HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 2-11-2021 NHC African-American History Commission
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NEW HANOVER COUNTY MANAGER’S OFFICE
NEW HANOVER COUNTY COMMISSION ON
AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY, HERITAGE & CULTURE (NHCAAHHC or Commission)
Virtual Meeting via Microsoft Teams
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February 11, 2021 – 4:00 PM
Committee Members Present: (Virtually) - Marcus Lacewell, Linda Thomas, Angela Gaines, Tracion
Flood, Bernice Johnson, Deborah Maxwell, Sandra Oglesby, J’vanete Skiba, Cynthia Pershia, and
Stephanie Walker, Brenda Fong.
Guest Speaker: Louise Miller
Ex-Officio –Jan Davidson, Historian
Absent: Manuel Lloyd (Excused) , Christopher Eaton, (Excused), Tomeka Jarreau, Administrative
Specialist
Staff Present: Travis Corpening, Diversity & Equity Specialist
I. Call to Order– J’vanete Skiba called the meeting to order at 4:05 pm. Quorum established.
II. Approve Agenda –Linda Thomas motioned to approve the agenda; Bernice Johnson, seconded.
Motion passed unanimously.
III. Approve Minutes –Marcus Lacewell previous meeting minutes; Stephanie Walker, seconded.
Motion passed unanimously.
IV. Public Comments – None
Introduction of new staff members: none
V.
Old Business–
A. Committee Reports (Chairs) -
a. Cemetery – Travis: Discussed bringing Joe into the project. Will email PP to the
committee. Jvanette agreed to put our efforts into the resorts and cemetery. B.
b. Education – J’vanete Skiba: Ultimate ask is that as each committee compiles
new information please let Jvanette know to set a time to put everything
together for the county website.
c. Outreach –No update.
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B. Research – Brenda Fong: Recognized food coop and would like for us to be a part of the
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Food Coop that committee Feb 16 @ 6:00 p.m. If someone could send out the flyer to
the whole committee. Stephanie Walker: Looking at the airport: reached out to the art
installation and spoke to Rhonda Bellamy head of the Wilmington Arts Counsel
regarding a mural asked to continue to brief the commission about the progress.
Rhonda would be happy to speak at our meeting as she is a wealth of information.
Sandra would like to meet with the education committee as we would like to have an
education piece in there. Mentioned the African American coloring book put out by
another group. Jvanette: we can do that for sure. We can work out dates to meet and
collaborate about people in the community tht we are reaching out to and be tight in
bringing in resources to our community and support those efforts regarding our work.
C. Committee Next Meeting Dates
a. Each group will contact Mr. Lloyd and Ms. Thompson regarding dates and times
of meetings outside regular commission meetings.
VI. New Business
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A. Louise Miller – In regards to the January 6 insurrection: One Book, One
Community, Let’s Read Crow by Barbra Wright. Through the eyes of a 12-year-old
boy whose father is an elected member of the Board of Alderman and a
professional journalist at the Daily Record. The Idea of the whole community to
read the same material. We open the book together and close in great harmony.
We need to read Crow. If this project goes forward she would like to train leaders
to speak on the events. Question would the commission and the city of
Wilmington like to move forward with this. Partner with our libraries/give out free
copies of the book/discussions groups at multiple locations. Funding for this
project.
Question: What other organizations have been contacted?
Response: AA Commission. Also, presenting to city council as directed by the city
manager.
Deborah Maxwell: It is funding time and with Race being a health disparity.
Travis: Reach out to the library because they have programming and funding for
the project to get it moving. The key will be identifying groups that have funding.
Question: Does AA commission have budgeting?
Response: We do not.
**Provided resources to Ms. Miller for her project.
Question: Jvanette: What is the proposed funding?
Response: Between 5,000 (purchase books)-10,000 (Bring in author and printing
for materials). Thanked Ms. Miller for her time.
Travis Gilbert: Speaker for next meeting regarding the cemetery.
VI. Announcements
A. J’vanete: New Hanover County race and social justice institute next Tuesday.
B. Deborah Maxwell: March in Raleigh.
C. Deborah Maxwell: NAACP Parent council petition to eliminate suspensions of
elementary students/ FB.
D. Deborah Maxwell: Writing to Mandy Cohen about the racial disparity of vaccine
distribution. If you know anyone AA 65+ please call Deborah Maxwell.
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E. Deborah Maxwell: Next Saturday February 20: Telethon/Go Fund Me to save the
Wilmington Journal. Will send out Flyer.
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F. Resiliency Task force coupling with Healing Your Almond: Flipping the conversation:
Healing communities dealing with Trauma.
1. Information session March
2. Groups of therapists: White/Black to discuss racial trauma.
VIII. Adjourn– Meeting adjourned at 5:30 p.m.