Over the past year, our relationship with North Carolina Central University (NCCU) has been one of steady growth, partnership, and mutual learning. From completing the Breastfeeding Welcome Here Community Partner Award to inviting Breastfeed Durham to campus events and health fairs, NCCU has taken meaningful steps to demonstrate its commitment to breastfeeding families—students, staff, and faculty alike.
This partnership didn’t begin with a grand policy shift. It started—as all genuine change does—with conversations, relationships, and a shared belief in creating a more supportive campus culture.
A Foundation of Engagement
This year, faculty members, staff, and students across departments demonstrated a renewed eagerness to engage with our mission. The Public Health program, in particular, has emerged as a strong ally—welcoming collaboration with both Breastfeed Durham and the Durham County Department of Public Health. The integration of lactation and human milk feeding education into curriculum conversations signaled a broader institutional shift.
When we tabled at NCCU events—whether for health fairs, blood drives, or community engagement days—students didn’t just pass by. They stopped. They asked questions. They shared stories. They expressed understanding of the importance of lactation equity. And many of them eagerly offered to volunteer with us.
From Past Challenges to Present Progress
Like many institutions, NCCU has a complex history when it comes to lactation support. We’ve heard difficult stories from years past: a student relegated to a bathroom to pump, or a lactation space misused by others unaware of its purpose. Stories of professors weaning their children because they couldn’t access a lactation room—they had to choose between tenure and lactation. These stories reflect a time when infrastructure and awareness had not yet caught up with the needs of the campus community.
But something powerful is happening now.
Today, NCCU offers a comfortable lactation room in the Student Center, complete with a chair, sink, and changing table. University staff have been responsive to our inquiries, and multiple departments are engaged in ongoing conversations around improving policy and practice. While challenges remain—like ensuring lactation spaces are respected and known—there is a clear willingness to evolve and improve.
Room for Growth, and the Courage to Change
No institution becomes breastfeeding-friendly overnight. Today, we celebrate NCCU because of their openness. Rather than being defensive about past shortcomings, faculty and administrators have welcomed constructive dialogue. They’ve forwarded emails to the right committees, connected us with human resources, and reached out to general counsel when needed. And crucially, they’ve invited us in—not to critique, but to co-create.
NCCU has officially passed Step 10 of the Ten Steps to a Breastfeeding Family Friendly Community—the step that reflects the normalization of breastfeeding and lactation support within curriculum and student engagement. This is no small milestone, and it positions NCCU as a leader in higher education’s role in public health and equity.
While policy development continues in pursuit of the Breastfeeding Friendly Employer Award, it’s clear that NCCU already exemplifies what it means to be a true community partner. They have laid the groundwork for sustainable change and invited students into that process—a model of shared responsibility and care.
Moving Forward Together
As we look ahead, we are excited to continue walking alongside NCCU. Whether it’s supporting the expansion of lactation spaces, facilitating staff training, or strengthening policy language, Breastfeed Durham stands ready to partner.
Thank you, NCCU, for your commitment, collaboration, and courage. Your journey reminds us all that with transparency, community, and a shared goal, change is always possible.