Brentton Harrison - On Hargraves Center
Interviewed by Kathryn Wall on June 8, 2026
"Come to Hargraves. Come build community either with myself or someone else. Build community because at the end of the day, community is kind of the only answer.
- Brentton Harrison
Brentton Harrison has been in Chapel Hill since he was nine and lived in the parsonage of St. Joseph CME Church, which is now the location of the Marian Cheek Jackson Center. In this interview, he speaks about his experience and thoughts on the Hargraves Center. He reflects on growing up in Chapel Hill near the Hargraves Center and how it was such a large part of his life, especially as it related to him becoming a man and John French's “Visions” group. He speaks about John French and Andre Boynton and the impact they had not only on him but on the larger Northside and Chapel Hill community. He explains his understanding of the history of Hargraves and its relationship with the Town of Chapel Hill. He talks about some of the past directors of Hargraves and what he thinks it takes to be a good director. He discusses his job as a “Recreation Assistant” at Hargraves and ends with talking about the importance of the community in everyone's life.
