CARE: Community Ambassador Real Equality
about the program:
Community Ambassador Real Equality, also known as the CARE Team, is a group of bilingual and bicultural 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.
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 five years, the CARE Team has expanded its mission to focus on community engagement and organizing, promoting mental health and wellness, and educating parents, youth, and families on important health and safety practices. 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.
The 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.
Stay up to date with the CARE Team on Facebook.
CARE Team’s Interview with JMPRO Community Media
CARE Team ambassadors were interviewed by JMPRO Community Media about CARE’s work during in the community, especially during Covid-19 and Hurricane Helene, and how other communities can follow suit. JMPRO is a grassroots community journalism nonprofit that shares essential news and information with rural communities in WNC. The podcast explores local health issues impacting Western North Carolina (WNC), and provides information to help guide community partners to better serve our communities.
Recent Care Projects
- CARE spoke with Shane Hilliard and Ryan Higgins of the Yancey County Sherriff’s Office to understand changes to state and federal laws. Ambassadors filmed and shared an informational video to teach community members about these changes and their rights.
- They created a community survey to better understand current gaps in information, services, and resources, then used the results to develop a series of community events tailored to the needs of the Hispanic/Latino community.
- Ambassadors have participated in prfessional developmentopportunities including but not limited to: interpreter training, notary training and certification, public speaking, and grant writing.
- The CARE Team hosted an event to help guide community members through the application process for two key government assistance programs: SNAP and Medicaid. They were able to provide assistance and answer questions for multiple families who needed additional support.
- Next CARE Team plans to host an edicational series focusing on building credit and the process of buying and selling a home, as these topics were identified to have high need and interest in the community survey.
meet the care ambassadors
Laura Lozada
Lety Martinez
Maribel Onchi
Martha Tomas
Margarita Madrigal
