Merrick-Moore Community Development Corporation

CORE VALUES

Community Service
Activism
Teamwork
Loyalty
Respect
Trust

HISTORY
Who is Merrick-Moore? One whose son is a college head coach. Mrs.

The official page of the Merrick-Moore Community Development Corporation, a non-profit organization founded in 1952 to serve the Merrick Moore community in Durham, North Carolina. MISSION STATEMENT

The Merrick-Moore Community Development Corporation, in its diverse community, exists for charitable and educational purposes, to improve the overall quality of life of the poor, underprivileged and di

senfranchised, by strengthening the bonds amongst our residents which include but are not limited to providing a forum for the sharing of information, promoting activities/events, fulfilling the community needs and through enhancing the homeowner’s property values. School
Merrick-Moore High School was named after John Merrick, an American businessman. Born into slavery in Clinton, North Carolina, Merrick founded various companies in the Raleigh, North Carolina, and Durham, North Carolina areas, most notably the North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company and Aaron McDuffie Moore, M.D. was the first Black medical doctor of Durham, North Carolina, USA, and a prominent leader in the African American community-based in the part of the city known as Hayti, hence came the name of the community. Merrick-Moore High School was a power in the NCHSAC for many years winning state championships and in 1964-65 won its first state championship in football. There were several who played college football and had tryouts for professional teams from this first championship team. There were other notable and nationally recognized graduates of Merrick Moore. In 1969 Merrick-Moore and all other black high schools except about six graduated their last classes with no provision being made for the preservation of their history and legacy, so it was with Merrick-Moore. and there were basketball players who played college basketball. Maude Thompson was an instrumental force in having the school located in our community, she also chose to honor two great leaders in the financial sector by naming the school after them. Church
Church Mt Zoar Missionary Baptist Church Celebrated its 145th homecoming service in 2010. Today the history dates back 156 years
Property for the first location was donated by two white families, the Spencer and Carpenter Families. Located on Fish Dam Road, now Cheek Rd, approx. 2 ½ miles east of the current location. Community
The community really began to take shape after the survey of 1947 when lots were offered to black families for $500.00. Many of the first to buy lots and build were veterans of WWII who had returned from service in 1945 and 1946. There were many families who purchased multiple lots, most being brothers, sisters, parents, and others who had come from farms before WWII. The church and school were stabilizing influences in the community. Most of the residents of the community were members of the church and all the children went to the school. Merrick Moore Ladies Club came into being during the late ’40s to early ’50s. Their purpose was through providing community service to residents who were in need. They visited the sick, cooked, and provided household chores such as cooking and cleaning until they were able to provide for themselves. They would also make monetary contributions raised through community fundraising events. The Merrick Moore Community Club comprised of the men was formed in 1952. Their focus was on community improvement through being politically engaged with city and state government. Shortly after they formed, they joined forces with the Ladies Club and incorporated and gained nonprofit status. They also were able to purchase two properties, one of which is where are currently developing as a community garden.

05/11/2026

🐦

We’re excited to partner with Durham Parks and Recreation Outdoor Recreation and New Hope Bird Alliance to celebrate Black Birders Week at the Samuel Green Sr. Community Garden!

Join us on May 29th and 30th for a meaningful afternoon of learning and connection.

Space is limited, so be sure to register using the link below to save your spot!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4DACA62FA7FDC07-61350789-mmcdc #/

05/04/2026

With the weather warming up and plenty to do in the garden, we’re starting earlier on Saturdays (9 am - 11 am) and adding a weekday evening workday on Wednesdays at 6:30pm.

We hope to see you out there as we continue to grow and support the Samuel Green Sr. Community Garden! 💛

Sign up using the link below.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4DACA62FA7FDC07-62901117-april #/

05/01/2026

It was an honor having our Executive Director, Bonita Green, contribute to this important conversation. Grateful for the opportunity to elevate community voices and share in dialogue around environmental justice, health, and the power of policy in shaping our lived environments.

Photos from Merrick-Moore Community Development Corporation's post

05/01/2026

A big thank-you to all our amazing volunteers who joined us in the garden for our Earth Day event! Your time, energy, and care make a meaningful impact and help us continue to grow together as a community. It was especially beautiful to see the kids’ excitement as they explored the garden - spotting butterflies and lizards along the way.

As we head into May, we’d love to see even more new and familiar faces out at the garden. Come get your hands in the soil and be part of something special:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4DACA62FA7FDC07-62901117-april #/

03/18/2026

MMCDC’s March Food Distribution will take place this Saturday, March 21st. Unfortunately, this will be our final distribution due to a lack of funding.

We are actively seeking support to restart the program and continue providing fresh, healthy produce to our community. 💛

03/16/2026

Merrick-Moore alumni, along with current and former community members, came together for a meaningful afternoon of reflection and connection during the Merrick-Moore Oral History Project event, hosted in partnership with Andre Vann and Danielle Colbert-Lewis of James E. Shepard Memorial Library at North Carolina Central University.

Together, we explored the process of archiving our community’s stories, watched select clips from oral history interviews, and engaged in thoughtful conversation honoring the cherished memories and enduring legacy of Merrick-Moore. It was a special opportunity to reconnect, reflect, and celebrate the rich history that continues to shape our community. 💛

03/13/2026

Thank you to Nate Baker for joining us at our January Merrick-Moore Community Meeting to discuss and share important information with residents about the recent and upcoming changes to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO).

We also appreciate Aidil Ortiz for providing updates on the Better Bus Project, including improvements and plans to enhance public transportation access for our residents.

We’re grateful for the opportunity to keep our community informed and engaged, fostering understanding, connection, and a stronger Merrick-Moore together! 💛

03/11/2026

Spring is almost here, and it’s the perfect time to get your hands in the soil! We are continuing to prepare the raised beds for spring planting and laying mulch on the pathways.

Join us for MMCDC’s March Garden Workdays at the Samuel Green Sr. Community Garden. Come volunteer, help care for the garden, and be part of growing healthy, thriving green spaces in our community.

Sign up using the link below. We can’t wait to see you there! 💛
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4DACA62FA7FDC07-61237055-january #/

03/09/2026

With our February food distribution, we were grateful for the opportunity to serve our community by providing free produce boxes from TallGrass FoodBox.

It’s always an honor to help ensure everyone has access to fresh, healthy food; thank you to all who came out and joined us in supporting our neighbors! 💛

MMCDC’s March Food Distribution will take place on March 21st (12pm - 2pm at Mount Zoar Baptist Church). Unfortunately, this will be our final distribution due to a lack of funding.

We are actively seeking support to restart the program in the future and continue providing fresh, healthy produce to our community.

03/05/2026

February at the Samuel Green Sr. Community Garden has been a quiet, restorative month. With the winter weather, the garden has been resting while we focused on maintenance and care. 🌱

As we prepare for spring, join us for our March Garden Workdays and help us prepare the beds and start seeds for spring planting!

Sign up using the link below:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4DACA62FA7FDC07-61237055-january #/

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Website

http://merrickmoorecdc.org/

Address

Mailing Address: 1821 Hillandale Road STE 1B #215
Durham, NC
27705

Merrick-Moore Community Development Corporation

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