One of Durham’s oldest Black cultural groups has a new leader. Here’s what’s next.
A local musician has been named the permanent executive director of Durham’s Hayti Heritage Center, taking full-time leadership of the historic, Black cultural group after serving four months as interim.
Tarryn Henry, a graduate of N.C. Central University, officially steps into the leadership role as the cultural center celebrates 51 years and embarks on a major preservation of its historic campus.
Marcus Greene, board chair of the St. Joseph’s Historic Foundation, said Henry was the unanimous choice. In a phone interview, he highlighted her immediate impact as interim director, specifically her ability to re-engage core supporters in the center's work.
“She’s action-oriented; she’s collaborative,” Green said. “What [Henry] is doing for the Hayti Heritage Center is bringing that connection back to the community, and allowing the community to know that the Hayti Heritage Center is here, and we’re going to be here for the next 50 years.”
Located at 804 Old Fayetteville St. just south of the Durham Freeway and downtown, the center has worked to preserve and celebrate Durham’s Black history since 1975.
Initiatives for artists and youth
Henry, an Antigua native who grew up in Wake Forest, brings a professional background in “ecosystem development” and the arts, she said. As a creative herself, one of her primary objectives is keeping the center accessible to local creators facing a rapidly changing urban landscape and rising costs.
To help, Henry expanded an affordable artist membership program. For $10 to $35 a month, local artists receive free access to upstairs rehearsal spaces in the center’s building, St. Joseph AME Church, and an 80% discount on performance and exhibition rentals.
“One of the things that we really struggle with in Durham is having spaces to perform, spaces to create,” she said in an interview. “That’s one of my favorite programs, and part of that is because it fulfills a need in the community.”
Additionally, Henry is launching a donor membership initiative next month to reach more people. Unlike traditional donor models, entry is determined by volunteer hours, community engagement, and staff nominations rather than purely financial contributions.
To engage younger generations, the center has partnered with local groups to host game nights, offering free dinners and using gaming to introduce children to the center and arts and digital career paths.
“What does it mean for us at the center and as a cultural home of Durham if we don’t have kids in our space? If they don’t grow up loving it?” Henry said.
To ensure parents in Durham are involved in upcoming events, the center is also rolling our affordable on-site childcare, said Henry, who has a toddler.
Grassroots strategy and community calls
Henry’s appointment comes amid community discussions about Durham’s Fayetteville Street corridor, following a failed rezoning request to redevelop nearby Heritage Square. Local advocates want to make sure the neighborhood’s living history remains at the forefront of the center’s long-term strategy.
“While the skills and experiences of members of the leadership of [the Hayti Heritage Center] qualify them for their roles, there is an intangible trait that must be included with great intention,” said Anita Scott Neville, a director of the advocacy group Hayti Reborn, in a statement. “Specifically, the lived experiences, knowledge and voices of the history makers whose paths have paved the way to the positions held today must be learned and reflected in the decisions and strategies developed for the ongoing of the center.”
Neville offered Henry support to ensure the neighborhood’s legacy helps guide the center’s future. In response, Greene said the center’s mission is in alignment with the community.
“We are a grassroots organization ... we’re in the grass with you,” he said, explaining that fostering culture and belonging will attract the necessary investments to create true local opportunity.
To learn more and find a list of upcoming events at the Hayti Heritage Center, visit hayti.org.
This story was originally published July 8, 2026 at 11:18 AM.