In the journey to establish Durham as a Breastfeeding Family Friendly Community (BFFC), it's imperative that our elected officials understand the significance of their roles in ensuring Durham becomes a truly welcoming and supportive place for chest/breastfeeding families.

Early Voting begins Thursday, Oct. 17 and ends Saturday, Nov. 2nd

Every single vote matters! By participating in early voting, you can: 

• Avoid potential delays on Election Day
• Vote on convenient days and during non-working hours
• Same-Day Register 
• Avoid any registration conflict that could trigger the necessity of a provisional ballot on Election Day
• Update your voter record if you have moved within the county since last voting

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov 5th! 

***This year, ID will be required at your polling place. See Durham County Board of Elections for more information.***

Contact Durham Drives  at 919-525-1645 if need support with scheduling a free ride to the polls. 

Durham County voters will have the opportunity to vote on two bond measures totaling $200 million, called the "Connecting Durham" bonds. These measures are intended to fund key infrastructure improvements in the city:

1. Streets and Sidewalks Bond: This $115 million bond will fund the construction of 12.4 miles of new sidewalks and multi-use paths, repair 20 miles of sidewalks, repave 100 miles of streets, and pave nearly 11 miles of unpaved streets. It also includes projects in historically underinvested areas to improve pedestrian access to bus stops, schools, and jobs​. 

2. Parks and Recreation Bond: This $85 million bond will rejuvenate East End and Long Meadow parks and fund the construction of a new aquatic center at Merrick-Moore Park. These projects were developed based on community feedback and will create new public spaces for recreation, community gatherings, and aquatics​.

When it comes to supporting a breastfeeding-friendly community, access to safe, walkable sidewalks and quality parks is essential for all families. Walkable neighborhoods allow families—especially breastfeeding parents—to easily reach grocery stores and community resources, enhancing food security and access to healthier options. Additionally, well-maintained parks provide safe spaces for families to engage in physical activity, which supports overall health and well-being. Equitable access to quality sidewalks and parks are about fostering vibrant, healthy communities that promote well-being for everyone.

By investing in infrastructure that encourages mobility and creates welcoming public spaces, we're helping all families, including breastfeeding ones, thrive in environments that are safer, more active, and more supportive of their needs. This is a bipartisan issue—healthy, connected communities benefit everyone, regardless of politics.

In preparation for the upcoming elections, Breastfeed Durham reached out to all candidates running for political office to ask how they plan to support the creation of a Breastfeeding Family Friendly Community. We believe it's essential to understand how our leaders will prioritize the health and well-being of families. To date, only the following candidates have responded to our questions:

Support the implementation of breastfeeding-friendly policies across communities in NC: I would make state support for adherence to the PUMP Act and related law a part of the state’s presentation and solicitation of prospective employers who are thinking about starting a business or relocating to North Carolina. We should not advertise as a haven for companies who have a history of avoidance of labor regulations. I would also lobby for state law that at least met the standards of the PUMP Act in providing expectant and nursing mothers with appropriate breaks and facilities to breastfeed or pump breast milk. Enforcement could then rest with the state department of labor, which may add observations of compliance to existing workplace inspections and decrease hesitancy to report violations...Read more

Support the implementation of breastfeeding-friendly policies across communities in NC: There are two ways I will be able to support breastfeeding friendly policies as Commissioner of Labor: 1) Making sure both employers and employees are aware of the PUMP act which was signed into law by President Biden. The NCDOL should have a communications campaign informing people of their rights. We must ensure that our compliance officers are trained to be able to enforce that law. 2) As head of the NCDOL, I would be able to offer additional protections and accommodations so DOL employees can have the best accommodations of any other state office. Doing this can set the example for other departments to follow suit...Read more

The upcoming elections provide a unique opportunity for our community to elect leaders who will actively support the mission of creating a Breastfeeding Family Friendly Community. Elected officials have the potential to shape policies and initiatives that promote inclusivity and ensure that chest/breastfeeding families can comfortably and confidently feed their infants wherever they are in Durham and North Carolina. 

In the midst of the election season, let us remember the importance of choosing leaders who not only understand the rights of parents to breastfeed but also actively advocate for and implement measures that foster a welcoming atmosphere for all families. This is an opportunity for our community to voice its support for policies that champion the rights and needs of chest/breastfeeding families.