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Recap

“Helping People. Changing Lives”

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About Us

As a multi-service agency, our programs offer a variety of options for residents who need help.

Regional Economic Community Action Program, Inc. or RECAP is a private not for profit established in 1965 and is the designated anti-poverty agency in Orange County. RECAP has been serving Orange County’s residents for almost 60 years. RECAP provides programs and services to help people who live in poverty in Orange County New York and the surrounding areas. RECAP works with our community’s most vulnerable populations including seniors, children, veterans, the homeless and the hungry, those living with HIV/AIDS, individuals and families affected by of domestic violence, people challenged by substance use disorder and anyone struggling to make ends meet.

RECAP provides supportive housing, Head Start, Energy Services, Workforce Development and Training, Orange County Fuel Fund, Case Managment, Nutrition and Advocacy Services, Residential and Non-Residential Substance Use Disorder Services, SNUG and Parole Re-Entry.

Over a half century later we’re still as dedicated to eradicating poverty as our founders were. We’ve grown to include innovative programs in the fields of addiction treatment, job training, energy conservation, nutrition and more.

Our Mission

RECAP empowers people and communities challenged by poverty, racism, and social injustice by collaborating
with public and private partners to provide high quality health and human services, education, advocacy, and hope.

Our mission is realized when our neighbors achieve self-sufficiency.

Our Story

Like many Community Action Agencies, RECAP traces its roots to Lyndon Johnson’s presidency. When President Johnson took office in 1963, he proclaimed that all Americans could live in prosperity and thought to accomplish this through reform. In his 1964 State of the Union Address, Johnson declared an unconditional war on America’s poverty and challenged citizens to build a “Great Society.” Organizations were established and they developed a model, the Community Action Program, that could eradicate poverty from the ground up. This model gave people the power to identify problems affecting their own communities and the resources to bring change.

In 1965 poverty levels reached a national high and effects were felt in Orange County. A panel of local activists decided to put Johnson’s words into action and they formed the Regional Economic Community Action Program, Inc.

Our Leaders

Parterning to build a better community

Chief Executive Officer Charles Quinn formerly served as part of RECAP’s executive team as Deputy Director of Operations and has been with the agency for over 13 years. Chief Operating Officer Michele McKeon brings 20 years of not-for-profit leadership and social justice expertise. Chief Financial Officer Joya Gambino has been with RECAP for 27 years managing all fiscal operations and consistently providing financial guidance and leadership. Their combined experience, knowledge and energy ensure RECAP’s vital community services will continue to improve and expand.

Board of Directors

RECAP believes in reflecting our community in our organization. Diversity ensures that important decisions are made when all voices are represented. Members are recipients of our services, represent community groups, operate local businesses, teach in our schools, and run our government as elected officials. The Board of Directors of RECAP consist of a Poverty, Public and Private community base representation and they meet every 3rd Tuesday of the month.

Jean Sexton

President
About

Miurka Hidalgo

1st Vice President
About

Patricia Claiborne

2nd Vice President
About

Michael Sweeton

Treasurer
About

Horace Belton

Secretary
About

Alyssa Marchinek

Board Member
About

Vincent Crescenzo

Board Member
About

Michelle F. Rider

Board Member
About

Lydia Terwilliger

Board Member
About

Anthony Grice

Board member.
About

John Cappello, Esq.

Board Board Member Emeritus for RECAP
About

about Jean Sexton

About Jean Sexton

Jean is the Branch Manager for the Circleville branch of Walden Savings Bank where she’s responsible for business development and oversight of operations. She successfully navigates the Walden Savings Bank Sales Model – “What Can We Do For You?” for both business and personal members to grow branch business and meet both branch and corporate goals. She develops and coaches direct reports to add to branch profitability and facilitate individual career development.

Jean is currently the Membership Committee Chair for the Pine Bush Area Chamber of Commerce.  Her resume also includes being a former Orange County Chamber of Commerce Executive Board Member, Middletown Cares Coalition Steering Committee member (CADCA Drug Free Community grantee) and is an alum to Leadership Orange ’14 and the Orange County Women of Achievement.  She received the City of Middletown Recreation Commission 2012 Gold Service Award for her commitment to the City of Middletown.  She has an AA in Anthropology/Business Management from SUNY Orange.

As a board member she is present and offering a voice to efforts that many times are not wanting to be looked at. She believes the face of poverty is vast and diverse and as a citizen of this earth we should be present and accountable in some manner.

An Orange County native, she lives in Middletown with her husband, Rome, and their dogs.  She is blessed to have her parents and sister close by here in the Hudson Valley.  Outside of work she enjoys gardening, time outdoors and spending time with her dogs, husband, family and friends. Her most favorite spot is her own backyard.

 

about Miurka Hidalgo

Miurka is a technical writer and trainer/developer in the pharmaceutical field. She has a BA and Masters in Chemical Engineering and a specialization in biomedical engineering, and has worked for DOW Chemical, DuPont USA and CorePharma.  Most recently she was responsible for training and developing staff to handle pharmaceutical equipment as well writing operational procedures. She is a member of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and serves as a presenter liaison at the national conference that hosts workshops and trainings, job fairs, and presentations for students and professionals.

She is the 1st VP of RECAP’s board of directors and participates annually in the Middletown street cleanups with her kids. She attended City College of New York and is currently completing a Project Management Certification through the Project Management Institute. Miurka is bilingual English/Spanish and brings to the board her experience with community outreach. She worked at Cornell Cooperative Extension as a nutrition educator and focused on nutrition, food budgeting and fast meals for varying households, especially those in shelters and temporary residences.

Miurka enjoys Zumba, Salsa, Tango. She’s an avid reader and loves trips with her kids to the Middletown library, as well as LEGOLAND in Florida. She grew up in Caracas, Venezuela and later moved to New York City.

Her two children are Head Start alumni and are doing well in elementary school. She stresses the importance of the Head Start’s focus on not just academic performance, but on positive emotional and social experiences as well. She believes in RECAP’s mission and the effect of everyone doing a little bit to make the community a better place.

about Patricia Claiborne

Patricia is retired and is the former Executive Director of Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County. She is on the Board of Directors for HONOR, Planned Parenthood of the Mid-Hudson Valley, and the Orange County Human Rights Commission.

She is originally from Virginia and has lived in Ithaca. Pat lives in Middletown and has resided in Orange County for over 40 years. She has a MS in Human Services Studies from Cornell and a BS in Home Economics from Virginia State University. She is a graduate of Leadership Orange.

She has one son and four grandchildren in South Carolina who she visits frequently. She loves antiquing and reading. Her favorite views in the Hudson Valley are from the Glenmere Mansion in Chester and the drive from 17 West when the leaves are changing.

Pat feels it’s her responsibility to give back and help others who are less fortunate, and she finds one of the best avenues for doing so is through membership on the board of directors. She admires the prevention aspects of what RECAP does in the community.

Pat represents Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus on the Board of Directors. She hopes her skills in education, leadership and management will help bring RECAP’s mission to life.

about Michael Sweeton

In addition to being the Town of Warwick’s Supervisor, Michael is a member of the Warwick Rotary, Warwick Historical society, Warwick Chamber of Commerce, and Warwick Valley Local Development Corporation. He has a BS in Chemical Engineering and attended Manhattan College for his MBA in Marketing. Michael believes RECAP’s mission is worthy of continued success and hopes to contribute to leadership skills in executive management and finance.

He enjoys reading, particularly about history, and hopes to resume scuba diving when time permits. He lives in Warwick and is married with two grown daughters. His favorite vacations are to the east coast of Florida and Scotland, and a favorite Hudson Valley destination is the Warwick Valley.

about Horace Belton

Horace is retired from service with the State of New York. He was the Executive Director of the Manhattan Psychiatric Center and the Start Center in Middletown, a residential treatment facility for juvenile and youthful offenders. In the 1970s he helped transform the facility into a treatment center for detoxed heroin-addicted teens.

For over 15 years Horace has been on the Surrogate Decision-Making Committee for the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs where he acts as a surrogate to patients who are unable to make their own invasive medical decisions.

He is one of the founding members of Leadership Orange, and was on the conditional release commission under the auspices of the county probation department. He served on the board of education in Middletown for 5 years and as a trained social worker and psychotherapist he did counseling and psychotherapy for adolescents and adults.

Horace has a Masters in Social Work from Howard University in Washington D.C. He is a former Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps 1954-1957. He received certificates of appreciation from county executives Mary McPhillips, Joseph Rampe and Ed Diana, as well as awards from Congressman Ben Gilman.

Horace describes poverty as not simply not having enough money. Being in a state of poverty leads to a depressed state of mind and plays on your psyche.

Horace and his late wife moved to the Orange County area in 1961 and he has a daughter named Lydia. He likes to “play pirate” on a 45-foot sailing yacht in the Caribbean, in the Hudson River, and out of San Diego in the Pacific. It makes him feel like Balboa. He remembers a favorite view in the Hudson Valley as his “umbrella route,” a section of Route 211 between Middletown and Montgomery shaded by trees that hung over the road.

Horace looks forward to continuing his work with the board and sharing in RECAP’s mission.

About Alyssa Marchinek

Alyssa is a dedicated professional currently serving as a Client Relationship Manager and Full Cycle Recruiter at Here’s Help Staffing and Recruiting. In this role, she excels in sourcing, interviewing, and placing candidates across diverse industries, showcasing a strong understanding of workforce dynamics and the intricacies of talent acquisition. Beyond her professional responsibilities, Alyssa actively engages with the community through various volunteer efforts. She has served as the secretary to the Ambassadors for the Orange County Chamber of Commerce for many years, collaborating closely with the Chamber President and fellow Ambassadors to promote Chamber services and connect members. In addition, Alyssa plays a key role on the Gala planning committee for the Orange County Chamber of Commerce, contributing to event planning and execution along with soliciting sponsorships and silent auction items. A proud graduate of the Leadership Orange Class of 2023, Alyssa collaborated with classmates to plan a 5k race, raising funds for Junior Leadership Orange. Her commitment to community empowerment extends to her role on the marketing committee for Leadership Orange, where she actively promotes and supports the organization’s programs and initiatives. 

Her diverse background includes work as a Neuroscience Researcher, investigating the neurological and behavioral effects of a special diet on diabetes and brain function. Alyssa also possesses years of experience in Retail Area Management, where she excelled in recruitment, operational efficiency, and sales growth. Holding a B.A. in Psychology & Neuroscience from the State University of New York at Albany, Alyssa brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her multifaceted role, leveraging her scientific background and managerial experience in her current position.

about Vincent Crescenzo

Vince retired as a Special Education Teacher from the Orange-Ulster Boces. For 36 years, he worked with children with special needs ranging from elementary through high school age, many within the autism spectrum. He presently serves as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for Orange County Family Court and is serving on the Enlarged City School District of Middletown Board of Education. He served as a regional board member of Citizen Action New York, on the MPO Federal Credit Union Supervisory Board and on the Advisory Board of Morrison Lab School, SUNY Orange. Vince is also a member of Alliance for Quality Education (AQE). He has a M.A. in Special Education from Fairleigh Dickinson University and a NYS Teaching License, Special Education K-12.

In his free time Vince enjoys long distance bicycling. Each June he rides 287 miles over 3 days from Boston to Greenwich, Connecticut, with the Tri-State Trek, to raise money for ALS research. In 2018 the group raised over $750,000!

Vince lives in Middletown with his wife, Lori, and they enjoy spending time with their 4 grandchildren. As a board member he looks forward to contributing leadership experience, teamwork skills, and a compassionate approach to help meet the needs of the vulnerable populations RECAP serves.

about Michelle Rider

Michelle, CPA, ESQ joined Catania, Mahon & Rider, PLLC (CMR) as a partner in 2009. 

She has been on many not for-profit Boards and Committees, to name a few; Girls on the Run Hudson Valley-Co-Founder and former Board Member, Ulster Savings Bank Board of Trustees, and Leadership Orange, Class of 2006. 

She has lived in Newburgh for 17 years. Michelle joined the RECAP Board of Directors in 2020.

about Lydia Karo Terwilliger

Lydia is a Curriculum Coordinator and Parent Liaison at Middletown Day Nursery where she consults with staff and teachers regarding educational programming, special needs, workshops, and more. Until she retired in 2016, Lydia is retired from Orange-Ulster BOCES as a teacher of the blind and visually impaired for 30 years. Her first job was as a Head Start teacher in Harlem. She has experience as an early intervention teacher and worked at the cerebral palsy center as a group leader for 2-year-olds and as a teacher of the visually impaired.

She is a member of the National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation (NOAH), the Association for the Education and Rehabilitation for the Blind/Visually Impaired, AER, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). She has a BA in psychology from Lehman College and a Masters from Hunter College. She has teaching certifications for the blind and visually impaired, as well as pre-k through 6th grade.

She lives in the Town of Blooming Grove, and moved here from the Bronx with her husband in 1978 and raised three children. She enjoys the gym, walking, yoga, reading and travelling. Lydia’s parents were born in Estonia and her most meaningful vacation was a trip there with her adult children to see their roots.

Lydia hopes to focus her skills and time for the community’s families and children who can benefit from RECAP. She brings to the board her experience with Head Start, daycare, teaching children who are blind or visually impaired in the school system, and her own personal experience with poverty.

about Anthony Grice

Born and raised in Newburgh, NY Anthony has been an educator for 24 years. He has worked with the Newburgh Enlarged City School District for most of those years. He worked on notable grants such as Universal Pre-K and Pathways in Technology early college high school (P-TECH). Anthony is also a council member for the City of Newburgh. On the council, he revitalized the transportation advisory committee, got street lights back from Central Hudson, and increased fines for illegal dumping.

Most of the time you can find Anthony at most community service or volunteer type events. That is where his true passion lies.

about John Cappello

Mr. Cappello is a partner primarily practicing Land Use/Environmental and Municipal Law. He has represented private developers in multi-phase and large-scale commercial, residential, educational and mixed-use land use applications. He has also served as attorney for planning boards and zoning boards of appeals throughout Orange and Ulster Counties.

John is the lead partner in Jacobowitz and Gubits’ “Green Team,” which focuses on advising a wide array of clients (municipalities, developers, manufacturers and businesses both small and large) on the opportunities available in this emerging field of law. Mr. Cappello has presented programs in the Hudson Valley focused on steps local governments can take to encourage “green development” and create “green jobs.” John has also made a number of presentations on zoning and land use issues throughout the state, focusing on providing workforce housing, encouraging transportation oriented development, overcoming obstacles in the land use approval process, and the impacts of the Landmaster v. Town of Montgomery Appellate Court exclusionary zoning decision successfully litigated by Jacobowitz and Gubits on land use practice in New York State.

John is President of RECAP’s Board of Directors and is active in several other charitable and civic organizations. He is Trustee for the Josephine Louise Public Library. John also has served as vice-president of Mid-Hudson Habitat for Humanity and is a member of the Walden Rotary Club Training Program. He also completed a marathon for the Leukemia Society Team and is on the Sustainable Montgomery Committee of the Wallkill River School covering the communities of Walden, Maybrook and Montgomery, New York. John also serves on the Orange County Citizens Foundation Land Use Committee and the Pattern for Progress Affordable Housing Committee. He is a graduate of Golden Gate University School of Law (JD) and SUNY Buffalo (BA).