CARE: Community Ambassador Real Equality

about the program:

Community Ambassador Real Equality, also known as CARE Team, is a group of bilingual, bicultural Hispanic/Latino ambassadors focused on supporting and advocating for the needs of their communities in Yancey and Mitchell counties. Additionally, they work to foster unity and understanding within the larger local community while sharing their cultural heritage.

The group, which Partners Aligned Toward Health supports, started during COVID-19 to help share crucial health information and resources with the Hispanic/Latino community. Over the past two years, CARE Team has expanded its mission to focus on promoting mental health and wellness among parents, youth, and families, as well as celebrating and sharing the Hispanic/Latino culture with the community. More and more individuals and organizations are leaning on CARE ambassadors to share information, plan culturally responsive events, and ensure that Hispanic/Latino voices are at the forefront of decision-making.

CARE Team encourages ambassadors to develop their leadership skills as they work to increase representation, equity, and access to resources in the community. Moving forward, CARE hopes to continue to be a network of advocates supporting the Hispanic/Latino community through culturally responsive and collaborative approaches.

CARE Team’s Helene Response

CARE Team has provided essential support to the Hispanic/Latino community during Hurricane Helene and during recovery afterward. They’ve continued their role as community ambassadors, sharing essential information, working at distribution sites, helping collect resources, and facilitating a community conversation about Helene resources between the Hispanic/Latino community and the County.

Spanish Yancey County Helene Resources Guide