A Privilege to Be Part of InterFaith Works at This Pivotal Time

By Olive Sephuma, Vice-President/Chief Operating Officer

As the year draws to a close, and in this season of reflection and gratitude, I want to share a few brief thoughts. As many of you know, we recently welcomed our new President & CEO, Chris Foley, who succeeds Beth Broadway following her retirement on October 31. We thank Beth for her tireless work building this agency, and I’m excited to work with Chris as he leads us into our next phase of growth and purpose.

Across all our departments - the Center for Dialogue & Action, the Center for Healthy Aging, and the Center for New Americans - we’re seeing rising and urgent needs for our services. As political shifts continue to threaten the wellbeing of the families we serve, it’s essential that we - and our community partners - strengthen and expand our programs and collaborations to meet these needs. Yet this is also a hopeful moment. New economic development initiatives are creating opportunities for our communities to grow and thrive. We are committed to ensuring they can access these opportunities and fully participate in the momentum carrying Syracuse and Central New York forward.

As we prepare for our 50th anniversary in 2026, we remain profoundly grateful for you - our supporters and partners - who sustain this critical work. In the milestone year ahead, we look forward to learning, growing, and deepening our impact together. I’m truly grateful to be part of this agency and to work alongside our new leader, colleagues, board, faith partners, volunteers, donors, partner agencies, and all of you. Our new chapter is here - let’s get to work!

As we are celebrating our history of service to CNY, we will be uplifting one of our core programs each month. These programs are our legacy and our future. This month, we focus on the Senior Companion Program. The content below was written by Barbara Davis, Ph.D.

In 1986 the first Senior Companion Training Program meeting was held. Senior Companions were volunteers aged 60 and over who provided assistance and brought friendship to seniors and other individuals who have difficulty with daily living tasks. The service they provided helped others live independently in their homes instead of moving to expensive institutional care. Many volunteers would serve the same clients for several years and often formed the most meaningful friendships in their lives. Senior Companions also provided respite care to relieve primary caregivers for short periods of time. Twenty community agencies served as "Volunteer Stations" which coordinated the plans for involvement between Senior Companions and those they visited.

Today, IFW’s Senior Companion Program recruits volunteers aged 55 and older to provide companionship and basic assistance to older adults across Onondaga, Cayuga, Madison, and Oswego counties. These trained volunteers offer not only friendly visits, but help with daily tasks such as grocery shopping, getting to doctor’s appointments, and navigating paperwork. In doing so, they play a vital role in helping clients avoid premature placement in nursing homes or other institutions. 

Funded by AmeriCorps Seniors (formerly known as Senior Corps), the program also offers volunteers a modest tax-free stipend and mileage reimbursement, along with orientation, regular training, and supplemental insurance while on duty. To qualify, companions must meet income eligibility guidelines, but many say the real reward is the deep sense of purpose they gain. “The program is about much more than errands,” said an IFW representative from the Center for Healthy Aging, which oversees the initiative. “It’s about relationships. Our companions offer emotional support, conversation, laughter, and a lifeline to the outside world.” Companions typically serve 5 to 40 hours per week, depending on availability. One Syracuse volunteer, age 70, noted, “I live alone too, and volunteering helps me as much as it helps my client. We laugh, we walk, we share stories. It’s like gaining another family member.” 

On Giving Tuesday, we shared a series of "Why We Give" stories from a few of our supporters. These messages are powerful reminders of the impact of your generosity.

Over the last month, we shared stories about our programs and the real-life impact these programs have on the lives of our clients.

Thank You to Empower Federal Credit Union

We are deeply grateful to the Multi Race and Latino/Hispanic Employee Resource Groups at Empower Federal Credit Union for their generous end-of-year gift of $2,700 in support of InterFaith Works’ Food Justice initiative at the Center for Dialogue and Action. This contribution will help address food insecurity and provide essential nourishment to families across our community.

In this photo (L-R) are: Marwah Alobaidi, VP/Chief Development Officer; Chris Foley, President/CEO; and Bishop Colette Matthews-Carter, Director of the El-Hindi Center for Dialogue & Action from InterFaith Works with Kristin Thompson Henry, Community Impact Officer; Tiffany Caskinette, Operations Trainer; and Ebony King, Internal Community Impact Officer from Empower Federal Credit Union.

If your organization is interested in making a contribution to InterFaith Works, please contact VP/Chief Development Officer, Marwah Alobaidi at malobaidi@ifwcny.org or 315-449-3552 x219.

Annual Turkey Giveaway

During this time of increasing challenges, InterFaith Works' El-Hindi Center for Dialogue & Action was happy to give away 200 turkeys to our community on Saturday, November 22! For our 5th Annual Turkey Giveaway, we used InterFaith Works' James Street offices as a distribution location, which saw a wonderful diversity of people from the community and the Northside, in particular. We were also pleased to have a team of nearly 20 volunteers to help safely direct traffic (pedestrians and cars) and to pick-up and distribute turkeys.

Building Bridges High School Dialogue Exchanges

Our high school dialogue programs are up and running and doing exceptionally well. We are currently serving over 200 students across participating districts. Many of these dialogues will be concluding toward the end of December and the early part of January, and we are grateful for the meaningful engagement we’ve seen so far.

Dialogue Program at SUNY Oswego

SUNY Oswego has developed some promising new innovations in Year 3 of our 5-year dialogue contract: conducting dialogue as a class for students and also training student facilitators using a classroom-based model. We look forward to sharing more about these exciting innovations in 2026!

Seeds of Peace Program



As we approach the end of the year, the Seeds of Peace program is continuing its commitment to meaningful student engagement and leadership development. Our upcoming Year-in-Review Reflection Workshop will provide students with a structured environment to thoughtfully reflect on their experiences from the past year and begin planning for the year ahead.

We will also be facilitating a Dialogue Circle, offering students a guided space to discuss key issues affecting their communities and collaboratively explore potential solutions.



Additionally, preparations are already underway for Summer 2026 Camp, as we work to design a transformative and impactful experience for next year’s participants.

Volunteer Recruitment Underway

We are actively recruiting volunteers for our AmeriCorps Seniors Retired and Senior Volunteer Program. Volunteers in this program are placed in quality opportunities to serve in Onondaga County, receive recognition, and become part of a supportive community. We are currently looking for seniors 55 and older interested in one of these three areas:

1. Digital Literacy- seeking those comfortable teaching basic technology courses with provided curriculum and equipment. Training is also provided, and scheduling considers the availability of the volunteer. Teachers would present lectures, one-hour workshops or 5-10 session courses throughout the year to fellow seniors.

2. Free Tax Prep Data Entry – training and transportation is available for people willing to assist with tax prep. No special accounting skill is required. Looking for 2-3 hours of your time during tax season, late January through April 15.



3. One-to-One visitation - looking for people willing to spend at least an hour a week with someone living in a nursing home. Training provided.



Please consider giving your time to one of these fantastic chances to serve. If interested, contact our RSVP Manager Cathie Slabaugh at cslabaugh@ifwcny.org or 315-449-3552 x214

Learning Together: Report on Aging with the Aging Services Coalition 

The number of older adults in Onondaga County is on the rise, with a projected 28% of the population being over the age of 60 by 2030. It is crucial that we work together to understand the needs of the aging population and create opportunities for all people to age well and with dignity. On November 19, the Aging Services Coalition of Greater Syracuse hosted a virtual Report on Aging Report-Out to share findings from the Spring 2024 Community Convenings. These convenings brought together community members to discuss what is working well as they age, what challenges they face, which partners should be involved, and potential solutions to improve aging in our community. The insights gathered were shared with the Coalition and organized into seven key themes: affordability, technology, trusted providers and systems, housing availability and safety, transportation, sense of belonging, and accessibility. The report-out concluded with a thoughtful discussion among coalition members about feasible and effective solutions that can guide our collective work moving forward.  

The Aging Services Coalition of Greater Syracuse works together with community members, providers, and anyone who cares about aging, to improve social connectedness, racial equity, and economic justice for older adults in CNY. The Aging Services Coalition is a project of InterFaith Works of CNY’s Center for Healthy Aging. We will be hosting an in-person Report on Aging Report-Out on January 26 from 10-11:30 am. If you are interested in attending, please contact Jessica Luis, Community Organizer, at jluis@ifwcny.org.

One-to-One Program

This past month, a group of college students from Alpha Phi Omega spent an afternoon at Sedgwick Heights, bringing fun and laughter through trivia and bingo. They also helped host a special blanket giveaway, thanks to a generous donation from One-to-One Volunteer Patricia R. The visit created a warm, joyful atmosphere, and residents loved the students’ energy and kindness.

For more information about the One-to-One Program and how you can volunteer, contact Jillian Dickey, Program Coordinator at jdickey@ifwcny.org.

Memory Workshop

Since October 2025, Upstate Medical University has partnered with InterFaith Works of CNY to lead an initiative aimed at supporting Older New Americans and enhancing their quality of life. A key component of this collaboration is the weekly Memory Workshop, designed specifically for older refugees. The workshop provides a safe and welcoming environment for participants to socialize while strengthening their memory and English language skills. Through repetition, visual aids, and interactive scenarios, participants work one-on-one with Upstate Medical University students to learn letters, numbers, and new words each week. In addition to in-class activities, participants receive simple, easy-to-understand worksheets to practice at home, reinforcing the skills learned during the sessions. This approach allows Older New Americans to gradually integrate their learning into daily life, reducing stress and improving their ability to navigate the English-speaking environment. As of December 2025, the program has held a total of 10 classes, averaging four per month, with participation reaching fourteen Older New Americans aged 55 to 80. With the goal of expanding the program, future plans include offering more classes and potentially serving additional age groups.

Small Business Classes

During November 2025, IFW continued to offer Small Business classes for New Americans, empowering participants with the skills and support needed to explore entrepreneurship and move toward self-sufficiency. In partnership with professionals from Strategic Executive Alliance, three sessions have been completed, including one held on November 17. Designed specifically for newly arrived families, the program has served 53 New Americans to date. Participants learned about key topics such as networking, branding, social media optimization, business finances, technology awareness, website building, and e-commerce.



The course also provided a practical introduction to bookkeeping, helping participants understand how to record financial transactions and track money coming in and out. Instructors emphasized how accurate bookkeeping supports budgeting, tax filing, and informed business growth. By gaining these essential skills, New Americans are developing a clearer understanding of how to keep organized financial records and build a strong foundation for their long-term business success.

Maternal Health Program

The Maternal Health Program is designed for New Americans who are starting or growing their families, and it offers support through baby supplies, educational classes and events, and individualized case management. The Childbirth Education Classes have been especially impactful. While many of the women have given birth before, most have never experienced childbirth in the United States. Some are delivered at home or in refugee camp clinics, so these classes are an essential opportunity to learn about the U.S. medical system and what to expect during labor, delivery, and their hospital stay. Common questions include hospital food, visitor policies, interpreter availability, access to female nurses, and medication options.

Within the past month alone, we held four Childbirth Education Classes for a small group of Rohingya-speaking women. This week, we supported several expectant mothers using an Arabic interpreter, and in January, we will offer a larger class with a Swahili interpreter. Many women have also participated in guided tours of the labor and delivery units where they will give birth. The hospitals have been incredibly welcoming, and the expectant parents deeply appreciate the chance to ask questions and prepare for their big day.

One of the greatest strengths of this program has been the community connections that form between participants. After meeting at our classes and events, many women continue to build supportive relationships with one another. We often see families sharing childcare, helping each other navigate the community, and passing along tips for accessing resources. In a few cases, families have even moved closer together to strengthen these bonds. In addition to childbirth classes, we also host yoga sessions, nutrition workshops, and a monthly Co-Mothering event in partnership with Sankofa Center. All designed to foster connection, confidence, and community among new parents.

Heather Hafler - Community Wellbeing
Heather Hafler joins the InterFaith Works staff as the Senior Manager of the Community Wellbeing program. She has 19 years of human services experience in Syracuse including Access CNY, Advocates Inc., and LIFEPlan CCO. Most recently, Heather was a care management supervisor at LIFEPlan CCO. She is passionate about immigration justice and is an active volunteer with the Syracuse Immigrant and Refugee Defense Network and Hopeprint. Heather has lived in Central New York for most of her life. She carries a BA in Psychology and looks forward to the opportunity to bring a new program to Central New York, and to improve the health outcomes for our community members.

Kalthom Al Jiboury - Community Wellbeing

Kalthom Al Jiboury joins the InterFaith Works staff as the Navigator of the Community Wellbeing program. Her professional background bridges creative practice and human-centered service — beginning with teaching art and design projects at an art center and evolving into care-focused roles. Kalthom then served as a Care Manager, supporting individuals through coordinated care, advocacy, and resource navigation. She holds a degree in Fashion Design from the School of Design at Syracuse University and looks forward to integrating her creative foundation with care management expertise to support holistic, person-centered outcomes.

This person would be excited to engage youth in Central New York, through established programs in dialogue opportunities, leadership and facilitation trainings, and positive group development in order to break down stereotypes, build bridges of understanding, and empower students to make change in their environments.

In coordination with the other Interfaith Works program staff and the ONA Job Coaches across New York State, this person will participate in recruiting, screening, job placement, and providing ongoing direct support to immigrant 

job candidates participating in the NYS Professional Pathways for Highly Skilled Immigrants Program.

About InterFaith Works of CNY



InterFaith Works affirms the dignity of each person and every faith tradition, builds racial and religious equity, and creates bridges of understanding among us. The agency has served the Central New York Community for 50 years with programs that include the Center for Healthy Aging, the Center for New Americans, and the El-Hindi Center for Dialogue & Action.

InterFaith Works of CNY | 1010 James St. | Syracuse, NY 13203

Phone: 315-449-3552 | Fax: 315-449-3103 | Email: info@ifwcny.org | interfaithworkscny.org