Where we started
The Durham Striders have been in existence for nearly 50 years. Founded by Frank Davis, Ralph Bullock, and Herman Graham, the Strider program has provided athletic training in track and field to youth throughout Durham and the surrounding counties. In 1975, a handful of parents and coaches began the early stages of planning and organization of the track team.
The Strider program was officially established and incorporated in 1977 by Frank Davis, Jr., Herman Graham, and Ralph Bullock. Beginning with only the three founders and 30 children, the program has grown to a membership of over 300 children and a staff of approximately 30 annually.
Where we are
The Durham Striders Youth Association is a Durham based non-profit community organization that provides training across multiple athletic venues for children between the ages of 6 to 18. Annually, approximately 300 children participate in cross country, mid-season conditioning/indoor track and field, and spring and summer track and field between our two locations in Durham and Burlington, NC. Alongside athletic training, the Strider program has integrated multiple aspects of wellness, preventive medicine, academic reinforcement, citizenship training, and total family fitness to improve the overall health and productivity of our children. Targeting disadvantaged and minority children, particularly males, the program integrates positive role models as coaches and leaders to provide examples of excellence to its most impressionable citizens, its youth.
Where we're going
Every year, children from diverse backgrounds in Durham and nearby communities get the opportunity to cultivate their innate physical and mental talents through self-discipline. They benefit from the years of dedicated coaching and running experience of individuals who volunteer their time, many of whom were previously Strider athletes.
The purpose of the program is not only to enable children to develop their individual athletic potential but to provide them opportunities to learn lessons of discipline, leadership, sportsmanship, responsibility, and character. These are necessary for their participation in society as responsible and productive citizens. Combining educational programming with athletic training, the Striders program addresses important issues such as drug awareness and education, teenage sexuality, ethnic diversity, child self-protection skills, career, and vocational development, etc. This is part of the on-going day-to-day activities of the program. The program capitalizes upon the multiplicity of role-models available to the children of Durham and the surrounding communities. Its volunteer staff and Durham Striders’ athlete alumni provide stable, positive, and successful adult role-models with whom children identify, form mentor relationships, and utilize for counseling and advice year-round, on and off the athletic fields.
Durham Striders' Mission Statement
Through athletic training and competition, the Durham Striders Program strives to enhance the basic rules of good citizenship for our youth members by developing character, confidence, moral/ethical values and positive self-images with an accent on achieving excellence in the classroom.