New Americans and Concord Leaders Connect

Housing, schools, and transportation were among the issues members of Concord’s New American communities discussed with Mayor Byron Champlin, City Councilor Ali Sekou, and School Board Members Cara Meeker and Sarah Robinson when BCNH brought them together on Sunday afternoon, March 24.

About 75 New Americans from the Bhutanese, Congolese, and Afghan communities in Concord took the opportunity to meet some of their elected representatives and to learn more about their own place in the city’s governance.

“Our goal was to allow conversations to happen,” said Rick Minard, BCNH Executive Director.  Funding for the afternoon was from a “voter engagement” initiative of the NH Charitable Foundation, but BCNH invited Concord residents who were not yet voters, and not yet even citizens.  “The elected leaders showed them that as constituents, their voices matter.”

BCNH is planning similar sessions in Manchester and Nashua.