FOCUS Greater Syracuse, Inc. – Page 2 – FOCUS Facilitates, Educates, and Celebrates Civic Engagement!

Recording Now Available!

FOCUS hosted a hybrid public forum on watershed health, and the shared environmental responsibility of protecting CNY’s most essential natural resource. Panelists explored the connection between agricultural stewardship, urban waterways, Indigenous land and water relationships, and the significant environmental questions that come with Micron’s arrival in the region. The conversation ranged from composting and lawn care to PFAS contamination and the ongoing work of Onondaga Lake cleanup, with a consistent message that water connects all of us, and caring for it is everyone’s responsibility.

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.

Citizens Academy

April 5, 2026

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.

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.

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.

Water Conservation: Understanding & Protecting Our Watersheds

FOCUS Forums

Citizens Academy

Literacy Skills: Perspectives on Reading and Digital Fluency

Meet Your Match: Board Recruitment Night

Childcare Access: Supporting Family Wellbeing