Category: FOCUS Forums

Join FOCUS for a hybrid public forum where local health providers and community partners will explore the realities facing individuals and families without health coverage. The discussion will explore how being uninsured affects overall wellbeing and stability, shaping access to physical and mental health care, employment security, family stability, and vulnerability to addiction. Panelists will provide an overview of the the issue and challenges increasing the numbers of uninsured. The discussion will emphasize holistic approaches to connecting the uninsured with community services.

FOCUS Forums

Language Services: Responding to Diverse Community Needs

January 30, 2026

Recording Now Available!

FOCUS held a hybrid public forum centered on language services that help meet the needs of our region’s diverse community. Panelists shared perspectives on current challenges, emerging opportunities, and the work occurring across Central New York to ensure language services meet the needs of youth, adult newcomers, and families, making information and services accessible to residents of all ages. Panelists also highlighted how residents navigate cultural and language expectations in community settings, sharing insight into real‑world language use and barriers.

FOCUS Forums

Civic Engagement: Perspectives from Local Leadership

January 5, 2026

Recording Now Available

FOCUS hosted a hybrid public forum where leaders from the City of Syracuse and Onondaga County shared their perspectives on civic engagement and highlighted the community priorities where residents could engage, contribute, and actively participate in 2026.

FOCUS Forums

New York State Master Plan for Aging: A Blueprint for Communities

November 20, 2025

Recording and Slides Now Available!

This FOCUS Forum presented the findings and recommendations of the NYS Master Plan for Aging. The plan is based on an extensive engagement process involving government and community stakeholders statewide and a system-wide assessment of current services, which led to the development of solutions and priorities for improvement.

FOCUS Forums

Supporting Families through School & Community Partnerships

October 24, 2025

Recording Now Available!

This virtual forum focused on how the Syracuse City School District, together with government and community partners, supports students and their families in accessing needed services ranging from temporary housing, food insecurity, joblessness, and poverty to mental health support, crisis management, and more. These partnerships focus on the whole family, the needs and desires of famalies, and are leading to practical, sustainable approaches that strengthen community support systems.

FOCUS Forums

Onondaga Nation Land Rights Act

September 26, 2025

Recording Now Available!

This Forum featured a presentation from Joe Heath, who delved into the ongoing legal efforts to reclaim ancestral lands. The presentation explored the historical context of the Onondaga Nation’s Land Rights Act, the legal challenges faced in U.S. courts, and the role of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

FOCUS Forums

Food Systems & Insecurity in Central New York

August 22, 2025

Recording & Slides Now Available!

This Forum featured a discussion about our local food systems. Panelists explored what food systems are, how they function, and the ways each of us is connected to them. Together, we learned why hunger solutions such as emergency food pantries are critical in the short term, yet cannot fully solve long-term food insecurity. Panelists shared lived experiences navigating hunger as well as insights from their work supporting community members. Panelists also discussed the ways SOFSA is addressing both immediate and long-term goals for building a more equitable food system. Panelists highlighted meaningful ways attendees can get involved and support this important work.

FOCUS Forums

Energy for Growth in Central New York

August 7, 2025

Recording Now Available!

The August FOCUS Forum featured a discussion on how Central New York’s growth is being fueled by strategic investments in energy infrastructure and clean energy technologies.

Category: FOCUS Forums

Health Access: Navigating Gaps for the Uninsured

Language Services: Responding to Diverse Community Needs

Civic Engagement: Perspectives from Local Leadership

New York State Master Plan for Aging: A Blueprint for Communities

Supporting Families through School & Community Partnerships

Onondaga Nation Land Rights Act

Food Systems & Insecurity in Central New York

Energy for Growth in Central New York