Rockland County Honors Human Rights Activist

From Rockland County: Wilbur Aldridge, a stalwart of human and civil rights for more than four decades, was honored for his many contributions Tuesday during a ceremony overseen by Rockland County Legislature Chairman Toney L. Earl.

Aldridge is retiring from the Rockland County Rent Guidelines Board where he has served since 1974 – that’s 43 years of volunteer service! The Rent Guidelines Board works to make sure that rent is set at a rate that is fair and just.

“This devotion to the Rent Guidelines Board only highlights the kind of dedication that Wilbur has come to be known for,” Chairman Earl said. “From this board to his service with the NAACP, and everything in between, Wilbur has shown himself to be a role model for us all.”

From his earliest days, Aldridge has fought to improve the lives of people, fighting segregation in Greensboro, North Carolina, where he participated in sit-ins at lunch counters that were designated for “whites only.”

His fight for justice continued after his arrival in Rockland, where he quickly built a life of service to others through his tremendous volunteerism.

Aldridge earned an associate’s degree from Rockland Community College in 1971 and during his time at the college, was founder and president of the Diversity Human Service Organization. He later helped to found RCC’s Alumni Association and served as its president for 14 years. He served as an RCC trustee from 2001-2003.

Aldridge continued to pursue his education and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1973 from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

He spent 25 years at Letchworth Village Developmental Center as associate personnel director and assistant to the facility’s director, and later moved on to the Mid-Hudson Psychiatric Center as director of multicultural affairs and affirmative action administrator. He later served in the same position at Rockland Psychiatric Center, overseeing all aspects of multiculturalism, diversity training and affirmative action for 1,600 employees and 700 patients, until his retirement in 1994.

Aldridge has also served on the Town of Haverstraw Zoning Board. He was board president of Head Start of Rockland and has served as board president and founder of Rockland Big Brothers Big Sisters.

He is well-known for his work with the NAACP and currently serves as Regional Director of the NAACP for Mid-Hudson/Westchester. He is an active member of Calvary Baptist Church and lives in West Haverstraw with his wife, Margaret. They are parents of two and grandparents of two.

Image Courtesy of Rockland Co.