Community Relations Advisory Committee

The Community Relations Advisory Committee (C-RAC) was organized on October 1, 2016 to address community issues involving prejudice or discrimination on the basis of race, national origin, creed or religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability or medical condition. The committee is a collaboration between New Hanover County and the City of Wilmington. Learn more in the panels below and in the CRAC Updated Brochure

The C-RAC will provide accommodations, such as larger print agendas and an interpreter, upon adequate request for meetings and events. Contact Linda Thompson at 910-798-7430 or lthompson@nhcgov.com if you feel you have been discriminated against or to make accommodation requests. All claims are confidential.

NOTE: The C-RAC Community Resource Outreach site at the downtown library in addition to all committee/subcommittee meetings have been temporarily suspended due to Covid-19. Updates to the location of the Outreach site will be posted when available. All individuals are welcome to email your form for submission, but all in-person meetings are temporarily suspended.

Complaint Process Overview

The C-RAC will assist New Hanover County and City of Wilmington residents through the process of submitting a complaint of discrimination to the state and federal agencies that complete investigations and enforce anti-discrimination laws in North Carolina, such as:

Please see the table below for more details on the complaint filing process. All complaints filed are confidential.

COMPLAINT PROCESS OVERVIEW
TYPE OF DISCRIMINATION	PRE-INTAKE	INTAKE	TIME FRAME
EMPLOYMENT	Complete the Employment Discrimination Complaint Form and submit a copy to the C-RAC.	With assistance from C-RAC, submit the Employment Discrimination Complaint Form to the North Carolina Human Relations Commission (NCHRC). The NCHRC works with the EEOC to enforce state and federal anti-discrimination laws in North Carolina.	A complaint must be filed with the NCHRC within 180 days from the date of the alleged violation. A complaint must be filed within 300 days from the date of the alleged violation if submitted directly to EEOC.
HOUSING	Complete the Housing Discrimination Complaint Form (Spanish) and submit a copy to C-RAC.	With assistance from C-RAC, submit a Housing Discrimination Complaint Form to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD then routes the complaint to the NCHRC.	No specified time frame, but the sooner the complaint is submitted the better.
DISABILITY/PUBLIC ACCESS	Complete the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Discrimination Complaint Form and submit a copy to C-RAC.	With assistance from C-RAC, submit an ADA Discrimination complaint form to the US Department of Justice Civil Rights Division. After the complaint is received and reviewed, you will be informed of their response.	No specified time frame, but the sooner the complaint is submitted the better.
OTHER	Complete and submit the C-RAC Discrimination Complaint form and submit it to the C-RAC.	The C-RAC will make recommendations and referrals to other agencies as needed.	No specified time frame, but the sooner the complaint is submitted the better.
Submit complete discrimination complaint forms to the C-RAC: *By email: lthompson@nhcgov.com Mail or drop off at:** New Hanover County Office of Diversity & Equity 230 Government Center Drive, Suite 120, Wilmington, NC 28403 Attn: Linda Thompson All individuals are welcome to email and set up an appointment at the Government Center or a mutually convenient location.

What should I expect after I submit complaint of discrimination to the C-RAC?

After a discrimination complaint form is received, the C-RAC will review the form for appropriateness and completeness, then submit or assist in submitting it to appropriate agencies. Committee members will be notified of your complaint of discrimination in a confidential manner.

In addition to helping you submit a claim of discrimination, the C-RAC or designee may also:

Refer you to other resources to assist you with your complaint of discrimination
Make policy recommendations to the County Commissioners and City Council to reduce or eliminate the root issue causing issues of discrimination
Once the recommendation and resources have been provided on your behalf, the C-RAC or designee will follow up with you periodically to find out the status of your complaint

Employment Discrimination

Employment Discrimination laws seek to prevent discrimination based on race, sex, religion, national origin, physical disability, and age by employers. Discriminatory practices include bias in hiring, promotion, job assignment, termination, compensation, retaliation, and various types of harassment.

If you believe that you have been subjected to employment discrimination by a state or county government agency, the C-RAC may be able to assist you. To submit a complaint: download, print, and complete the Employment Discrimination Complaint Form from home or at any New Hanover County Public Library branch. Please note: all complaints filed are confidential.

Submit your complete form:

By email: lthompson@nhcgov.com
Mail or drop off at:
New Hanover County Office of Diversity & Equity
230 Government Center Drive, Suite 120, Wilmington, NC 28403
Attn: Linda Thompson

Housing Discrimination

Housing discrimination is discrimination based on race, sex, religion, national origin, physical disability, and age applies to the sale, rental and financing of residential housing.

If you believe that you have been subjected to housing discrimination, the C-RAC may be able to assist you. To submit a complaint: download, print, and complete the Housing Discrimination Complaint Form (Spanish) from home or at any New Hanover County Public Library branch. Please note: all complaints filed are confidential.

Submit your complete form:

By email: lthompson@nhcgov.com
Mail or drop off at:
New Hanover County Office of Diversity & Equity
230 Government Center Drive, Suite 120, Wilmington, NC 28403
Attn: Linda Thompson

Disability/Public Access Discrimination

The Americans Disabilities Act (ADA) seeks to prevent discrimination based on a disability or medical condition. Discriminatory practices include bias in state or local government or a public accommodation (for example, a restaurant, doctor’s office, retail store, hotel, etc.).

https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/disability/ada

If you believe that you have been subjected to disability or public access discrimination, the C-RAC may be able to assist you. To submit a complaint: download, print, and complete the ADA Discrimination Complaint Form from home or at any New Hanover County Public Library branch. Please note: all complaints filed are confidential.

Submit your complete form:

By email: lthompson@nhcgov.com
Mail or drop off at:
New Hanover County Office of Diversity & Equity
230 Government Center Drive, Suite 120, Wilmington, NC 28403
Attn: Linda Thompson

Education & Other Types of Discrimination

If you believe that you have been subjected to discrimination not involving employment housing, or a disability, the C-RAC may be able to assist you. To submit a complaint: download, print, and complete the New Hanover County/City of Wilmington Discrimination Complaint form from home or at any New Hanover County Public Library branch. Please note: all complaints filed are confidential.

Submit your complete form:

By email: lthompson@nhcgov.com
Mail or drop off at:
New Hanover County Office of Diversity & Equity
230 Government Center Drive, Suite 120, Wilmington, NC 28403
Attn: Linda Thompson

Upcoming C-RAC Meetings & Events

Outreach

Outreach Site Flyer

Meet and Greets

C-RAC will be hosting quarterly “Meet and Greets” throughout the county to inform residents of who the C-RAC is, what it does, and how it assists community members with issues related to prejudice and discrimination. More information will be available shortly.

C-RAC Meetings

Community Relations Advisory Committee (C-RAC) Meetings: Held every 4th Tuesday of the month at 5:30 p.m. at the Downtown Library
- Crisis Prevention Preparedness Subcommittee Meetings: Held every 3rd Wednesday of the month at 3:30 p.m. at the NHC Government Center in Conference Room 646.
- Programming Subcommittee Meetings: Held every 4th Tuesday of the month at 4:30 p.m. at the NHC Government Center in Conference Room 646.

Please visit the NHC Event Calendar for specific meeting dates. C-RAC meetings are listed in orange.

C-RAC Membership

C-RAC Chairman
Evelyn A. Bryant has been a legal assistant for over 24 years. In 2017, she was selected as a Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen of the Lower Cape Fear honoree and recipient of the Phenomenal Woman Award. She is a community activist, bringing people and resources together, and is passionate about creating social change within her community. Mrs. Bryant also serves on the YWCA Lower Cape Fear Board and the Blue Ribbon Commission Voyage Community Council. She has two beautiful daughters, one a 2017 graduate of UNCG and the other is a student at Isaac Bear Early College High School.

C-RAC Vice-Chairman

Jeff Hovis is a Residential and Commercial real estate agent with Intracoastal Realty Corporation. Jeff currently serves on the City of Wilmington’s Planning Commission, as the Vice-Chairman. He also serves as the Vice-Chairman of the New Hanover County/City of Wilmington Community Relations Advisory Board. He also serves as a facilitator for New Hanover County Dispute Faciliatory Board, Area Safety Task Force and is a member of Wilmington Downtown, Inc Board of Directors. Jeff has worked as a volunteer or commissioner for Wilmington Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, 1000 People Who Cares Foundation, New Hanover High Schools PTSA Committee, Board of Governors for the City Club at de Rosette, Board of Directors for WHQR and many other local non-profit companies and organizations.

C-RAC MEMBERSHIP

New Hanover County-Appointed Members

City of Wilmington-Appointed Members

Evelyn Bryant

Scott Whisnant

Jeffrey Hovis

Elise Rocks

Owen Wexler

Charles Davis, Jr.

Kathy King

Jen Johnson

Lori Wainright