Introduction
National, regional and local funders joined leaders from six community organizations to explore the
challenges of upstate New York. Designed to help funding institutions better understand the social
and economic challenges of the upstate region, the briefing also enabled executives and program
officers to share their experiences in supporting grassroots community organizing as a way to meet
their program goals.
Highlights
The Funder Briefing was convened by Interfaith Funders, a network of faith-based and secular
funders who support institution-based community organizing. Thirteen funding institutions co-
convened this event. The program included expert panel discussions, presentations by grassroots
leaders and organizers, networking opportunities and a site visit.
The keynote panel featured Frank Mauro, Executive Director of the Fiscal Policy Institute, who
provided a compelling overview of the consequences that stagnant or declining population and jobs
have had on the region. Rev. Ronald Davis (Pastor, Hopps CME Memorial Church & President,
ACTS/Syracuse) and Mr. Richard Rozon (Member, Holy Apostles Church & Leader, Interfaith
Action/Rochester) shared their grassroots views and how the New York Thruway Alliance plans to
address regional concerns. The panel was moderated by Kathy Partridge, Executive Director of
Interfaith Funders.
During another panel, Cris Doby (Charles Stewart Mott Foundation), Randy Keesler (Catholic
Campaign for Human Development), Kevin Ryan (New York Foundation), and Sarah Stranahan (The
Needmor Fund) shared their powerful experiences with the success of grassroots community
organizing in mobilizing citizens and bringing about concrete changes in urban and rural communities.
Experiencing neighborhood life
To fully experience the connection of grassroots leadership and issue work with state and regional
policy implications, briefing participants ventured into one Buffalo neighborhood. Standing amidst
broken glass and debris in a dilapidated city park, Voice-Buffalo leader Ms. Ava White of Second
Chance Ministry told of the hard work and vision that lead to a victory that will transform this park and
nearby buildings into a vibrant center for the community.
New York Thruway Alliance
Cities, surrounding suburb and rural areas across upstate are increasingly challenged to provide
basic services for their citizens. The New York Thruway Alliance has launched a 4-part campaign to
address this and related problems. Beginning in Cortland County, and extending in either direction
along the Thruway, NYTA organizations are 1) conducting a broad-based listening campaign with
5000 families; 2) building partnerships with policy experts, funding institutions and other allies; 3)
conducting research to gain a deeper understanding of how state policy impacts the concerns of
families; and 4) planning meetings with a range of state officials to explore policy options and new
investment strategies for the region.
New York Thruway Alliance leaders inspired and informed participants with their personal testimonials
and sketches of the histories, victories, and strategies of the six organizations: Voice-Buffalo,
Interfaith Action (Rochester), NOAH (Niagara County), Cortland Interfaith Sponsoring Committee,
ARISE Capital Region, and ACTS (Syracuse). With representatives from the PICO National Network
and Gamaliel Foundation, executives and program officers learned how the NYTA is an
unprecedented national model of collaboration between two networks with different organizing
cultures and priorities.
Commitments
Many funding institutions made commitments to earnestly explore a new form of strategic partnership,
including financial support and other activities with the New York Thruway Alliance and/or its member
organizations: Catholic Campaign for Human Development (local & national offices), Center for
Community Change, Charles Steward Mott Foundation, Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo,
Community Health Foundation of Western & Central New York, Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America, John R. Oishei Foundation, New York Foundation, Presbyterian Church (USA), Self-
Development of People Fund, Solidago Foundation, Unitarian Universalist Veatch Program at Shelter
Rock, and The Needmor Fund.
Special thanks to
Catholic Campaign for Human Development and Unitarian Universalist Veatch Program at Shelter
Rock for underwriting this event. For more information, call Kathy Partridge at (720) 494-9011.
Alliance of Comm. Transforming Syracuse: 1085 E. Genesee St.., Syracuse 13210 – (315) 254-6198
ARISE Capital Region: 235 Lark St., Albany 12210 – (518) 426-1552
Cortland Interfaith Sponsoring Committee: 14 Copeland Ave., Homer – (585) 752-1326
Interfaith Action: 410 Chili Ave., Rochester 14611 – (585) 235-2590
Niagara Organizing Alliance for Hope: 100 Church St., Youngstown 14274 – (570) 762-2348
Voice-Buffalo: 345 Franklin St., Buffalo 14202 – (716) 842-6571
April 28, 2007
New York Thruway Alliance
Power of People United:
Community Organizing and Upstate NY
Funder Briefing
April 18 & 19, 2007 • Buffalo, New York
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