Leaders from seven local grassroots and nonprofit organizations recently graduated from The Leadership Classroom (TLC), an initiative of the Central New York Community Foundation. After participating in monthly training sessions over the course of a year, each group received a $3,500 grant to implement a community project that is proposed and planned during their training.
Each organization is addressing a unique and specific need in the Greater Syracuse community:
Alternative Support, Inc.: Alternative Support, Inc. provides services for families at its Neighborhood Child Care and Family Resource Center. The organization seeks to uplift families and their children by offering parenting skills classes, child care, and transportation for field trips and site visits.
Breadcrumbs Productions: Breadcrumbs Productions supports artists of all media, but especially theatre artists, who are working to develop a professional career in Syracuse and Central New York. The organization produces several original productions each year and supports the creation of bold and risk-taking theatrical work.
Fearless Queens: Fearless Queens serves all women, specifically underserved women and girls of color, from all over the region. The organization sponsors workshops, food giveaways and youth programming to inspire women to fearlessly discover their inner power and develop their talents to initiate changes within their communities.
Feed the Multitude: Feed the Multitude provides meals and groceries to individuals living in homelessness or those who need food but are between paychecks.
Light-A-Candle for Literacy: Light-A-Candle for Literacy strives to increase awareness of the importance of literacy, counteract summer reading loss in children and help parents understand the importance of reading daily.
R.O.Y.A.L. Vision: R.O.Y.A.L. Vision gives back to youth by teaching life skills through community collaboration and partnerships.
Women on the Front Line Ministries: Women on the Front Line Ministries provide educational opportunities such as public speaking, resume and grant writing, horseback riding, and spiritual and social enhancement for women. The organization hopes to encourage and motivate women to find their life purpose and achieve their dreams and goals through skill-building.
The Leadership Classroom (TLC) is an eight-month leadership training initiative offered by the Central New York Community Foundation. Participants are community and nonprofit representatives who want to learn advanced leadership skills alongside other neighborhood leaders in an interactive setting. Learn more here.