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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-01-27 NHCHLC Minutes NEW HANOVER COUNTY HISPANIC/LATINO COMMISSION Location: Government Center, Room 136 January 28, 2024 – 5:00pm I. Call to Order and Agenda: Meeting called to order at 5:00pm. Amanda -Motion. Maria- Seconded it. Members present: Dr. Andres Afanador, Dr. Amanda Boomershine, Natalie Picazo, Gustavo Rodea, Janeth Howard, Maria Carmen Rodriguez Morales, Helen Tarokic, Joseph Casares, Lambeth Chalk, Dr. Edelmira Segovia, and Gabriel Guerra Members absent: none Staff: Monica Rohena II. Approved Agenda III. Motion to approve November minutes Maria -Motion. Helen -Seconded it. Joe informed everyone that there was an error on the original wording of the November Minutes and would be correcting them for Commission approval in February. IV. Chair Comments- Happy New Year and the chair looks forward to the work we will do as a commission this year. V. Committee Updates i. Information and Civic Engagement Subcommittee 10 min Helen helped gather information about a NHC Senior Resource Center’s dental service. Discussion on how to best to get this information out to the community. The Commission asked Monica ways to link some of our resources, events, and information on social media. The subcommittee also mentioned they want to continue to explore different ways we can engage the community differently and more effectively. ii. Advocacy for Public Education Subcommittee 10 min They praised the strong ongoing work from NourishNC and their presence in the NHC schools. The ID drivee been helpful in schools. They are strategizing ways to get further support and advocacy for students getting bullied. They are investigating how a language proficiency test could be administered for Spanish speaking students in high schools to give them a credit. The future of Head Start funding is unclear and could affect families with children in Head Start programs in the county. The Subcommitee will make efforts to test the answering system and see if their call is returned within 48 hours. iii. Language Access Subcommittee 10 min Results of survey of nonprofits. The survey was open for 109 days. They will continue to analyze the data to see what actions to take. iv. Health and Wellness Subcommittee 10 min Met with CF Clinic that takes Medicaid and works with patients without insurance and they are accepting new patients. Helen inserted that CF Clinic has helped with trafficking victims’ exams. Announced that Todos Unidos is reforming under Novant Health with 9 physicians participating. Amanda reported that Dr. Buxton, Cape Fear Clinic, has free vaccines available for the uninsured. The subcommittee also explained that Cape Fear Health Net helps coordinate care for those needing a specialists and access to medication. VI. Old Business i. NHC Resource Fair 10 min Gabe is working on talking with organizations that participated last year. He asked for the HL commission’s advice about what to call this event with the current fears the Hispanic Latino community has expressed. We agreed to call it a “Community Resource Fair”. We can use the City of Wilmington’s resources to print advertisements. Gabe will get approval from schools to send out the flyers. We discussed that the Sherrif’s department is one of our partners and their presence rd would be supported and welcomed. May 3 is confirmed for Maide’s Park from 11am-2pm. Gabe will make a sign-up sheet for volunteers and a list of all activities. ii. Amanda attended the County Commission Meeting this month where our letter of solidarity was presented. VII. New Business The Commission expressed a desire to explore ways to better advertise and share the information that has been gathered, resources, and discovery as a commission so that the community can benefit from the resources and events. Monica will look into their social media to see if there is a way we can share the information we are gathering through a link in social media, etc. The Commission expressed interest in finding more effective ways to publicize and share the valuable information, resources, and discoveries gathered by the commission. Monica will investigate potential opportunities to share this information by incorporating links to our updates via social media platforms. VIII. Upcoming Events  The county had to postpone their passport day. The new date is Feb 8 from 9am-3pm.  The Latino Alliance has organized two more Know Your Rights sessions, hosted by UNCW on Feb. 22 and March 1.  Community Defender Training Understanding your Rights and Defending Your Community Under the New Administration will be offered online 5-6:30pm on Jan 29.  IX. Public Comments I. Unitarian Universalist offered peace monitors that know how to deescalate at events such as our resource fair. They were present at the meeting to gather information about the needs in the Hispanic/Latino community. X. Adjourn- The meeting was adjourned at 6pm. Maria- Motion. Amanda- Seconded it. NEXT MEETING – February 25, 2024 – 5:00pm, Government Center Room 137 .