Orange County Human Rights Commission Recognizes Six

By Jennifer L. Warren

HAMPTONBURGH – Over 150 have been honored in 23 years. Wednesday, six more were added to that prestigious list.

Each year, the Orange County Human Rights Commission selects individuals who have selflessly, kindly and significantly left their mark on improving human rights on the local level.

That stamp has extended all the way from Newburgh to Port Jervis, spanning all of Orange County. Those rights have included such areas as; housing, hunger, poverty, as well as a host of basic human rights. They are people who have symbolized through their daily work the very mission of the Commission.

Created in 1970, The Human Rights Commission was developed to “help foster mutual respect, justice and equity among the County’s diverse population and to open new opportunities into all phases of community for all individuals.” One of the honorees, Horace Belton, a resident of Orange County since 1961, has held a host of socially-minded positions, including; youth parole worker as well as facility directors positions, a District Superintendent and Executive Assistant, and President of the local chapter of the NAACP.

“The biggest thing I learned in high school wasn’t what to think but how to think,” said Belton. “I further learned from the play HAMLET, ‘To thine own self be true;’ “I also learned planting trees is very important, our responsibility.”

It’s that “garden grooming” that is at the center of the Commission. It includes helping to fight for those not able to do battle themselves, ensuring they have the rights and needs they deserve, no matter their skin color, financial status or a host of other variables. It’s an ongoing struggle, often plagued with roadblocks, but a critical task that those who do it are committed to, on several levels.

“Anyone in this room who fights for social justice knows it doesn’t end at 5pm; it goes on the rest of your life,” affirmed Inaudy Esposito, Executive Director of the Orange County Human Rights Commission. “At the end of the day, not just the world needs us, but Orange County; we need to use our voices when we know others can’t.”

Another honoree, Rachel Simons, Esq., a lawyer who oversees Legal Services of the Hudson Valley, with offices in Newburgh and Monticello, is steadfast about all those pieces alluded to by Esposito. Passionate about securing the right of housing for all, Simons, who knew she wanted to be a lawyer since age 10, leads a team of 19 lawyers who she accepted the honor on behalf of, adding how she cannot do this work alone.

“This is not easy work,” said Simons. “The lawyers I work with every day are truly superstars, working as a team, seeing to it that justice is served; thousands have benefitted from their advocacy, and many more need to; there are currently 50,000 people in Orange County living in poverty.”

Also among the list of honorees were; Patty and Aaron Baughman (ministry at Saint Peter’s Church), Azariah McLymore (founded foundation to combat bullying as well as helps with domestic abuse), and Lisa Silverstone (Executive Director of Safe Harbors of the Hudson, transforming lives and building community through housing and the arts.)

Among the dignitaries at Wednesday’s reception was County Executive, Steven Neuhaus, who offered opening remarks.

“It’s a great thing that we can highlight and talk about people making a difference, doing great things,” said Neuhaus. It will help get us through all that is going on; it’s really all about people.”