Syracuse Woman Magazine December 2016 by Lorna Oppedisano

December 2016

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December C O N T E N T S

Letter from the Editor.............................................................. 6

Past SWM Events...................................................................... 7 Fashion Forward: Dress to Impress........................................ 8 Platter Chatter: With Love.................................................... 10

WBOC Leading Woman: Nancy Carpenter...................... 15 CNY Latina: Nati Cabrera..................................................... 16 Healthy Woman: Care Net .................................................. 20

Special Feature: De-Stress and Enjoy the Holidays.......... 22 In Her Own Words: 100 Women Who Care CNY............. 23 Cover Story: Mary LaRussa................................................... 25

New in the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Cuse: Syracuse Salt Company........................ 30 Inspire: Kathy Fedrizzi........................................................... 34 Inspire: Shirley Goddard....................................................... 38

Inspire: Michaela Hugo......................................................... 42 Upcoming Events.................................................................. 48

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LETTER from the Editor

s a word person, I wholeheartedly believe that words hold power. Of course, some words have more power than others. And the way in which the words are conjured and let loose into the air —their cadence, their feeling and the force behind them — is what gives them their power. I’m going to go back to my nerdy roots for a second by making a Harry Potter reference. If you’re not a Potterhead, please bear with me. Or just skip the next paragraph. Take a spell, for instance. We all know that if you simply say the words with no feeling behind them, not much will happen. “Expecto patronum” with no umph behind it simply means “I await a guardian.” And you’re going to keep a-waiting. But give that word some power, and you have yourself a silver stag charging from your wand. (I’m staying away from the Avada Kedavra comparison.) I geekily digress. Let’s look at the word “philanthropy,” this month’s theme. I think the concept can intimidate people. Being philanthropic is sometimes associated with donating large sums of money; and if that’s not your personal situation, there’s a potential that you’ll dismiss the goal of being philanthropic as out of reach and unachievable. But to me — like with any word or situation — it is what you make of it. My definition of being philanthropic is giving back where, when and how you can. Personally, giving of my time to a cause is much more feasible than donating money. Giving back to my community is one of my favorite ways of being a part of it. Any relationship — whether between you and another person, or you and your community as a whole — is about give-and-take. Since returning to Syracuse a little more than a year ago, the city and the people here have given me so much; in my work with the magazine, as well as any philanthropic endeavors, my aim is to give back. This month’s cover woman, Syracuse VA Medical Center Women Veteran Program Manager/Maternity Care Coordinator Mary LaRussa, works daily to give back to a group of people who have given so much: veterans. With The Boutique and Boots to Suits program, Mary aims to help retired female veterans successfully integrate back into the workforce. The Inspire section is filled with women leading efforts on local philanthropy. From CNY Diaper Bank cofounder Michaela Hugo to Guardian Angel Society executive director Kathy Fedrizzi to Home Inc. founder Shirley Goddard, these women work tirelessly to help support the less fortunate in our community. In Her Own Words brings us the story behind the new 100 Women Who Care efforts, led locally by Anne Selover. The mission of the group — open to anyone — is to gather quarterly for hour-long meetings to make a positive impact on local charities. And those are just a few examples of the community-minded organizations and people in this issue. So flip through, and see which might be a good fit for your philanthropic mission. Happy holidays!

Lorna

Correction: In our October issue, it was incorrectly reported that Shelly Straub had stage 4 cancer. She had stage 2B breast cancer. On Our Cover: Mary LaRussa was photographed by Alice G. Patterson of Alice G. Patterson Photography at Syracuse VA Medical Center. Special thanks to Jillain Pastella Salomone, owner of J. Luxe Salon, for Mary’s makeup styling.

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Steven J. Pallone Alice G. Patterson Chuck Wainwright

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Lorna Oppedisano

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Photography Cindy Bell Dan Doyle Edges Photography Alexis Emm Enfoque Mary Grace Johnson

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Julie Beyel Kathy Ozzard Chism Paulie Drexler Marisol Hernandez Samantha Mendoza Lorna Oppedisano Anne Selover Ann Marie Stonecypher Gabrielle Reagan

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PAST SWM Events

We celebrated the local business community with BizEventz’s second annual Successful Business Women Awards on Sept. 21 at the OnCenter. Photography courtesy BizEventz On Oct. 14, WISE Women’s Business Center held its annual Little Black Dress event at Sky Armory. Photography courtesy Cindy Bell. The American Heart Association held its Go Red For

Women luncheon on Oct. 27 at the OnCenter. Photography courtesy Edges Photography. On Nov. 2, Women Business Opportunities Connections held its monthly meeting at Pascale’s Italian Bistro at Drumlins. Photography courtesy Enfoque Images.

December 2016

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FASHION FORWARD Dress to Impress

Up-dress for the New Year By Ann Marie Stonecypher

“D

ress for the job you want, not the job you have.” It’s probably not the first time you’re read or heard that phrase, but it’s not a bad mantra, especially if one of your New Year’s goals is to climb the corporate ladder. It’s a lot easier to move up in a company where you’re happy and liked than to start fresh elsewhere. If you’ve been wondering why you seem to be stuck in place, maybe the reason is staring back at you in the mirror every day. One of the unsung heroes in the business world is your wardrobe and appearance. It’s no accident that when you watch an interview with some executive on The Today Show or CNN, they look like an executive. Even though there’s a small movement toward relaxed dress in the work environment — Google’s dress code is “You must wear clothes” — it’s still not the norm. No matter what, you are your brand, and you define what it says about you. So what exactly does it say? Does it say Polished, Professional and DetailOriented? Or does it say Devil-MayCare and Just-Squeaking-By? You control your own brand narrative. Your brand is also tied to that of your company, and these should definitely coincide. The more closely aligned they are, the more easily recognized you will be as the perfect cog in your company’s corporate wheel. My daughter just got her first job out of college. After only a few months, she was singled out to represent the company at a prestigious event, in part because how she presents herself makes a good impression on clients. This was articulated directly to her by her bosses. #ProudMommaMoment. They say “The devil is in the details.” Well, he may know a thing or two about your next promotion, too.

Make sure your shoes and bag are stylish, and your clothes are flawless. Create a sharp hair and makeup look for yourself. Take a trip through your closet and toss anything that doesn’t make you look like Promotable You. Upgrade to classic, better quality duds. Find a stylist or friend, and tell them what you’re trying to accomplish. Does this mean you should dress like the CEO while you’re working in the mailroom? No… that’d be taking things a little too literally. But good for you for your lofty ambitions and do take that a step at a time! It means that your aspirations should match your appearance, so as management surveys its prospects for promotion, YOU stand out. Companies love to promote from within; it makes sense from a fiscal and a morale standpoint. Setting yourself apart as the person who wants to be recognized — this presumes, of course, that your performance is outstanding, as well — just makes sense. How you look adds credibility to what you do and what you want to do. It’s like anything else; if you are accomplished, it’s easier for people to have faith in you. If you look accomplished as well, you may have just sealed the deal. Bottom line: Aesop said “Appearances are often deceiving,” but I say they can also add a cloak of confidence, a shroud of self-assurance and if all goes well, the swagger of the newly-promoted! SWM Ann Marie Stonecypher is an award-winning business woman and the owner of AMS Models & Talent. She is also a stylist, inspirational speaker, two-time breast cancer survivor and freelance writer. She lives in the Syracuse area with her children Taylor and Steven, and her dog Cocoa. If you have any style questions or comments, email Ann Marie at info@ amsmodels.com.

Photography by Dan Doyle Photography Model Dee Dee Williams courtesy of AMS Models and Talent

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PLATTER CHATTER A Different Kind of Restaurant

This is our classroom and everyone here is a student.” —Adam Sudmann, program manager

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Photography by Chuck Wainwright

WITH LOVE

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WITH LOVE

A Different Kind of Restaurant By Gabrielle Reagan

yracuse’s new restaurant With Love is not just another eatery; it’s a classroom. Partnering with Onondaga Community College Workforce Development and CenterState CEO, and with the help of the Onondaga County Industrial Development Agency, With Love is Syracuse’s first teaching restaurant open to the public. Each dish on the menu — which features cuisine from across the globe — is a lesson for diners. “This is our classroom and everyone here is a student,” said program manager Adam Sudmann. “Our main concern is to get people into living wage jobs with a pathway to thriving wage jobs.” After asking food professionals from across the industry to describe what makes a great employee, With Love set a goal: to teach students what employers typically seek. Adam worked alongside With Love’s workforce educator and head chef Chris Muniz, and the pair crafted a culinary curriculum that blends lecture and classroom time with real dining experience in a live restaurant setting. While Sudmann’s first project — self-described “labor of love” My Lucky Tummy — continues working closely with local refugees to create its uniquely inspired pop-up dinners twice a year, Adam hopes With Love will further highlight assets of individuals often overlooked in the community. “This program isn’t necessarily just for refugees,” Adam explained. “It’s for many different people who have been locked out of the workforce and need pertinent, competency-based, industrydeveloped training.” With Love currently offers two tracks of training: food service management and line cook. The goal is to get students into paying jobs as soon as they are ready. With Love projects an average of six months from start to finish. In addition to student training, the restaurant also acts as an entrepreneur incubator; twice a year, it offers its kitchen to an aspiring novice chef with a grasp on a particular regional cuisine. With Love’s very first “Restaurateur in Residence” is student and CenterState-supported entrepreneur Sarah Robin, a refugee from the Punjab Province in Pakistan. She plans to work closely with Chris to mold her knowledge of Pakistani food to industry-level standards, learning quickly what is and is not possible in a restaurant setting. Guests will see both traditional dishes and dishes reimagined to take advantage of Central New York’s produce. “We have to look at how we can stretch that cuisine. How do we play with it in order to get skills delivered to our students?” Chris explained. “Normally, chefs want to streamline and make things less complicated, but we actually need to complicate things in order to deliver skills to our students.” With its small menu — three appetizers, three entrees and two desserts — With Love plans to do a few things, and do them well. Try their lamb chops and brussels sprouts, prepared with a playful amount of spices, and finished with a cooling yogurt marinade. Gluten free? No problem. With Love’s apple pakora, a fried apple delight, uses seven different Pakistani spices and chickpea flour, and comes served with a refreshing mint and cilantro chutney. The kitchen is open, so everything’s on display. Ask a question, share a dish, or just sip on a cup of tea in their cozy window seats. As a teaching restaurant, With Love’s profits are used to help further expand the program. Every six months, With Love plans to incubate a new entrepreneur, offering a new national or regional cuisine, tapping into styles that aren’t otherwise available locally. First up: Pakistan. But next, who knows? The world is a great big place. We just hope you’re hungry. SWM With Love is located at 435 N. Salina St. in Syracuse. The restaurant is open to the public for lunch from noon to 2 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, and for dinner from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday. They plan to expand lunch and dinner hours next year. For more information, visit withloverestaurant.com. OCC’s Food Service Management Program has been funded under a $2.5M United States Department of Labor TAACCCT Grant whose purpose is to facilitate greater employment by improving workforce education. This program is an equal opportunity program; auxiliary aids are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.

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WBOC Nancy Carpenter

Itty Bitty Literacy

Photography by Alexis Emm

By Lorna Oppedisano

If you’re my friend, you end up with a poem.”—Nancy Carpenter, author, poet and teacher

ancy Carpenter dreams to be the Johnny Appleseed of poetry, handing out a poem per person. Perhaps a lofty aspiration for some, but – having written literally thousands of poems in her lifetime already – you could say that the published author and teacher is well on her way to fulfilling that goal. Born into a family of readers – “very much a college family,” Nancy said – she always knew she would be a teacher. She followed in the footsteps of her aunt and earned a bachelor’s degree from Mount Holyoke College, a school with a great poetry tradition. “I was just immersed in a world of literature and writing,” she remembered, “and it was wonderful.” Nancy went on to earn a master’s degree from Dartmouth University, and teach grades seven through 12 as a reading and writing specialist. While she didn’t exclusively teach poetry, she did put an emphasis on the unit, and approach it in a unique way, making sure to pay tribute to modern poets as well as the greats. She always encouraged her students, even the ones who groaned after hearing “poetry unit,” to produce quality writing, she said. When Nancy was 30 years old, she had her first son and the family moved from a house in Dallas to a small hay farm that they slowly expanded. At that point, Nancy was writing poetry, but not in any professional manner. She would write pieces for family; she was the “family laureate,” writing “occasional poems,” as she called them. “It was a pastime. I have an amazing ability not to make money,” she said with a chuckle. Part of running the farm meant owning horses. When Nancy went to her first horse show to watch, she thought to herself, “I could do that!” She decided to try her hand at show riding, and was in national competitions for 25 years. Most importantly, she was introduced to two miniature horses, Itty and Bitty, and another career was set in motion.

Having written poetry for family and friends until this point, it had never been a serious profession for Nancy. But considering she is a teacher at heart – she had continued to tutor children while running the farm – authoring a children’s poetry book was the perfect fit. She started small. She connected with illustrator Dana Bauer, and they created the “Itty & Bitty” series. She toured with the horses themselves, visiting local children’s charities and hospitals – the horses stayed outside, of course – and then to local schools. After the second book – which she worked on with illustrator Rose Mary Berlin – she began going on book tours. The key to Itty & Bitty’s success was the “hook,” Nancy explained. The first book in the series was the first trade book in the country on miniature horses. One of Nancy’s goals with her children’s book writing – both the Itty & Bitty series, and the work that she’s had published in Highlights for Children– is to help children learn to read. Her poems are simple, she said, but she’s not afraid to challenge the readers with more complex words. Along with being the Johnny Appleseed of poetry and working to increase literacy, Nancy hopes to get a number of new books published in the future. She has a couple more Itty & Bitty books in the pipeline, as well as a few collections for adults. But, as with most writers, not all of her work is for the masses. “A lot of my poems will never be published, because they’re too personal. They’re for friends,” Nancy said. “If you’re my friend, you end up with a poem. I have thousands.” SWM To learn more about the Itty & Bitty series, visit ittyandbitty.com. For more of Nancy’s work, visit quilltokeyboard.com. Women Business Opportunities Connections (WBOC) is a non-profit organization that has been supporting the Syracuse and CNY area for more than 20 years. To become a member, visit wboconnection.org or follow the organization on Twitter at @WBOConnection. Syracuse Woman Magazine is a signature sponsor of the WBOC.

December 2016

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CNY LATINA Nati Cabrera

A Community Vision By Marisol Hernandez

Photo provided by CNY Latino

“U

n cafecito..?” Nati Cabrera offers me a cup of coffee as she welcomes me to the Clarence Jordan Vision Center, a jewel on the Southside of Syracuse. “We are blessed with a lot of donors that support the center,” she continued. Giving isn’t a foreign concept for Nati; it’s at the core of who she is, and how she strives to make an impact in the Syracuse community. Natividad Cabrera — or Nati, as many fondly call her — was born and raised in Spanish Harlem in Washington Heights, a microcosm of her hometown in the Dominican Republic. Nati’s parents were illegal immigrants. They worked many jobs to provide their children with private education. Nati’s Latin roots run deep. She spent every summer in the Dominican Republic cultivating an appreciation for culture and sense of family. When the school year started, she was presented an opportunity to assimilate to Western culture, but it didn’t come especially easily. It wasn’t until the first grade that Nati learned English. At home, her parents spoke only Spanish; Nati was one of seven children who acted as the voice, the interpreter and the translator for the family. Nowadays, Nati’s siblings are scattered around the country, but the family is still close-knit and all help support their retired parents, who are now settled back in their homeland. It’s common for people from the Dominican Republic to come to this country, work hard, and go back home. “That’s the way it is,” Nati said with a smile. “You take care of your own.” Nati ran her own business, Lengualectuals, for 15 years, providing Spanish instruction for children and adults. It was a twofold blessing, she reminisced, because she was able to be available for her two children, while impacting other people’s children as well. In July, Nati became the program director at the Clarence Jordan Vision Center, a space created to help local children reach their full potential. “Those kids impact my life,” she said. “I believe that my very presence commands something from young people.” Last year, the center reached 176 young people, representing 10 different counties. She hopes to double that number next year and reach a greater diversity of participants and programs. Her intention is for every student who comes through the center to have a productive academic experience while developing their natural talents. She encourages them to use honesty and integrity to strive to make a difference. A program of which Nati is particularly proud is Synergy, a 10week paid internship for local college students. The aim is to build community leadership services by researching a need in the area and constructing a plan to address it. In the span of the program, the community service component is the most transformative, Nati said, explaining that something

happens to the human heart when one does something good for someone else. Before the students enter the program, few of them have had experience with volunteerism, and Nati challenges every young person to stay involved, and come back to volunteer at the center. She’s filled with pride when they do stop back. “I love it when something clicks with them …[and] when they want to come back to the south side, and extend a hand to someone else so that other young people can experience what they have learned,” Nati said with a smile. “I wish that for every student.” Angela Douglas, the center’s executive director, pointed out that it’s critically important that women like Nati rise to the occasion and give their time, talent and treasure. It’s not just a legacy, she continued; it’s a responsibility. “The impact that [Nati] makes is priceless,” Angela said. “The work that we do here provides more than just hope, but an oppor-tunity for vision, an experience, and cultivating one’s purpose. And it is something that Nati oversees for us, for the children and our young people. Without it, this particular community will be at a lost.” SWM This article was provided by the CNY Latino newspaper, the only Hispanicoriented publication in Central New York. The Spanish version of this article can be read in the December edition of CNY Latino, in both the traditional paper version and the digital format at cnylatinonewspaper.com.

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HEALTHY WOMAN CareNet

JULIE BEYEL

Photography provided by Care Net

DIRECTOR OF CLIENT SERVICES AT CARE NET PREGNANCY CENTER OF CNY

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Caring Through Pregnancy

Q and A with Julie Beyel, Director of Client Services at Care Net Pregnancy Center of CNY

Share with us a general overview of what Care Net does. Care Net is a nonprofit pregnancy care center. We meet the needs of clients who find themselves in the midst of a pregnancy decision with little or no support, those who may not be plugged in to resources or community. Our completely free services are confidential and professional, and our care always compassionate and nonjudgmental. Who is Care Net’s primary clientele? Men and women of childbearing age; we also assist grandparents and foster parents with resources and support. Our clients are diverse and come from vast socio-economic backgrounds. They are referred by friends, family, social workers, hospitals, clergy, guidance counselors and health centers. What services does Care Net offer? Care Net provides free lab-quality pregnancy tests, peer counseling and support, and a full explanation of choices, options and resources. We offer referrals for a free ultrasound to confirm pregnancy and STD/STI screening and treatment. Care Net also provides referrals to hospitals, prenatal care, WIC and other community-based programs. Our services also include free parenting support with private and group classes and opportunities to earn free baby items such as diapers, wipes, strollers, cribs and household supplies. For those suffering from a pregnancy loss such as miscarriage, stillbirth or abortion, our staff of men and women are available to listen and offer support. Care Net is established in the Utica area. Talk about the process of opening the Syracuse office. Care Net of CNY opened its first office in Rome and has expanded to eight client service centers in the past 28 years. The organization received money to open its first office in Onondaga County from a graduate of Liverpool High School. Its vision is to establish four to five additional centers in the next few years. How is Care Net supported? Care Net relies on the generosity of our community. Our Utica area offices have been established for more than 25 years, due to the giving and support of our neighbors. Our offices are staffed with a center director and team of volunteers. Next Step testing, the medical LLC that partners with Care Net, is overseen by a volunteer physician and primarily paid nursing staff. All of our services are completely free and in effect paid for by our partners. What led you to this job? I began working with pregnant teens and women in New York City 12 years ago. I answered an ad for a “pregnancy care center advocate” on a volunteer website, visited a Bronx pregnancy center office very similar to Care Net of CNY and was hooked. What drives you in this job? Inspired by my own personal journey and the women who have poured their lives into mine, I completely devoted my life 12 years ago to being a friend and support to women faced with a pregnancy decision. I answer our phone lines 24/7 and will drop most anything to listen, laugh or cry with one of our clients. Now married, our entire family pitches in… my husband is a staunch advocate for those who visit our offices, and our foster daughters hold babies, sort donations and fold clothes regularly to help. Is there anything else important about Care Net that you wish to share? Care Net is rebranding pregnancy help with our compassionate and empowering approach to unexpected pregnancy. Our support focuses on the bravery and inner strength of women, while not discounting the importance of the man and his role in the pregnancy decision. We believe that women and men should have an understanding of all of their options and choices before making a pregnancy decision. SWM To learn more about Care Net, visit carenetcares.com. December 2016

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SPECIAL FEATURE De-Stress and Enjoy the Holidays

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10 Ways to De-Stress and Enjoy the Holidays By Kathy Ozzard Chism

Make lists and shop early. Lists are a way to stay organized and not forget things. They also create positive endorphins as you cross things off and get a feeling of accomplishment. This helps motivate you to continue. Shopping early brings peace of mind, more choices, fewer lines, and, often, better weather!

Remember to B-R-E-A-T-H-E. Breath, especially deep breathing, helps maintain calm and reason during stressful situations. Put the word BREATHE on Post-It Notes all over your home, car, and work as reminders.

Take Bach Flower™ Rescue Remedy. This all-natural, non-toxic, non-addictive flower essence combination has no side effects and is a life-saver for stressful situations. Not enough time? Take Bach Flower™ Impatiens. Are you a procrastinator? Bach Flower™ Hornbeam. 2-4 drops or sprays four times a day will work wonders in making your holidays flow more smoothly. (For those in recovery, spray around you for the same effect.)

Drink plenty of reverse osmosis water, or bottled Essentia Water to hydrate your cells, keep your energy up, and help turn your body more alkaline. Water is also critical if drinking alcohol, which is extremely dehydrating. One 8 oz. glass before and after each alcoholic beverage will help prevent both hangovers and dehydration.

Get enough sleep. No matter how much is on your “to do” list, sleep deprivation will undermine it. Like a cell phone needing a battery recharge, so do you. Sleep is critical for optimal health. Plan time in your schedule for 7-9 hours each night. Stay away from electronics at least two hours before bed.

Eat healthy, organic, non-GMO plant-based foods as close to nature as possible. The cleaner you eat, the more energy and less “brain fog” you will have. Stay away from sugar and caffeine, too. Both are energy sappers, and extraordinarily unhealthy. If you must have something sweet,

switch to organic crushed stevia leaves, which use the full matrix of the plant and do not interfere with metabolism.

Get a massage at least once a month from a qualified therapist. Massage helps every system of the body, and is a magnificent way to de-stress. Massage is not a luxury. It is sound, preventative, restorative health care, and promotes deep relaxation.

Take time to enjoy the season. Walk in Nature, observing the beauty that exists even on gray, gloomy days. If too cold, take a drive. Enjoy the decorations shared on homes. Be grateful for your alive-ness, and the grace that is everywhere.

Delegate. We often think we have to do everything ourselves, yet delegating gives bonuses! It frees up more time for us, and gives others the opportunity to learn and feel connected to all that is going on. Let others share the joys of co-creation, responsibility, and accomplishment.

10.

Give to others. Not just presents, but of your time, love, caring, and help. Giving may be a donation to a charity, time in a soup kitchen, volunteering at an animal shelter, giving that other driver the parking space you wanted, random acts of kindness, or even just a smile to all with whom you come in contact. Giving is as good for you as it is for the receiver. The holidays represent LOVE. Being love to yourself and all others - brings a sense of peace and calm like nothing else. Letting go of anger, frustration, hurt, sadness, etc., and shifting to giving from your heart make the holidays, (and every day of the year), far more peaceful and enjoyable. SWM Author and Holistic Wellness Educator Kathy Ozzard Chism has been a Level I Bach Flower™ Therapist since 1996. Kathy’s book “The Power of Know 30 Days of All-Natural Ways to Heal Mind, Body, and Spirit” is the basis for her unique wellness boutique called Soul Soothings located in Manlius, NY. Visit soulsoothings.com.

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IN HER OWN WORDS 100 Women Who Care CNY

The Power of Collective Giving By Anne Selover

o you ever wonder if your $100 donation to an organization makes a real difference? Consider what would happen if 100 people came together to give $100 each to a local charity. That $10,000 would have an impact. That’s what 100 Women Who Care CNY does. Simple concept. Big impact. The mission is to have a positive influence on local charities. We plan to meet only four times a year. Everyone knows that life can be crazy, and free time is precious. By joining 100 Women Who Care CNY, you can make a difference in one hour. The first 100 Women group was started in 2006 by Karen Dunigan in Michigan. A friend contacted her about a local need; mothers were bringing babies home and placing the babies in drawers, boxes or beds. Some infants didn’t survive the night. Karen contacted her friends, who reached out to other friends, and more than 100 women gathered for a one-hour meeting. Each woman gave a $100 check to the Center for Family Health, and more than $10,000 was raised in one hour. That was enough to buy 300 baby cribs. No fundraising dinner, no silent auction, no telemarketing. An idea was born. There are currently more than 350 chapters, each with the goal of making a difference in their local communities. This concept has come to Central New York. Members make a simple yet powerful commitment to donate $100 per quarterly meeting ($400 a year). Members register local nonprofits (501c3s). Prior to each meeting, three local nonprofits, nominated by members, are randomly selected to present their mission and how they would use the money if selected. Each member comes to the meeting with a blank $100 check and agrees to write it out to the selected local charity. All donations must stay in our community.

The inaugural meeting of our local chapter was held at Drumlins on Wednesday, Oct. 19. Forty-two women gathered and heard presentations from three local nonprofits. The group voted, and our donations — totaling more than $4,200 — were awarded to Hopeprint. Hopeprint is a grassroots organization located on Syracuse’s north side that aims to empower local resettled refugees to thrive through practicing hospitality, personalized mentorship and community collaboration. Ophelia’s Place and Paige’s Butterfly Run also presented to the group and received donations from some of our members of 100 Women Who Care CNY. Ophelia’s Place strives to redefine beauty and health by empowering individuals, families and communities impacted by eating disorders, disordered eating and body dissatisfaction. Paige’s Butterfly Run is a nonprofit that raises funds to benefit current and future pediatric cancer patients and their families in CNY. Everyone wins. 100 Women Who Care CNY is perfect for you if your time is limited; if you want 100 percent of your donations to go directly to local nonprofits; if you want to become better informed about the great work being done in our community; and if you want to become part of a new group of amazing women who care about where we live and want to have an immediate, direct, positive impact. Our next meeting is planned for late January. Please join us. Bring your sisters, girlfriends, book club, walking buddy – you’ll leave feeling good. SWM For more information on 100 Women Who Care CNY, visit facebook. com/100WomenCNY. For more information about 100 Women Who Care, visit 100whocarealliance.org. Photography courtesy 100 Women Who Care CNY

December 2016

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COVER STORY Mary LaRussa

MARY LaRUSSA

SYRACUSE VA MEDICAL CENTER WOMEN’S VETERAN PROGRAM MANAGER/ MATERNITY CARE COORDINATOR

Photography by Alice G. Patterson

We have so much for the men [at the VA]. They have so many services here. This is something special for women.” —Mary LaRussa, Syracuse VA Medical Center women veteran program manager/maternity care coordinator

December 2016

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COVER STORY Mary LaRussa

Vets in Vogue By Lorna Oppedisano

bout five years ago, Mary LaRussa was just following her Then in 1995, tragedy struck, and her husband passed away Sunday morning routine. She was at home, flipping through from brain cancer. the paper. Happily working as a family nurse practitioner for “It was through my husband’s illness that I was introduced to the Hematology Oncology Associates, she wasn’t on the hunt for a new medical field, and especially the nurses,” Mary said. “They really job, but glanced at the employment ads out of habit. Before she took care of us.” turned to the next page, something caught her eye. She knew that she wanted to take her life in a new direction, and started nursing school. Before long, she had earned a bachelor’s “I saw this ad for the VA, and it said somebody specializing in degree, and then after a short break, a master’s degree. women’s health who had experience with breast cancer,” Mary reminisced, “and I thought, ‘It matches everything in Mary started her career at St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center my history.’” on the cardiac floor. It wasn’t long before she realized her calling Since taking the position of women veteran program manager/ though: labor and delivery. She just loved it, Mary reminisced, maternity care coordinator in March 2012, Mary’s expanded adding that she got to see her sister’s children being born. the offerings of the women’s wellness center. There are about She would still be on that labor and delivery floor if it wasn’t for 10,514 female vets in her 13-county service the fact that she was a single mother at the time; area, which runs from Massena to the she needed a day job, and to get that coveted Pennsylvania border. Only about 3,900 When [the VA] committed, position as a nurse could have taken decades. of those women use the services of the VA, Mary worked as a woman’s health nurse they really committed. she explained, adding that her office truly practitioner at CNY Woman’s Health Care, has their work cut out for them when it The facility stood behind it until landing a job at Hematology Oncology comes to helping these women get enrolled Associates in 2008. She wanted to give back and said, ‘We’re going to in the services they’ve earned. to the oncology world after everything they’d And those services aren’t strictly medical, do it.’ Other VAs are doing done for her and her family. either, Mary explained; one of her goals She still worked the occasional night shift it, but not like we did it.” at the hospital, though, which led to a date as program manager is to help veterans with a physician she’d known for some time, transition from active duty back into —Mary LaRussa, Syracuse the man who’s now her husband. the workforce. VA Medical Center women “He was working one night, and asked me Frequent trips to the Fort Drum area out on a date, and,” Mary said with a pause made Mary aware of a severe lack of veteran program manager/ and a smile, “that was it. We were a couple professional clothing available to veterans. maternity care coordinator ever since.” That realization, coupled with mountains Mary continued her career at Hematology of donated women’s clothing and baby Oncology Associates until that fateful day she saw the ad in items that filled her office — “My office was so full, it was almost the Sunday paper for the position at the VA. She knew that the to the ceiling. I couldn’t walk in here,” she said — prompted Mary program manager position presented more autonomy; if she to design a Boots to Suits program, and seek out a better home needed to take time out of her morning to help her elderly for the donations. mother, the VA job would offer that flexibility. The vision for a simple storage space evolved into a warm and welcoming boutique, and that’s just what they’ve named it: It was a hard decision to make, but Mary knew it was time The Boutique. to move on to the next stage of her career. Over the course of several months, more people got involved, and The Boutique opened on Aug. 25. “When [the VA] committed, they really committed,” Mary said. “The facility stood behind it and said, ‘We’re going to do it.’ Shifting gears from private to public sector work was a huge Other VAs are doing it, but not like we did it.” transition for Mary. To work at the VA requires a great deal of passion for veterans, Mary explained, which she’s developed since joining the team. It grew from her brother’s military service in combat in Desert Storm. Mary didn’t always dream of a career in the medical or veterans’ “Watching his struggles coming home with PTSD after being affairs field. A Syracuse native, she originally went to school for exposed to so much violence, at the time I wasn’t really equipped to business, and eventually landed a job with Niagara Mohawk. help him,” she remembered. “And I didn’t really understand until She met her first husband there, and had one child, their son Joe. I came here.”

Learning the ropes

Giving back to medicine

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Photography by Alice G. Patterson

When she left the oncology world, Mary thought that the program manager position at the VA might take less of a toll on her. Nurse practitioners can easily get burned out; between chemotherapy appointments and sick visits, they see the patients most often. Mary hoped that working at the VA could offer her a chance to take less home with her, so to speak. But after more than four years on the job, she’s not so sure. “I think I worry more about this population,” Mary admitted, “because they’re more vulnerable.” As the women veterans program manager, Mary also serves as a family nurse practitioner, specializing in women’s health and maternity care coordination in the VA’s 13-county region, including Auburn, Binghamton, Cortland, Massena, Oswego, Rome and Watertown. Much of the population the VA aims to serve is left to fend for themselves to an extent, especially at community clinics not owned by the VA, Mary said. It’s her office’s responsibility to advocate for the female veterans, and know what services they’re entitled to, she said, adding that even though they’re entitled to the same benefits as male veterans, they don’t always get them. The VA is good at educating its employees about disorders veterans are faced with when they come back from service,

Mary said. In regard to women’s health, a big issue female veterans deal with is military sexual trauma and sexual assault. According to the Disabled American Veterans Association’s website, “one in five women enrolled in VA health care screen positive for MST [military sexual trauma], but 31percent of VA medical centers and CBOCs can’t provide adequate services.” Thanks to her experience as a women’s nurse practitioner, Mary could empathize with her new patients. While she’d never gone through their struggles personally, she understands things like the need for a gentle person to perform their exams. “Because the Syracuse VA hired a nurse practitioner, I can do so much more than a non-clinical program manager would do,” she said. With such a large catchment area, face time with the seven clinics in the 13-county area — only two of which are owned by the VA — is vital. Mary does the circuit at least three or four times a year. She works diligently to develop relationships with the nurse practitioners at each of the clinics, which in turn leads to better and more productive interactions with the veterans they serve. As program manager, she understands the administrative side of things, but thanks to her career at the hospital and Hematology Oncology Associates, she also approaches situations from a clinical

December 2016

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COVER STORY Mary LaRussa

Vets in Vogue continued from page 27 perspective. Because she understands the lingo and can speak the language of all involved parties, she’s the perfect translator. “What care is going on in the community where there’s a cog in the wheel? How can we resolve that issue?” she said. “I manage conflict resolution for patients, for staff, for the contracted sites, for our business office.”

The Boutique Through connecting with clinics and veterans, Mary saw a need among female veterans for assistance in rejoining the workforce. “You can see when they come into clinic, their female identity can be ambiguous,” she said. “They’re used to being so regimented in active duty and wearing uniforms. They haven’t dressed in feminine clothing in a very long time.” The veterans appreciate gentle counsel, she explained, citing that approach as the motivation behind the Boots to Suits program. Mary had growing piles of donated clothes, bags, shoes and more lining her office. She was already giving them to veterans in need, so why not take it one step further? Mary enjoys telling a story that encapsulates the program: “We ended up helping this one veteran. Her hair color was inappropriate for a job interview and her clothes didn’t match. They were not the right size. We had all the stuff in my office. I said, ‘Why don’t we give you a whole outfit?’ She ended up getting the job,” Mary said with a proud smile. “And that was our inspiration for the Boots to Suits.” The program aims to help female veterans headed to a job interview, starting a new job or preparing for a special occasion. Boots to Suits can outfit them head-to-toe, Mary said. Continental Beauty is offering free hair and makeup to female veterans going to work or a job interview, and plans are in the works for The Small Town Stylist to provide styling. Mary credits Sandy Crain of the Fifth District American Legion Auxiliary for a great number of donations to The Boutique. “We have several people in the community really willing to work with our veterans to transition them from a soldier mentality or dress and appearance to much more professional,” Mary said, “because they do struggle with that.” The creation of The Boutique started out slowly, but Mary was persistent. As her office moved a few times and the donations kept arriving, she pressed the VA for a separate space. Then, finally, an opportunity presented itself, and the wheels started rolling. Soon it was obvious that a boutique, rather than simple storage space, wouldn’t take too much extra work. Mary envisioned it, worked with painters and carpenters to bring that vision to life, and on Aug. 25, the doors opened to the female veterans served by the VA. 28

“We have so much for the men [at the VA]. They have so many services here,” Mary said. “This is something special for women.” When women return from active duty, they often have very little budget for clothes. Furthermore, for those suffering from an injury or illness, that money is sometimes used to stay home. Mary stressed that helping these women reintegrate into society — especially those who have a psychological illness — is crucial to their health and an important goal of her program. Many of the women have the added struggle of being young mothers as well; while most male veterans are single, most female veterans are parents, Mary said. Some women travel to the Syracuse clinic from Watertown because Watertown doesn’t offer any female providers, while Syracuse’s clinic is filled with nothing but female providers. “Many VAs, if they’re small, will have their women’s care in a mixed clinic,” Mary said, explaining that in these primary care clinics, a provider attends to both men and women. “We are very fortunate to have a private clinic for just women on a floor with no other clinical space. We have the most ideal situation.” Over the years, Mary has always shared the donations the VA receives with any veteran in need, but now she hopes that her patients will notice The Boutique on their regular visits, and take advantage of its offerings. In the less than half-year since its opening, women already have. When veteran and VA employee Heather Merritt Closson moved back to the area in 2011, she connected with Mary, who has been nothing short of wonderful since, Heather said. When Heather mentioned attending nursing school at Mary’s alma mater, St. Joseph’s College of Nursing, Mary wasn’t only encouraging; she wrote Heather a recommendation. As Mary was organizing and decorating The Boutique, Heather walked by a few times. The ambiance caught her attention, and she asked Mary what the newly renovated space was. Mary explained the concept of The Boutique. Heather is planning to graduate nursing school in May; Mary suggested that she pick out an outfit for her anticipated interviews. Mary took the time to show Heather the whole inventory and offer suggestions, Heather remembered. “First impressions in an interview or job are extremely important, and dressing appropriately is equally so,” Heather said. “The mere fact that this boutique is one of only a few in the country speaks volumes for how the Syracuse VA staff thinks innovatively toward improving female veterans’ quality of life and opportunities.” SWM

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Photography by Alice G. Patterson

We all have the big picture and we live and breathe it”—Juanita Critz, Critz Farms co-owner

November 2016 December

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NEW IN THE ‘CUSE Syracuse Salt Company

Photography by Mary Grace Johnson

If I have an idea, I like to throw it out there and let [Libbey] mold it.” —David Iannicello, Syracuse Salt Company cofounder

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The World of Salt By Lorna Oppedisano

avid Iannicello had a grand idea. Being a Syracuse native, he dreamt of a business that could reconnect people with the salt of the Salt City’s earth. When his daughter Libby Croom moved back to the area a little more than two years ago, they tossed around the idea of starting a business together. David, who’d had previous experience as a business owner, knew he wanted to do something that involved the land and food. About half a year later, Libby got married. On her honeymoon, she came across some sea salt that she knew her dad would enjoy. And that got the duo thinking. “We had been talking about doing some sort of business. And we were like, ‘Wait a second… we live in the Salt City. Why don’t we have any company like this?” Libby remembered. “It’s just kind of snowballed from there.” Although the idea of incorporating the land by extracting Salt City salt is on the back burner for now, David and Libby’s new business — Syracuse Salt Company — is up and running. They began by researching the niche salt industry and the history of the Salt City. Although as David pointed out, there is salt beneath the feet of many Syracusans, the duo decided to source “some good, healthy sea salts from around the world,” David said, “and learn a little bit more about how we can improve our food experience.” A key advantage to the company’s products are the health benefits.

The sea salt they use isn’t refined, David explained, so it retains the minerals from the sea. Typical table salt, on the other hand, comes from the ground; and by the time it’s in the shaker, many of the nutrients have been removed. “So they pretty much have taken a natural product, and turned it into something completely artificial,” David said. “So you’re not getting any health benefit out of it, because there aren’t any minerals left in it. Other than sodium chloride, there’s nothing in there.” Libby added with a chuckle: “It’s just making your food taste salty.” Himalayan sea salt has about 84 different minerals in it; if you’re going to use salt — which most people do — you might as well get some health benefits out of it, David explained. Once they completed their original research, the duo initially pondered the thought of opening a physical location, but eventually decided to start with a less concrete concept, and focused on online and farmers market sales. Beginning at the Cazenovia Farmers Market, Syracuse Salt Company offers customers a variety of flavored salts, table salts and a handful of other accessories. As time passed and the company grew, the fatherdaughter team began branching out into the small business community in Syracuse, and were welcomed just as warmly there. Soon, people were actually seeking out Syracuse Salt Company for events. They’ve also recently partnered

with restaurants like Empire Brewing Company and Syracuse Marriott Downtown. Their aim now is to introduce people to the world of niche salts. “It’s kind of a whole giant world, and we didn’t realize it was until we started looking into it a little bit,” Libby said. “And we’re still learning constantly.” Both David and Libby are entrepreneurially-wired, Libby said, explaining that her father’s “grand” ideas — like the salt mining and the storefront — coupled with her communications background create a great balance of giveand-take for the fatherdaughter team. “If I have an idea, I like to throw it out there and let her mold it,” David said. Looking forward to the near future, Libby is considering rebranding next year, and the duo aims to eventually infuse

all of their salts in-house. Right now, they’re infusing rose-lemon, lavender, and Willamette hop sea salts. While the ideas for mining their own salt and opening a physical location are on the back burner for now, they’re not coming off the stove anytime soon. Syracuse Salt Company has seen success thus far, but the business venture has never been about making money, becoming a millionaire and selling the business, David said. “It was more about trying to do something that made you happy,” he explained. “And you would hope that you make money at it, but it was always about doing something that meant something more than just going to work every day and being there. This seems like a good opportunity to do a lot of that.” SWM

To learn more about Syracuse Salt Company and view their products, visit syracusesaltco.com.

December 2016

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SWM EASY Crafty Holiday Fun

Tealight Snowmen Ornaments

By Debbie Chapman One Project at a Time

Here’s what you’ll need: Battery operated tea lights Black and Orange permanent markers Red Ribbon Black Felt for hat Red Pipe Cleaners Glue Gun Red Pom Poms Scissors Position the face so that the flame is pointing up. It makes for a better looking carrot nose. Use the black marker to draw a simple face onto the tea light and the orange marker to color the flame. Cut a piece of red pipe cleaner and curve it around the tea light adding a small line of hot glue to hold it in place. Don’t glue it the entire way around because you’ll need to be able to slide ribbon under it later. Dab hot glue where the ears would be and add the pom poms. Cut a piece of ribbon look like a scarf and glue it to the back of the tea light. Cut another piece of thinner red ribbon, slide it under the pipe cleaner at the top for hanging. Little magnets that don’t cover the on/off switch on the back make adorable fridge magnets!

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December 2016

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INSPIRE Kathy Fedrizzi

Kathy Fedrizzi

Photography by Steven J. Pallone

FATHER CHAMPLINâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GUARDIAN ANGEL SOCIETY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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Guarding Education By Lorna Oppedisano

hen Kathy Fedrizzi took the job of development director Oftentimes, they come here with only the shirts on their backs, for Father Champlin’s new Guardian Angel Society, Kathy said; when a family is trying to make it on an income of she’d worked on a number of political campaigns, but always $10,000 to $20,000 a year, with three children in a Catholic school, thought of herself as a strictly behind-the-scenes person. When she “you can do the math,” Kathy said. joined in the early stages of the organization, her new boss “We want to welcome [the refugee population] into our changed that. community,” she said. “We want to support them with all services, “[Father Champlin] made you believe in yourself and be education being one of them.” able to go above and beyond what your capabilities were,” Over the years, Kathy’s responsibilities have evolved. She went Kathy remembered with a smile. from being “part-time to full-time to very full-time,” she said with a laugh. Kathy became the executive director of the Guardian Angel In 2008, Father Champlin passed away, and the Guardian Angel Society in 2011, after Father Champlin passed away in 2008. Society was forced to restructure. Before his passing, he had set up a The organization, founded in 1997, was created with a twofold mission: to provide tuition assistance to families who couldn’t afford trust agreement, ensuring that regardless of how the society might be a Catholic education at Cathedral School in downtown Syracuse, arranged organizationally, the funds would always benefit children in and to mentor and tutor the students. Bringing together these need of a Catholic education. financial, social and academic supports, Father Champlin aimed The first couple of years without Father Champlin were difficult, to help elevate these children from a cycle of poverty in Syracuse. Kathy admitted, but she knew there was a strong community who Once the students completed the wanted to see the legacy live on. She reached out to a number of people elementary education, the organization with whom he’d worked closely; they continued to financially help them in I’ve never woken up in the morning lent Kathy their unwavering support. high school at Bishop Grimes Junior/ A board of directors was appointed, Senior High School, Bishop Ludden and said, ‘Oh, I’ve got to go to work. and Kathy was made executive Junior/Senior High School and I wish I didn’t have to.’ It’s a labor director in 2011. Continuing Father Christian Brothers Academy. Champlin’s mission, she’s worked Kathy joined the team at the of love.” —Kathy Fedrizzi, Father diligently to grow the organization’s organization’s inception as partChamplin’s Guardian Angel Society reach. She started an annual campaign time development director. She had seven years ago that’s grown to be been working part-time for Senator executive director one of the Guardian Angel Society’s DeFrancisco; but as she moved up the ranks there, she realized that the job biggest fundraisers. would have to evolve into full-time work. She was introduced Five years ago, the organization expanded its mentoring and to Father Champlin, and the groundwork for a great friendship tutoring program to the high school level at Bishop Grimes. and partnership was put in place. Looking forward to the future, Kathy stressed that the society is After a year, Kathy was a permanent part-time employee at always open to new volunteer mentors and tutors. A lot of the the Guardian Angel Society, and the society was up and running, children struggle with literacy and math, but some of them also she reminisced. need a hand organizing their school work, or just need a friend. In 2006, when Cathedral School and Our Lady of Pompei This year, the Guardian Angel Society is helping 91 students with tuition assistance; about 40 of those children are receiving School merged to form Cathedral Academy at Pompei, the the mentoring and tutoring services as well. demographics of the population the organization served shifted. Along with witnessing volunteers thoroughly embrace the Prior to the change, most pupils were African-American, Kathy mission, and seeing the students graduate high school and then explained, but once the new location was established, the children college, Kathy said that her biggest accomplishment right now represented a wider variety of nationalities, and most were refugees. is having helped an entire generation of children in the last two “I still remember that first day walking through the school,” decades. Kathy said. “Father Angelico said at the time, ‘It’s like a festival of “It’s more than a job for me. I love what I do. I’ve never woken nations.’ It was all these kids just hand-in-hand, happy as could be.” up in the morning and said, ‘Oh, I’ve got to go to work. I wish As more immigrants and their children took refuge in the area, I didn’t have to,’” she said. “It’s a labor of love.” SWM the population the Guardian Angel Society aims to serve grew, she said, and the need for fundraising increased. With more people moving to the area each year, the need is still growing. Want to get involved with Father Champlin’s Guardian Angel Society? Kathy explained that when refugees relocate to Syracuse, To learn more, visit guardianangelsoc.org. Stay tuned for details of the many are still learning to speak English and finding employment. organization’s annual fundraiser, Sweet Cabaret, slated for Feb. 11 at A good Catholic education for their children is important to the Marriott Syracuse Downtown. them, and that means sacrifice. December 2016

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December 2016

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INSPIRE Shirley Goddard

SHIRLEY GODDARD

Photography by Steven J. Pallone

FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HOME INC.

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Extraordinary Homes By Samantha Mendoza

hirley Goddard is a celebrity when she enters the building. That same year, her mother passed away, and she moved As she strolls through the wide rooms and hallways of the Ernestine into her home in Syracuse where she and her husband Humanitarian Organization for Multicultural Experiences on would care for her for the next 23 years. James Street — more commonly known as Home Inc. — she stops She enrolled Ernestine in ARC of Onondaga County and after every few steps to high-five, hug and shake hands with the frequented the Central New York Developmental Services Office. dozens of special needs adults who wave to her as she makes But she knew that she wanted to do more for people who didn’t her way to her office. have access to these resources. She chuckles — “that famous chuckle of hers,” one co-worker “Families, especially minority families, won’t allow their children describes — and greets each of them by name. With more than to participate in these programs,” Shirley said. “So I spoke to the 30 adults with disabilities in the day habilitation program, this is director of the DDSO and told him that I wanted to open up an no easy task. agency serving people who have extraordinary differences.” Home Inc.’s clientele has grown significantly in the past few Shirley began operating Home Inc. from the basement of her years. But Shirley still treats the organization as more of a family home in 1993 with only three employees, starting the family than a business, just as she has since she founded it in her basement care program to match people with disabilities whose parents could not support them with a foster family. more than 20 years ago. Brynda Martin became a family care provider when the program “Everybody here is like a part of the family,” said Rosalyn started in 1993, and cared for a young man for 12 years. Ransom, a 63-year-old member of the day habilitation program “I was recently divorced and needed who has been cared for at Home Inc. since 1998. “It’s a really nice atmosa home, so when I took this young man in, Mrs. Goddard gave me my phere. I’m thankful all the time.” Everybody has a talent, no matter first month’s rent, last month’s rent, Founded in 1993, Home Inc. began and money to start a life with this young with a family care program that gave a what it is.” — Shirley Goddard, man,” Brynda said. “She supported me home to people with disabilities, or as founder and executive director of in everything I needed. I don’t think Shirley prefers to call them, people with ‘no’ is in her vocabulary.” “extraordinary differences.” Home Inc. Home Inc. has since grown to serve Today, the organization has nine more than 200 clients at a large office programs, like the day habilitation on James Street, complete with a gym, program that hosts afternoon activities movie viewing area, arts and crafts tables, and offices. and field trips for 36 clients, and an after-school program that gives homework assistance to students. At age 70, Shirley shows no signs of slowing down. She spends It all began when Shirley noticed that the needs of minorities her days washing her sister’s clothes and delivering them to her with disabilities were not being met. rehabilitation center in James Square (where she moved in 2012 “My goal was to reach out to people of color to provide them after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s), running downtown to get copies of clients’ social security cards, and overseeing Home with services because they deserved the same rights as anyone Inc.’s large staff. else,” Shirley said. “They deserve the right to learn, to have social Shirley’s guiding principle is empowering others not in spite interaction, to go to dances. They can do the same things you and I can do.” of, but because of what makes them unique. She even gives desk jobs to clients in the day habilitation program so they Growing up in Elizabeth City, N.C., during the height of can answer phones and collect mail. Her favorite term — segregation in the ’50s and ’60s, Shirley experienced enormous “extraordinary differences” — reveals her ability to see past obstacles because of the color of her skin. But what most affected labels and recognize the potential in everyone. her was the treatment of her younger sister Ernestine, who was “Everybody has a talent, no matter what it is,” Shirley said. born with Down Syndrome and treated just like her siblings — “It’s how you use that talent that determines what you accomplish doing chores and attending school — until she turned 17 and her teacher said she had “gone as far as she could go.” and how you satisfy yourself in life. That’s the way I look at it.” “Ernestine used to do all kinds of things,” Shirley said. That’s Shirley’s philosophy: Extraordinary. Different. And capable “But because they started limiting her in what she could do, of changing lives. SWM she just kind of regressed.” This encouraged Shirley to help others, especially underserved communities. She received a degree in rehabilitation counseling To learn more about Home Inc., visit homeincny.org. at Syracuse University in 1989 with a concentration in special education.

December 2016

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December 2016

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INSPIRE Michaela Hugo

MICHAELA HUGO

Photography by Alice G. Patterson

CNY DIAPER BANK COFOUNDER

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Fighting Diaper Need By Lorna Oppedisano

bout half of children ages 4 and younger in Syracuse live people get together is a good opportunity to collect diapers and in poverty. One in four lives in extreme poverty. As parents raise awareness, she pointed out. struggle to provide food for their children, other necessities — The diaper bank also collects monetary donations, because they can purchase diapers in bulk at a fraction of the typical price. like diapers, an item not covered by SNAP or WIC — fall by the wayside. Parents resort to using diapers that are too small, During Diaper Need Awareness Week in late September, using maxi-pads on underwear, or reusing old diapers. their CrowdRise campaign solicited about $5,000. They’ve also When CNY Diaper Bank cofounder Michaela Hugo first heard received some small grants to contribute to the efforts as well. about the issue of national diaper need, her shock and indignation Michaela explained that the diaper bank doesn’t give the items drove her to action. directly to those in need. Rather, they repackage the diapers into “It strikes you when you’re a parent. It just hits you hard. bundles of 50. Based on a study done by Huggies, a National You relate to it right away,” she said. “You can’t imagine not being Diaper Bank sponsor, it was found that families tend to run short by about 50 diapers per month per child. able to give your baby dry diapers. It’s something that hits home.” “We give them a supplement,” Michaela said, “and hopefully The mother of three and retired elementary education teacher did some research into national diaper banks; she wanted to do her that alleviates some of the burden and allows them to have clean diapers for their babies all month.” part locally and donate to a diaper bank here in the Syracuse area. The diaper bank began by working with six agencies that When she looked for one and came up short, she connected with Michaela had initially surveyed. Over the next half-year, they added local agencies accepting donations, and found diapers on most of a few more, and now have a wait list of their wish lists. agencies interested in partnering with them. So last Christmas, she hosted a brunch The biggest challenge they now face is and gathered diaper donations from her You can’t imagine not being determining the rate of expansion of that friends. When she delivered the collection able to give your baby dry network of agencies, Michaela explained; to the P.E.A.C.E. Inc. Westside Family it’s hard to predict the month-to-month Resource Center where she’d donated her diapers. It’s something that uptick in donations. With the clear goal children’s outgrown clothing in the past — hits home.”—Michaela Hugo, of reaching more families each month, she was met with happy tears. They told her, “You have no idea. CNY Diaper Bank co-founder they hope to keep spreading awareness. It’s going to make such a big difference for In October, they distributed about 9,000 diapers. Continuing at that rate the families.” From that moment on, she knew her mission. Michaela surveyed could get CNY Diaper Bank to the magic number of 100,000 some local agencies, gathered together a few friends, put a plan in diapers distributed each year, at which point Huggies will donate additional truckloads of diapers per month. place to file for nonprofit status and got incorporated. Another organization CNY Diaper Bank is partnering with is The organization’s first project was the Make a Mother’s Day Literacy Coalition of Onondaga County’s Imagination Library. Diaper Drive in May of this year. Their goal was to collect 10,000 The library gives one book per month to children younger than diapers. Putting receptacles in a number of libraries and retail 5 years old. Michaela includes registration brochures for the locations, Michaela and her team — with enormous help from program in each package of diapers they distribute. the local community — gathered more than double that number, The main goal of Michaela’s efforts goes beyond just providing collecting 22,846 diapers. the necessities to local families; if parents don’t have basic needs Michaela credits the National Diaper Bank as a helpful resource like diapers, they probably don’t have lots of time to play with in that first campaign, as it gave her pointers on how to run a or read to their child, she reasoned. successful drive. “They’ve got all kinds of other issues that they’re dealing with Not only did their efforts surpass the goal; it began to get the at that point. So to me, it kind of goes hand-in-hand,” she said, word out. referring to the diapers and the books. “If you can help parents “The great thing about a diaper drive is that you’re not just provide those basic needs, then they can get to that next level of collecting diapers,” Michaela said, “you’re raising awareness.” actually enjoying the time with their baby.” SWM Since the initial push in May, CNY Diaper Bank has taken a more long-lasting approach to their mission. They’ve established a number of drop-off locations throughout the city, and encourage To learn more about CNY Diaper Bank and get involved, visit cnydiaperbank.org. groups and organizations to run their own diaper drives. Any time

December 2016

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UPCOMING SWM Events Mondays through Saturdays until Dec. 24 Syracuse Art Mart 2016 When: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Wednesday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. What: Presented by Syracuse Allied Arts. Features local paintings, photography, jewelry, textiles, stained glass and other art mediums. Where: 499 S. Warren St., Syracuse. Info: artmart-syracuse.com.

Wednesdays in Deptember 1 Million Cups

When: 9 to 10 a.m. What: Presentations by local early-stage startup companies aim to draw feedback from peers, mentors, educators and advisors. Open to the public. Cost: Free admission. Where: Syracuse CoWorks 201 E. Jefferson St., Syracuse. Info: 1millioncups.com/syracuse.

Thursday Dec. 1 Edible Paint Sugar Cookie Class

When: 7 to 8:30 p.m. What: Learn to decorate locally made sugar cookies with holiday images in watercolor style. Cost: $50. Where: DROOZ & Company 1410 E. Genesee Street, Skaneateles. Info: droozandcompany.com.

Saturdays & Sundays, Dec. 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 & 18 Breakfast with Santa When: 9 and 11 a.m. What: Includes breakfast, crafts, cookie decorating and more. Cost: Members, $14; nonmembers, $18; children 2 and younger, free. Ticket includes zoo admission. Where: Rosamond Gifford Zoo 1 Conservation Place, Syracuse. Info: rosamondgiffordzoo.org.

Saturday, Dec. 3 Meet the Syracuse Doula Chicks

When: 11 a.m. What: Information session about doula care before, during and after birth. Cost: Free admission. Where: Simpson Family Wellness office 309 Kasson Road #1, Camillus. Info: (716) 532-1999; registration recommended through syracusedoulachicks@gmail.com.

Saturday, Dec. 3 & Sunday, Dec. 4 Syracuse City Ballet’s The Nutcracker

When: 1 and 6 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. What: Holiday favorite performed by local professional ballet company. Cost: Tickets range from $10 to $75. Where: Civic Center Theaters 421 Montgomery St., Syracuse. Info: syracusecityballet.com.

Sunday, Dec. 4 Teddy Bear Tea

When: 1 to 3 p.m. What: Includes afternoon tea, entertainment, activities, raffles and more. Cost: $25; table of eight, $175. Admission to Festival of Trees included in ticket price. Where: Persian Terrace, Marriott Syracuse Downtown 100 E. Onondaga St., Syracuse. Info: everson.org

Wednesday, Dec. 7 Celebrate in the City: WBOC Holiday Party & Auction

When: 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. What: Annual holiday event includes networking, appetizers, dining, signature cocktails, dancing and auctions. Cost: $65; corporate party package, $660. Where: Sky Armory 351 S. Clinton St., Syracuse. Info: wboconnection.org.

Thursday, Dec. 8 Holiday Luncheon Tea and Fashion Show When: 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. What: Features Jane Morgan’s Little House of Aurora. Includes lunch, fashion show and admission to Festival of Trees. Cost: $35. Where: The Century Club 480 James St., Syracuse. Info: everson.org.

Thursday, Dec. 8 Sweet Science Series: Video Game Culture

When: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. What: Discussion led by Infamous quests cofounder and director Steven Alexander. Cost: Free admission; RSVP to sweet.lecture@tacny.org. Where: Museum of Science & Technology 500 S. Franklin St., Syracuse. Info: most.org.

Thursday, Dec. 8 through Saturday, Dec. 10 Solstice at the Cathedral

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday & Friday; 4 and 8 p.m. Saturday. What: Features performances by Joe Whiting, Bob Halligan, Jr., Donna Colton, Brian Scherer, the VanNostrand Brothers, Joe Davoli and more. Cost: Online presale general admission by Dec. 7, $25; general admission at door, $30; online presale reserved seating by Dec. 7, $35; reserved seating at door, $40. Where: St. Paul’s Syracuse 310 Montgomery St., Syracuse. Info: solsticeatthecathedral.com.

Saturday, Dec. 10 Christmas Cookie Cafe

When: 9:30 a.m. to noon. What: Bring your own tray or purchase one. Cost: Cookies are $8/lb. Where: Columbian Presbyterian Church, corner of state routes 20 and 11, Lafayette. Info: ColumbianPresbyterianChurch.com.

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The Philanthropy Edition

Saturday, Dec. 10 Santa Saturday

When: 1 to 3:30 p.m. What: Includes Santa meet and greet, crafts, and milk and cookies. Cost: $12; ages 11 and younger, $10. Where: Everson Museum of Art 401 Harrison St., Syracuse. Info: everson.org.

Saturday, Dec. 10 Artisans Against Hunger

When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. What: Local artisans create craft show to benefit Humane Association and Food Bank. Cost: $2 suggested donation. Where: DeWitt Community Church 3600 Erie Blvd. E., Syracuse. Info: facebook.com/artisansagainsthunger.

Saturday, Dec. 10 Dasher’s Magical Gift

When: 11 a.m. What: Presented by CNY Arts to provide an educational and affordable production. Cost: $9 to $19. Where: Crouse Hinds Theater 421 Montgomery St., Syracuse. Info: cnyarts.org.

Sunday, Dec. 11 Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker When: 1 and 5 p.m. What: Orignial Moxcow Ballet performance. Cost: $28 to $68. Where: Civic Center Theaters 421 Montgomery St., Syracuse. Info: nutcracker.com.

Monday, Dec. 12 NYS MWBE Certification Training

When: 4:30 to 7 p.m. What: Presented by The Upstate Minority Economic Alliance, CenterState CEO, Hancock Estabrook, LLP, SouthSide Innovation Center and WISE Women’s Business Center. Training provided courtesy of Empire State Development, Division of Minority and Women’s Business Development. Cost: Free admission. Where: The Technology Garden 235 Harrison St., Syracuse.. Info: thetechgarden.com.

Friday, Dec. 16 & Saturday, Dec. 17 Symphoria Pops Series II: Home for the Holidays

When: 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday; 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday. What: Performances by Symphoria, dancers, Syracuse Pops Chorus, Syracuse Children’s Chorus and special guests. Includes visit from Santa. Cost: $20 to $81; ages 18 and younger, free. Where: Oncenter Civic Center Theater 421 Montgomery St., Syracuse. Info: experiencesymphoria.org.

Saturday, Dec. 17 Holiday Market

When: 1 to 4 p.m. What: Features local food entrepreneurs and artisans. Cost: Free admission. Where: Southside Innovation Center 2610 S. Salina St., Syracuse. Info: southsideinnovation.org.

Monday, Dec. 26 Come Home to Syracuse

When: 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. What: Networking event presented by Believe in Syracuse and 40 Below. Where: Aster Pantry & Parlour, 116 Walton St., Syracuse. Info: believeinsyracuse.org; 40belowsyracuse.com.

Saturday, Dec. 31 Noon Year’s Eve

When: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. What: Includes entertainment, dance party and sparkling juice toast at noon. Cost: Free for zoo members and with admission. Where: Rosamond Gifford Zoo, 1 Conservation Place, Syracuse. Info: rosamondgiffordzoo.org.

Saturday, Dec. 31 New Year’s Eve Bash

When: 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. What: Includes live entertainment, tarot card reading, dinner stations, dessert, five-hour open bar and midnight toast. Cost: $125 per person. Where: Sky Armory, 351 S. Clinton St., Syracuse. Info: skyarmory.com.

Friday, Dec. 16 Holiday Hoopla

What: Includes Pakistani food from My Lucky Tummy, live music, cash bar, beer and wine tastings, photo opportunities, live painting, raffles and more. Proceeds to benefit My Lucky Tummy’s new restaurant, With Love. Cost: Presale, $20; at door, $25. Where: Maxwells 122 E. Genesee St., Syracuse. Info: myluckytummy.com.

December 2016

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FOR A GOOD CAUSE Encore Thrift Shop

Thrifty Sounds of Music By Lorna Oppedisano

ome of the grandest ideas strike at the most unique times and places. The thought for the Encore Thrift Shop is one of those. “It happened over a breakfast meeting on a napkin,” Syracuse Sounds of Music Association board of directors president Vicki Feldman said. “That was the original vision.” The concept for the SSMA’s “full-time fundraiser,” as it’s been deemed, was concocted by a group of women who didn’t know a ton about business, she explained, but had passion and drive to support the arts. Originally founded in 1960 by the Syracuse Symphony Association to support the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, Encore Thrift Shop now raises funds to support nonprofit music organizations throughout Central New York. When the orchestra transitioned into Symphoria, the SSA reorganized into the SSMA. All proceeds from the Encore Thrift Shop support the mission of the SSMA. Each year, the association awards about $40,000 to local music nonprofits through a grant system. Last year, they supported 15 organizations. They also award two scholarships to graduating high school students who plan to study music or music education in college. When the SSA founded the thrift store, originally located for six months in Manlius, they began with the remnants from an Armory Square thrift store that was serendipitously going out of business at the same time. Now, more than 10 years later, the thrift store depends on donations of the clothing, jewelry, accessories, small household items and more. The shop is run daily by a group of people who donate their time, co-managed by volunteers Sheila Sostrin and Donna McCann, and overseen by the SSMA board of directors. Encore Thrift Shop is always looking for more volunteers, and always accepting donations. Any donations the shop receives but cannot use get donated to another local charity that can, Sheila said, adding that everything gets recycled. “We get donations almost every day,” she said proudly. “We get beautiful donations.” The shop receives very high-end donations, including brands like Talbots, Carlisle and Armani. But, of course, since it is a thrift store, the prices are very reasonable, Vicki said. The workers can vouch for that, the women joked. “I think our volunteers are some of our best customers. I’ve never dressed so well in my life!” Sheila said with a laugh. SWM Encore Thrift Shop is located at 119 Brooklea Drive in Fayetteville. Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. For more information on the store and the Syracuse Sounds of Music Association, visit syracusesoundsofmusic.org.

Photography provided by Encore Thrift Shop

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The Philanthropy Edition

December 2016

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The Philanthropy Edition