peaceinc | PEACE, Inc.

Women’s History Month: Teresa Piedmonte

by peaceinc | Mar 14, 2023 | News and Information

In honor of Women’s History Month, we’ll highlight women who work at PEACE Inc. Today and share Teresa Piedmonte’s story!

Teresa Piedmonte began working at PEACE, Inc. in October of 2020. She works as the Facilities Officer Manager, which includes taking care of the paperwork, issuing purchase orders, maintaining payroll, and ordering and tracking inventory. When asked what gets her out of bed in the morning, she said, “My job. I love the people that I work with and what we do here.” Teresa explained that her team is what makes her job special. “I could not do my job without my team here.”

She also explained that PEACE’s goal and mission statement inspires her work, stating, “I love that I know that we are helping out the community; I know that we are making a difference, which is what is most important to me.”

In honor of Women’s History Month, Teresa described what this month means to her. “It means that we are no longer portrayed as just housewives.” It shows that we are equal to that of men and that we would take on any challenge they throw at us to ensure equality.
Womanhood represents bonding and working together to become more than what we have always looked at. We are showing that we will come together to make a change. Teresa shared that her goal is always to be learning, that there are new things around every corner, and that we can always grow.

AmeriCorps Week 2023: Thank you for serving the children of Syracuse

by peaceinc | Mar 12, 2023 | News and Information

During #AmeriCorpsWeek, we’re thrilled to recognize our #AmericCorpsSeniors foster grandparent volunteers who choose to make a difference through #service. Thank you for serving the children of Syracuse.

“The heart of a volunteer is not measured in size, but by the depth of the commitment to make a difference in the lives of others.”

Community and PEACE, Inc. seek solutions to combat the Lead Crisis in Syracuse

by peaceinc | Mar 6, 2023 | News and Information

For the past 6 months, the Central New York Community Foundation has convened participatory budgeting sessions around the lead crisis in the city of Syracuse! At these events, city residents have learned more about the dangers of lead. They have also brainstormed and voted about potential solutions to increase lead screenings and testing. And this Spring, community members will be able to select how best to spend $150,000 to combat lead in our community.

On March 7 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at Northside Learning Center (501 Park Street, Syracuse), the selection process begins. Community members will view proposal videos, ask questions, and vote upon the proposals.

Incorporating the community-driven solutions offered through the Participatory Budgeting process, PEACE, Inc., Families for Lead Freedom Now, and the Syracuse Community Center Collaborative will train and mobilize residents for community-based campaigns and events. From them, the partnership seeks to increase screenings and testing, public education and awareness, and accountability among policymakers. You can watch the partnership’s video proposal here:

To learn more about this important work and to register for the March 7 event, visit the Central New York Community Foundation website at https://cnycf.org/receive/strategic-initiatives/participatory-budgeting/

2022 Employee of the Year is Teddi Heffernan

by peaceinc | Mar 6, 2023 | News and Information

Teddi Heffernan has just marked her 32nd anniversary with PEACE, Inc.! For 20 years she was a Kitchen Manager and then Food Production Manager for the Head Start program, and for the past 12 years she has been the Food Production Manager at our kitchen on Pickard Drive in Mattydale, which serves both Head Start and the Senior Nutrition program. This already complex set of responsibilities has become even more complicated in recent years. While food production needs have continuously shifted, and while congregate meal sites for seniors have been making a comeback, Teddi has had to navigate a difficult supply chain to ensure that safe and healthy meals continue to be provided to everyone we have an opportunity to serve.

Thank you, Teddi, for everything you do, and congratulations on being chosen as our Employee of the Year for 2022 !

Phoo: 2022 Employee of the Year Teddi Heffernan, with (L to R) Food Services Director Randy LaManche and Executive Director Carolyn Brown

March 2023 – Employee of the Month: Sage Parkin

by peaceinc | Mar 4, 2023 | News and Information

Sage Parkin, RN began working at our Sumner building just after we came out of the pandemic shut-down. At that time, her fresh perspective and 30 years of experience as a Registered Nurse, as well as her skills as a former instructor, were a huge benefit to her co-workers who needed to adjust to all of the new COVID-19 protocols. More recently, Sage has become a Medication Administration Trainer for our Head Start staff, to help us reach our goal of having at least one MAT-trained employee in every one of our classrooms. We also want to recognize her for all of the other ways she always helps out her colleagues, from covering breaks in classrooms to just being there to listen when someone needs support.

Thank you, Nurse Sage, for all you do for us, and congratulations on being named our Employee of the Month for March!

Photo: Employee of the Month Sage Parkin, RN with (L to R) Sumner Supervisor Jeannine Gilona and Executive Director Carolyn Brown.