August 8, 2024

On July 29th, InterFaith Works purchased the Welcome Home, located at 527 Oak Street in Syracuse. The home was built in 1930, and is 7,002 square feet. Once renovated, the home will serve as temporary housing for refugees until appropriate accommodations are available. The first floor will provide two handicapped accessible apartments suitable for families, and four one-bedroom/studio apartments will be on the second floor. This property will have a huge impact on the quality of services InterFaith Works provides to clients, saving the cost of temporary housing, and improving the effectiveness of housing operations. The Welcome Home will also contribute to revitalizing a beautiful home on the city’s northside.

On June 8th the El-Hindi Center for Dialogue & Action hosted the annual United We End Racism (UWER) event - rallying individuals, groups, and organizations around the idea of ending racism while acknowledging the important work being done in our community. UWER includes both the Racial Justice Awards and the "Duck Race" community festival.

Congratulations to the Racial Justice Award winners: David MacDonald, Hasan Stephens, Asteir Bey, Tiffany Lloyd, and Nevis Nasser!

Many thanks to our Presenting sponsors Syracuse University and National Grid, along with the generous Leadership sponsors, Supporting sponsors, and volunteers for helping make the UWER event a great success. Attendees enjoyed music and entertainment performances; discovered youth programming and food access program information; participated in STEM activities (hosted by Syracuse University Engineering programs); henna and face paint activities; running in the Duck Race along the Creekwalk, and more.

And finally... Ducks! Our sponsors decorated ducks to represent their mission and work to end racism - all while having a bit of fun. While the ducks don't "swim" anymore, there is steep competition to win in multiple categories of public voting.

2024 winners:

Most Representative of DEI - NewsChannel 9 "Pride Duck"

Most Representative of Company's Mission - NewsChannel 9 "Pride Duck"

Crowd Favorite - Bousquet Holstein, PLLC "Swift Justice Duck”

Many thanks to the interns who are wrapping up their internships as the summer winds down and they return to their colleges and universities for the fall semester. The 2024 summer interns logged a total of 1,667 hours, which is the equivalent of $45,009 in grant matching contributions towards InterFaith Works. We wish these talented and accomplished students good luck in finishing their studies, and we know they will accomplish great things in any endeavor they pursue.

Adrianne Weldum - Community Engagement/Center for New Americans

Kiza Kashindi- Reception and Placement/Center for New Americans

Rosalie Smithers - Reception and Placement/Center for New Americans

Julia del Pino - Match Grant/Center for New Americans

Elizabeth Molestead - Immigration/Center for New Americans

Sophia Style - El-Hindi Center for Dialogue & Action

Mohamed Alhaj - Information Technology

Follow this link to apply for an internship for

the fall of 2024, or spring/summer/fall of 2025:

On July 15th, Eileen and Jim Clinton were presented with a framed commemorative letter thanking them for their generous donation of $50,000, which helped enable InterFaith Works to purchase the Welcome Home. The donation was made in loving memory of Eileen Clinton’s mother, Mary Ellen Higgison, who passed away peacefully on May 29, 2024. The Welcome Home property will allow for New Americans to re-start their lives with optimism and dignity until more permanent housing can be found. The generous gift made by the Clintons in Mary Ellen Higgison’s honor is a fitting memorial to her legacy of creating welcome and blessings for many people throughout her life.

In a generous act of philanthropy and community support, Richard M. Alexander, who serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees at Syracuse University, and his wife Emily have donated $50,000 to InterFaith Works of Central New York. This donation is made in honor of Syracuse University Chancellor Kent Syverud and his wife, Dr. Ruth Chen, recognizing their contributions to the university and the broader Central New York community. By contributing to InterFaith Works, the Alexanders not only acknowledge the Syverud-Chen duo's impact on the university, but also extends their legacy of service and compassion to the wider community. Dr. Chen sits on InterFaith Works’ Board of Directors, and together Syverud and Chen actively support the organization through their personal philanthropic efforts.

The impact of the agency in its efforts to promote social justice, interfaith dialogue, and community empowerment aligns with the values both Syverud and Chen champion. The impact of this generous $50,000 gift to InterFaith Works cannot be overstated. It empowers the agency to provide vital assistance to refugees and immigrants, offer compassionate care to the elderly, and facilitate meaningful dialogue among diverse community members. InterFaith Works is honored to have such support, and deeply appreciate such strong belief in our work. 

Mission Hope Community, an American Baptist congregation meeting in Camillus, recently received two grants from American Baptist Churches of NYS to be applied toward refugee resettlement and New American support. The InterFaith Works Warehouse had a need for air conditioners and window fans, and Mission Hope Community delighted in providing assistance, adding to refugee residential basics as they move in to new homes and apartments. Mission Hope Community would like to recognize the assistance and collaboration of Ollie’s Bargain Outlet on Erie Boulevard in Syracuse.

Many thanks to the Luv Handlz staff and patrons for the generous donation to InterFaith Works! The unique business model of Luv Handlz, a frozen yogurt shop in the heart of Eastwood owned and operated by the Forward Point organization, is to match the tax for every transaction and donate it to local charitable organizations. The customer also has the option to contribute by rounding up to the nearest dollar.

Pastor Jimmy Doyle, the President of Luv Handlz, and his staff chose InterFaith Works as one of four organizations featured as recipients of the funding program for the month of June. Located at 2500 James Street, Syracuse/Eastwood, the shop features creative theme treats and special entertainment events and programming for all ages. The next event is on August 15th, so join in on the fun for the Yellow Helpers Meet and Greet!

Forward Point meets on Sundays at 10:00AM, at the Palace Theater, 2384 James Street, Syracuse.

Join us at historic NBT Bank Stadium on Wednesday, August 21st, at 6:35 p.m., for a We Care Wednesday, presented by Excellus BCBS.

Your Syracuse Mets take on the Durham Bulls, the AAA Affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. Gates will open at 5:30 p.m. Be sure to visit the InterFaith Works information table on the stadium concourse.

Support InterFaith Works by purchasing tickets through this link – $5.00 from each ticket purchased will be donated to InterFaith Works!

In partnership with the Independent Potters Association, join us for a unique celebration benefit for the Center for New Americans on September 20th, 5:00 - 8:00 p.m., at Benjamin’s on Franklin, 314 South Franklin Street, Syracuse. Your donation/admission registration includes complimentary food, beverage and live music entertainment. Additional levels of support also include your choice of handcrafted cups/mugs.

100% of the proceeds from this benefit event will be used to provide refugee baby care supplies, grocery gift cards, women’s health/intimate products, housing assistance and transportation.

Donations through this link serve as your admission registration.

In observance of Women’s History Month in May, InterFaith Works Board of Directors Vice Chair The Hon. Linda R. Ervin was honored by the New York State Senate and Senator John Mannion with his choice for a Women of Distinction award, which celebrates and honors New York women who have broken barriers and enriched the State and Nation.

With this annual award the New York State Senate “recognizes the Empire State is home to countless women who are strong and colorful threads, vital to the fabric of our rich heritage, who have contributed, and continue to add to the advancement, of our culture through their traditional and non-traditional roles in society.”

InterFaith Works President/CEO Beth A. Broadway was a 2013 recipient of the award.

Follow this link for more information and a video

featuring The Hon. Ervin on Senator Mannion’s website.

August 10th, 13th, and 15th will feature cultural music performances by Kinan Azmeh and Arson Fahim, hosted by the Skaneateles Festival. They will be exploring how composers express a sense of home in their music; how they bridge the cultural gap between their country of origin and their new homelands; and how music can address themes of dislocation, rupture, and healing.

In collaboration with the Central New York Community Foundation (CNYCF) and Syracuse-Onondaga Food Systems Alliance, InterFaith Works addresses food justice in Syracuse and Central New York. The initiative connects and helps support 32 grassroot food pantries and partners as a part of its Food Justice Program. It aims to deliver healthy food to diverse neighborhoods experiencing the highest rates of poverty and food insecurity.

Read the story in CNYCF’s “CNY Vitals” publication:

More than 10,000 refugees have created a new home in Onondaga County over the past 10 years. As the City of Syracuse remains a sanctuary city, officials say helping them with the transition as much as possible is a priority.

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