2020-2021 Season

Dec 9, 2021

Syracuse Stage: Theatre in the COVID Era

Syracuse Stage Managing Director Jill Anderson and Artistic Director Bob Huff will speak about reopening after the pandemic.

Dec 2, 2021

The Center on Disability and Inclusion: Impact at Syracuse and Beyond

Syracuse University faculty members Christine Ashby, Ph.D., and Beth Myers, Ph.D., will speak about the Center on Disability and Inclusion’s initiatives, which promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of school and society—both locally and globally.

Nov 18, 2021

New York State Mentoring Program and Mentoring Initiative

Stephanie Parks, the CNY regional coordinator for the New York State Mentoring Program, will speak about the program.

Nov 11, 2021

Legalized Cannabis in New York

Allan Gandelman, president of the New York Cannabis Growers & Processors Association, will speak about legalized cannabis in New York.

Nov 4, 2021

Aging and Community-Based Care in Central New York

JoAnne Spoto Decker, commissioner and executive director, Onondaga County Office for Aging, and Claire Pendergrast of Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, will speak about aging and community-based care in Central New York.

Oct 28, 2021

Veteran Services

NYS Assembly Member Pamela Hunter and Maureen Casey Chief Operating Officer of IVMF

Oct 21, 2021

Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon

Oct 14, 2021

Quantum Physics

Britton Plourde, Ph.D., will speak on the topic of quantum physics.
Oct 7, 2021

I-81 Plans and Impacts

Interstate 81 project director Mark Frechette will speak about the plans and impacts of this project.
Sept 30, 2021

Housing in Central New York

Panel members Sally Santangelo, executive director of CNY Fair Housing; Laurie Rolnick, director of the eviction defense program; and Palmer Harvey, co-founder of the Syracuse Tenants Union, will discuss the state of housing in Central New York.
Sept 23, 2021

Afghanistan

Mark Jacobson, Ph.D., assistant dean of the Washington Programs at the Maxwell School, will present on the history, current situation and the future of Afghanistan.
Sept 16, 2021

Dean Michael Frasciello, Ph.D.

Michael Frasciello, Ph.D., dean of the College of Professional Studies (formally University College), will speak about the college’s past and current work in adult and continuing education, as well as plans for the future.
April 29, 2021

Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh

Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh will speak about his work as mayor and priorities for the city.
April 22, 2021

New York State Assemblymember Pamela J. Hunter

Pamela J. Hunter, New York State assemblymember, will speak about her work in the state Assembly.
April 15, 2021

Syracuse City School District Update

Syracuse City Schools Superintendent Jaime Alicea will speak about his work with the school district and how it has adapted to meet changing public health guidelines.

This is a collaboration with FOCUS Greater Syracuse.
April 08, 2021

Early Childhood Alliance of Onondaga

Laurie Black, director of the Early Childhood Alliance of Onondaga will speak about the organization and their work in Central New York.
April 01, 2021

Syracuse Surge

A panel of speakers will present about Syracuse Surge, the City of Syracuse’s strategy for economic growth: Jen Tift, deputy commissioner at the Department of Neighborhood and Business Development with the City of Syracuse; Laiza Semidey, Syracuse Surge workforce manager at CenterState CEO; and Caitlin Moriarty, director of operations at the Tech Garden.

March 25, 2021

Syracuse Blueprint 15

A panel of speakers will present about Syracuse Blueprint 15: Stephanie Pasquale, director of neighborhood advancement at the Allyn Family Foundation; Arlaina Harris, director of community partnerships at Blueprint 15; and Bill Simmons, executive director of the Syracuse Housing Authority.

March 18, 2021

Helio Health

A panel from Helio Health will provide an overview of the organization as well as their work to combat the opioid and mental health crises in Central New York.

March 11, 2021

Women’s History Month

Sally Roesch Wagner, founder and executive director of the Matilda Joslyn Gage Center for Social Justice Dialogue, will speak about Women’s History Month.

 

March 04, 2021

Symphoria

Variations on a Theme: How Symphoria, the professional orchestra of Central New York, uses creativity, resilience and transparency to keep the music playing through COVID-19.
February 25, 2021

United Way of Central New York

Nancy Eaton, executive director of the United Way of Central New York, will speak about the agency’s history in the community and how it has adapted to the changing times.
February 18, 2021

“Black History Month”

Cedric Bolton, poet and adjunct professor at Syracuse University, will speak about Black History Month.
February 11, 2021

“U.S. Rep. John Katko”

John Katko, U.S. representative for New York’s 24th congressional district will discuss the new Congress, bipartisanship and his role as the Ranking Member of the Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection and Innovation subcommittee.
February 04, 2021

“Ivory Tower U.S. Politics”

WCNY’s “Ivory Tower” panelists Luke Perry from Utica College, Kristi Andersen from Syracuse University, and Bob Spitzer from SUNY Cortland will discuss U.S. politics. Moderated by Barbara Fought from Syracuse University.

December 10, 2020

“State of the County with County Executive, Ryan McMahon”

Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon will speak about the state of the county.
December 03, 2020

“State of Criminal Justice in Onondaga County”

Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick will speak about the state of criminal justice in Onondaga County.
November 19, 2020

“Zogby Polling”

John Zogby, founder and senior partner of John Zogby Strategies, will speak about polling practices.
November 12, 2020

“Native American Heritage Month”

Neal Powless, Syracuse University ombuds, will speak about the history of the relationship between the Onondaga Nation and the surrounding community.
November 05, 2020

“Election Results”

“Ivory Tower” panelists Kristi Anderson, Bob Spitzer, Luke Perry and Nina Moore, moderated by Dave Chanatry, will discuss the recent election results.
October 29, 2020

“Art in the Age of a Pandemic”

Syracuse Stage’s executive director and artistic director, Jill Anderson and Bob Hupp, Point of Contact gallery’s director, Sara Felice, and CNY Jazz’s executive director, Larry Luttinger, will discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the arts in Syracuse.

Presented in Partnership with FOCUS Greater Syracuse and their Focus Forums.

 

October 22, 2020

“CNY Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Alliance”

Saravanan Thangamani, Ph.D., professor and director of the SUNY Center for Environmental Health and Medicine at Upstate Medical University, will speak about the collaborations of clinicians, scientists, foundations and community members, working to educate and advance the study of Lyme disease.

 

October 15, 2020

“Put the U Back in Syracuse”

Merike Treier, executive director of the Downtown Committee, and Stephanie Crockett, managing director of the Syracuse Mower office, will speak about this innovative initiative to promote support for local businesses.

 

October 08, 2020

Salt City Market Update

Adam Sudmann, market manager of Salt City Market will discuss the market and food hall which will bring diverse meal options to downtown Syracuse.

 

October 01, 2020

Election Reform

Election Reform with Dustin Czarny, Onondaga County Elections Commissioner (D), and Michele Sardo, Onondaga County Elections Commissioner (R)

 

September 24, 2020

Early Warning Waste Water Surveillance Program

David Larsen, Ph.D., associate professor at Syracuse University, Hyatt Green, Ph.D., associate professor at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and Frank Middleton, Ph.D., associate professor at SUNY Upstate Medical University, will speak about their program to detect and track COVID-19 in waste water on and around Syracuse University.

 

September 17, 2020

Syracuse University Reopening and COVID-19 Response

Vice Chancellor Mike Haynie, will speak about Syracuse University’s reopening and its response to COVID-19.

 

March 12, 2020

Infectious Disease

Dr. Indu Gupta, commissioner of health at the Onondaga County Health Department and Dr. Karen Nardella, medical director, Syracuse University Health Services, will speak about infectious disease and the importance of their work and collaborations.

 

March 5, 2020

Census 2020

Matt Vincent, partnership specialist with the U.S. Census Bureau, will speak about the upcoming census count and its importance.

 

February 27, 2020

Wellness Through Community-Based Art

Tanisha Jackson, executive director of the Community Folk Art Center and professor of practice, African American studies, will speak about wellness through community based art.

 

February 20, 2020

Mayor of the City of Syracuse

Mayor Ben Walsh will speak about his work as mayor, so far, and his plans moving forward in 2020.

 

February 13, 2020

National Grid: Past, Present and Future of Energy

Alberto Bianchetti, Central New York regional director, Customer and Community Engagement, will speak about National Grid’s impact in the past, present and future of energy.

 

February 06,2020

Independent Redistricting

Susan Lerner, executive director for Common Cause New York, Helen Hudson, president of the Syracuse Common Council, and Chris Ryan, Onondaga County legislator, will speak about nonpartisan redistricting efforts for Central New York.

December 12,2019

YMCA

Mike Brown, president and ceo for the YMCA of Central New York, will speak about the new strategic plan and current and upcoming programs.

 

December 5,2019

Forever Syracuse

Rick Burton and Scott Pitoniak, authors of the book “Forever Orange,” will speak about their book and the research that went into writing it.

 

November 21,2019

Ethics in Politics

Keith Bybee, vice dean and professor at Syracuse University College of Law, will present on ethics in the political landscape.

 

November 14,2019

Syracuse University Capital Projects

Pete Sala, vice president and chief facilities officer at Syracuse University, will speak about the progress at the Dome and other capital projects.

 

November 07,2019

Honor Flight Syracuse

John F. Paddock, Jr., president and co-founder of Honor Flight Syracuse, will speak about the program and its impact thus far.

 

October 31,2019

Lead Poisoning

Katie Bronson, director of community housing initiatives at Home Headquarters; Syeisha Byrd, director of engagement programs at Hendricks Chapel and mother of children affected by lead poisoning; Deb Lewis, Lead Program Coordinator for the Onondaga County Health Department; andRobyn Smith, from the CNY Community Foundation, will speak about the effects of lead poisoning.

 

October 24,2019

The Good Life Foundation

Hasan Stephens, executive director and founder of The Good Life Foundation, will speak about his programs with local youth.

 

October 17,2019

Near Westside Initiative

Gregorio Jimenez, executive director for the Near Westside Initiative, will present on the history of the initiative and its new projects.

 

October 10,2019

Say Yes to Education

Ahmeed Turner, executive director for Say Yes Syracuse, will speak about the progress and changes to the program.

 

October 03, 2019

Hire Ground

John Tumino, founder of In My Father’s Kitchen, will speak about the progress of the Hire Ground partnership to provide work experience through day labor and connections to needed support services for panhandlers and the unemployed homeless.

 

September 26, 2019

NYS Senate: 53rd District

New York State Sen. Rachel May, representing the 53rd Senate District, will present on her first year in office and her vision for the future.

 

September 19, 2019

The Good Life

Annette Peters, vice president of marketing at Syracuse Media Group, andBen Sio, chief of staff at CenterState CEO, will speak about the new branding initiative for Central New York as a great place to live, to work and to raise a family.

September 12, 2019

Renewable Energy

Chris Carrick, program manager for energy management at the CNY Regional Planning and Development Board, and Lindsey Speer, campaign manager for the Alliance for a Green Economy, will speak about renewable energy. This is in partnership with FOCUS Greater Syracuse.

 

 

April 25, 2019

WCNY’s New President

Mitch Gelman, President and CEO of WCNY, will speak about his new role and the future of WCNY.

 

April 18, 2019

SU Athletics

Andrew Goodrich, Deputy Athletics Director and Chief Marketing Officer, will speak about Syracuse University Athletics, as well as, the much-anticipated 2019 football season, NCAA Tournament forecasts for SU’s spring sports, and launch of the ACC Network in August.

 

April 11, 2019

County Executive

Ryan McMahon, County Executive for Onondaga County, will speak about his transition and plans moving forward.

 

April 04, 2019

Homelessness in Onondaga County

Dan Sieburg from the Rescue Mission and Megan Stuart from the Housing and Homeless Coalition of CNY will speak about the state of homelessess in Onondaga County. This is in partnership with FOCUS Greater Syracuse.

 

March 28, 2019

Syracuse Stage 2019–20 Season

Syracuse Stage’s Jill Anderson, managing director, and Bob Hupp, artistic director, will discuss the 2019–20 season of Syracuse Stage.

 

March 21, 2019

Legalization of Marijuana: Negative

Onondaga County Sheriff Gene Conway will present on the negative impacts of legalized marijuana.

 

March 14, 2019

Citizen Review Board

Peter McCarthy, chair of the Citizens Review Board, and Ranette Releford, administrator of the Citizens Review Board, will present on the organization and its future.

 

March 07, 2019

Legalization of Marijuana: Positive

Steven Vandewalle from RocNORML (Rochester National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) will speak about the positive effects of legalizing marijuana in New York State.

 

February 28, 2019

Electoral Reforms in New York

Dustin Czarny, Commissioner of Elections (D), will present on the recently passed electoral reforms in New York State.

 

February 21, 2019

Inkululeko

Zuko Gqadavama, Resource Development Coordinator for Inkululeko, a nonprofit education program in Makhanda, South Africa, will speak about his experience as a member of the “born-free” or after the apartheid ended generation.

 

February 14, 2019

Gridlock in U.S. Federal Government

Dr. Shana Gadarian, Associate Professor of Political Science at the Maxwell School of Syracuse University, will speak about the most recent federal government shutdown and the gridlock in Washington.

 

February 7, 2019

Syracuse Police Department: New Chief

Chief Kenton Buckner, Chief of Police for the City of Syracuse, will speak about his plans for the department. This is a collaboration with FOCUS Greater Syracuse.

2017-2018 Season

December 13, 2018

Elections

Grant Reeher, essor of Political Science and Director of the Campbell Public Affairs Institute, will speak about the latest midterm elections and the effects of the results.

 

December 06, 2018

A Journalist’s First Hand Report – What’s Wrong with US Policy in Iran

Reese Erlich, journalist and author, will speak about his new book, The Iran Agenda Today: The Real Story of US Policy and the Middle East Crisis. This is the 2019 Philip C. Pinsky lecture. **Special location: Goldstein Student Center at Skytop, 401 Skytop Rd, Syracuse, NY 13210**

 

November 29, 2018

Mayor Ben Walsh

Mayor Ben Walsh will discuss his time in office and his plans for the future of the City of Syracuse.

 

November 15, 2018

We Rise Above the Streets

Al-Amin Muhammad will discuss his experiences with homelessness and his agency, We Rise Above the Streets.

 

November 8, 2018

Scouting

Grey Rolland, Scout Executive for the Boy Scouts of America, Longhouse Council, will discuss the changes to the Boy Scouts, including allowing girls to join.

 

November 1, 2018

Economic Development at the Grassroots Level

Panel: Mark Olson, Village of Fayetteville Mayor; Carolyn Evans-Dean, South Avenue Business Corridor Revitalization Project Manager; Mark Venesky, Cicero Town Supervisor; Mike LaFlair, Housing Visions Director of Marketing and Community Relations. This is a collaboration with FOCUS Greater Syracuse.

 

October 25, 2018

The Changing Landscape of Media

Professor Aileen Gallagher, Associate Professor and Program Review and Assessment Director for the S.I. Newhouse School for Public Communications, will speak about the changing world of the media, including “fake news” and the increasing role of social media.

 

October 18, 2018

Local Economic and Business Professionals and Economic Development

Local business and economic development experts will discuss the challenges in maintaining and growing businesses and community wealth and the tools they can use to compete in the marketplace. The session will tackle “self-inflicted” obstacles to success. This is a collaboration with FOCUS Greater Syracuse.

 

October 11, 2018

Redhouse Arts Center

Samara Hannah, Executive Director of the Redhouse Arts Center, will speak about the move to Salina Street and the upcoming season.

 

October 4, 2018

U.S. Navy

U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Okon will speak about his service in the U.S. Navy, including his experience with oceanography.

 

September 27, 2018

Community Involvement in Economic Development

Chris Steele, COO and President, North America of Investment Consulting Associates and Jim Damicis, Senior Vice President, Carmoin Associates, will discuss and present concepts and regional trends in economic development and community support, including examples of success stories achieved by similar communities in the northeast.

 

September 20, 2018

City of Syracuse Ongoing and Upcoming Projects

Stephanie Pasquale, Commissioner of the Department of Neighborhood and Business Development, will talk about the current and upcoming projects of her department and the Mayor’s vision for the City of Syracuse.
September 13, 2018

The Vibrancy of Downtown Syracuse

Merike Treier, Executive Director of the Downtown Committee of Syracuse, will talk about the revitalization of downtown Syracuse and the upcoming projects.

 

April 26, 2018

Thursday Morning Roundtable (TMR)

 

April 19, 2018

Thursday Morning Roundtable (TMR)

 

April 12, 2018

 

Thursday Morning Roundtable (TMR)

April 05, 2018

 

Thursday Morning Roundtable (TMR)

March 29, 2018

 

The State of the County

County Executive Joanie Mahoney will outline her administration’s work from the previous year and announce her plans going forward.

 

March 22, 2018

Children’s Mental Health

Dr. James S Demer, a specialist in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Upstate University Hospital, Elizabeth Nolan, executive director of Hillside Children’s Center, Central Region, and Karin Moscov, parent, will discuss children’s mental health.

 

March 08, 2018

Fair Housing Act: 50 Years Later

Sally Santangelo, executive director of CNY Fair Housing, will discuss the history of the Fair Housing Act, 50 years after it was established. She’ll talk about the legal rights of those renting or buying homes, common types of discrimination, and how they advocate for those being discriminated against.

 

March 01, 2018

Economic Impact of Tourism In Onondaga County

Danny Liedka, president and CEO of Visit Syracuse will give an overview of the current state of tourism in Syracuse and Onondaga County, upcoming events that will drive the economy and his plans for the future as Visit Syracuse’s new leader.

 

February 22, 2018

Conflict Styles and Reflective Listening

Professor Catherine Gerard, director of the Advancement of Research on Conflict and Collaboration Program at SU’s Maxwell School

 

February 15, 2018

Nourishing Tomorrow’s Leaders

Pam Brunet, executive director of Leadership Greater Syracuse and graduate of Nourishing Tomorrow’s Leaders (NTL), will talk about the need for more in-depth leadership training that will expand the pool of effective nonprofit board members in our community.

NTL is grounded in an expansive interpretation of diversity (age, gender, ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status, physical abilities, etc.). Graduates of NTL will talk about the importance of a diverse population lending their voices and perspective to the non-profit world.

 

February 08, 2018

February is American Heart Month

Franklin G. Fry, executive director of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, will talk about how raising the legal age for buying tobacco products will improve heart health; how “food deserts”—i.e. the closing of Nojaims Market—take a toll on the health and welfare of the surrounding community; and how current cardiovascular research is having a local impact.

February 01, 2018

Green Healthy Homes Initiative 

Katie Bronson from Home Headquarters, Danielle Gillfrom CNY Community Foundation, Debra Lewis from Onondaga County Health Department, Stephanie Pasquale from the City of Syracuse Neighborhood and Business Development, Sally Ward from PEACE, Inc., and Martin Skahen from Onondaga County Community Development Division will talk about the Green Healthy Homes Initiative, lead paint, and environmental health hazards.

2016-2017 Season

 

December 14, 2017

Interfaith Cooperation and Conflict Transformation

Hendricks Chapel and InterFaith Works have historical roots in the promotion of and activism for interfaith understanding. With religious conflict at the heart of many of the world’s battles, both past and present, the need to foster respect and understanding among the faith traditions continues to be a critical part of peace and justice-making for our world and for this community. Brian Konkol, dean of Hendricks Chapel and Beth Broadway, president of Interfaith Works of CNY will offer context for understanding conflict and what it takes to transform our communities.

 

December 07, 2017

Unmanned Aerial Systems (DRONES): How They Could Impact CNY

Major General Marke “Hoot” Gibson USAF (Ret), CEO of NUAIR, and Craig Marcinkowski, director, Strategy & Business Development at Gryphon Sensors, will discuss Unmanned Aerial Systems (DRONES) and how this technology is beneficial to Central New York’s economy. They will discuss what we can expect to see in the next 2-5 years, and current government regulations that will minimize their misuse and protect the privacy of citizens.

 

November 30, 2017

SU’s Impact on the Local Economy

Dr. Mike Haynie, Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives and Innovation at Syracuse University and the founder and executive director of the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) and Bea González, vice-president of community engagement, discuss how Syracuse University provides a significant impact on the local economy through taxes, fees, and payment for local services, as well as operating vital projects and programs that benefit the community.

 

November 16, 2017

Why Young Leaders Are Active in Our Community

Melissa Forsyth, Comptroller for the 174th Attack Wing; Gus Hernandez, Salvation Army Young Leaders Advisory Council; Andrew Lunetta, executive director of Tiny Homes for Good; and Juhanna Rogers, co-founder of CNY Roots, will talk about their commitment to community engagement, why they became involved, and who/what inspired them to become active citizens.

 

November 09, 2017

The Changing Face of TV

What is the future of how we will view programs? How does competition among networks, Netflix, Hulu, cable, and online viewing impact customer service, pricing, and access? Bob Thompson, director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture and a trustee professor at SU’s Newhouse School, will discuss the future of television and media in the United States.

 

November 02, 2017

Candidates for Syracuse Mayor Face Off 

The four Syracuse mayoral candidates—Juanita Perez Williams, Ben Walsh, Howie Hawkins, and Laura Lavine—will discuss their viewpoints, plans for the City, and the issues they consider most important. Grant Reeher, director of the Campbell Public Affairs Institute and a professor of political science at SU’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, will moderate.

 

October 26, 2017

Career and Technical Education—Not the Vo-Tech of Yesterday Rethinking the approach to secondary education

 

October 19, 2017

A Look Back at 40 Years of Vera House / Randi Bregman

Randi Bregman, Executive Director of Vera House, will reflect on Vera House’s 40th anniversary year, including a look back on accomplishments in the areas of domestic and sexual violence and a call to action for the future.

 

October 12, 2017

The Face of Hunger / Panel Discussion

The face of hunger has shifted from homeless individuals to working families. 91% of emergency food recipients have annual incomes below the federal poverty line ($23,492 for a family of 4). In recognition of World Food Day on October 16, Allen Thornton, CEO of the Syracuse Rescue Mission, Kathleen Stress, executive director of Food Bank of Central New York, and Julie Gilbert, case manager of the Samaritan Center, will discuss how their organizations respond. Please bring a non-perishable food item to donate to the Food Bank.

 

October 05, 2017

Connecting the Dots: Issues Facing Women / TED-X Style

In its 2015 NYS Poverty Report, NYSCAA stated the median income for women with a high school diploma only was 69% of their male counterparts. 38.7% of families with children having women as heads of households are living in poverty. The facts can have repercussions in healthcare, employment, education, and childcare. Join us as we connect the dots and explore thought-provoking approaches to address these issues and challenges during this TED-X style event.

 

September 21, 2017

Is Retail Dying? / Amanda Nicholson

Are brick and mortar stores becoming a thing of the past, as the media suggests? Amanda Nicholson, associate dean and professor of Retail Practice at SU’s Whitman School of Management, talks about the demise of brick and mortar retail. Should we write the obituary now or hold off?

 

September 14, 2017

Aging in Onondaga County / Panel Discussion

Dr. Sharon Brangman, Chief of Geriatrics at SUNY Upstate Medical University, Janet Wilmoth, Ph.D., director of Aging Studies Institute at SU, and Cynthia Woods, director of OASIS Lifelong Adventure share statistics of aging, the future of health and wellness in our county, and how lifelong learning and staying active enhances wellbeing.

 

September 07, 2017

OCL Findings / Mel Menon and Craig French

What kind of work do people do in this region? What job opportunities will shape our future? OCL Study Co-Chairs Mel Menon and Craig French will present findings and recommendations from the 2016/17 OCL Study: “How CNY Works.”

 

April 27, 2017

Transformation of the Health Care Delivery System, Jason Helgerson

Given the uncertain state of the current health care system, Helgerson, Medicaid director of NYS and executive director for New York’s Medicaid Redesign Team, will discuss moving from fee-for-service to value-based payment.

TMR Health Care Powerpoint

TMR Health Care Power Point 2

 

April 20, 2017

Influential Women in History, Gregg Tripoli

Tripoli, executive director of the Onondaga Historical Association, will discuss the contributions of local women, covering a wide range of disciplines including sports, philanthropy, education, art, politics, law, and business.

 

April 13, 2017

Save the World a Little Each Day: Solid Waste Stewardship in Onondaga County, Dereth Glance

Glance, executive director of OCRRA, will speak about how the OCRRA system functions, and what happens to our trash, food waste, and recyclables. She will highlight our community’s successes, challenges, and innovations as we tackle resource recovery from the solid waste stream.

 

April 6 , 2017

State of the County Update , Joanie Mahoney

County Executive Joanie Mahoney will give an update on the state of Onondaga County, future projects, and her thoughts on Consensus.

 

March 30, 2017

MaryEllen Elia, NYS Department of Education Commissioner

The commissioner will discuss the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and some of the high-level concepts that are proposed in the Act.  She will also talk about the overall state of the 700 school districts in New York State that she oversees.

 

March 23, 2017

Members of the Consensus Committee

Representatives from Consensus will discuss the release of the commission’s final report, with 50 recommendations to improve local government, including the creation of a new city-county government, the financial impact on municipalities, and the increasing burden of paying for duplicate services on a stagnant population.

Consensus Presentation TMR

 

March 09, 2017

United Way president, Frank Lazarski

Frank will provide a retrospective on his 13+ years at the United way, discussing the importance of the organization and the critical need for the services provided.  He will also reflect on the changes he has seen over the years.

 

March 02, 2017

Kick off of National Women’s History Month

Sally Roesch Wagner, Ph.D., executive director, Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation will discuss influential women in history, including Matilda Joslyn Gage-one of the most radical, far-sighted and articulate early feminists.

 

February 23, 2017

Syracuse University Vice Chancellor and Provost Michele Wheatly

Vice Chancellor and Provost Michele Wheatly will share some insights about her first nine months at Syracuse University; her academic priorities, including leading the implementation of the University’s Academic Strategic Plan; and her thoughts about the city and region she now calls home.

 

February 16, 2017

Syracuse University Athletics: Vision and Priorities

Athletic director John Wildhack will give us an update on Syracuse University athletics.

 

February 09, 2017

Tourism in Central New York & Its Economic Impact

David Holder, president of Visit Syracuse, will talk about how tourism impacts our local economy, share upcoming events, and discuss the new initiative to promote Syracuse as a winter destination.

 

February 02, 2017

Syracuse Stage Presents Disgraced

Syracuse Stage artistic director Bob Hupp and associate artistic director Kyle Bass will discuss the Syracuse Stage season and give us highlights of the play, Disgraced. Cast members will act out a few of the scenes from the 2013 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama.

2015-2016 Season

 

December 08, 2016

The Perception of Tax Polices are Tied with How People View the World

Breagin Riley, Ph.D.., assistant professor of Marketing and Behavioral Lab director at Syracuse University’s Martin J. Whitman School of Management, will discuss how people view equal opportunities for success, how people perceive tax levels, and how these two things impact how people spend and save their money, behave dishonestly, etc.

 

December 01, 2016

Elevating Erie

Elevating Erie (elevatingerie.com) is a collaborative effort between the City of Syracuse and the Town of DeWitt to address a portion of the 14-mile gap in the Erie Canal way Trail system. The original Erie Canal through DeWitt and Syracuse has been paved over for 100 years.  Sam Gordon, director of planning and zoning for the town of DeWitt, and Owen Kerney, assistant director for city planning, will discuss plans to revitalize the 14-mile gap in the original canal path, which currently exists between DeWitt and Camillus.  The project could result in the Canal way becoming part of the longest continuous bicycle and pedestrian trail in North America.

 

November 17, 2016

Ivory Tower

David Rubin, Kristi Anderson, Tara Ross and Bob Spitzerfrom WCNY’s Ivory Tower will discuss the presidential election and how the new presidency will affect the economy, national security, healthcare, and more.

November 10, 2016

An Update on the Refugee Alliance

The Refugee Alliance of Greater Syracuse, a collaborative group of stakeholders in refugee resettlement and integration, is an excellent example of the ways studies like those created by the Onondaga Citizens League can create significant opportunities. Join Mark Cass, executive director/organizer of Alliance of Communities Transforming Syracuse (ACTS), Nicole Watts, founder/executive director of Hopeprint, and Olive Sephuma, director of the Center for New Americans at Interfaith Works, along with three former refugees. They will share local statistics, how Central New York welcomes its new neighbors, ways these new Americans are an asset to our community, and how the members of the alliance participate in this collective effort..

November 3, 2016

Literacy CNY Celebrates 54 years as Ruth Colvin turns 100

Ruth Colvin is the founder of Literacy Volunteers of America (now ProLiteracy Worldwide). She will discuss the history of the local organization, its success stories, and the impact Literacy CNY has had on adult learners in our region. She will be joined by board president Karen Tift, who will discuss the future and what we, as a community, can do to help. Join us to help celebrate Ruth’s 100th birthday.

October 27, 2016

Onondaga Lake Clean-Up

Onondaga County’s Office of Environment, Tom Rhodes, Commissioner of Onondaga County Water Environment Protection.

October 20, 2016

Update on the Arts in Central New York

Robert Hupp, artistic director of Syracuse Stage, Elizabeth Dunbar, executive director of the Everson Museum, and Steve Butler, executive director of CNY Arts, will give an update on what is happening in the arts arena, and share upcoming events and plans for the future.

October 13, 2016
Refugees and their Changing Family Experience

Rashmi Gangamma, Ph.D., assistant professor in Marriage & Family Therapy at SU’s Falk College will share her research on what happens to family relationships when they are abruptly—and sometimes very violently—displaced from their home country. She will discuss their sense of loss, inability to trust others, and how their past struggles still live in them.

October 6, 2016
Skills Gap in the Workplace

Some argue that there is not a shortage of jobs in Central New York, but there is a shortage of skilled workers. Our panelists will share their perspectives on how to fill the skills gaps, and what type of “soft skills” employers are looking for.

David Duerr, vice president of business development for Empower Federal Credit Union; David Freund, chief leadership officer at MACNY; Juanita Perez Williams, regional director for the Department of Labor in Central New York; Michael Evans, Ph.D., professor at Syracuse University and founder of Evans and Associates Consulting

The Levi Smith Community Service Award will be presented to a TMR member.

September 29, 2016
Heroin Epidemic in Central New York

A panel discussion on this topic includes New York State Police Major Frank Coots; Mark Raymond, manager of Crouse’s opioid treatment program at Crouse; Michele Caliva, RN CSPI, administrative director of Upstate New York Poison Center; and Erin Bortel, director of prevention services at ACR Health.
Panel Discussion

September 22, 2016
OCL Study: How CNY Moves

Study co-chairs highlight the 2015/16 Onondaga Citizens League study on how to realign auto-centric practices for the 21st century.
Heidi Holtzand Mary Kate Intaglietta

September 15, 2016
Racial Tensions in America

SU Police Chief Bobby Maldonado, College of Law associate professor Lauryn Gouldin and Rochelle L. Ford, Ph.D., professor and chair, Newhouse School of Public Communications will discuss racial tensions and share their own perspectives on solutions.
Panel Discussion

September 8, 2016
His organization, Believe in Syracuse, inspires civic pride and converts that pride into progress in improving the quality of life in the Greater Syracuse community.
John DeSantis, Executive Director

April 28, 2016
Overview with Onondaga County Comptroller: Consolidation, Land Bank & the City, and State Budgeting
Robert Antonacci

April 21, 2016
Update with Mayor Stephanie Miner
Mayor Stephanie Miner

April 14, 2016
The Effects of Climate Change and What That Means for Our Environment
Jack Manno Ph.D., Professor, Environmental Studies, SUNY ESF

April 7, 2016
Building the Next Great Upstate Company
Nasir Ali, founder of Upstate Venture Connect (UVC)

March 31, 2016
Females in Combat: Personal Account of a Veteran Combat Pilot
Lieutenant Colonel Michele Kilgore, Commander, 174th Attack Wing

March 24, 2016
The Political Roots of Racial Tracking In American Criminal Justice
Nina Moore, Associate Professor of Political Science, Colgate University

March 17, 2016
Update and Plans going forward
Eugene J. Conway, Onondaga County Sheriff

March 10, 2016
Impact of I-81 on Public Housing
Bill Simmons, Syracuse Housing, Rebecca Newman Housing Visions and Sally Santangelo, CNY Fair Housing

March 3, 2016
Education is the Best Anti-poverty Initiative
Superintendent Sharon L. Contreras, Ph.D.

February 25, 2016
Ethics in Media
Media Panel: Chris Bolt, WAER; Dan Cummings, Channel 9 News; Rae Fulkerson, News director, CNY Central; Stephen Cvengros, vice president of content, Syracuse Media Group; Iris St Meran, Time Warner Cable News

February 18, 2016
National Veterans Resource Complex
Michael Haynie, Vice Chancellor Veteran & Military Affairs, Syracuse University

February 11, 2016
Deer Control
Mark Olsen, mayor of Fayetteville Brian Underwood, Adjunct Professor, SUNY ESF

February 4, 2016
Overview & Projects Update
A conversation with Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney

January 28, 2016
Consensus Report
Dr. Neil Murphy, Co-Chair, Consensus, Former President, SUNY ESF & Rob Simpson, president & CEO CenterState CEO

December 10, 2015
A New Day for the OHA
Gregg Tripoli, Executive Director; Onondaga Historical Association; Dennis Connors, History Curator; Onondaga Historical Association

December 3, 2015
Feeding the Hungry in Syracuse
Mary Beth Frey, Samaritan Center; Kathleen Stress, Food Bank of CNY; Alan Thornton, Rescue Mission; John Tumino, In My Father’s Kitchen

November 26, 2015
Happy Thanksgiving!

November 19, 2015
 “A Conversation with Linda LeMura”
Linda LeMura, President, Le Moyne College

November 12, 2015
“SUNY Morrisville: Beginning Again”
David E. Rogers, President, SUNY Morrisville

November 5, 2015
“China’s Economy and Economic Growth”
Mary E. Lovely, Professor of Economics, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs

October 29, 2015
“BusPlus – Creating a Bus Rapid Transit Line in Upstate New York”
Ross Farrell, Director of Planning, Capital District Transportation Authority
Mario Colone, Program Manager, SMTC

October 22, 2015
Philip C. Pinsky Memorial Lecture “Healthcare Reform in New York State from Willowbrook to DSRIP”
James Introne, NYS health care policy advisor

October 15, 2015
50th Anniversary Breakfast of Champions
with The New York Times op-ed columnist, Charles Blow to benefit the Levi L. Smith Scholarship Fund

October 8, 2015
Creating a 21st Century Transportation System for New York State
Matt Driscoll, NYS DOT Commissioner

October 1, 2015
How Can We Ensure Safe Unmanned Aircraft Systems in the US?
Lawrence H. Brinker, Esq., Executive Director & General Counsel, NUAIR Alliance

September 24
“Hotel Syracuse Restoration”
Ed Riley, Managing Member, Hotel Syracuse Restoration

September 17
“Crouse Hospital: The Inside Story”
Kimberly Boynton, CEO, Crouse Hospital

September 10
“The Great New York State Fair – What’s New, What’s Next?”
Troy Waffner, Acting Director, NYS Fair

April 23
“Public Health in Onondaga County”
Indu Gupta, MD, MPH, Onondaga County Commissioner of Health

April 16
“Civil Rights in Syracuse: Then and Now”
Panel Discussion

April 9
“The CNY Regional Transportation Authority”
Frank Kobliski, Executive Director, Centro

April 2
“Get On Board with the Syracuse Chiefs”
Jason Smorol, General Manager, Syracuse Chiefs

March 26
“The Dilemma of Public Welfare”
Ann Rooney, Deputy County Executive for Human Services

March 19
“The Meaning of ‘Social Action’ in Syracuse”
Walt Dixie, Jubilee Homes; Andy Mager, Syracuse Cultural Workers; Ursula Rozum, Syracuse Peace Council; Peter Sarver, Alliance of Communities Transforming Syracuse (ACTS)

March 12
“How Big is Home Base?” (12-county region)
Robert Simpson, President, CenterState CEO

March 5
“Our Major Strengths and Weaknesses, As Seen From City Hall”
Mayor Stephanie Miner, City of Syracuse

February 26
“Work Train: Job Training for Low-income Syracuse Residents”
Meg O’ Connell, Executive Director, The Allyn Foundation, Chair of Work Train Collaborative; Dominic Robinson, Centerstate CEO, Director of Work Train Collaborative; Frank Lazarski, President, United Way of Central New York

February 19
“Creating Housing Opportunities, Revitalizing Neighborhoods”
Katelyn Wright, Executive Director, Greater Syracuse Land Bank; Kerry Quaglia, Executive Director, Home HeadQuarters

February 12
“Environmental Challenges in the 21st Century and SUNY ESF”
Quentin Wheeler, President, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

February 5
“Creative Philanthropy: Entrepreneurial Perspectives on Social Responsibility”
Matt Godard, owner, Café Kubal; Jim Barr, co-chair, SADA Charity Preview; Laura Serway, Cindy Seymour, owners, Laci’s Tapas Bar; Nancy Marshall, founder, InKind

December 4
“Consensus CNY Update – Baseline Data Report”
Neil Murphy, PhD., co-chair, Commission on Local Government Modernization; Joseph Stefko, PhD., CEO, Center for Governmental Research

November 20
“A Conversation with the Onondaga County Executive”
Joanne Mahoney, County Executive

November 13
“An Assessment of Fair Housing for Onondaga County and the City of Syracuse”
Sally Santangelo, Executive Director, CNY Fair Housing

November 6
“Why Zoos and Aquariums Matter: the Future of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo”
Janet Agostini, President, Friends of the Zoo
Ted Fox, Director, Rosamond Gifford Zoo

October 30
“24th Congressional District Election”
Rep. Dan Maffei, Democratic Candidate
John Katko, Republican Candidate
Prof. Grant Reeher, Moderator

October 23
“Onondaga County Sheriff’s Race”
Gene Conway, Republican Candidate
Toby Shelley, Democratic Candidate
Prof. Grant Reeher, Moderator

October 16
“Fair Elections and the Redistricting Ballot Proposition”
Susan Lerner, Executive Director, Common Cause, New York

October 9
“Engage CNY Cultural Plan”
Stephen Butler, Executive Director, CNY Arts
Jeffrey Woodward, Managing Director, Syracuse Stage
Carol Eaton, Vice President of Marketing, Syracuse Convention and Visitors Bureau
Barbara Bartlett, Director, Lorenzo Historic Site

October 2
“A Conversation with Chancellor Syverud”
Kent Syverud, Chancellor and President, Syracuse University

September 25
A Regional Vision: College, Career and Citizenship Readiness in CNY
Jody Manning, District Superintendent, OCM BOCES; Jeffrey Craig, Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Support Support Services, OCM BOCES; Colleen Viggiano, Assistant Superintendent for Student Services, OCM BOCES

September 18
Social Entrepreneurship in Syracuse: 4 Models
Dominic Robinson, Northside UP; Janie Mills, Salt Works; Mike Melara, Catholic Charities Project Joseph; Adam Sudmann, My Lucky Tummy; Seth Mulligan, UP Start Syracuse

September 11
Global Security Challenges and Issues for the U.S.
Vice Adm. Robert B. Murrett, (Ret.) Deputy Director, Institute for National Security and Counterterrorism (INSCT), Syracuse University

April 17

WCNY’s weekly public affairs program Ivory Tower Hour
Barbara Fought, Professor, Newhouse School, SU
Kristi Andersen, Professor, Maxwell School
Lisa Dolak, Professor, SU College of Law
Tara Ross, Professor of History, Onondaga Community College
David Rubin, Professor, Newhouse School
Bob Spitzer, Professor of Political Science, SUNY Cortland

April 10

Religious Opposition and Marriage Equality: Game Over?
Ludger Viefhues-Bailey, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, Gender, and Culture, Le Moyne College

April 3

The Onondaga County Justice Center and the State of Corrections in America
Esteban Gonzalez, Chief Custody Deputy, Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office; president, American Jail Association

March 27

The Minimum Wage Debate” with Frederick Floss
Executive Director of the Fiscal Policy Institute

March 20

Vision CNY: A Central New York Regional Sustainability Plan
David Bottar, Executive Director of the Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board

March 13

The Onondaga County Legislature: Current Agenda and Future Plans
Ryan McMahon, Chairman of the Onondaga County Legislature

March 6

A Conversation with Mayor Stephanie Miner

Feb. 27

Creating a New Waste Management Policy for Onondaga County
Mark Donnelly, Executive Director, OCRRA
Khristopher Dodson, Associate Director, Environmental Finance Center, Syracuse Center of Excellence

Feb. 20

Mideast Peace Talks, Syrian Refugees, and the Syracuse University Connection
Charles Benjamin, President, Near East Foundation

Feb. 13

“Rethinking the Structure of Local Government”
Neil Murphy, Cathy Richardson and Jim Walsh, Co-chairs, Government Modernization Commission

Feb.6
New Faces On the CNY Art Scene: What Does the future Hold for Our Community’s Arts Institutions?
Tom Kazmierczak, Executive Director, Landmark Theatre
Lisa Smith, Managing Director, Syracuse Opera
Catherine Underhill, Managing Director, Symphoria

Jan. 30
A Conversation with Congressman Dan Maffei
Featuring Congressman Dan Maffei

Dec. 12
What’s New at the Community’s College
Featuring Onondaga Community College President Dr. Casey Crabill.

Dec. 5
Great Expectations: Update on the SCSD Strategic Plan
Featuring Sharon Contreras, Syracuse City School District superintendent.

Nov. 21
Greater Syracuse Land Bank
Featuring Katelyn Wright, executive director of the Greater Syracuse Land Bank; and Vito Sciscioli, chairman of the Greater Syracuse Land Bank board.

Nov. 14
ALT-81: Reimagining Urban Expressways
Featuring Jonathan Solomon, associate dean of the Syracuse University School of Architecture; andMarc Norman, director of UPSTATE at the Syracuse University School of Architecture.

Nov. 7
Onondaga County’s Human Services Reorganization and What it Means to the Delivery of Human Services to County Residents
Featuring Ann Rooney, deputy county executive for human services; David Sutkowy, commissioner of the county’s Department of Social Services.

Oct. 31
Regional Economic Development Update
Featuring Robert Simpson, president and CEO of CenterState CEO.

Oct. 24
Ensuring a Safe City
Featuring Syracuse Police Department Chief Frank L. Fowler.

Oct. 17
The Affordable Health Care Act and the new state Health Exchanges
Featuring Sara Wall Bollinger, executive director for Health Planning, HealtheConnections.

Oct. 10
Our Mental Health Service Delivery System: Where Do We Stand?
Featuring Robert Long, commissioner of the Onondaga County Department of Mental Health; Dr. Mark Cattalani, clinical director of Hutchings Psychiatric Center; Dr. Robert Gregory, professor and interim Chair of Psychiatry at SUNY Upstate Medical University; Dr. Narayana Reddy, department chair of mental health services at St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center.

Oct. 3
Seeds of Peace: Reducing racial tension and violence in our schools and community
Jose Cossa, Seeds of Peace coordinator, InterFaith Works of CNY and teen panel

Sept. 26
Assessing Community Needs, Priorities, and Trends
Frank Lazarski, President, United Way

Sept. 19
Onondaga County Budget: Maintaining a Healthy Balance
Joanie Mahoney, Onondaga County Executive

Sept. 12
Intelligence, Surveillance and National Security
Vice Adm. Robert B. Murrett, (Ret.) Deputy Director, Institute for National Security and Counterterrorism (INSCT), Syracuse University

April 25
Building Success for Children, Ensuring Success for New York
Featuring Robert Frawley, deputy director of the New York State Council on Children and Families and co-chair of the New York State Early Childhood Advisory Council, and Patty Persell, director of the New York State Head Start Collaboration Project.

April 18
Downtown Developments
Featuring Merike Treier, executive director of the Downtown Committee of Syracuse, and David Nutting, chairman and CEO of VIP Structures.

April 11
The World at Our Doorstep — Embracing Refugee Resettlement
Heidi Holtz and Kristen Mucitelli-Heath, OCL board members and study co-chairs

April 4
Unprecedented Challenges for Cities
Stephanie Miner, Mayor of the City of Syracuse

March 28
A Conversation with the New York State Comptroller
Thomas P. DiNapoli

March 21
Politics 101: Navigating the Political Process
Kevin Tampone, coordinator of the CNY Political Leadership Institute. Also featuring Lisa Dell, Michael Meath and David Reed

March 14
Paying it Forward: Ithaca’s Millennial Mayor
Svante Myrick, Mayor of the City of Ithaca

March 7
Is Gun Policy at a Crossroads in America?
Robert Spitzer, Distringuished Service Professor and Chair of the Political Science Department at SUNY Cortland

Feb. 28
The Syracuse New Times: CNY’s locally-owned newsweekly
Bill Brod, Publisher, Syracuse New Times and Family Times

Feb. 21
An Update on New York State’s Medicaid Redesign
Nirav Shah, MD, MPH, NYS Health Commissioner

Feb. 14
OHA at 150: New Exhibits, New Products and a New Museum on the Lake
Gregg Tripoli, Executive Director, Onondaga Historical Association

Feb. 7
A Conversation with Senator Valesky
David J. Valesky, NYS Senator, 53rd Senate District

Dec. 13
A Conversation with Senator DeFrancisco
Featuring John DeFrancisco, New York State Senator

Dec. 6
Destiny USA
Featuring Destiny USA executive David Aitken

Nov. 29
Onondaga County Sustainable Development Plan
Featuring Joanne Mahoney, Onondaga County Executive, and Megan Costa, Syracuse-Onondaga County Planning Agency

Nov. 22
Happy Thanksgiving

Nov. 15
How Corporate Socialism is Devastating America
Featuring David Cay Johnston, Visiting Distinguished Lecturer at the Syracuse University College of Law and Whitman School of Management

Nov. 8
2012 Elections
Featuring WCNY’s Ivory Tower Panelists

Nov. 1
On the Election
Featuring Robert McClure, professor of Political Science and Public Affairs at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School

Oct. 25
Cyber Security
Featuring Dr. Kamal Jabbour, ST, a USAF Senior Scientist for Information Assurance

Oct. 18
Changes at The Post-Standard
Featuring Stephen A. Rogers, Editor and Publisher of The Post-Standard, and Tim Kennedy, President of the Syracuse Media Group

Oct. 11
Great Expectations
Featuring Sharon Contreras, Superintendent of the Syracuse City School District

Oct. 4
Two Row Wampum Renewal
Featuring Andy Mager of the Syracuse Peace Council and Jake Edwards, Onondaga Nation

Sept. 27
Onondaga County Budget
Featuring Joanne Mahoney, Onondaga County Executive

Sept. 20
125 Years of Changing Lives
Featuring Alan Thornton, executive director and CEO of the Syracuse Rescue Mission

Sept. 13
Two Bold Ideas Four Years Later: The Connective Corridor and Near Westside Initiative
Featuring Marilyn Higgins, vice president for Community Engagement and Economic Development at Syracuse University; Linda Hartsock, Syracuse University’s director of the Connective Corridor; and Maarten Jacobs, director of the Near Westside Initiative.