In the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ambassador Hugues Sanon wanted to get out of New York City.

He stumbled upon Jamestown and decided to make this place his home.

Motivational speaker, public advocate, lecturer and Goodwill Ambassador, Sanon is the Special Envoy/International Relations to the United Nations for the Council for Justice, Equality and Peace. He is also the International Ambassador for the Foundation for a Drug Free World, a nonprofit public benefit corporation that empowers youth and adults.

Originally from Haiti, Sanon moved to the United States in 1998 and lived mostly in New York City and New Jersey.

He had worked in radio and television in his home country and used that popularity to promote peace and humanitarian work.

His compassion and desire for human rights is personal. His two older brothers were killed in Haiti.

Sanon notes how Haiti is filled with poverty, gangs and drugs.

“Because the country is poor, kids did not have a chance to go to school, that’s why they get involved in gangs,” he said.

He later helped advocate for peace in the Dominican Republic and countries in Africa.

Eventually he was contacted by the United Nations where they asked him to be involved in humanitarian work.

With its headquarters in New York City, Sanon lived in a number of places in the city and New Jersey.

When the COVID-19 pandemic began, Sanon decided he wanted to get out of that urban area.

“I did not have to go to my office in New York. I didn’t have to go to the in-person meetings, so that’s when I was looking for maybe a quiet place to be, because we didn’t know if that issue would be solved in the community,” he said.

A friend referred him to Buffalo and while there he began looking elsewhere and discovered Jamestown.

Sanon and his family decided to relocate to Jamestown and purchased a house.

After the pandemic was over, Sanon decided to stay.

“I like Jamestown even though there are so many issues. It’s a small town. I’ve traveled to big states and to many different countries like Guatemala, Nicaragua, to El Salvador, Dominican Republic, and I’m from Haiti, so I know what a violation of human rights is,” he said.

Sanon notes how he feels safe in Jamestown.

“Sometimes in New Jersey you cannot walk at midnight or one o’clock in the morning. In Jamestown, one o’clock, two o’clock I can sit on my porch, seeing people passing by,” he said.

And because he’s making Jamestown his home, Sanon is doing his part to improve the community.

He’s met with a number of local political leaders, including County Executive PJ Wendel, Jamestown Mayor Kim Ecklund, state Sen. George Borrello, Sheriff Jim Quattrone and more. His advice ranges from cleaning up communities, getting faith-based leaders involved, to doing more to prevent crimes, instead of focusing only on punishing criminals.

And Sanlon’s work as an ambassador continues to grow.

Sanon describes himself as a “bridge builder,” bringing together different heads of state, advocating for peace.

Today he is a part of 10 different humanitarian organizations and travels around the globe, meeting with world leaders.

But he still enjoys his time locally.

“I think Jamestown is a good place. Chautauqua County is a good place. You’re between Niagara Falls, Lake Erie and you’ve got Chautauqua Lake. I think it’s a nice town, and I enjoy it,” Sanlon said.