Norfolk, VA. (Friday, June 26, 2026) – For Aisha Durham, a Professor of Communication at the University of South Florida and a Fulbright-Hays Fellow, success has never been a solo journey.
Durham, who grew up in Diggs Town, was supported by neighbors, family and the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority (NRHA) during her collegiate career. Today, she is working to ensure a similar support system continues for the next generation. That plan is manifesting in her work to establish the Durham-McInnis Scholarship, an annual $1,000 award aimed at helping current Diggs Town youth pursue higher education or career pathways.
Ideally, the awardee is a high school senior who demonstrates academic excellence and a sustained commitment to community service.
The NRHA Vice President of Client Services, Julius Norman, said setting up the Durham-McInnis Scholarship has been a long-term goal for the Norfolk native.
“She has been trying for years to create something consistent,” Norman said, noting that Durham had previously provided smaller scholarships for books and other supplies through personal contributions.
This time around, Durham is focused on building something lasting – an annual investment that reflects both her family’s legacy and her belief in education as a pathway to opportunity. She emphasized that the scholarship is not limited to traditional four-year college pathways and that funding can support a wide range of post-secondary options.
By stipulating that the scholarship can be used for various avenues, Norman said Durham is providing for both scholastic and non-traditional career paths. Once the financial elements and qualifications of the scholarship are ironed out, NRHA will announce when the scholarship application is open.
“This scholarship can be used for students to go to college or attend trade schools, technical programs – even community colleges,” Norman said. “It provides NRHA youth a number of options if they’re not entirely sure of what they want to do after leaving high school.”
For Durham, the initiative is both personal and purposeful. Her connection to Diggs Town runs deep. Three generations from both sides of her family – the Durham’s and McInnis’ – lived in the community.
“I was already active in the community,” Durham shared, recalling her involvement as a youth resident in NRHA programming, summer jobs and mentorship opportunities.
Those early experiences – and the support that came with them – helped lay the foundation for her academic journey. She graduated from Lake Taylor High School and went on to attend Virginia Commonwealth University, where she pursued journalism, a field she had been interested in from a young age. And like many first-generation college students, her path depended heavily on access to financial aid.
That support extended beyond scholarships. She recalled neighbors contributing essentials – from towels to toiletries – as part of a communal effort to prepare her for college life.
“I would not be able to attend college if I didn’t have the support from NRHA,” Durham said. “It was literally a community effort.”
Durham then went on to earn advanced degrees at the University of Georgia and the University of Illinois before building a distinguished career in higher education.
Now a professor, a Fulbright-Hays Fellow and acclaimed author, she focuses her work on communication, culture and global engagement – a career path that reflects both her early ambitions and the opportunities she was given. Yet despite her accomplishments, Durham never lost sight of where she started.
“I didn’t get to where I am individually,” she said. “I could not imagine going to college without scholarships. They helped me realize a dream – and this is my way of paying it forward.”
Durham understands firsthand the barriers many students face – especially those navigating higher education as the first in their families. Her own parents, she noted, encountered financial challenges that limited their ability to complete college, despite their aspirations.
That reality continues to shape her message to young people today.
“The Durham-McInnis Scholarship is not just about honoring the past – it’s about building a future where more Diggs Town students can dream bigger, go further and one day return to uplift others.” Durham said. “It’s important that they have the same opportunities I had.”
For more information about this story, dcuenca@nrha.us.
About Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority: Founded in 1940, Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority (NRHA) is Virginia’s largest redevelopment and housing authority and a nationwide leader in real estate development and property management. With its annual capital and operating budget, NRHA continually works with Norfolk residents to renew and revitalize the city. For the latest information about NRHA, visit our website at https://nrha.us.