ABOUT US
Our
History
​Partnership Effort for the Advancement of Children's Health (PEACH) started as a collaboration between North Carolina Central University (NCCU) and Northeast Central Durham (NECD) Community Reinvestment Board, Inc.
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The goal of PEACH was to expand the effective community/university partnership between the NECD community and the experts in health education and environmental science at NCCU.
NCCU & NECD Partnership
The partnership between NCCU and NECD targeted the lingering problem of lead poisoning in children. The community believed there was a need for an effective dialogue and an integrated educational program to resolve the environmental justice problem. that contributed to lead poisoning in children.
Addressing
Lead Poisoning
coalition
The expectations of the project were to approach environmental justice on the solid platform of application of outreach educational methods, promotion of environmental science, and accessibility to and responsiveness to medical care.
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The PEACH Coalition framework was used by Durham Community Develpment Department (DCD) to secure grant funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to mitigate lead-based paint hazards in Durham houses. DCD was successful in securing several million dollars in lead-based paint hazard control grants from HUD and other sources.
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To form a PEACH coalition,
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To identify/improve condition of houses in NECD where the lead poisoning program was most acute, and where housing conditions were the most threatening,
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To use effective dialogue to mediate contacts between the community, the environmental agencies, and state and local programs on lead; and,
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To generate a plan for collection, interpretation, and presentation of the data from the project.
Program Aims
PEACH Founders
In 2007, Dr. Theodore Parrish (NCCU Principal Investigator at implementation of partnership) and Lenora Smith (NECD resident & part-time PEACH secretary at implementation of partnership), along with Andrea Lloyd (Coalition Member), Marion Lamberth (NECD resident), the late Lonnie Ward (PEACH Community Contractor) and Lawrence Little (PEACH AmeriCorps member) incorporated PEACH as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Dr. Theodore Parrish
Lenora Smith
PEACH Today
Today, PEACH continues to focus on residential lead-based paint hazards that prompted the community and the university to start the initiative. PEACH has expanded its residential environmental focus to include the healthy homes approach.
PEACH offers hands-on programs that protect families, train professionals, and empower youth. From EPA-certified lead safety training to home inspections and community-based economic development, our initiatives focus on building healthier homes and brighter futures. Whether you're a contractor, a parent, or a student, PEACH programs are designed to inform, uplift, and create lasting impact where it's needed most.
Our PEACH Team
Behind every PEACH initiative is a dedicated team of community advocates, educators, and environmental health professionals. Rooted in Durham and driven by purpose, our staff and board members bring lived experience, local knowledge, and deep commitment to the families we serve. Get to know the passionate people working every day to make homes healthier and communities stronger.
PEACH Staff
PEACH is powered by people who live in, work with, and deeply understand the communities we serve. Our staff and community partners bring decades of experience in environmental health, public education, housing safety, and grassroots organizing. Each member of the PEACH team is driven by a shared belief: that lasting change begins with trust, collaboration, and a commitment to equity. Together, we are building healthier homes— and stronger communities— one project, one household, and one youth at a time.
Lawrence Little, Administrator
Lawrence dedicated seven years to community service and financial management in Durham. He began as a PEACH AmeriCorps member in 2006-2007, spearheading community outreach projects like a low-cost soil remediation initiative and a lead poisoning awareness poster contest for summer campers. His work with PEACH partner Operation Breakthrough (OBT) led to a full-time role in 2007 as a community coordinator for their weatherization program, followed by a promotion to Accounting Technician later that year. Outside of work, Lawrence is a state notary and an active member of First Cavalry Baptist Church, where he sings in three choirs.
Our Valued Supporters
