FOCUS Greater Syracuse, Inc.

💙 Citizens Academy Applications Are NOW OPEN!

Onondaga County doesn't need more bystanders. It needs more informed, engaged, and active community members! 🗳️

Citizens Academy isn't a spectator sport! Our immersive 11-week experience brings everyday people face to face with nearly 40 local leaders and decision-makers. 🤝 You hear from them. You ask them questions. ✋ You leave knowing exactly how to show up for your community. 💪

Civic engagement starts smaller than you think!
✅ It looks like recycling correctly because you learned which pizza box goes where
📰 It looks like reading a headline and actually knowing the backstory
📞 It looks like knowing who to call when something in your neighborhood isn't right

🎯 Citizens Academy graduates have become senators, mayors, respected advocates, and informed voters. All of them are more engaged!

⏰ Only 35 spots available! Deadline: August 3.
👉 Apply today: https://www.focussyracuse.org/citizens-academy/

💙 As we celebrate our milestone 25th Citizens Academy cohort, FOCUS is incredibly grateful to our Engagement Sponsors: Syracuse University and National Grid! Their commitment makes this one of a kind civic learning experience possible!

🌊 Protecting Our Water Starts with Understanding It!

Join us for our June FOCUS Forum and take part in a conversation on water conservation and the role we all play in protecting local watersheds!

💧 Learn how local water systems support community health
🌱 Hear from experts working in conservation, education, & land stewardship
🤝 Discover how to engage with efforts that protect & preserve CNY’s natural resources

🗓 Attend in-person at OneGroup Insurance or via Zoom! 🔗 Register for free: https://www.focussyracuse.org/water-conservation/



Onondaga Environmental Institute
SUNY ESF

Some people help shape a stronger community by consistently showing up, building relationships, and investing in others! 💙 Evelyn Ingram is one of those people!

🦉 Her longstanding commitment to CNY reflects the spirit of a Wisdom Keeper! Someone whose experience, generosity, and dedication strengthen the fabric of our community for future generations!

We are proud to celebrate Evelyn as a 2026 Wisdom Keeper Honoree and grateful for the example she continues to set through her ongoing community involvement!

Celebrating Leadership & Impact: Thank You, Evelyn Ingram!

United Way of Central New York extends our deepest gratitude to Evelyn as she concludes her incredible tenure on our Board of Directors.

For over a decade, Evelyn has been a guiding force for our organization, bringing unmatched leadership and dedication to United Way.

During her tenure, she has served as Board Chair, Immediate Past Chair, and Co-Founder/Chair of Women United.

Evelyn has also been instrumental in growing Wegmans exceptional employee campaign and creating community partnerships like United Way’s CNY Care Package Project, supported by in-store donations.

Evelyn, thank you for your unwavering commitment, your wisdom, and your heart. While your time on the board may be wrapping up, the lasting impact of your leadership will be felt throughout our community for a very long time.

Please join us in thanking Evelyn for her years of dedicated service! 👏👏

♻️ Caring for our community also means caring for our environment!

At FOCUS we know that civic engagement takes many forms, including environmental stewardship and small everyday actions that strengthen our community! That’s why we’re excited to partner with Bottle & Can Retrieval Centers for a new fundraiser that turns recyclable bottles and cans into support for FOCUS programs!

Here’s how you can help:
🔹 Label your bags “FOCUS Greater Syracuse”
🔹 Drop them off at any of Bottle & Can Retrieval Centers 40+ locations.

💙 Your donation supports community conversations, programs, and our civic engagement initiatives!

📚 What does literacy mean in 2026?

At today’s FOCUS Forum, panelists discussed how reading and digital literacy affect everything from education and employment to healthcare, technology access, and civic participation across CNY!

💻 The conversation explored the science of reading, adult education, workforce readiness, and the reality that many people struggle to navigate an increasingly digital world. Panelists also shared how local organizations are helping individuals and families build skills, confidence, and pathways to opportunity.

🎥 Watch the full conversation here 🔗 https://youtu.be/Rlp0cxy2rpw



Syracuse Northeast Community Center
The Reading League
OCM BOCES

May 2026 FOCUS Forum. Literacy Skills: Perspectives on Reading and Digital Fluency. FOCUS Forum: Literacy, Digital Literacy, and Civic Engagement in Ce...

🎉 Wisdom Keeper 2026 Honoree Announcement!

FOCUS is proud to announce the 2026 Wisdom Keeper Honorees, two extraordinary leaders whose work embodies this year's theme: "Bringing People Together Through Conversation!"

🦉 Tim Fox, Executive Producer, NewsChannel 9
🦉 Evelyn C. Ingram, Director of Community and Media Relations, Wegmans; Co-Owner, The Castle 603

Every day, Tim and Evelyn do the work of bringing people to the table, creating space for conversations that inform, connect, and move our community forward! That is exactly what FOCUS is all about!

Wisdom Keeper is our signature annual fundraiser and celebration of community leadership, and this year we are gathering at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo for an evening of great conversation, hors d'oeuvres, a cash bar, and inspiration!

🔗 Reserve your tickets and explore sponsorship opportunities today! https://www.focussyracuse.org/wisdom-keeper/

📚 FOCUS had the pleasure of tabling at Bryant & Stratton College - Syracuse! It was wonderful connecting with students and sharing information about our internship opportunities and our Patterns of Government digital textbook.

What truly stood out was the college’s commitment to student wellbeing! 💙 Staff greeted students by name as they walked in, checked in about classes, offered snacks, 🍎 and took time to make sure students are supported, welcomed, and set up for success! We also loved seeing mental health and grocery resources clearly visible and accessible throughout the space!

It’s inspiring to see a campus community where students are known, cared for, and encouraged every day!