The Center: Building Collaboration Among Activists
The Syracuse Center for Peace and Social Justice is an unusual type of nonprofit. Rather than lobbying for policy change or delivering services directly to the public, they focus on providing a home for other organizations in Syracuse.
Going Public: The Story Behind Ophelia’s Place
Ophelia’s Place has been a resource for people living with eating disorders for over fifteen years. Formed in Syracuse, they have grown from a small family project to a multifaceted organization that has developed innovative ways to self-fund and leverage digital tools to expand their impact. Examining their history and development reveals important lessons not only about food and diet culture in America, but about how thoughtful community engagement by impassioned individuals can flourish into a large scale movement.
Raising Up Voices and Votes
A disturbing lack of civic participation inspired The League to partner with The Dunbar Association, TNT, and the NAACP to form the Onondaga Votes! initiative in 2018. Their goal was simple: to increase voter turnout across the City of Syracuse.
Perspective: Syracuse History, Civic Engagement, and George Floyd
Thousands of Central New Yorkers gathered in downtown Syracuse over the weekend of June 6th to protest police brutality and other forms of systemic, institutionalized racism. Also present were law enforcement, elected officials, and representatives from many nonprofit organizations.
Broadening Perspectives: When will Black America be able to Breathe?
The United States of America is in the midst of a public health crisis, and Central New York is no exception. In the last few months, that crisis has been represented by COVID-19, a global pandemic that has taken the lives of over 100,000 people. The recent police killing of George Floyd reminded us that the pandemic does not stand alone.
The Haven at Skanda: an Interview with Ellen Beckerman
The Haven at Skanda We sat down with Ellen Beckerman – Executive Director of The Haven at Skanda to learn about how this innovative animal sanctuary is expanding its services and reaching more people in the face of a global pandemic. Please note that this interview...
Perspective: What about the Kids without a Computer during COVID-19?
On March 16th, schools were ordered to close while teachers, staff, administrators, parents, and volunteers were suddenly faced with the unprecedented and formidable challenge of converting the rest of the school year to an online format. We spoke with Promise Zone Supervisor Raquan Pride about lack of internet access and digital infrastructure among students as well as the creative approaches being implemented to address those problems.
Our Response to the COVID-19 Virus
Our Response to the COVID-19 VirusGreetings friends, family, partners and community members, Like so many of you, The Gifford Foundation is closely monitoring the latest developments related to the COVID -19 virus. We are acutely aware of your concerns regarding the...







