HomeMy WebLinkAboutNHCHLC (2)
NEW HANOVER COUNTY HISPANIC/LATINO COMMISSION
Location: Government Center, Room 155
February 24, 2026 – 5:00pm
Commissioners in attendance: Andres Afanador, Amanda Boomershine, Natalie Picazo, Maria
Rodriguez, Wiyie Sang, Edelmira Segovia, Rafael Toro, Maria van de Bovenkamp, Loreanne
Jacob
Staff in attendance: Linda Thompson
Commissioners absent: Gustavo Rodea
I) Call to Order and Agenda
II) Approval of Minutes
● Minutes approved unanimously
III) Chair Comments
● Set schedule and clarify expectations: most work will be completed outside of the main
meeting through projects.
● Share updates during meetings on work completed.
● Priority to ensure the community has an opportunity to speak during our monthly
meetings.
● Voting must take place in person.
● Avoid conducting business via email; official business must be conducted in person.
IV) Old Business
A. Concentration of Efforts
● Discussed attendance and participation challenges.
● Consider tabling events only when the commission can commit in advance and plan
accordingly.
● Collectively determine anchoring events for the year.
B. Subcommittee Project Reports
● Redistribute efforts where most needed.
1. Health and Wellness (3 members)
● Meeting with organizations to identify who they serve.
● Provide education about substance use and abuse (may become its own category).
2. Education
● Enhance efforts to increase access to books.
● Commission to vote on supporting expanded library/book access.
● Discussed support of the Leandro Plan to increase school funding:
○ Would help with qualified staffing and improved materials.
○ Provides a roadmap for implementation.
● County building new schools; commissioner funding impacts salaries and maintenance.
● Invite speakers to present on the Leandro Plan.
3. Economic Development
● Identified lack of access to bank accounts.
● Contacted Wells Fargo regarding account access:
○ Bank is open to helping individuals complete account applications.
○ Faith Action ID accepted.
○ Secondary form of ID remains a barrier.
● Discussed importance of secure bank accounts in cases of family separation.
4. Public Safety and Disaster Preparedness
● Focus on barriers to trusting law enforcement.
● No current chair.
● Reviewed process for undocumented individuals at NHC jail.
● Sheriff previously invited; Police Chief attended instead.
● El Cuerpo prepares the Latino community for disasters.
C. Commission Membership
● When positions expire, they are advertised publicly.
● Letter sent to Commissioners was received but no response was provided yet.
V) New Business
A. Increasing Visibility
● Themed social media posts (Facebook and future platforms).
● Collaboration with Enlace Latino NC.
● WENC (Whiteville radio station) outreach.
● Improve public awareness of commission efforts.
B. Commissioner Report
● May 4, 2026 – Report to Commissioners at 4:00pm.
C. Subcommittee Meeting Schedules
● Education – 5:00pm, second Tuesday of each month.
● Health & Wellness – 9:00am, second Wednesday of each month.
● Linda will send list of members with expiring terms.
● Share upcoming meeting dates publicly before next meeting.
VI) Upcoming Events
● March 17 – Latino Alliance – 12:00pm
● March 22 – Know Your Rights – 2:00pm; FAID – 3:00pm
● April 2 – MedNorth Clinic Open House – 8:00am–12:00pm
● April 11 – Habitat Community Fair – 10:00am–2:00pm
● April 18 – Latino Alliance – Power of Attorney
● April 26 – FAID, Passport, Community Resource Fair – 2:00pm–5:00pm
● May 16 – Food Bank Cookout (1000 Greenfield Street) – 10:00am–1:00pm
○ Live music, vendors, activities
VII) Public Comments
● Food Bank of Southeastern NC representative asked how to support Latino community
food access:
○ Potential food distribution at the Government Center building.
○ Encouraged meeting neighbors where they are (parks, gathering spaces, etc.).
○ Discussed Food Bank Cookout happening on May 16, 2026
VIII) Adjourn
● Meeting adjourned at 6:06pm
NEXT MEETING – March 24, 2026 | 5:00pm