Focus On Community Understanding Service (FOCUS)

FOCUS is an extension of UWTC's Youth and Philanthropy Program. UWTC staff and volunteers, in partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County's Rural Youth Program work for several weeks with area elementary and middle school students on leadership, development activities; a community needs assessment, and a competitive grant process for their rural town. Each year a different Tompkins County town is selected to participate in the program. Middle school students in select towns distribute $3,000 to local nonprofit organizations that serve their communities.

What do students in FOCUS do?

• Participate in consensus building activities
• Review grant applications
• Conduct interviews
• Deliberate about how to award funds
• May engage in a documentary photography project, where they capture on film what they like about their community and what they would like to change.

Thanks to generous funding from the Park Foundation they have provided the opportunity so middle and elementary school students may become inspired and develop their skills to be engaged community members now and in the future. Since the program's inception in 2002, the towns of Dryden, Caroline, Newfield, Groton, Enfield, Trumansburg, and Danby have hosted FOCUS Programs. This year, the Town of Lansing is hosting the program. To date, students have granted $18,500 to nonprofit organizations.

Please contact Meg Cole or phone 272-6286 with any questions.

The Lansing FOCUS Council Members awarded the following grants in 2011: 

• Suicide Prevention & Crisis Service received $550 for Teen Messaging Project for the development of new suicide prevention classroom materials to use in the middle and high schools of Lansing.
• Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County/4H received $550 for High School Helpers – a youth employment program for Lansing students which teaches job-readiness skills and provides paid employment for first-time job seekers.
• Lansing Community Council received $1,900 to develop approximately four miles of trails located across from the Lansing Town Hall. 

2011 Lansing FOCUS Council Members

Danielle Stark
Taylor Marabella
Bridget Davis
Elisa Armstrong
Marissa Mix
Hannah Ritter
Gianna Fezza
Olivia Lemaro

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