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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCRAC Meeting Notes _ Sept 24 2024 Mee?ng of the Community Rela?ons Advisory Commi?ee (C-RAC) Wilmington City & New Hanover County Governments DATE This Commi?ee shall be organized for the purpose of addressing community issues involving prejudice or discrimina?on on the bases of race, na?onal origin, creed or religion, age, gender, sexual orienta?on, disability or medical condi?on; informing the Appoin?ng Authori?es and other organiza?ons of their findings; and making recommenda?ons, in an advisory capacity, to the Appoin?ng Authori?es and other organiza?ons, as necessary. Bylaws, 2016 CALL TO ORDER TIME: 5:30 LOCATION: New Hanover County Government Center QUORUM: Yes CITY APPOINTEES: COUNTY APPOINTEES: Kirsten Kainz Javar Avery ATTENDANCE Charlrean Mapson Cherri Cook (absent) Victoria McSwain (absent) Stephanie Medcalfe (absent) Sabrenia Smallwood Moore Fawn Rhodes (absent) Antrevonn Tate Sam Wheeler Genna Wirth GUESTS: None APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Reports from City of Wilmington Staff Liaison (Kim Carson in attendance) OLD BUSINESS 2. Reports from NH County Staff Liaison (Linda Thompson in attendance) 3. Elections communications update 1. Introductions from newly elected and new members of C-RAC 2. Vision for 2024 Calendar Year/Future initiatives of C-RAC NEW BUSINESS None PUBLIC COMMENT None As government appointees we, members of the C-RAC, agree to du?fully a?end mee?ngs of the C-RAC, represent our community to the best of our knowledge, and promote the purpose and ac?vi?es of C- RAC throughout Wilmington and New Hanover County. ANNOUNCEMENTS ADJOURNMENT October 22, 2024 5:30 Loca?on to be determined (as we switch to NEXT MEETING being hosted by the City) NOTES Old Business Liaison updates: Linda Thompson from the county was in a?endance. Linda announced that there were no reports from the City or County. Sam Wheeler reached out to Elec?on Chair in New Hanover County to determine if there is a plan in place to deal with poten?al violence related to November elec?ons. He has not heard back but holds himself responsible for upda?ng us. New Business Javar Avery, new C-RAC member, introduced himself to the group. He has recently moved to Wilmington from Texas. He would like to be a value-add to the group. Antrevonn Tate (Tre) introduced himself with more detail as he moves into the role of C-RAC Chair. Genna Wirth introduced herself with more detail as she moves into the role of C-RAC Vice Chair. Tre described new mee?ng strategies to guide our process, including a ?mekeeper. Tre reminded the group about the importance of a?endance – three excused absences are allowed per year. An excused absence is one where the member has no?fied the chair. Tre then reminded the group of our commi?ee’s purpose as stated in the by-laws. Tre then introduced an opportunity to focus on what we will accomplish in the remainder of 2024. Tre described a poten?al event at Voyage (Genna’s organiza?on) where we gather community input on poten?al C-RAC ac?on. The group supported the sugges?on. Sam asked a ques?on – tell us more about Voyage and what is possible. Genna described that Voyage works with families experiencing economic and housing challenges. She made an argument that the neighborhood served by Voyage experiences gang presence and violence, and the community residents’ issues are not well represented in local government. Therefore C-RAC could provide an opportunity for that neighborhood to send informa?on to the County and City governing bodies. Genna shared a dra? slide presenta?on to be shared with City and County government. She will add our work on special educa?on community awareness to the major recent efforts of C-RAC. Tre then invited the group to make sugges?ons for other issues to raise with governing bodies. The group suggested:  Fine-tune the C-RAC annual and quarterly reporting to City and County government. As government appointees we, members of the C-RAC, agree to du?fully a?end mee?ngs of the C-RAC, represent our community to the best of our knowledge, and promote the purpose and ac?vi?es of C- RAC throughout Wilmington and New Hanover County.  Improve our strategies for gathering input from the community, especially related to how to report and address incidences of prejudice and discrimination. Consider round tables and other community events to gather concerns and circulate information related to prejudice and discrimination that is pertinent for government offices and elected bodies. As part of the improvement for gathering input consider multiple informants; individuals, community representatives, and agency representatives.  Promote the translation of community input into targeted strategies for community improvement by identifying potential remedies and key actors.  Invite the Sherriff and Police designees back to the monthly C-RAC meeting to connect our work to our original purpose, fostering a productive connection between law enforcement and community. To turn these sugges?ons into ac?on, Tre recommended that we adopt prac?ces for iden?fying four annual goals, evalua?ng implementa?on and outcomes related to goals, and repor?ng our impact at the end of the year. The group suggested four goals for 2025. Suggested Annual Goals 1. Increase knowledge about C-RAC throughout Wilmington and New Hanover County. Build on the communications resources we have already created and use community input to expand and innovate communication strategies. 2. Convene four community meetings in 2025 to get C-RAC in the community, including one join meeting with the City and County commissions. 3. Study frameworks and resources for engaging communities effectively, for example: gathering information about barriers to well-being using a social determinants of health model and providing food. 4. Establish our three standing subcommittees – education, intergroup relations, crisis. ACTIONS Genna and Tre will update us on the date for the event at Voyage. VOTES Tre requested a mo?on related to the Voyage proposal. Sam moved that we move forward with planning to be present at the Vogage event, Sabrenia seconded, and the group voted unanimously to move forward with a planning. Sabrenia moved that Tre and Genna move forward with mee?ng with City and County governing bodies. Sam seconded, and the group unanimously supported the mo?on. Linda clarified that the process will involve Tre and Genna represen?ng C-RAC at City and County monthly mee?ngs to describe the purpose and possibility of C-RAC. NEXT STEPS Progress  As government appointees we, members of the C-RAC, agree to du?fully a?end mee?ngs of the C-RAC, represent our community to the best of our knowledge, and promote the purpose and ac?vi?es of C- RAC throughout Wilmington and New Hanover County.