Ten years ago, Stroud found the opportunity to do just that at the Durham Fire Department. As the first black woman to be promoted to the rank of captain in the department, she now is making more of a difference than ever she planned.

Stroud was promoted from fire technician to captain on July 1. Her promotion was made official at a ceremony Tuesday at the Durham Fire Administration building on East Club Boulevard. "It's a very important step for the city of Durham as well as for the Fire Department," Stroud said. "[The city] has had so much negative attention, any time we get a chance to shine we should."
Stroud is one of only two black women working as firefighters here, Fire Chief Bruce Pagan said. The other is firefighter Maria Ratliff.

In 1997, Stroud signed up for the Durham Fire Department Academy, a rigorous, 20-week conditioning program that involves daily long distance runs and hours of emergency medical training. Stroud said she was excited to be working in a place where "each day is something different." But her family was less than enthusiastic at first, she said. "My mother said, 'People are running out of the [burning] building and you want to run in?' " Stroud laughed.

As one of only three women in her class, Stroud said she struggled to balance family life with the grueling requirements of training. "It was very tough for me being a single mother. Fortunately I had the support of my son's father and my family," she said. Stroud had worked as a firefighter for five years when she was promoted to fire technician, the person who drives the engine. She also was the first black woman to hold that rank, she said.

Pagan called Stroud a role model, saying she was promoted solely on her performance. "We don't look at [promotions] in terms of gender or race," he said. Barry Yeargan, who was promoted to assistant chief at the ceremony, said the fire administration was proud of the new captain. He called Stroud "very consistent, very proactive" and a loyal employee.

Stroud was a member of a hazardous-materials team, Yeargan said, "which speaks to her dedication and skill." "She has a vested interest in the department," he said. Stroud said she viewed the promotion as a stepping stone on the path to further success. "I'll be taking Chief Pagan's job one day," she said.