FOCUS Greater Syracuse, Inc. – FOCUS Facilitates, Educates, and Celebrates Civic Engagement!

June 1, 2026

Apply Today!

Citizens Academy is an 11-week, in-person program that brings everyday people into the same room with the local officials, leaders, and experts who make decisions that affect your life every day! You hear from them directly. You ask the questions. You leave knowing how to show up for your community!

Civic engagement starts smaller than most people think. It looks like recycling. It looks like reading a headline and actually knowing the backstory. It looks like knowing exactly who to call when your street hasn’t been plowed or something in your neighborhood doesn’t feel right.

Citizens Academy isn’t a spectator sport! For 21 years and across 700+ graduates, it has been turning everyday curiosity into real civic action! You don’t have to run for office. You don’t need any prior experience. You just have to show up for your community!

Spots are limited to 35 participants per season and demand is high. Submitting an application does not guarantee participation. Apply today and let us know why Citizens Academy is right for you!

FOCUS Forums

Water Conservation: Understanding & Protecting Our Watersheds

April 17, 2026

Join FOCUS for a hybrid public forum where local experts will explore water conservation, watershed health, and the shared environmental responsibility of protecting CNY’s most essential natural resource. Panelists will provide an overview of watershed ecology, conservation strategies, and environmental stewardship efforts across Onondaga County, drawing on their professional roles and direct experience in conservation science, environmental education, and land and water stewardship. The Forum will emphasize practical civic participation, including understanding how land use affects water quality, supporting local conservation programs, and connecting with the organizations working every day to preserve and protect the region’s watersheds.

FOCUS Forums

Transportation: Getting From Here To There

April 7, 2026

Join FOCUS for a hybrid public forum where panelists will explore the future of transportation in CNY and the shared responsibility of building a connected, accessible, and sustainable network. Panelists will provide an overview of transportation planning, infrastructure investment, and mobility initiatives, drawing on their professional roles and direct experience managing, developing, and improving local transit and transportation systems. The conversation will highlight public agencies and planning organizations, and the ways residents can stay informed and engaged in shaping how our region moves.

FOCUS Forums

Food & Health Systems: Access, Policy, and Civic Engagement

April 6, 2026

Join FOCUS for a hybrid public forum examining the intersection of food insecurity, health care, and community advocacy, and how these systems work together to shape community health and well-being in Central New York. Panelists will share perspectives from the Food Bank of Central New York and the health care sector, offering insight into the role of food access in overall health, the work of the Food Bank to support individuals and families across the region, and the ways policy, systems, and advocacy influence both food security and health outcomes. The discussion will highlight how civic engagement pathways, such as advocacy, community involvement, and public participation, support solutions that strengthen access to food and health-related resources.

FOCUS Forums

April 6, 2026

FOCUS Greater Syracuse, Inc. hosts monthly public forums that are free to attend and aim to gather a group of experts to discuss a specific topic, project, or initiative that is significant to the CNY community. During these forums, attendees have the opportunity to pose questions to the panel and engage in constructive conversations with fellow engaged community members.

FOCUS Forums

Literacy Skills: Perspectives on Reading and Digital Fluency

April 5, 2026

Recording Now Available!

FOCUS hosted a hybrid public forum exploring literacy and digital literacy and their impact on education, employment, and civic engagement across Central New York. Panelists discussed the science of reading, adult education, workforce readiness, and the growing importance of digital skills in everyday life while highlighting local efforts to support learners of all ages.

DO NOT USE

Meet Your Match: Board Recruitment Night

April 1, 2026

The Gifford Foundation, in partnership with FOCUS Greater Syracuse, Inc., and Leadership Greater Syracuse hosted our Spring 2026 Board Recruitment Night! Meet Your Match provided an opportunity for local nonprofit organizations and community-minded people to connect, explore shared interests, and discover meaningful ways to work together!

FOCUS Forums

Childcare Access: Supporting Family Wellbeing

March 26, 2026

Recording Now Available!

FOCUS hosted a hybrid public forum where panelists explored what it takes to ensure young children in our community are healthy, supported, and ready to thrive! Panelists from the Early Childhood Alliance of Onondaga, which works to build a coordinated system of early childhood supports across Onondaga County, and Child Care Solutions, a local nonprofit that helps families find quality care and connects them to financial assistance and other resources, shared what they see working with local families every day, what resources are available, and what still needs to change.