HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-12-09 NHCHLC Minutes
NEW HANOVER COUNTY HISPANIC/LATINO COMMISSION
Location: Government Center, Room 136
December 9, 2025 – 5:00pm
Commissioners in attendance: Andres Afanador, Amanda Boomershine, Janeth Howard, Lambeth
Marin, Natalie Picazo, Gustavo Rodea, Maria Rodriguez, Wiyie Sang, Edelmira Segovia, Rafael Toro
Staff in attendance: Linda Thompson
Commissioners absent: Joe Casares
I) Call to Order and Agenda
II) Approve Minutes
Approved
III) Chair Comments
No chair so no chair report this month. Joe is no longer on the commission, and we
appreciate all that he’s done.
IV) Old Business
a. Project Update
i. Health and Wellness Andres
1. Pending call with director of former St Mary’s dental clinic.
2. NHRMC Todos Unidos was dissolved but Novant has another one but only
8 people are on it from the Coastal region; goal is to expand the
membership to include all providers who are Hispanic/Latino. Novant is
providing funding for socialization meetings.
ii. Economic Development Gustavo
1. María and Edel met last week.
2. Edel will distribute info from Wells Fargo at the CF Latinos Posada this
coming Friday evening.
iii. Education Natalie
1. Natalie and Rafael visited the downtown NHC Library.
2. All NHCS students can access the library for free using their student ID
number if they don’t have a NHC Library card.
3. Three Spanish-speaking staff are at the downtown library, none at the
other branches.
4. You need an ID (can be passport or FAID) and proof of address (utility bill,
etc).
5. Lots of resources available including computers, internet, read aloud
books, caseworkers, and 10 free copies, etc.
iv. Public Safety and Disaster Preparedness Amanda
1. Focus on how recent immigration policies and actions are affecting public
safety in our area
2. Invite Deputy Chief Sotelo (WPD) and Mayra Romero (NHCSO) to January
commission meeting
3. Invite El Cuerpo to upcoming spring group meeting to discuss their
disaster preparedness initiative
4. Review NHC EOP (María)
5. Organize Spanish disaster preparedness drill with local first responders
around language access – Invite EOC
6. January group meeting = NHC Jail visit to 1/15 @ 12pm
7. Rafael attended the NHC Disaster Preparedness meeting today and is
going to review EOC; needs translation of ‘lifeline’ - will provide context
8. Today the Endowment announced that they set aside $2M to be used in
the event of a declared State of Emergency that affects NHC
9. Iryna’s Law – new NC law that went effect December 1, making charges
that before you could sign out are now requiring a paid bond – please
help educate community about this new law; NHC working on education
campaign
10. Consider reaching out to NHC Commissioners to let them know about
concerns in community and see what they suggest as far as best way to
share information and feedback from the community; how can they help
us make a request for a statement regarding public safety?
V) New Business
i. Membership vacancies
1. 2 vacancies;
2. Deadline to apply is January 12
3. Appointment will be January 20
ii. Election of HLC chair and secretary
1. Push election to January 27 meeting
2. Natalie will serve as Acting Chair
iii. Invitation of Deputy Chief Alex Sotelo (WPD)
1. Linda invited DC Sotelo to attend January 27 meeting
VI) Upcoming Events
a. January 15: Latino Alliance visit to NHC Jail, 12pm, background check form due
December 29 (see email for form)
b. January 25: FaithAction ID event & NHC Passport Preparation Day, 2 – 5pm
c. January 27: NHC HLC meeting, 5pm
VII) Public Comments
VIII) Adjourn
Adjourned at 6:03pm
NEXT MEETING – January 27, 2026