NEWBURGH – For fifteen years the Latino Democratic Committee of Orange County has been gathering during Hispanic Heritage Month to host its annual Fall Dinner Dance.
The mission of the Latino Democratic Committee of Orange County (LDCOC) is to enhance the lives of Latinos in Orange County through empowerment, pride of ethnic origin, increase Latino voter registration, political awareness, involvement in government, education and community issues, building coalitions and development of political strength.
Keeping in line with the organizations mission, the LDCOC honored three individuals who have enhanced the lives of Latinos in Orange County. This year the group honored Jacqueline Hernandez (Entrepreneurship Award), Jennifer Echevarria, Esq. (Leadership Award) and Shannon Wong.
Jacqueline Hernandez is the founder and co-owner of The Ark of Learning Childcare Center in Highland Mills, as well as Deputy Supervisor in Woodbury. In accepting her award, she noted that her inspiration and drive comes from her mother who always insisted that education was the foundation for achieving any of your goals in life.
Hernandez earned her BA in Psychology and later obtained her MS in education before opening a small daycare, The Little Lamb Christian daycare, in her home. In 2010 Hernandez and her partners purchased a new home for the childcare program and in five years the new program, The Ark of Learning went from serving 12 to over 50. Her latest vision is a 20,000 sq. ft. building that will house program for infants through young adulthood.
Jennifer Echevarria is an attorney that concentrates on employment law (wage and discrimination in employment) and immigration law. Her immigration practice concentrates on family-based petitions for legal permanent residency, naturalization, u-Visas and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). She has given numerous free immigration and “Know Your Rights” lectures in Spanish at various local non-profit organizations and churches.
Echevarria has helped dozens of undocumented workers receive monetary settlements where they were not property paid minimum wage and/or overtime by their employers. Through her work, she has given a largely disenfranchised segment of the population access to quality legal services in their native language.
Shannon Wong is the Lower Hudson Valley Chapter Director at the NY Civil Liberties Union. She has brought her skills from her past work in legislative advocacy to support the successful passage of paid family leave and public defense reform. The former Orange County Legislator led the campaign to stop the expansion of asset forfeiture and the reduction of shackling for pregnant women in jail.
New York State Attorney General Candidate Letitia “Tish” James was the groups special guest.
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