12/11: Langley receives 2011 Perseverance Award from the Dropout Intervention Program of the Durham Housing Authority
DeWarren K. Langley was awarded the 2011 Perseverance Award from the Dropout Intervention Program of the Durham Housing Authority.
The Award was in recognition of exceptional performance in providing a continuum of academic & professional development support and services on a personal basis to 25 elementary, middle and high school youth who reside in the Club Boulevard Community.
The Dropout Intervention Program targets students who reside in Durham Housing Authority communities and scored below their grade levels in either the reading and/or math End of Course/End of Grade Tests and provides academic services and programs to address the personal and academic needs of those students.
As a Dropout Intervention Counselor, DeWarren focuses on improving school attendance, academic performance, End of Course/End of Grade test performance, and professional development & exposure to significantly reduce the dropout rate, increase academic proficiency, high school graduation and post-secondary enrollment.
Langley was also named Employee of the Month for December 2011 in recognition for serving as an outstanding Dropout Intervention Counselor who embodies commitment, efficiency, initiative, diligence and helpfulness to the students in the Dropout Intervention Program.
11/11: DeWarren re-elected as Secretary of Durham Community Martin Luther King, Jr. Steering Committee, Inc.
DeWarren K. Langley was re-elected Secretary of the Durham Community Martin Luther King Jr. Steering Committee, Inc.
The Durham Community Martin Luther King Jr. Steering Committee, Inc. is a community-based organization committed to preserving the legacy and example of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by planning appropriate ceremonies and programs in recognition of the King Holiday.
The MLK Committee works to improve the quality of life for all citizens by reaching out to those who continue to struggle with issues of poverty, unemployment, drug addiction, homelessness and other social problems. The MLK Committee honors Dr. King for his work toward racial equality and economic justice for all people, for his commitment to nonviolence, and for his stand against war and militarism.
As Secretary, DeWarren ensures procedures and policies are followed during meetings, accurate minutes of meetings are taken and approved including actions of the MLK Committee during meetings, send notices of meetings, manage general correspondence to and from the MLK Committee and maintain the membership database & MLK Committee’s website.
Langley is also Chair of the Publicity Committee. His term expires in March 2014.
10/11: Langley receives 2011 Student Pro Bono Public Service Award from the North Carolina State Bar
DeWarren K. Langley was awarded the 2011 Student Pro Bono Public Service Award by the North Carolina State Bar during the 2011 Fifty-Year Lawyers Luncheon held at the Marriott Raleigh City Center Hotel in Raleigh, North Carolina on Thursday, October 20, 2011.
The Award was in recognition of dedicated and selfless service while a student at North Carolina Central University School of Law. Mr. Langley was recommended for the award by North Carolina Central University School of Law.
While a student at North Carolina Central University, DeWarren completed 800 hours of pro bono service. Langley’s contributions centered on his passion for mentoring young African-Americans, assisting them achieve academic success and exploring careers in law.
DeWarren help found and was an active member of Future Lawyers for Community Advancement, a student organization that mentors students at two Durham high schools. He also volunteered for two summers as a Team Leader with the Summer Legal Institute of the Just the Beginning Foundation in Chicago, Illinois, a week-long intensive program that introduces diverse middle and high school students to law and the legal profession. In summer 2009, he participated in a day-long pre-law symposium for minority students at Georgetown Law School, sponsored by the Fund for American Studies.
Most notable, Langley created the Charles Hamilton Houston Pre-Law Program. As the founding Program Director, he developed pre-law resources for undergraduate and graduate students, made presentations in classes, conducted mock LSAT exams and strategy sessions and mentored over 65 individual students in the law school admission process.
Langley says: “Service is an integral part of my life. I firmly believe public service should not be something practiced if extra time permits, rather it is an obligation and a responsibility owed to my community. I prescribe to the mantra, to whom much is given, much is expected and required.”
08/11: DeWarren elected as Chair of the Citizens Advisory Committee
DeWarren K. Langley was elected Chair of the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) for the City of Durham during its Regular Meeting held in the Conference Room of the Department of Community Development for the City of Durham on August 29, 2011.
The Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) works to enhance the quality of life for citizens of Durham by advising the Durham City Council and the Durham Board of County Commissioners on housing and community development needs to improve housing quality & affordability and economic opportunities for low-and-moderate income families. Specifically, the CAC evaluates applications and makes annual recommendations to the Durham City Council and the Durham Board of County Commissioners concerning the allocation of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME) and Emergency Solution Grant (ESG) funds to sub-recipients; provides advisory oversight for the Durham City-County HOME Consortium and provides an initial evaluation, rank and recommendations of applications pertaining to the Continuum of Care Grant Program and other homeless initiatives to the Homeless Services Advisory Committee.
As Chair, Langley, in collaboration with the Vice Chair, provides leadership to the CAC to fulfilling its duties, ensures the CAC functions efficiently and effectively, develops the agenda with the staff of the Department of Community Development, presides over all meetings, serves as a liaison between the staff of the Department of Community Development and CAC members by requesting and disseminating information, sends regular updates to interested citizens about community development activities and submits an annual report to the Durham City Council and Board of County Commissioners.
Langley says, “As Chair, I will work to ensure citizens have an active role in community development by inviting neighborhood associations to present to the CAC, sending quarterly reports to the Durham City Council and Board of County Commissioners regarding citizens’ concerns, ideas and input on community development, and regularly tour community development projects in target areas. The engagement and leadership from neighborhood residents is imperative for the sustainability of community development projects.”
08/11: Langley reappointed to Civilian Police Review Board & Elected Vice Chair
Durham City Manager Thomas Bonfield has reappointed DeWarren K. Langley to the Civilian Police Review Board. He was also elected Vice Chair.
The Board hears appeals of complaints submitted by citizens concerning actions taken by Durham police officers. The Durham Police Department’s Professional Standards Division initially investigates these complaints. If a complainant is not satisfied with the outcome of the investigation, he or she may file a request for a hearing with the board.
The board’s mandate is to determine whether or not the investigation was conducted in an appropriate manner, specifically, whether the police department abused its discretion in the conducting of the investigation. The board will examine the written evidence submitted by the complainant and the police department to determine whether a hearing should be held. The board will hold a hearing only if that evidence persuades the board that a hearing is justified. The board’s findings are submitted to the City Manager for his action.
Board members are required to complete the Citizens Police Academy of the Durham Police Department, sixteen hours in a patrol car ride-along program and a comprehensive training program administered by the Attorney’s Office of the Durham Police Department. Members are compensated at a per meeting rate of $25, paid semi-annually and receive complimentary parking in a designated City of Durham parking lot for each meeting attended.
As Vice Chair, Langley, in collaboration with the Chair provides leadership to the CPRB with fulfilling its duties, serves in the absence of the Chair, assist with completing an Annual Report to the City Manager and performs other duties as assigned by the Chair.
DeWarren was first appointed October 27, 2009 and his current term expires June 30, 2015.
