Community Schools Hoped to Transform Near West Side
United Way helps Transform Near West Side

A century ago it was one of Syracuse’s most vibrant and affluent neighborhoods, home to the city’s preeminent families. Elm trees and expensive homes lined brick-paved streets; factories along the outskirts of the neighborhood employed many neighborhood residents.

Today, the elm trees are gone, the factories long-closed, the homes in disrepair. Once one of the city’s wealthiest neighborhoods, the Near West Side of Syracuse is now one of America’s poorest. But despite high unemployment and crime rates, residents take great pride in their neighborhood and have hopes for the future. Much of this hope rests in their children.

United Way began its support of the innovative Community School Initiative in 2001. The concept is simple but effective: neighborhood schools become a center of community life,  providing a host of services to children and their families in a familiar and trusted environment.  The barriers of removed

“The concept of Community Schools as a form of education reform is being implemented in local ‘experiments’ around the country,” said Laurie Black, Policy Assistant with Syracuse 20/20, the lead agency in the Westside Community School Strategy. “There is growing consensus that education reforms must engage the entire community.”

With funding from United Way of Central New York’s Initiative Fund, the first phases of the Westside Community School Strategy will establish a database to track all students attending six Westside schools. The information will be used to help identify the needs of families in the area and evaluate how well those needs are being met by the school district, government assistance programs and local non-profits.

“This project is extremely important for the future of the Near West Side,” said Jennifer Bartholomew, Vice President of United Way’s Community Impact Division, “but it also has the potential to serve as a model of collaboration for the rest of the community.”

United Way’s Initiative Fund was created to help grow new programs and partnerships. Applications for Initiative Fund grants are currently being accepted.

Stunning rise in violence—in a most unexpected place
United Way grant helps curb violent behavior in a surprising population

Punching, hitting, kicking, biting. Angry threats of violence: I’ll stab you, shoot you, beat you up. The behavior of gang members or out-of-control teens? Think again. These are the acts of pre-schoolers, and the problem is growing.

The idea of daycare conjures images of a pastel world filled with cuddly stuffed animals and storybooks. Most people would be shocked to learn that child care environments have become increasingly dangerous. The culprits are toddlers and young children who act violently toward other each other and their teachers. And we’re not talking about normal behavior of the two year-old who bites. Today’s aggressive pre-schooler mirrors adult violence. The behavior scares teachers and many seek help to stop it.

“We’ve been worried about these behaviors them for awhile. Now we see them all the time.” said Peggy Liuzzi, Executive Director of Child Care Solutions, a child-care resource and referral agency. “We’re living in a world where kids seem to be exposed to more and more violence, so we’re doubly concerned.”

Child Care Solutions sought help from United Way of Central New York to launch their new Second Step Violence Prevention program. They were awarded a $52,000 Community Initiative grant to support this innovative program that will help teachers prevent violence by teaching children important social and emotional skills.

Teachers will help children develop empathy, impulse control, anger management and problem-solving skills using colorful lesson cards and posters, fun videos, and sing-along CDs. Second Step lessons are designed to be fun for kids and the stuffed animal characters such as “Impulsive Puppy,” “Slow-Down Snail” and “Be-Calm Bunny” help engage kids in the activities.

Violence prevention strategies have traditionally focused on adolescents and adults. But aggressive behavior in children has been linked to many problems later in life: substance abuse, higher school dropout rates, early parenthood, depression, and escalating aggression. Research has shown that violent behavior can be influenced by many factors in early childhood, but that violence-prevention programs that focus on children aged five and younger can help reduce violent behavior throughout life.

There are a number of programs in the Syracuse area designed to reduce youth violence and gun violence, but the Second Step Violence Prevention program is the first to target very young children, according to Liuzzi. This year, the program will be taught in 24 classrooms at 10 childcare centers and will reach more than 330 children in Syracuse neighborhoods where violence is a daily concern, Liuzzi said.

Although new to Onondaga County, the Second Step program is widely regarded as one of the finest violence-prevention programs for young children. It was created by the Committee for Children in Seattle and received a prestigious “Exemplary” award from the U.S. Department of Education’s Panel on Safe, Disciplined and Drug-Free Schools.

“This program is unique in our area,” said Jennifer Bartholomew, Vice President of United Way’s Community Impact Division. “But United Way’s Initiative Fund was specifically designed to support innovative ideas like the Second Step program get started in this community.

“I think donors might be surprised to learn that something like this is needed, but glad to know they are supporting a program that can help curb violent behavior for a lifetime.”

To learn more about how to apply for the Community Initiative Fund visit our "Opportunities for Funding" section by clicking here.