Brentton Harrison

"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.

“It doesn’t feel like work, it feels like a calling, a mission, or a purpose."

- Brentton Harrison

Mr. Harrison is bidding farewell to the Jackson Center after 10 years of service to join the Hargreeves Community Center. With the whole staff bidding him farewell and asking questions, it leads to lots of laughs, sharing advice on what the Jackson Center should never change, and wrapping up with a song. During this tape, he discusses important points in his journey such as how he joined the Jackson Center, the first workshop he gave, and his most memorable workshop. Along the way he makes sure to share knowledge, inspiration, and advice for the next person in line. A lot of discussion is done around the youth that he engaged with and best practices when wanting to connect with them.

This interview provides Brentton Harrison’s early biographical information, reflections on his father’s life as a Reverend and his life growing up in Northside including participation in a band while in high school. He shares his involvement with Heavenly Grocery, overseeing the Pancake Jamboree at the Jackson Center, and reflects on relationship with Tim Tyson. He concludes with a discussion in which he offers opinions on challenges facing the Northside Community in regards to students housing and rising property taxes and gives final wishes for action he would like to see in the neighborhood.

Created by Brentton Harrison when he was a member of the Marian Cheek Jackson’s inaugural season of its youth radio program, Fusion Youth Radio, and recipient of an award from PRX, this audio-documentary relies on oral histories to explore love of food and food as love.