In recognition of Black History Month, New York State Senator Pete Harckham honored five residents from the 40th Senate District—Amanda Armenteros, Selamawit “Mimi” Wieland-Tesfaye, Derek Wright, and Cole and Faith Rivers—for their dedication, compassion, and leadership in strengthening their communities and uplifting Black voices.
“Black history is American history,” said Harckham. “The struggles and successes of Black Americans are integral to our nation’s story. Every February, we remember this legacy and draw inspiration from it. As the new federal administration seeks to force us to forget our history, it is more important than ever that we tell these stories and celebrate our heroes.”
The commemorative ceremony was originally scheduled for Sunday, February 22, but was postponed due to a blizzard and rescheduled to Monday, March 2 at the John C. Hart Memorial Library in Yorktown. The event featured the presentation of official New York State Senate proclamations. Harckham was joined by Yorktown Town Supervisor Ed Lachterman, as well as the honorees’ friends and families. The ceremony aired live on Facebook; click here to see a video of the event.
“It was an honor for us to host Senator Harckham and this year’s Black History Month Awards Ceremony,” said Lachterman. “These awards reflect the recognition of individuals whose work strengthens our region in meaningful and lasting ways. Senator Harckham’s commitment to celebrating local leaders ensures that Black History Month is not just about recognizing our past but also those making a difference today.”
Amanda Armenteros is the Farm Steward and Manager at Peekskill Regeneration Farm, where she connects residents to the land through sustainable farming education, community meals, and the distribution of free organic produce to local families.
Alongside her agricultural work, she is a professional dancer and instructor who has performed with groups including Soul Dance Company, Djoniba, Mfouambila, and the all-female EVA Dance Company in Saigon, Vietnam. Passionate about mentoring youth, Amanda shares her expertise through multicultural dance programs that foster creativity, engagement, and community connection.
“Thank you, Senator Harckham, for honoring me as a Black leader in the Peekskill community,” said Amanda. “I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to steward the Peekskill Regeneration Farm, a space rooted in healing, nourishment, and collective care. Through growing and distributing free food, collaborating with local 501(c)(3) partners such as Just The Place Dance School and the City of Peekskill Senior Nutrition Center, we continue building pathways for community connection, culture, and shared abundance.”
Local restaurateur Mimi Wieland-Tesfaye grew up in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and immigrated to the United States at age sixteen. After 15 years working in the local restaurant industry, she founded Lalibela in Mount Kisco in 2010—the first Ethiopian restaurant in Westchester County. In 2019, she opened Mimi’s Coffee House next door, which has since become a beloved community gathering space and was featured in Westchester Magazine’s Best of Westchester guide in 2024.
Dedicated to giving back, Mimi supports the Mount Kisco Interfaith Food Pantry and local childcare fundraisers, while uplifting women-owned businesses and showcasing local artists in her café.
“Owning a coffee shop has been my dream for a long time,” said Wieland-Tesfaye. “I am grateful and honored to do the work that I do, and I truly appreciate this award.”
Former New York Police Department detective Derek Wright retired after a distinguished 20-year career that included extensive undercover work and the investigation of major crimes, including homicide.
In 2006, he founded Wright Choice Investigations and later co-founded LEVERAGE, mentoring more than 2,500 youth through safety training programs. Wright has also been an advocate for police accountability and reform, authoring the legislation that created Peekskill’s Civilian Complaint Review Board in 2022 and serving on key policy committees.
A screenwriting certificate graduate of New York University, Wright has drawn on his law enforcement experience to create acclaimed creative works, including the award-winning short film When the Dust Settles and his off-Broadway debut In Equal Measure at the Spark Theater Festival.
“Thank you, Senator Harckham, for recognizing me with this esteemed honor,” said Wright. “After twenty years in law enforcement, I experienced two of the biggest changes of my life: co-founding LEVERAGE alongside one of my best friends, Vincent Beckles, and marrying my wife Sharon, who owns and operates one of the few Black-owned, not-for-profit dance schools in our region. One of our strongest bonds is our commitment to advocacy and ensuring that we give back to underprivileged neighborhoods like the ones we grew up in. I proudly accept this honor on behalf of myself, my wife, and my best friend in heaven, Vincent Beckles.”
Married couple Cole and Faith Rivers took over ownership of the popular Croton-on-Hudson coffee shop The Black Cow in 2023, after the original owners retired. The two first met there as employees in 2011.
Cole steadily worked his way up through the company, eventually becoming chief roaster, while Faith pursued a degree in journalism before beginning a career in business management, marketing, and brand development.
Today, the couple run the establishment together, with Cole continuing as chief roaster while Faith oversees the financial and operational aspects of the business. Under their leadership, the beloved community hub has flourished—earning a Best of Westchester nod in 2025—while hosting open mic nights, knitting clubs, holiday markets, and other community events.
Dedicated to supporting their community, Cole and Faith have raised funds for the Croton-Cortlandt Food Pantry and regularly showcase small businesses, artists, and authors. They are also passionate about creating an inclusive space for dialogue, hosting themed open mic nights for Pride Month and Black History Month, coordinating events with the LOFT LGBTQ+ Community Center, and launching a banned book discussion group.
“We appreciate this award so much and thank Senator Harckham,” said Faith Rivers. “We believe a coffee shop is more than just a place to grab a drink. It can be where neighbors meet for the first time, where ideas spark, where hard conversations happen and where people can feel like they belong. This recognition is not just ours—it belongs to our staff, who show up every day with heart; to our customers, who choose to gather in our space; and to the Croton-on-Hudson community that continues to support local businesses and one another. We are grateful to carry a 30-year legacy forward and keep the doors open for connection.”
In addition to the proclamations presented to the honorees, Senator Harckham also awarded New York State Senate Empire Awards to Mimi’s Coffee House and The Black Cow. The awards recognize businesses that make outstanding contributions to the growth, prosperity, and well-being of their communities.
Black History Month, observed each February since 1976, celebrates the enduring contributions of Black Americans to the history, culture, and progress of the United States.
