About Us
Grape Arbor Development Corporation is a non-profit, outreach ministry of St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, which was originally formed under a grape arbor in 1864 to minister to the needs of slaves in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro community.
Grape Arbor was established in 2002 to provide community-based programs for youth and adults in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro community.
In 2006, the organization gained 501(c)3 status from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, granting it tax-exempt status. Since that time, Grape Arbor has flourished with support from Federal, State, and local agencies; foundations; and individual donors.
Today, the Grape Arbor Development Corporation focuses on providing enrichment and development activities to foster the full development of young people throughout Orange County (including Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Hillsborough, Efland, and Cedar Grove). Our services focus on youth and their families.
Grape Arbor is led by a 13-person Board of Directors and is managed by a capable and committed staff.
| Board of Directors | Core Staff | |
Mary Jane Palmer, Chair Executive Director of Human Resources Operations Durham Public Schools Durham, NC
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Peggy A. Richmond Executive Director |
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Marguerite Peebles, Vice Chair Retired Administrator NC Department of Public Instructionn |
Angela D. Lee Program Director
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Stephen Elkins-Williams, Treasurer Rector, Chapel of the Cross Episcopal Church Chapel Hill, NC |
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Thomas O. Nixon, Secretary Senior Pastor St. Paul AME Church Chapel Hill, NC
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Alice Battle Retired French Teacher Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools |
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Martha Dill Retired English Teacher Chaepl Hill-Carrboro City Schools |
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Faye Farrar Trustee Board Vice Chair St. Paul AME Church Chapel Hill, NC |
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Jonathan Farrar |
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Sylvia Frazier-Bowers Associate Professor Department of Orthodontics
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Dianne Jackson Media Specialist Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools |
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Mary Jones Phillips Professor of Accounting School of Business North Carolina Central University |
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John Ponder Retired Business Teacher Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools |
