Connect Wayne

09/18/2026

We found 8 upcoming events across Eastern and Central North Carolina celebrating Hispanic & Latino Heritage Month! 🎉

Save this post, share it with your family and friends, and check out an event near you! 💙
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¡Encontramos 8 eventos próximos en el este y centro de Carolina del Norte para celebrar el Mes de la Herencia Hispana y Latina! 🎉

¡Guarda esta publicación, compártela con tu familia y amigos, y disfruta de un evento cerca de ti! 💙

09/17/2026

Meet Ashley! She’ll be working as the new Juntos Program Coordinator, supporting Latino students as they graduate from high school and continue their education. We’re excited about the impact she’ll have on our community! 💙
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¡Conozcan a Ashley! Ella estará trabajando como coordinadora del programa Juntos, apoyando a estudiantes latinos para que se gradúen de la secundaria y sigan adelante con su educación. ¡Estamos emocionados por el impacto que ella tendrá en nuestra comunidad! 💙

🎉 Please join us in welcoming Ashley Morales-Hernandez to Wayne County Cooperative Extension! 🎉

Ashley is joining our team as the new Juntos Program Coordinator, where she’ll work alongside students and families to help young people discover opportunities beyond high school and build stronger connections within their community.

Ashley graduated from UNC Greensboro, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in International Business. Outside of work, she’s a music lover who enjoys attending concerts, traveling, and finding creative ways to stay inspired. 🎶✈️✨

She’s excited to step into this new role and make a difference in the lives of students here in Wayne County.

Welcome to the Extension family, Ashley! We’re so glad to have you on the team!

09/16/2026

We were honored to be invited to join community leaders from across North Carolina for a reception celebrating Hispanic & Latino Heritage Month with Governor Josh Stein and Anna Stein, First Lady of North Carolina, at the Executive Mansion. ✨

The space was filled with music, traditional attire and dances representing different Latin American countries, food, art, and so much pride in where we come from and in North Carolina, our home.

Both Gabriel Esparza, North Carolina’s Secretary of Administration, and Governor Josh Stein acknowledged that this has been a difficult year for our community. At the same time, they spoke to the importance of our presence and our place in this state.

Esparza reflected on Langston Hughes’ “I, Too” poem and adapted its closing message for our state:

“We, too, are North Carolina.”

Hearing those words surrounded by generations of Latino leaders and community members felt especially meaningful.

We are here. We belong here. We are North Carolina. 💙
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Tuvimos el honor de ser invitados a compartir con líderes comunitarios de todo Carolina del Norte en una recepción para celebrar el Mes de la Herencia Hispana y Latina junto al gobernador Josh Stein y Anna Stein, primera dama de Carolina del Norte, en la Mansión Ejecutiva. ✨

El espacio estuvo lleno de música, vestimentas y danzas tradicionales representando a diferentes países de Latinoamérica, comida, arte y mucho orgullo por nuestras raíces y por Carolina del Norte, nuestro hogar.

Tanto Gabriel Esparza, secretario de Administración de Carolina del Norte, como el gobernador Josh Stein reconocieron que este ha sido un año difícil para nuestra comunidad. Al mismo tiempo, hablaron sobre la importancia de nuestra presencia y del lugar que ocupamos en este estado.

Esparza hizo referencia al poema “I, Too” de Langston Hughes y adaptó su mensaje final para nuestro estado:

“Nosotros también somos Carolina del Norte.”

Escuchar esas palabras rodeados de generaciones de líderes y miembros de la comunidad latina tuvo un significado muy especial.

Estamos aquí. Pertenecemos aquí. Somos Carolina del Norte. 💙

09/15/2026

In case you missed last night’s City Council meeting, the City Government of Goldsboro, NC recognized Hispanic Heritage Month with a proclamation celebrating the cultures, contributions, and voices of our Hispanic and Latino community.

We’re grateful to NC Field for accepting the proclamation on behalf of our community, and to WCC student Oswaldo Quiroz for helping share the acceptance remarks in English.

Thank you, Mayor Charles Gaylor and the Goldsboro City Council, for recognizing the important role Hispanic and Latino residents play in our community and across Wayne County.

Here’s a look at last night’s proclamation and acceptance. 🇲🇽🇵🇷🇸🇻🇭🇳🇬🇹🇨🇴🇩🇴

Stay tuned for all of the celebrations to come! 🎉
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Por si se perdieron la reunión del Concejo Municipal de anoche, la Ciudad de Goldsboro reconoció el Mes de la Herencia Hispana con una proclamación que celebra las culturas, contribuciones y voces de nuestra comunidad hispana y latina.

Agradecemos a NC FIELD por aceptar la proclamación en nombre de nuestra comunidad, y al estudiante Oswaldo Quiroz por ayudar a compartir el discurso de aceptación en inglés.

Gracias al alcalde Charles Gaylor y al Concejo Municipal de Goldsboro por reconocer la importante contribución de la comunidad hispana y latina en Goldsboro y en todo el condado de Wayne.

Aquí les compartimos el video de la proclamación y a la aceptación de anoche. 🇲🇽🇵🇷🇸🇻🇭🇳🇬🇹🇨🇴🇩🇴

¡Estén pendientes de todas las celebraciones que vienen! 🎉

08/27/2026

🎓✨ Celebrating the Ponte Las Pilas Class of 2026!

We are incredibly proud of our second cohort of Ponte Las Pilas students as we celebrated the completion of their summer journey during our certificate ceremony.

The celebration highlighted their growth, resilience, leadership, and potential—from Brandy Mejia sharing her powerful Yo Soy poem to students presenting their community impact project focused on increasing awareness of career and post-high school opportunities for students and families.

Student speaker Avril Diaz shared a powerful reminder: “Being the first means that I get to create a path that others in my family can follow.”

We also connected students with their mentors and celebrated Avril Diaz and Zoe Rodriguez, recipients of $500 educational vouchers generously provided by The Foundation of Wayne Community College.

A special thank you to Wayne Community College for hosting our ceremony, to ADLA, INC for opening their doors for us this summer, and to everyone who helped make this experience possible.

To our students: remember the strength of your roots, the power of your voice, and the community behind you. Keep dreaming big, working hard, and lifting each other up.

¡Felicidades, Ponte Las Pilas Class of 2026! 🎓💙
¡Sigan poniéndose las pilas!

08/14/2026

To close out our week of posts, here are some scholarship opportunities for students that may be helpful!

08/11/2026

✨ Day in the Life: Learning About a Career in Dental Hygiene 🪥

A look at what it’s like to pursue a career as a dental hygienist, in English y español!

08/11/2026

📰Sharing some truth about life after high school!

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08/09/2026

We recently interviewed the Office Manager of ADLA, INC, Stephanie Corona, to get her thoughts and advice on career exploration!

08/08/2026

Today we are sharing some information about after-high-school opportunities that are out there. Feel free to check it out and share!