Orange County names 2026 Human Rights Award honorees

Orange County has named three 2026 Human Rights Award honorees whose day-to-day work reaches some of the county’s most persistent pressure points: school equity, behavioral health, domestic violence, justice involvement and access to housing. Lyn Abrams, Tanya DeGroat and Milagros Montijo-Flores will be recognized at a reception June 11 at Stony Ford Golf Course in Montgomery, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The county said RSVP information is due by June 5.

The Human Rights Commission that chose them has been part of county government since 1970, when it was created to foster mutual respect and understanding among Orange County residents and open new opportunities across community life. The commission says it is made up of 12 county residents with different backgrounds and expertise, and its mission centers on equality, justice and human dignity. The honoree list the county maintains stretches back to 1995, underscoring how long Orange County has used the awards to spotlight public service tied to civil rights and community need.

Abrams, a health teacher in the Goshen Central School District, was recognized for more than two decades of advocacy for students. The county described her as a powerful advocate for human rights who has used her role in the classroom to push for meaningful change. Her selection points directly to the place where many local inequities first show up: schools, where students need safety, fairness and dignity before they can succeed.

DeGroat, who works at Independent Living, Inc., was honored for leading peer professionals who support people facing mental-health challenges, substance use disorders, domestic violence and justice involvement. The county said her team draws on lived experience to reduce stigma and build trust, a model that matters in Orange County as more residents try to navigate systems that often feel fragmented or intimidating. Her work lands at the intersection of public health and public safety, where access to support can shape whether someone stabilizes or falls deeper into crisis.

Montijo-Flores, programs and services director at Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newburgh, was recognized for more than 12 years of service. The county said she has helped break down racial barriers and create more inclusive spaces, while serving as a driving force for equity and community empowerment through housing and environmental advocacy. In Newburgh and across Orange County, housing remains one of the clearest tests of whether opportunity is real or only promised.

Steven M. Neuhaus and Inaudy Gil framed the awards as a community effort, not a ceremonial one, elevating people whose work widens opportunity and strengthens the county’s social fabric. In Orange County, that means the honors are tied to schools, housing, and the systems residents rely on every day.