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Wisdom Keeper is FOCUS’ signature annual fundraiser. Each year, FOCUS celebrates the impact of a growing list of Wisdom Keepers!
These inspiring community members demonstrate exceptional leadership, continual caring, and understanding of the importance of vision for the future of Central New York!
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Optional, Free Guided Tour Available!
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.
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The October FOCUS Forum is the first in a three-part fall series on Economic Instability in Onondaga County. Participants do not need to commit to all three. Join FOCUS for a hybrid public forum where local leaders will explore the structural and historical conditions that have shaped financial hardship in Onondaga County, and what the data tells us about where we stand today. This discussion is informed by local history, regional research, and the economic forces that have shaped our communities over time. Panelists will provide an overview of the historical arc that brought us to the current moment and a grounded look at what the data reveals about financial instability across our region.
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The November FOCUS Forum is the second in a three-part fall series on Economic Instability in Onondaga County. Join FOCUS for a hybrid public forum to explore the lived realities of local financial hardship, the intersecting barriers, and the resilience, resourcefulness, and work happening in CNY! Panelists will provide an honest look at what barriers people face, where systems fall short, and where bridges are being built. The conversation will highlight ways residents can better understand, support, and connect with local efforts.
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The December FOCUS Forum is the third in a three-part fall series on Economic Instability in Onondaga County. Participants do not need to be present at all three to enjoy the conversation. Join FOCUS for a hybrid public forum where local leaders will connect residents with the programs, resources already available in Onondaga County, and open a conversation about how all of us can continue to drive meaningful change! This discussion is informed by the work of local organizations on the front lines of financial empowerment, workforce development, and community economic change. Panelists will provide a practical look at the tools and resources available to residents, drawing on their professional roles and direct experience delivering programs, building financial capability, and creating pathways toward economic stability in Central New York. The conversation will highlight what is working locally and how residents can get connected, get involved, and become part of the solution.
Recording Now Available!
FOCUS hosted a hybrid public forum on the future of transportation in Central New York, featuring leaders from three of the organizations most responsible for planning, building, and operating the region’s transportation system. Panelists from the Syracuse Metropolitan Transportation Council, the NYS Department of Transportation, and Centro explored the full scope of the I-81 Viaduct project, Centro’s first complete system redesign in over 20 years, the arrival of Bus Rapid Transit in 2028, and what Micron’s growth means for how people move around Onondaga County. The conversation connected transportation directly to equity, aging, economic development, and the choices the community makes now about how, and where to grow.