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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.

Citizens Academy

Mix & Mingle with Senator Rachel May
December 11, 2025

FOCUS’ Citizens Academy Alumni Network hosted a Mix & Mingle with Senator Rachel May. This free, nonpartisan event offered an evening of meaningful conversation and community connection for community members!

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 Greater Syracuse, Inc.

Building Resilience for Human Service Staff and Families
October 23, 2025

FOCUS and PEACE held the second of two free community convenings on November 17 (9:30 to 11:30 AM). Together, we learned and discussed the resiliency that our community needs to meet basic needs.

The convening was open to all, including direct service staff, parents, and community members were especially asked to attend and to raise their voices.

The convening built on recommendations from the 2024 Whole Family Summit to Meet Basic Needs. It provided a space to learn from experts, generate solutions, and form practical partnerships among participants.

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.

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