MORGANTOWN – In 2016, the Morgantown Human Rights Commission began observing the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by recognizing one individual and one organization upholding its goals and ideals here in Morgantown.
On Sunday, Dec. 7, the commission will celebrate its 2025 honorees – Natalie J. Sal and the Appalachian Prison Book Project – with a ceremony and reception at the Aull Center (351 Spruce St.).
The free event will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. The community is encouraged to attend.
Natalie J. Sal
Born and raised in Morgantown, Sal graduated from the WVU College of Law in 1994 and has dedicated the last 31 years to serving the legal needs of some of the most vulnerable members of the community.
Sal began practicing child welfare law in 1997. Since then, she has served as an advocate in more than 300 child welfare cases, representing hundreds of abused and neglected children as their Guardian ad Litem, and working with dozens of indigent parents in need of assistance.
A recipient of the WVU College of Law Distinguished Women in Private Practice Award and the West Virginia State Bar’s More than a Lawyer recognition, Sal has received numerous awards and commendations for pro bono efforts on behalf of the state’s children and impoverished.
Sal regularly presents on child welfare law as part of continuing education for lawyers and social workers. Her expertise has been called upon by the West Virginia Court Improvement Program Oversight Board as well as the West Virginia Citizen Review Panel. She has served as a member of the Federal Criminal Justice Act Panel for the Northern District of West Virginia since 1999 and lectures on courtroom testimony in the WVU Forensics Department.
Outside of her legal endeavors, Sal has spent the last 19 years on the Christian Help Board of Directors and also currently sits on the board of directors of Libera, a nonprofit providing resources to children transitioning from foster care to adulthood. Her volunteer efforts extend to West Virginia Public Broadcasting, through which she’s spent 17 years fundraising and providing educational outreach for children.
Appalachian Prison Book Project
The Appalachian Prison Book Project is a volunteer nonprofit that mails free books to the imprisoned across six states as well as championing prison book clubs, supporting college education in prisons and pushing public conversation about restorative and transformative justice.
APBP grew out of a graduate class taught by WVU English Professor Katy Ryan in 2004. Since then, the nonprofit has mailed more than 75,000 books to imprisoned people.
Working out of the Aull Center, the organization brings together community and university members who respond to letters from prisoners looking for books to read. Hundreds of Morgantown residents have served as volunteers over the years, including students, teachers, attorneys, librarians, activists, artists, business leaders and retirees.
The goal of the project is to provide a concrete way to become involved in creating meaningful change and building a community rooted in the power of reading.
APBP has partnered locally with Ascend WV, Rotary Club of Morgantown, the First Presbyterian Church.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on Dec. 10, 1948, acknowledging the inalienable rights held by every human, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, language, political opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
Morgantown City Council reaffirmed its dedication to “Liberty and Justice for All” in recognition of the anniversary with a proclamation during its Dec. 2 regular meeting.
Human Rights Commission Chair Annie Cronan Yorick said she’s hopeful the community will turn out Sunday in support of the Declaration and this year’s honorees, noting the event has been brought together with the assistance of volunteers Mimi Ferguson and Jackson Bragg as well as the kindness of Manny Doty and the Chestnut Ridge Starbucks, Tina Huggins of Champion Trophies, Aull Center Manager Mike McClung, musicians Abigail Fabian and Ryu Wada, and the city of Morgantown.
“This has been a community effort. It’s not just a Human Rights Commission thing. It’s not a city council thing. All these other people have jumped in to volunteer and help out, and that’s important,” Cronan Yorick said. “This is really a community event. We’d like the community to share in it and honor the people who are here to help.”
The Morgantown Human Rights Commission currently has multiple volunteer positions open. Morgantown residents wishing to participate can apply through the city’s website, morgantownwv.gov.
Past Human Rights Day honorees
2016 – Evan Hansen; PSALM Program at St. Francis School
2017 – Charlene Marshall; Community Coalition for Social Justice
2018 – Barbara Evans Fleischauer; Greater Morgantown League of Women Voters
2019 – Danielle Walker; West Virginia Innocence Project
2020 – Mavis Grant-Lilley; First Presbyterian Church
2021 – Bob Pirner; Milan Puskar Health Right
2022 – Ixya Vega; Hollar Health Justice
2023 – Amanda Ray; West Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness
2024 – Eve Faulkes; Morgantown Area Youth Services Project
