2023-01-23 CRAC Meeting Minutes
CRAC Minutes
January 23, 2024
5:00 – 7:00
Special Meeting: Annual Retreat
CALL TO ORDER: The meeting of the Community Relations Advisory Committee (C-RAC)
was called to order at 5:08 p.m. The location was the Government Center.
QUORUM: A quorum was present. The motion to approve the minutes from the last meeting
was seconded and approved unanimously.
Attendees included the following:
City Appointees –
Kirsten Kainz
Charlrean Mapson
Victoria McSwain (absent)
Sabrenia Smallwood-Moore
Antrevonn Tate
County Appointees –
Liz Carbone
Cherri Cook
Stephanie Medcalfe
Fawn Rhodes (absent)
Sam Wheeler
Support Staff –
Linda Thompson (County DEIO)
TBH (City DEIO – Amy Schlag in attendance))
Guests –
Jennifer Rigby NHC Government
Tina Pearson NHC Government
OLD BUSINESS:
Update from County Staff: The DEIO office released the results of a recent survey on
county-wide demographic changes and related equity issues. Linda Thompson
indicated a willingness to present on the survey results at an upcoming C-RAC
meeting.
Update from City Staff: Amy Schlag reported on the plans for hiring Joe Conway’s
replacement for the City DEIO. The City will be supporting anti-anti-semitism with
an event on the upcoming Holocaust Remembrance Day.
NEW BUSINESS:
Strategic Planning: Jennifer Rigby and Tina Pearson led the group through a strategic
planning discussion for C-RAC. Key activities included a discussion of the history of
C-RAC in New Hanover County: review of key points from the C-RAC bylaws; and
a SCOT analysis.
Subcommittee Vote – we did not hold a vote on subcommittees due to time.
PUBLIC COMMENTS– None
ANNOUNCEMENTS – None
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
Next Meeting – February 27, 5:30 p.m.
Subcommittee meeting starts at 4:30
Learnings from Strategic Planning Discussion:
There is a need to investigate how we want subcommittees to function in C-RAC
Lack of clarity about our purpose and what specifically the County Commissioners and
City Council want to be achieved through C-RAC and on what timeline.
o Linda Thompson added that the C-RAC origin was tied to community concerns
around gang related violence in New Hanover County. The original planning
group wanted a committee of county and city residents to provide needed
information and conversations about issues related to racism and violence and
other community concerns.
An historic and current tension lies in the advisory nature of the committee. We do not
have decision making authority for city and county policy. We do, however, have
political and persuasive influence. We need to build the relationships and procedures for
serving in an influential advisory role.
o Jennifer Rigby and Antrevonn Tate discussed ways that C-RAC members can
communicate with governing bodies to share information and synchronize goals
and activities. Sabrenia Smallwood-Moore added an example from our work with
the school board and NHC-SEPTA and prompted that the results of our recent
meetings should be made known to governing bodies. Charlrean Mapson
suggested that we have a listening session with governing officials and their staff
to increase information flow. “Be stubborn on the vision and flexible on the
journey.” (Rigby, 2024)
Our SCOT analysis yielded a set of opportunities that we can calendar quickly including
holding a listening session for elected officials and their staff and reporting our recent
work to city and county governing bodies. In addition, C-RAC should establish SMART
goals for annual work. Tina Pearson will type up the results of the C-RAC history and
SCOT analysis and bring back to us in February.