City of Durham, NC

07/01/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/01/2022 11:27

July 2022 Spotlight

The City Clerk's Office Presents the Monthly Board Member Spotlight:

nisha Williams in the racial equity Commission


  1. Why would you encourage someone in the community to apply to be on a board, committee, or commission?

    I would encourage folks to serve on city/county boards to do the work of dismantling systematic oppression. When I took my first racial equity training in 2015, one of the presenters stated "when Power is invisible Racism thrives" this phrase changed my perspective on the work I can do as an individual. I believed I could help dismantle racism in my own local systems and institutions through the work on these boards. I was able to bring my areas of expertise and my own personal insight into actual places of Power where decisions are made that may affect a large group of people. serving on a board allows me to put my own personal imprint in our local government.

  2. What do you enjoy most about serving on your particular board?

    I enjoyed serving on this board because the decisions made here will have long term effects on the progress of our city. As a mother, I have witnessed how quickly our children grow into adulthood. Serving on this board allows me to feel like I am doing THE work to make my community a better place for Durham's children of color and most specifically for our Black babies.

  3. What is your favorite part about living in Durham?

    My favorite part of living in Durham is having the ability to live in a city that truly represent my family & me. It is so empowering to live in a city that is led by Black people. It is a community that has a deep history of Black excellence in politics, arts, architecture, work force development, and entrepreneurship. It is also a city that supports Black excellence through education. I am proud that my son is a graduate of Durham Public schools namely The historic Hillside High School. My husband, Paul Weaver, Jr. and I are proud graduates from the North Carolina Central University. He has a BA in Public Health & Master's in Public Administration and I have a Juris Doctorate from NCCU School of Law. NCCU may have brought us to Durham, but the deeply rooted Black culture and Black joy we found in Durham is what has kept us here for the past 16 years.