2021-10-26 CRAC Minutes
MINUTES
New Hanover County/City of Wilmington
Community Relations Advisory Committee
Zoom Virtual Meeting
October 26, 2021 @ 5:30pm
CRAC Members present: Jen Johnson, Lori Wainright, Kimberly Geiger, Kathy King, Courtney Horton, Scott
Whisnant; Charlrean Mapson, Fawn Rhodes; absent: Liz Carbone-excused, Michael Wentworth. Others:
John Joye, City Attorney; Melissa Huffman, Asst. City Attorney (COW); Suzanne Rogers, CRAC Liaison
(COW); Officer Williamson, WPD; Eileen O’Malley, CF Collaborative;
Jen Johnson, Chair, called the meeting to order and called the roll to establish a quorum.
Jen welcomed new members Rev. Mapson, and Ms. Rhodes.
Jen introduced the guest speaker Mr. Gene Troy Program Manager, North Carolina Human Relations
Commission ,Civil Rights Division, North Carolina Office of Administrative Hearings. Mr. Troy provided an
overview of the NC HRC and offered insights into what other HRC in other jurisdictions are working on.
Following the presentation there was discussion about HRC and Mr. Troy’s experiences with other
groups. He offered that HRCs are often involved in resolving Human Relations issues pointing to work
done in Fayetteville/Cumberland County most recently. He commented that in his experience HRCs
have not been very successful in dealing with public school/education issues. He was asked considering
Wilmington’s history i.e. 1898, what he would suggest the CRAC do to address long standing issues. Mr.
Troy’s replied the CRAC should engage in or facilitate community dialogues, town hall meetings, and
study circles.
CRAC members asked what the typical relationship between local HRC and the City Attorney’s office is?
Mr. Troy replied there is a link because of the need for the City Manager to know what’s going on with
the HRC. He further offered that in many jurisdictions the HRC has dedicated staff. He noted that
HRC’s typically make regular presentations or reports to the elected officials or maintain regular formal
communications.
Mr. Troy shared that many HRC use subcommittees to address various issues of concern. The
subcommittees include members of the community and subject matter experts along with HRC
members. This is how they get things done. He also noted that HRC make recommendations, offer
education but do not make policy.
Jen asked if the NCHRC provides facilitators for retreats of local HRCs. No was Mr. Troy’s reply,
explaining that NCHRC did not want to be in a position of setting a groups agenda or having any undue
influence. That said, he did refer the group to a list of trainings the NCHRC does offer (see attached).
Page 1 of 2
Lori moved the meeting adjourn, Scott seconded, motion carried.
Minutes prepared by Suzanne Rogers
PURPOSE: The committee was established by the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners and
Wilmington City Council for the purpose of addressing community issues involving prejudice or
discrimination on the basis of race, national origin, creed or religion, age, gender, sexual orientation,
disability or medical condition; informing the Appointing Authorities and other organizations of their
findings; and making recommendations, in an advisory capacity, to the Appointing Authorities and other
organizations, as necessary.
Page 2 of 2