The W.G. Pearson Center

10/13/2026

Groundbreakings. Graduations. Statewide summits. National gatherings. Film premieres.

This summer showed exactly what The W.G. Pearson Center was built for: bringing people together where Durham’s history and future meet.

Every gathering held here carries forward the legacy of educator and community leader William Gaston Pearson and the Hayti community he served.

Could your organization’s next gathering happen here? Explore the Center and learn about booking our historic space: https://hubs.ly/Q04vKVsM0

Discover The W.G. Pearson Center's large & small event rental spaces for a polished experience, supported by our dedicated team who ensure seamless alignment with your vision. Elevate your event to its fullest potential with us.

10/07/2026

This summer, The W.G. Pearson Center became a stage for powerful Durham stories. Local barber and musician Hezter Boi debuted his first documentary inside our historic 1928 schoolhouse. The film shares real stories of Durham residents who have overcome poverty, incarceration, and domestic violence.

We were honored that Hezter Boi chose the Center for the premiere of a film rooted in resilience, redemption, and the experiences of our community.

Read the Hoodline feature: https://hubs.la/Q04vKTpT0

A Durham barber-turned-filmmaker is telling the city’s redemption stories on screen — with live music and a Q&A to match.

09/29/2026

What becomes possible when people gather to imagine a more just economy?

In July, The W.G. Pearson Center welcomed activists and organizers from across the country for the New Economy Coalition’s Assembly for Our Futures.

Over four days, participants reconnected, learned from Black and Indigenous leaders and worker cooperatives, and dreamed together about building a solidarity economy rooted in shared power and collective well-being. We were honored to provide a space for this important work in the heart of Hayti.

Read more: https://hubs.ly/Q04vKKgJ0

A large multicultural group of activists and organizers at the Solidarity Economy Assembly in Durham, NC in July 2026. Photo by Nica Guerrero.

09/23/2026

Leaders from across North Carolina gathered at The W.G. Pearson Center this summer to learn, connect, and strengthen the future of community schools.

The 2026 NC Community Schools Coalition Leadership Summit brought together Community School Coordinators, principals, district liaisons, superintendents, and partners for three days of shared learning and reflection.

They left with new ideas, stronger relationships, and renewed energy to support students, families, and communities across our state.

We’re proud to be a place where leaders learn together.

09/15/2026

Tiny caps. Tiny gowns. One unforgettable milestone. 🎓📚

This summer, The W.G. Pearson Center welcomed Book Harvest families for the Book Babies Graduation. The celebration marked five years of books, home visits, bedtime stories, learning, and growth.
Book Babies partners with parents and children to strengthen early language and literacy skills, grounded in the belief that every child deserves to begin school as a reader.

We were delighted to host a first graduation that these families will never forget.

Learn more about Book Babies: https://hubs.ly/Q04vJMZr0

There's something quietly extraordinary about a room full of families celebrating a child's very first graduation. Tiny caps and gowns. Five years of books, home visits, bedtime stories, and growth — all leading to this moment.

09/09/2026

The room was filled with pride as Student U’s Class of 2026 entered The W.G. Pearson Center for Decision Day. 🎓

Surrounded by family, friends, educators, and supporters, our graduates celebrated where they are going and everything it took to get there. Students and families shared stories of resilience, possibility, and the strength of having a community behind you.

We are honored that The W.G. Pearson Center could serve as the backdrop for this joyful milestone.

Celebrate the Class of 2026: https://hubs.la/Q04vKVvh0

Decision Day 2026 celebrated Student U seniors, their achievements, and the community that supported them as they shared plans for their future.

09/01/2026

A powerful new chapter is beginning in Hayti.

This summer, community leaders, residents, and partners broke ground on The Villages of Hayti, a long-awaited development that will bring 252 affordable homes and new community spaces to the former Fayette Place site.

We’re especially proud of Student U’s Ron McGill, who served on the project’s Community Advisory Committee and helped keep neighborhood voices at the center of the process. During the celebration, The W.G. Pearson Center was recognized with an award honoring Ron’s leadership and commitment to the Hayti community.

This is what community-centered development looks like: neighbors at the table, local voices leading, and investments creating opportunities for generations to come.

04/03/2026

Transformation starts here. From the historic W.G. Pearson Center to the rest of North Carolina, we are redefining what’s possible in education.

Don't miss the State of Student U virtual event on April 16. See how we’re investing in bright futures together!

Sign up: https://studentudurham.org/state-of-student-u-2026/

Join us for an inspiring virtual event to explore how we’re making a difference in education and how you can be part of the change.

01/19/2026

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote from a Birmingham jail cell:

“Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”

His message is clear: we are not outsiders to each other’s struggles. Our futures are connected, and justice is a shared responsibility. This MLK Day, let’s not just remember his words, let’s live them. May we choose compassion, courage, and action for each other.