Thank you to the incredible sponsor helping to keep the December FOCUS Forum free for our community!
Date: Friday, December 18, 2026 | Time: 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. (Doors Open at 11:45 a.m.)
Registration & Location: In-Person & Zoom. Registration: Free and Open to Everyone.
This FOCUS Forum will be held in-person at One Group, with the option of virtual participation via Zoom.
Registration is required to attend in person. One Group Insurance: 706 N Clinton St, Syracuse, NY 13204
FOCUS Forums are always free and open to everyone, because we believe civic conversations shouldn’t come with a price tag! Forums like this are made possible by generous sponsors and community donors. If you’d like to be a part of that, a gift of $10 helps us keep the doors open! Make your optional $10 donation today!
Topic: 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. After presentations from our panel, the conversation moves to a moderated Q&A, giving attendees the opportunity to ask questions and discover ways to engage with local priorities and initiatives. This is a welcoming, respectful space for community members to learn, engage, and explore ways to be actively involved in shaping the civic life of Central New York.
Language Access: FOCUS Forums are presented in English. Zoom provides optional, automated live captions and translation features that participants may choose to enable. These tools are generated by Zoom and are not professionally interpreted.
How We Built This Conversation: The topic of “poverty” was requested by a community member. This forum was shaped and informed by data from the CNY Vitals Life Needs Assessment, which tracks the issues impacting Central New York most. Have a topic you’d like to see at a future FOCUS Forum? Suggest a topic or panelist here.
Agenda:
11:45 – Doors Open
12:00 – Welcome
12:05 – Panelist Presentations (#3 panelists, 8 minutes each)
12:30 – Moderated Q&A
12:55 – Closing Remarks
Panelists:
Bill Brower, Director of Public Policy & Community Impact, MACNY- The Manufacturers Association
Kenda Carfagno, Financial Wellness Officer, Visions Federal Credit Union
To Be Determined, Representative, Syracuse Financial Empowerment Center
Syracuse Financial Empowerment Center, United Way of Central New York