HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-08-27 NHCHLC Minutes
New Hanover County Hispanic/Latino Commission
August 27, 2024– 5:00 PM
I. Call to Order: Meeting called to order at 5:00 p.m.
Members present: Dr. Andres Afanador, Dr. Amanda Boomershine, Janeth Howard, Natalie
Picazo, Gustavo Rodea, Maria del Carmen Rodriguez Morales, Helen Tarokic, Joseph Casares,
Lambeth Chalk, Dr. Edelmira Segovia
Members absent: Gabriel Guerra
Staff: Monica Rohena
Guest:
II. Approve Agenda
Motion to approve agenda. Amanda– Motion. Maria – Seconded it.
III. Approve Minutes
Motion to approve July 2024 minutes. Amanda – Motion. Janeth – Seconded it.
IV. Chair Comments
V. Committee Updates
1. Information and Civic Engagement Subcommittee
-They are continuing to draft a resolution so that they can ask the commission to sign
which would be in support of immigrant communities in our county.
2. Advocacy for Public Education Subcommittee
-They have been working on recommendations for HL Commission’s annual report
-Focusing on needs and gaps in the realm of education in the community
-The efforts to reinstate bus routes for students living over a mile from school have been
resolved.
3. Language Equity Subcommittee
-They have received 25 survey responses from organizations in the community about
language equity
-They wanted to focus on barriers and found from the responses that a big barrier is that
people don’t trust services in the community. There is also a lack of information about
services available.
-The survey is still open, and they hope to send it out one more time to those who did not
respond
-Gabriel and Maria hope to visit these groups to help them know what they can do to
improve
VI. Old Business
1. H/L Commission Logo Design
-We have feedback to provide designer including use HLC letters, circle shape, outline of
the county map, and color ideas (navy and blue, navy only, or black).
2. NHC Commissioners Presentation
-Edits suggested for Language Access Improvements section: move Educational Equity
section regarding bus routes under “Accomplishments”
-Credentials need to be added by members in Appendix A
-Use of Camino Research’s data and the Governor’s executive summary as Appendix A
-Appendix B should List 2023 and Appendix C will list 2024 members
VII. New Business
1. Cape Fear Latinos Festival Booth and Community Engagement
-We will have a table at the festival
-Investigate voting assistance organizations for table
2. UNCW Centro Hispano- Edel updated the HL commission about changes for Centro
Hispano and the Latino Alliance following the equality policy that went into effect on
th
May 28. This dissolved DEI. Centro Hispano and Mi Casa have found homes under
other departments at UNCW, but the Latino Alliance is looking to be housed under a
department or nonprofit. We will wait for an update to hear about progress at the next
nd
meeting. A motion to move on and discuss this further later was made by Helen and a 2
motion by Andres.
3. Latino Citizens Academy
-Joe will send more detailed information. It would be a good idea if some of us attended
and there was enough interest for an academy led in Spanish in the future
VIII. Other Business
Natalie commented that the Governor’s Advisory Council on Hispanic Latino Affairs
held their meeting last month at UNCW and it was a really good meeting. Several of us
HLC members attended and she attended by zoom.
Upcoming events:
rd
September 21, 2024, 12:30pm to 7:00pm - 3 Annual Cape Fear Latinos Festival
IX. Public Comments
-Tim Merrick shared why he is running for School Board - number of policies being
written that prevent representation (flags, symbols, etc) in their class and literacy gaps. He
requested out help in becoming educated about other gaps concerning the Hispanic Latino
population.
XI. Adjourn: Meeting was adjourned at 6 pm.
Motion to adjourn the meeting. Maria– Motion. Andres – Seconded it.
NEXT MEETING – September 24, 2024 – 5:00pm – TBD