October 8, 2025 Submitted by Stephen Leary- Chair, Hingham Human Rights Commission
Three years ago, the Town of Hingham established the Human Rights Commission. In June 2022, town leaders created this body to ensure that every person in our community can enjoy the full rights and privileges guaranteed by the Constitution and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
As we announce our newest appointments and look back on our growing impact, I want to share what we’ve accomplished and where we’re headed.
Our latest appointments bring together voices from across the community. David Alschuler joins as the Council on Aging representative, while Michelle Ayer steps in as an at-large member. Nes Correnti represents the Affordable Housing Trust, and Hingham High School Junior Graeme Baker ensures that our youngest citizens have a seat at the table.
These newcomers join our returning commissioners, including myself as Chair representing the Recreation Commission, Vice Chair Tim Miller-Dempsey from the School Committee, Police Lieutenant John Marquardt as the town’s Civil Rights Officer, Housing Authority representative Ruth Bennett, Disabilities Commission representative Stephanie Gertz, and at-large members Ardith Wieworka, John Bradley, Kelly Peguero Alessi, and Mikie Tesler
But what does a Human Rights Commission actually do? For Hingham residents, the answer became clear last June when over 110 people packed into our “Know Your Rights” forum, both in-person and online. We co-sponsored this event with Hingham Unity Council, the Select Board, and Town Administration. Hingham Police Chief David Jones, an immigration attorney, and a constitutional rights lawyer made presentations and answered questions. Residents got real answers about their rights and protections.
Our work extends beyond formal presentations. We’ve become part of Hingham’s community life in both symbolic and practical ways. Working with local partners, we helped with the Menorah lighting during Hanukkah, acknowledging our town’s religious diversity. We tackled the complex task of historical recognition, working with the Historical Society and the Neponset Band of the Massachusett Tribe to write a land acknowledgment that recognizes the Indigenous peoples who first called this land home. The Commission supported efforts to remove restrictions on accessory dwelling units (ADUs), which could open up more affordable housing options. We developed a health resource list for residents and helped the Select Board draft official statements recognizing Black History Month.
What I see from our three-year journey is democracy in action. We meet monthly (taking breaks only in December and July), maintain our own webpage on the Town of Hingham website, and continue to evolve to respond to not only specific events and incidents, but to larger community needs. As our mission statement says, we advise the Hingham Select Board on how to ensure the town of Hingham supports diversity and equity while fostering inclusion and belonging for every member of the community. We are doing the work of proactively making sure that Hingham continues to be a place where all community members have a voice and can participate fully in our Hingham’s civil life with dignity and respect.
We also want to express our appreciation and acknowledge the contributions of former members like Sara Smithson, Reena Patel, Christine Griffin, Vice Chair Tien Do-Suarez and student representative Akaashi Shetty, who wrote her own Black History Month statement during her time with us.
With our new and returning members and a slate of new projects and initiatives, we look forward to getting back to work this year at our next meeting, open to the public, on October 20 at Town Hall.
The Hingham Human Rights Commission meets monthly except in December and July. More information is available on the Town of Hingham website.