center prepares to launch its most ambitious and future-facing vision since its founding in 1975.

After 12 years of dedicated service, Executive Director Angela Lee will step down, having led the center through a critical era of growth and preservation. Under her leadership, Hayti expanded educational programs and protected invaluable archives tied to Durham’s Black legacy.

“Angela’s leadership carried Hayti through more than a decade of critical preservation,” said Board Chair Tarryn Henry. “Now, in the midst of our 50th year, we are stepping boldly into a new era — one that positions Hayti not only as a guardian of legacy, but as a generator of Black cultural and economic power at scale.”

Hayti Heritage Center: A Vision for the Next 50 Years

As Hayti Heritage Center celebrates its semicentennial, the organization is launching a five-year strategy rooted in four transformative commitments:

• Hayti as a Guardian of Legacy
  Preserving and honoring Durham’s Black cultural lineage with plans to establish a sprawling campus dedicated to history, culture, and community life.
• Hayti as an Incubator of Innovation
  Empowering the next generation of Black creatives and changemakers through initiatives like the Hayti Writers Workshop, artist residencies, and code academies.
• Hayti as a Cultural Grantmaker
  Launching the Hayti Futures Fund to redistribute wealth, aiming to award over $1 million annually in grants by 2030 to students, cultural workers, and visionaries.
• Hayti as a Member-Supported Institution
  Introducing the 1975 Sustainers — a grassroots monthly giving campaign asking for $19.75 contributions to symbolize investment in Hayti’s founding year and future.

“This isn’t a renovation; it’s a renaissance,” said Board Member Monét Marshall. “We’re institutionalizing the radical spirit of historic Hayti for generations to come.”

Interim Leadership and the Path Ahead

While the board reviews executive search firms to identify permanent leadership, King Kenney — a seasoned cultural strategist with deep Durham roots — will serve as interim executive director and lead the charge on the renewed vision for Hayti Heritage Center.

“We’re committing to fund the next chapter — ensuring that, as a longstanding pillar of this community, we answer our deeper obligation: to advance Durham’s Black legacy by shaping a future rooted in our collective brilliance,” said Board Member Quay Weston.

Photo: Durham Magazine, National Trust for Historic Preservation