On June 6th, STEAM at Dr.King Elementary collaboration site with Head Start held a Luau event for pre-k and their families. All who attended enjoyed games, crafts, and had chances to win prizes. Parents also had a chance to view tables with helpful information regarding developmental milestones, Kindergarten registration, and our very own PEACE Inc. This was a fun filled event and a great send off to summer!
PEACE, Inc.’s Head Start programs are always looking for ways to integrate parents into their practice. Recently, kids were enjoying a gross motor skills class, learning all the things one can do and make with boxes. Some very imaginative parents swooped in and built a big, fun bus! Kids were delighted and that bond between home and classroom became just a little bit stronger. While the activities may be whimsical, forming and strengthening those child-parent-school bonds is serious work. It’s through these kinds of activities that we create a culture of trust and comfort where everyone benefits. This was a brilliant example of how Head Start is a whole family endeavor.
This past month must’ve been the dreariest, rainiest, muckiest May in memory. But the budding artists at Merrick Head Start were undeterred! They leaned into their creative sides, making artwork that ranged from self portrait to collage to rocks and pebbles painted to look like fruits and veggies. (We’re particularly fond of the watermelon!) The resulting Art Expo – open to the public – was a huge hit, delighting a great many visitors who were otherwise soaked by the incessant precipitation. What a colorful, welcome relief to a grey day. Special thanks to Ms. Jessica and Ms. Lashantay for making this expo happen!
PEACE Inc.’s Merrick Head Start brought the outdoors indoors! While the last month has been unseasonably rainy, that didn’t stop our teachers from facilitating an outdoors experience inside their classrooms! Kids got to huddle inside a tent and practice their s’mores technique over a very safe fire — ingeniously made of red and orange tissue paper. They also observed their classroom cocoons start to split and butterflies emerge. The day piqued the kids’ inherent curiosity about nature and everyone had a ball. Thank you teachers for always leaning into your imagination to create these wonderful experiences for our kids!
Lori Rolince began working in our Head Start program in 2021 as the front desk Administrative Assistant at our Liverpool site. One year later she became a Family Worker, and currently serves families of preschoolers enrolled at our Sumner site.
Lori was nominated for this award not only for her excellent work performance and positive attitude in the face of an often overwhelming workload, but in particular for the training and assistance that she also takes the time to provide to newer Family Workers. In the words of a co-worker who nominated Lori: “Her commitment to excellence and reliability in her day-to-day responsibilities has not gone unnoticed. Beyond that, her willingness to guide and support new team members reflects both her leadership and her genuine investment in the success of our team.”
Congratulations and thanks to Lori Rolince, our Employee of the Month for May!
Photo: Employee of the Month Lori Rolince (center) with (L to R) Head Start Director Becky Heberle, Partnerships Coordinator Kim Senke, Family Worker Jazmine Holloman, Site Supervisor Kelly Jensen, Family & Community Services Manager Kate Tohafjian, and Family Worker Bobbi Jo Tousley.
Our annual Champions of Diversity celebration brought together people from every corner of our community — from donors to families we serve, elected officials to community activists. It was a palpable reminder that we are all in this together and that we need all hands on deck.
We were delighted to celebrate three local, inspirational leaders:
Pam Hunter, New York State Assemblymember
Frank M. Ridzi, Vice President of Community Investment at the CNY Community Foundation
Syeisha Byrd, Syracuse Commissioner of Parks, Recreation, and Youth Programs
Given the nature of our honorees, the event could just as well have been titled In the Trenches with Sleeves Rolled Up. Each of them exemplifies a leadership style that puts service first and continually prioritizes deep, authentic work in the community, often at the ground level. Each of them is uniquely in tune with the needs, the pains, and the ideas of our community. It’s through these types of leaders that we rise together.
Our Executive Director, Carolyn D. Brown summed up the evening perfectly in paraphrasing Pope Leo XIV’s first homily, insisting that we stay awake and attuned to those around us — especially in a cultural moment when it’s more popular to turn inward. We all left that night with a renewed sense of purpose and eager to do the good, hard, necessary work.
Stephanie Bingham started at PEACE Inc. in 2017 as the Program Assistant for Big Brothers Big Sisters. In 2019, she became the Coordinator at our Westside Family Resource Center. In 2021, she accepted her current role as Associate Director of Family Services.
Steph continues to be a valuable member of the Family Services team. She has identified numerous areas for improvement in the GoEngage database, has trained staff, has developed procedures to assure database efficiencies and data integrity, and she readily accepts additional responsibilities in order to best aid her peers, clients and the PEACE, Inc. brand overall.
Steph has served on a number of key teams, including: the IT Committee, Community Data Group Racial Equity Committee, E. Adams Street Child Care Team, and Community Action – 60 Years at the State, just to name a few. Last year, she also represented PEACE, Inc. in Albany at the NYS Child Care Advocacy Day.
Thank you, Stephanie, for everything you do. Congratulations on being named our Employee of the Year for 2024!
Photo: 2024 Employee of the Year Stephanie Bingham, with Director of Family Services Mary Beth Welch and Executive Director Carolyn Brown.
BEST SEATS in the house!!! Seniors from our Frank DeFrancisco Eastwood Community Center had a ball at the recent Syracuse Mets v Rochester Red Wings game. Home team took it 5-2 and it was a perfect day for connecting with old friends and taking it all in. Big thanks to Stadium Management for helping make this great day possible!
PEACE, Inc. recently honored its AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent volunteers at the annual program recognition luncheon. Honor was given to 70 volunteers for their committed service and dedication to the children of our community. Special recognition was given to 13 foster grandparents celebrating 10 years in Foster Grandparent.
Of special note were 2 volunteers who have each given 15 years of service:
Brenda Bradforth is friendly, outgoing, and always has a kind word to share with students at Bellevue Elementary School. This fashionista grandma excels at helping students develop math and reading skills and can easily be spotted, sharply dressed and color coordinated in the classroom, surrounded by adoring first graders!
Bill Zimmer’s quiet, caring presence has helped the 3rd graders at McKinley-Brighton Elementary develop social-emotional, literacy, and math skills. He loves a good comic strip, and uses the funny pages to help children build reading confidence and practice their fluency.
Throughout the luncheon, we were reminded of the powerful quote: “The rock that is an obstacle in the path of one person, becomes the stepping stone in the path of another.” To all foster grandparents – thank you for being that ever-present, sturdy stepping stone for the children you serve in our community’s elementary schools and Head Start centers. You are setting a great example and a fantastic foundation for our next generation!
