This past month, we mourned the loss of Mrs. Emma L. Johnston, an original founder of PEACE, Inc., member and leader of many local civil rights/advocacy organizations, and pillar of the community. She passed October 31 at Crouse Hospital after a long illness. She was 86.

Arriving to Syracuse from the South in 1963, Mrs. Johnston’s firsthand experiences with housing discrimination led her to become a passionate voice against all forms of injustice in our community. As she reflected in an interview with PEACE, Inc., Mrs. Johnston wanted to know why “I came from the South and got more discrimination here than I had in the South.”

Joining the NAACP and the precursor to PEACE, Inc., Crusade for Opportunity, Mrs. Johnston cofounded and served PEACE, Inc. in a number of leadership positions for more than 50 years. In recognition for her service to the community, PEACE, Inc.’s Southside Family Resource Center was renamed to honor her legacy of service.

Perhaps former Executive Director Joseph E. O’Hara’s description of Mrs. Johnston and her contributions to the agency sums it best, “She’s our Rosa Parks. She’s just a very classy person who is going to seek fairness, justice and equal opportunity every waking moment.”

Volunteers are critical for our Organization. They commit their time, talents, energy to improving our community and the residents of it. We’d like to shed the light a volunteer who has helped us throughout the pandemic, Jackie Gayle.

Jackie began working with PEACE, Inc. as an Intern within our Home Delivery Program in February 2021. Studying Human Services and Criminal Justice at Onondaga Community College, she was seeking to complete required hours towards her major. A mother of three who returned to school and is changing professions, Jackie was instantly attracted to the agency’s mission because she “loves what we do.” “I like helping people- PEACE was the place that stood out to me.”

In her responsibilities, Jackie assisted our logistics manager Sharon Thompson with the delivery of meals for homebound seniors. She also regularly called them to identify their needs. Her commitment was impressive, at one point even pushing the van uphill to ensure her clients received their meals. After completing her internship hours, Jackie remained with PEACE, Inc. as a volunteer. She shared that even with a busy school schedule, Jackie looks forward to her time on Fridays and states that she’ll keep volunteering at PEACE, Inc.

Are you interested in following Jackie’s lead and feeling a sense of purpose through volunteering? We need drivers for our Nutrition Department. Big Brothers Big Sisters and our Foster Grandparent program are always on the lookout for Community and Senior mentors too. Our free tax program is looking for volunteer tax preparers as well.

Contact us at volunteer@peace-caa.org for more information!