Mitchell Tarnopal is a former equal employment investigator and trainer
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace announced today a first-of-its-kind initiative within her office to build partnerships with community stakeholders in furtherance of rooting out hate and bias in Westchester County.
The Hate Crimes Advisory Board is composed of 13 members who will meet quarterly with DA Cacace and members of the Hate Crimes Unit to bring to their attention concerns from their respective constituencies. This direct feedback will allow the office to more closely monitor trends in the spread of hate-fueled incidents, both criminal and non-criminal, in Westchester.
Members of the Board do not receive compensation and volunteer their time and expertise for the benefit of the office. The inaugural meeting of the Board was Monday, Sept. 29, 2025.
DA Cacace said: “Building an advisory board solely devoted to eradicating hate was a promise I made to Westchester residents on the campaign trail, and yesterday’s meeting is the realization of that promise.
“The surge in hateful incidents over the past several years has alarmed all of us in this county, but it has especially concerned those who bear a disproportionate share of the hate dispensed by violent offenders.
“The communities represented on this board are broad and diverse, and board members will be able to provide me with direct input from their constituents so that my office may more readily address their concerns.
“I am grateful to the members who have volunteered their time to help make Westchester a safer place for all of its residents, and I look forward to getting this necessary work done.”
BOARD MEMBERS
Michael Sabatino has been a resident of Yonkers for the last four decades. Having previously served as a councilman, he is now director of the city’s Human Rights Office. Michael is also a member of the Westchester County LGBTQ Advisory Board and the Governor’s Hate and Bias Council. Michael is a longtime advocate for human rights and LGBTQ rights. He and his husband Robert Voorheis were litigants in a marriage equality case that helped bring LGBTQ marriage recognition to New York.
Maureen “Moe” Blackmore has spent over two decades working in camps, classrooms and communities alongside people with disabilities, first-generation youth and folks who often get left out of the story. She currently serves as director of Respite Programs at Wagon Road Camp, where she focuses on creating spaces where young people with disabilities feel safe, seen and free to grow. Maureen lives in Pleasantville with her wife, Emily, a teaching artist.
Awilda Alvarado is a lifelong resident of Westchester County. In 2024, she retired after over 35 years as a Spanish-speaking probation officer in Westchester County. Currently, she is a deputy communications director within the District Attorney’s Office. Awilda is a dedicated resident in the Town of Greenburgh, where she is active in the community. She serves on the executive board of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Pi Iota Omega Chapter, the Westchester Rockland Guardians Association, the African American Heritage Festival Celebration Coalition and the National Pan Hellenic Council.
Luis Armando Muniz Jr. is a lifelong resident of Yonkers and a former member of the White Plains Police Department, where he retired at the rank of sergeant. Luis is currently president of the Yonkers Hispanic Cultural Foundation. He is one the founding fathers of the Westchester Hispanic Law Enforcement Association and also served as chairman for Yonkers Mayor’s Hispanic Advisory Board under Mayors Spencer, Amicone and Spano. Luis also served on the Westchester County Hispanic Advisory Board under County Executives Andy Spano, Robert Astorino, George Latimer and Ken Jenkins. He was also a responder to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Hon. Justin Brasch has lived in White Plains with his wife and three children since 2003. He is currently a city council member, serving on the Budget Management and Advisory Committee. He has over 30 years of public service experience, beginning at the age of 17. He is a former member of the White Plains Planning Board and served for over 10 years on the Westchester County Legislature’s Citizens Budget Advisory Committee. Justin is a former member of the Executive Committee of the New York State Democratic Party and has served in numerous leadership positions as a volunteer for a variety of organizations, including the Sierra Club and the NAACP. He is a member of the Hebrew Institute of White Plains and the Young Israel of White Plains.
Zead Ramadan is a longtime Westchester resident and civil rights advocate. He is the founding chair of the Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center, an important venue for conversations and exhibitions on the history of human and civil rights in the United States. He was also a longtime chair and board member of CAIR-NY (Council on American Islamic Relations-NY), advocating for victims of discrimination and violence and for the fair treatment of all communities and peoples, no matter their faith. He is the Hudson Valley Islamic Community Center public relations trustee and representative member of the Peekskill Area Pastor Association (PAPA), Yorktown Heights Clergy Association, Muslim American Civil Liberties Coalition and NYC Muslim Leaders Coalition.
Talia Pierson is in her senior year at Yorktown High School. She is a leader of multiple clubs, organizations and initiatives in her school and community. This year, she started a nonprofit, Lights of Tomorrow, which is dedicated to building community among Jewish youth and their allies and to combating antisemitism. She has written articles and has been a speaker at events throughout Westchester concerning issues related to antisemitism, Holocaust remembrance and the Oct. 7 massacre.
Mayo Bartlett is the principal attorney at the Law Offices of Mayo Bartlett, PLLC. He worked for the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office for more than 10 years, serving as chief of the Hate Crimes Unit. Mayo has served as an adjunct professor of law at Pace Law School, and he was an active member of the New York State Hate Crimes Coalition in support of passage of the Hate Crime Act of 2000, the first comprehensive hate crime legislation in New York State. He is a former vice president and director of the Westchester County Bar Association, where he served as co-chair of the Criminal Justice Section, as a member of the Judiciary Committee and as a delegate to the New York State Bar Association. Mayo is a former director of the Westchester County Black Bar Association and former chair of the Westchester County Human Rights Commission. Mayo was selected as a Super Lawyer, as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers and as a member of the Westchester Power 50 by City and State.
Joanne Dunn is a passionate advocate for criminal justice reform. She serves as executive director of the Youth Shelter Program of Westchester, which provides community-based diversion services and a residential facility for youth aged 16 to 25 who are awaiting disposition or who have been sentenced for various criminal convictions. Through innovative and compassionate strategies, Joanne is committed to reducing recidivism and offering justice-involved individuals a pathway to a brighter future. Beyond her professional responsibilities, Joanne is deeply engaged in her community, contributing her expertise to several local initiatives that promote equity and social progress. Her work has been widely recognized. She has received numerous awards for her leadership and service, including the 2024 President’s Award from the Westchester Black Bar Association.
Harry Singh is a licensed real estate broker with over 30 years of international real estate experience and is originally from New Delhi, India. Harry has been honored and awarded for his community involvement and philanthropy, receiving awards from various organizations such as The Universal Peace Federation, Westchester County, the City of Yonkers and the Indian American Council of Westchester. He currently sits on the Westchester County Human Rights Commission and the Fair Housing Board.
Mitchell Tarnopal grew up in a predominantly Jewish community and spent 15 years as an equal employment investigator and trainer where he realized that bias and hate are spurred by a lack of knowledge. The best way to change that, he learned, is through education and awareness. Mitchell fought for women’s rights and civil rights in the late 60s and early 70s and, almost 50 years later, for LGBTQ rights. Mitchell strongly believes that we have a moral responsibility to stand up for others.
Manuel Mercader is a litigator and transactional attorney. He started his career in the litigation department of some of New York City’s largest law firms but now focuses his practice in both residential and commercial real estate transactions. He has been designated as a preferred attorney concerning representation on development projects as well as for various brokerage houses and particular brokers throughout Manhattan and other areas in and around New York City including Long Island and Westchester.
John Khader is a lifelong resident of Yonkers. In 1988, he started his own limousine company, Top Class Limousine, located on Ashburton Ave. in Yonkers. He is the president and founder of Mediterranean People and Communities (MPAC), a coalition of Westchester County citizens who advocate for social justice, equality and accountability for a large number of individuals who feel both disenfranchised and unaware of the governmental, economic and social systems that affect their lives.