Erie21

A number of our team had the pleasure to volunteer with the Salvation Army for their annual Christmas Bureau event last Wednesday. A chance to give back face-to-face with the community we are so dedicated to serve. Handing out toys and bibles along with smiles and warm cheer.

Thank you to the Salvation Army for all that you do throughout the year and for allowing us to help in this wonderful event.

The ERIE21 interns were highly prepared and ready to work—they left our internship as confident, mission-driven professionals who got to see their education directly fight poverty. You can't teach that kind of real-world meaning in a classroom. That's the ERIE21 Effect in Action.

➡️ Build confidence and experience in our students: https://zurl.co/rgtnr

Light 🕯️

Light is a massive part of this time of year, whether lighting the candles on the menorah or kinara, plugging in the holiday lights on the tree, or holding a candle as you sing a rendition of “Joy To The World”. Light brightens a space, lifts the mood, and can guide people along their chosen path.

Today, we’d like to recognize multiple lights in the work of ERIE21 Adult Programs!

Thank you to the following organizations and individuals who helped make the first half of our program a success by facilitating ERIE Pro (professional development sessions), hosting our learners for site visits, and leading in-class hands-on experiences.

Speakers and Panelists:
Ashley Krizman from Sidney Federal Credit Union
Emily Perkins of the Writing Center, Le Moyne College
James LaValle of Garam Group
Joshua Noble and Paul Muench of Daneli Partners
Kristine K. of Contact Community Services
Lauren Myers from M&T Bank
Marie Donaldson of Excellus BCBS
Nicole Darrow and Shukri Mohamed of the Student Success Center, Le Moyne College
Nicole Flores of Inclusive Excellence, Le Moyne College

Organizations:
Bent Ear Technology Partners
Chimera Integrations
City of Syracuse - API Team and Mayor’s Office

ERIE21 Advisory Council Members: Brady Cass, Jason Scharf, and Jen Tifft

And a major thank you to Onondaga County Public Libraries, who allow us to host our programming in such a lovely, community-focused space!

Thank you all for supporting our learners by turning on the light, providing us with more knowledge about the IT and tech industry, offering insights into what it means to show up as authentic and inclusive professionals, and generating fantastic conversations about ever-evolving technology.

And a thank you to the team who makes this all possible, you are bright lights!

Abir Bouazizi
Cainaan Webb of CenterState CEO
Lisa Melara
Mary Ellen Mangino
Najwa Webster

The cost of college textbooks can be overwhelming. We covered that for the Fall semester for our first year ERIE21 College Program students—one less barrier to success in such a transitional phase of life.

➡️ Reduce more barriers for our students. https://zurl.co/LMw5O

And that’s a wrap! Our Youth Programs has finished up its 2025 programming.

We wrapped up with a Hack-a-thon on Saturday 12/6 with our friends at Tech4Kidz and finished our ERIE21 Innovators in partnership with the Keenan Center.

From Chip Camp to Tech Saturdays to ERIE21 Innovators our Youth Programs has created spaces for students to learn, grow, innovate, flex their creativity, and build community. We are proud of our Youth Programs team Amber Preston, Nauj Brady, and Ganga Kharka.

We can’t wait for 2026!

With middle and high schoolers engaged with Micron Technology to learn about chip technology last summer, ERIE21 is building the workforce of tomorrow.

➡️ Join us in fueling the ripple: https://zurl.co/AFvs8

We’ve expanded beyond Syracuse to support rural communities in Onondaga and LaFayette Central School Districts. We’re expanding the ERIE21 Effect by providing hands-on coding, robotics, creativity and innovation opportunities to more middle and high school students.

➡️ Help us reduce even more barriers for our students. https://zurl.co/tNlxP

We provided direct financial assistance to our students last school year, allowing them to pursue their dreams.

➡️ Help us support even more students this school year: https://zurl.co/SG3uM

Leadership in Any Seat- This was the topic presented on by Logan VanDyke '18 to our College Program students Monday night. A wonderful reflection as we gear towards the end of the Fall semester.

Logan is the Manager of Endpoint Management at Upstate, and having been a Le Moyne Dolphin was able to relate his journey to a batch of students ready to listen. Breaking the idea that a specific role or "seat" is the only place leaders emerge. Using examples from his own career journey about leading yourself, leading sideways (team empathy), and leading systems.

Students walked away having reflected on their own journeys and moments where they took lead even from their seat as an undergraduate student. A powerful way to wrap up our semester.

A huge thank you to Logan for your time and insight. And good luck to our students as you gear up for finals!

The spark. The ripple. The change.

By removing barriers in our community, we can enable a ripple of growth to transform individuals, families, workplaces, and Syracuse itself.

➡️ Join us in fueling the ripple: https://zurl.co/D5Xdu

Happy Thanksgiving from the team at ERIE21.

We are grateful for the communities we have a chance to touch, the partners who amaze and support us, and our learners/alumni who inspire us. Together, we rise.