Commissioners
Our Commissioners are community members who serve on a volunteer basis.
Learn more about us and to join us on the Commission!
Erica Forneret
Chair
Kathryn McKenzie
Commissioner
Michelle Roach
Commissioner
Jason Otero
Commissioner
Stefanie Singer
Commissioner
Stefanie is an artist and educator with 15+ years of experience bringing arts programs to diverse communities. As Education Director at the Anti-Defamation League, she uses art to promote inclusivity. She explores mixed media in her practice and supports arts initiatives across the Hudson Valley.
Penelope Taylor
Commissioner
Joy Zelada
Commissioner
Jonathan Hamilt
Commissioner
Jonathan Hamilt is a drag queen, co-founder of Drag Story Hour, and serves on the board of directors for the Newburgh Historical Society. He actively promotes community engagement and, with a passion for historic restoration, connects diverse groups to build a vibrant, welcoming community.
Dr. Debra Lamb
Commissioner
Dr. Debra Lamb is a retired educational administrator with more than 26 years of professional service in public education and 12 years of service in nonprofit and philanthropic organizations. Originally from Brooklyn, NY, Dr. Lamb resides within the City of Newburgh. Dr. Lamb also serves on the board of the Historical Society of Newburgh Bay and the Highlands.
Nasihah W. Jones
Commissioner
Nashah W. Jones, an artist with immigrant roots from Trinidad, uses his self-taught art to bridge communication gaps and explore his environment. Growing up in Newburgh, he captured the urban life he observed, guided by mentors like Margaret Johns and Peter H. Stern. As a SUNY New Paltz graduate and Tenant & Community Relations Manager at RUPCO, Inc., Nashah's art humanizes spaces and empowers individuals to see their own dignity amidst challenges.
Chivita Espacial
Commissioner
Chivita Espacial is an educator, cultural organizer, and community artist rooted in various communities. Their work intersects oral histories, solidarity economy, mental health, antiracist queer transfeminism, and immigration, focusing on sustainable creative practices and deepening relationships with honesty and integrity. Chivi is dedicated to cultivating spaces for autonomy, self-determination, well-being, and joy.
Transcendence “Life In Colors” by Dasic Fernandez/ Photo: Erica M. Forneret