Convención Anual 2025

ESTE ACTO ESTÁ ABIERTO A LOS MIEMBROS Y SOCIOS DE NC COUNTS COALITION. TODOS LOS ASISTENTES DEBEN INSCRIBIRSE CON ANTELACIÓN.

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Cuenta Conmigo, Cuenta Contigo.
El poder de nosotros

Jueves, 3 de abril de 2025 | 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
El desayuno y el networking serán de 9:00 a 10:00, y el programa comenzará a las 10:00.

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La 2025 Convención Estatal Anual de la Coalición NC Counts reunirá a miembros, aliados y socios de toda Carolina del Norte para crear comunidad, fomentar la colaboración y reforzar el impacto colectivo. Este evento ofrece a los participantes valiosos conocimientos y estrategias prácticas para participar en las iniciativas de NC Counts, incluidos los esfuerzos para promover el censo, la equidad digital, la equidad sanitaria y la representación.

Únete a nosotros para conectar, colaborar y aprender a marcar la diferencia en el avance de la equidad y la representación en todo nuestro estado. Juntos, ¡HACEMOS QUE NC CUENTE!

ECHA UN VISTAZO AL SIGUIENTE VÍDEO DE LA CONVOCATORIA DEL AÑO PASADO

Agenda

9:00-10:00 a.m.
BREAKFAST AND NETWORKING

10:00-10:45 a.m.
WELCOME

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Presented by:
Kaya Littleturtle, Member of Tuscarora Nation

GREETINGS FROM COMMUNITY LEADERS
Presented by:
Mitch Colvin, Mayor, City of Fayetteville
Kirk deViere, County Commissioner, Cumberland County
Val Applewhite, North Carolina State Senator

OPENING PLENARY: Count on Us: Proactive Planning for 2030 Census Challenges
Presented by:
Dr. Allisa Shepard, Interim Executive Director, NC Counts Coalition
Rev. Corine Mack, Community Activist

10:45-11:15 a.m.
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Angela R. Bryant, Retired State Legislator and State Government Executive

11:15-11:30 a.m.
BREAK

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
MORNING BREAKOUT SESSION (see below)

12:30 – 1:15 p.m.
LUNCH & CULTURAL DANCE PERFORMANCE
Presented by:
Young Waters Drums & Dancers from the Cumberland County Culture Class of Fayetteville

1:15-1:30 p.m.
NERVOUS SYSTEM RESET
Join us for a quick session of nervous system exercises to boost resilience
and mental clarity.
Presented by:
Victor LaRue Jones, Family Engagement Coordinator with HeadStart of Nash Edgecombe
Wilson Community Action, Inc.

1:30-2:00 p.m.
COUNT ON ME, COUNT ON YOU
This panel features Western North Carolina leaders sharing their experiences, lessons learned, and the transformative power of collaboration during times of crisis.
Presented By:
Angélica R. Wind, Regional Director, NC Counts Coalition (Moderator)
Ricardo Bello Ball, Executive Director, Unidxs WNC
Norma Brown, Executive Director, UNETE 
Tiffany De’Bellott, Executive Director, Center for Participatory Change 
Melisa Soto Escobar, Executive Director, True Ridge

2:00-2:15 p.m.
BREAK

2:15-3:15 p.m.
AFTERNOON BREAKOUT SESSION (see below)

3:15-3:45 p.m.
COMMUNITY MOSAIC: THE POWER OF US
Event attendees will use words and images to create a unique design on a large puzzle piece, reflecting their shared stories and visions. Each piece will be decorated and then added to a community mosaic wall—a powerful symbol of collective strength, unity, and the power of storytelling.
Presented By:
Hector Vaca Cruz, Documentary Photographer
Irlanda Ruiz, Writer, Educator and Community Leader

3:45 p.m.
CLOSING

Breakout Sessions

Each session is being offered during the morning and afternoon so you can attend two of four available options.

OPTION #1 – Nature-Based “Safe Space” Session (outdoors if weather permits)
To support participant wellbeing, joy, and resilience this session, through various mindfulness activities, will (re)connect participants to nature and explore how the census helps support connection to place and people, aligning with the event theme: “Count on Me, Count on You! The Power of Us.” *This session does involve movement and mobility*

Presented by: 
Mary Oxendine, Owner of Rooted Reciprocity LLC

OPTION #2 – Democracy Reform – Using Our Power to Craft Solutions
How can we shape a more inclusive and representative democracy? This panel brings together three community organizers working on innovative solutions to strengthen our democratic systems. Panelists will explore key reforms, including independent redistricting commissions to end gerrymandering, proportional representation to ensure elected officials reflect their communities, and broader democracy protections such as a voting rights bill, automatic voter registration, and ballot access. Join us for an engaging discussion on how we can use our collective power to drive meaningful change.

Presented by: 
Kyle Brazile, Director of Civic Engagement, NC Counts Coalition (Moderator)
Dr. Jovita Lee, Program Director, NC Black Alliance, Policy Director, Advance Carolina
Tyler Daye, Policy and Civic Engagement Manager, Common Cause NC 
Rosemary Blizzard, Executive Director, Ranked Choice Voting Resource Center

OPTION #3 – Title: Bridging the Digital Divide for a Strong Census
This panel discussion will explore the intersection of digital equity, information literacy, and civic engagement in North Carolina. Our panelists will discuss the impact of information fraud on marginalized communities, the role of digital literacy in combating information fraud, and the importance of digital equity in ensuring full participation in democratic processes like the Census and voting. Join us to learn about the challenges and opportunities in bridging the digital divide and empowering communities with the knowledge and skills to navigate the digital landscape.  Together, we can harness our power to build a more informed society.

Presented by: 
Grace Navarroli, Research Director, Progress NC
Marina Aleman,  Acción Hispana/Qué Pasa
Spring Duvall, PhD, Associate Professor at Salem College

OPTION #4 – The Greatest Stories Never Told: The Importance of Storytelling
Nonprofit and community-based organizations are the heart of America, serving the less fortunate, forgotten, underserved, and overlooked. While their work is deeply rewarding, it can also be overwhelming. Too often, their most impactful stories remain untold, making it difficult for funders to fully understand and support their efforts. Without visibility, critical opportunities for funding and collaboration may be missed.

This workshop will offer practical strategies, valuable resources, and tips for leveraging media platforms to share these stories more effectively, helping to enhance fundraising efforts and advance their mission.

Presented by: Darius Carr, Co-Owner of Bujoy Media, LLC

Altavoces

Darius Carr

Copropietario de Bujoy Media, LLC

Kirk deViere

Comisario del Condado de Cumberland

Marina Alemán

Directora Ejecutiva de Acción Hispana/Qué Pasa

Ricardo Bello Ball

Director Ejecutivo, Unidxs

Val Applewhite

Senador del Estado de Carolina del Norte

Rosemary F. Blizzard

Executive Director, Ranked Choice Voting Resource Center

Angela R. Bryant

Retired State Legislator & State Government Executive

Mitch Colvin

Mayor, City of Fayetteville

Tyler Daye

Policy and Civic Engagement Manager, Common Cause NC

Tiffany DeBellott

Executive Director of the Center for Participatory Change (CPC)

Norma Duran Brown

Executive Director, UNETE

Melisa Escobar

Executive Director, True Ridge

Spring Duvall

Associate Professor of Communication and Media Studies at Salem College

Victor LaRue Jones

Family Engagement Coordinator with HeadStart of Nash Edgecombe Wilson Community Action, Inc.

Jovita Lee

Program Director, NC Black Alliance, Policy Director, Advance Carolina

Kaya Littleturtle

Member of Tuscarora Nation

Grace Navarroli

Research Director, Progress NC

Mary Oxendine

Owner of Rooted Reciprocity LLC

Irlanda Ruiz

Writer, Educator, and Community Leader

Héctor Vaca Cruz

Documentary Photographer

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