A Message from the President of HCHR
Dear friends, as I begin this new chapter with Health Care is a Human Right, I do so with deep appreciation for the community of people who make this organization’s work possible. HCHR has been an important part of my life for many years, and I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself more fully and share a little about the path that brought me here.
As a longtime member of Health Care is a Human Right, and lifelong Hudson Valley resident whose life has been shaped by family, community, public service, and healing, I hold the titles of Reiki Master and Certified Hypnotist. I was born in Kingston and raised in Woodstock, where I grew up with a deep sense of place and belonging. My family story carries both immigrant courage and local roots: my Italian great-grandparents came to the United States 111 years ago, while my father’s Reynolds line reaches back centuries in Woodstock.
That blend of heritage, steadiness, and care for others has guided me throughout my life. I graduated from SUNY Brockport with a Bachelor of Arts degree and began my professional path as a journalist, work that strengthened my ability to listen closely, ask questions, and tell people’s stories with clarity and respect. I later brought those skills into public policy and communications, serving in various branches of New York State government.
My commitment to community also led me to elected service on the Kingston Common Council. There, I continued the work of listening, communicating, and helping neighbors navigate the public issues that affect daily life in the city where I was born.
For the past 11 years, I have been part of Health Care is a Human Right, an organization whose mission closely reflects my belief in compassionate, accessible, whole-person care. I believe HCHR plays a critical role in the health and wellness of the people who live and work in Ulster County. The services we provide are free of charge, which is incredibly important in a world where the price of everything seems to go ever upward. I have served on the board for two years, supporting HCHR’s work to bring holistic wellness education and care to people throughout the Mid-Hudson Valley.
Across my life and work, I have moved naturally between storytelling, public service, and healing. Whether as a journalist, public policy professional, local elected official, Reiki practitioner, hypnotist, board member, husband to Mila, or father to Sean, I have remained grounded in service, connection, and care for the community I call home.
I believe in open door representation. As such, if you have any questions or wish to speak your mind about HCHR’s mission, or anything else, please feel free to reach out. I can be reached at breynolds@hchrny.org or (845) 481-0260.