The Sullivan County Human Rights Commission has announced that it is sponsoring a new Community Outreach Series with the objective to help bring our diverse community together.

The initial forum will focus on Orthodox/Hasidic Community Relations in Sullivan County and be held on Monday June 20, 2016, at 1PM at the Sullivan County Legislative Hearing Room in the Sullivan County Government Center in Monticello.

Moderators of the forum will be former Town of Thompson Supervisor Anthony Cellini, Sullivan County Attorney Gerald Orseck, and Rabbi Irving Goodman of the Hebrew Day School with the assistance Sullivan County Legislative Chairman Luis Alvarez, and Commissioners of the Sullivan County Human Rights Commission and its Executive Director Lorraine Lopez.

This forum is designed to build healthy relationships and lines of communication between the Orthodox/ Hasidic Community and their neighbors in the county who are not Orthodox or Hasidic, to promote greater understanding/acceptance of our cultural differences as pillars of unity, for a healthier Sullivan County.

Human Rights Commissioner Chair Judy Balaban said that “The purpose of the forum is to create a respectful environment, where all sides have a chance to voice their concerns and agree on productive resolutions in a positive atmosphere. ”

Lorraine Lopez, Executive Director of the Human Rights Commission, said, “Among the many wonderful things Sullivan County is known for, diversity in race, ethnicity, religion, ability, to name a few, among its residents is one of them. “Tolerance”, which can be patronizing is not good enough. Our goal is to build on and strengthen the mutual respect and understanding that exists among the various diverse groups.

Human Rights Commissioner Bill Liblick who is a member of the Outreach Committee said, “the goal of the first forum is to bring all parties together and begin a dialogue so that our summer community along with our year-round community can respect and accept each other. The objective is for everyone to live in peace and harmony while addressing certain concerns to create a better understanding. Other forums that are being planned will involve people from other ethnic and cultural backgrounds.”

Some of the topics that will be addressed at the forum will include how the Orthodox/Hasidic community would like to be welcomed, what services are needed, and how they feel they are being treated by our community.

Other issues to be addressed will include: Keeping Sullivan County Clean, Property Maintenance, Employment Opportunities, and Traffic Concerns such as understanding our roads.

This forum will not address issues facing the Village of Bloomingburg.

Sullivan County Legislature Chairman Luis Alvarez said, “I am glad to see that The Human Rights Commission is tackling many issues from the Dialogue to Change Program to these new Outreach Forums. This is an important step in the revitalization of Sullivan County and people living and working together.”

Tony Cellini added, “The officials of the Sullivan County Human Rights Commission should be commended for providing a vital forum such as this. I believe under this leadership you will see many more various and important community forums to address many of our county needs and concerns.”

Residents with questions they would like addressed at the forum are urged to contact Lorraine Lopez at (845) 807-0189 or [email protected] .

(YWN Sullivan County Newsroom)