Governor Josh Stein has announced the creation of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Latino Affairs, appointing 30 new advisors during a reception at the Executive Residence in recognition of Hispanic and Latino Heritage Month. The announcement also included an expression of gratitude to outgoing members who served on the previous Governor’s Advisory Council on Hispanic/Latino Affairs since 2023.
“North Carolina’s Latino population enriches our shared heritage and makes our state a more dynamic place to live,” said Governor Josh Stein. “That’s why I was proud to sign an Executive Order extending the Governor’s Advisory Council on Latino Affairs. This council has provided valuable wisdom to my team and me, and we want to continue benefiting from its insights.”
The new council, established by Executive Order 27, will have up to 30 members tasked with examining issues important to North Carolina’s Hispanic and Latino communities. The group is scheduled to meet quarterly, focusing on advancing contributions, expanding opportunities, reducing barriers for Latinos in the state, and making policy recommendations directly to the governor. The advisory body was first formed in 1998 and has been renewed or reestablished by each subsequent governor through executive orders.
The council operates within the North Carolina Department of Administration and will be co-chaired by Andrea Freile and Frederico Rios. Freile works as Communications and Engagement Coordinator for Wayne County Public Schools and founded Viva Cultura Consulting. Rios is a consultant with experience at Foundation for the Carolinas and Charlotte’s Office of Immigrant Integration; he currently serves on Welcoming America’s board.
Members are appointed by the governor from agencies and organizations serving North Carolina’s Latino population. Among them are Cristina España, Senior Outreach Advisor to Governor Stein; Dr. Carlos Rish, Medical Director at Centro Medico Latino; Dr. Christian Walter, principal at Sylvia Mendez Newcomers School; Dr. Javier Gonzalez, CEO of East Coast Migrant Head Start Project; Eliazar Posada, Executive Director of Equality NC; Elizabeth Herrera of Casa Azul de Wilson; Esteban Guzmán from Wayne Community College; Iliana Santillán of Brava NC; Jacquelinne Murillo overseeing Nuevo Comienzo program for unaccompanied minors; Javier Correa-Vega from Winston-Salem; Javiera Caballero from Durham City Council; Johnny Guadalupe-Shaver from Pender County Medicaid services; Juvencio Rocha-Peralta Jr., founder of AMEXCAN; Kiara Aranda from LatinxEd; Kurma Murrain at The Mint Museum; Lariza Garzón with Hispanic Federation operations in NC/MidSouth region; Lister Delgado from Idea Fund Partners; Maria Mayorga at Blueprint NC; Marimer Rodríguez McKenzie consulting for New Hanover County language access initiatives; Mary Jones at El Futuro mental health services; Pilar Rocha-Goldberg leading El Centro Hispano Inc.; Prudencio Martinez-Mengel directing multilingual programs at Lenoir Community College; Ricardo Bello Ball heading Unidxs WNC in western counties recovery efforts; Saira Estrada coordinating immigrant integration for Charlotte city government; Stefanía Arteaga co-leading Carolina Migrant Network advocacy work; Vicky Garcia heading Latino Community Credit Union finance inclusion efforts, and Yesenia Cuello empowering farmworker youth through NC FIELD.
The advisory council continues a tradition started over two decades ago that aims to support policy development addressing needs specific to North Carolina’s growing Hispanic/Latino community.
