PEACE, Inc. hosted its annual Champions of Diversity Celebration at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo, marking the first time the event was held at this location. Community members, partners, and supporters gathered for an evening of recognition, connection, and celebration of inclusive leadership across the region.

During the celebration, PEACE, Inc. recognized the 2026 Champions of Diversity honorees. This year’s honorees included Tiffany Rush, Director of Rural Initiatives for On Point for College; Nucor Steel Auburn, Inc.; and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. Kaptivating Kappa Xi Zeta. Each was recognized for their continued commitment to supporting diverse communities and expanding opportunities for others.

PEACE, Inc. extended its appreciation to the sponsors whose support helped make the event possible. Presenting Sponsors included Nucor Steel Auburn, Inc. and Haylor, Freyer & Coon, Inc. Washington St. Partners served as Champion Sponsor. Achievement Sponsors included EWS Holdings and Rick and Judy Shafer. Community Sponsors included Seneca Savings Bank, N.A., The Bonadio Group, Community Bank, N.A., National Grid, and Dot Foods. OneGroup Insurance served as Dessert Sponsor. Neighborhood Sponsors included The Gifford Foundation, Wegmans, Fidelis Care, Syracuse University, The Lender Center for Social Justice, Carolyn Brown, Rialto Wealth Management, One Tier Solutions, Tony Baird Electronics Inc, and On Point for College. Todd Goehle served as Supporting Sponsor. Their partnership and continued support helped ensure the success of the celebration.

The event also highlighted the many individuals who contributed to its success. Attendees, donors, sponsors, volunteers, and staff all played an important role in creating a welcoming and meaningful evening. Their involvement reflected the shared commitment to strengthening the community and supporting PEACE, Inc.’s mission.

The Champions of Diversity Celebration continued to serve as an opportunity to recognize leadership, build connections, and celebrate the impact of collaboration. PEACE, Inc. remained grateful to all who participated and continued its commitment to helping people in the community realize their potential for becoming self-sufficient.

Our annual Champions of Diversity celebration brought together people from every corner of our community — from donors to families we serve, elected officials to community activists. It was a palpable reminder that we are all in this together and that we need all hands on deck.

We were delighted to celebrate three local, inspirational leaders:

Pam Hunter, New York State Assemblymember

Frank M. Ridzi, Vice President of Community Investment at the CNY Community Foundation

Syeisha Byrd, Syracuse Commissioner of Parks, Recreation, and Youth Programs

Given the nature of our honorees, the event could just as well have been titled In the Trenches with Sleeves Rolled Up. Each of them exemplifies a leadership style that puts service first and continually prioritizes deep, authentic work in the community, often at the ground level. Each of them is uniquely in tune with the needs, the pains, and the ideas of our community. It’s through these types of leaders that we rise together.

Our Executive Director, Carolyn D. Brown summed up the evening perfectly in paraphrasing Pope Leo XIV’s first homily, insisting that we stay awake and attuned to those around us — especially in a cultural moment when it’s more popular to turn inward. We all left that night with a renewed sense of purpose and eager to do the good, hard, necessary work.

At this year’s Champions of Diversity, the PEACE, Inc. team worked hard to show its guests the diversity and impact of the agency’s programs. Whether through interactive displays, speeches and poems, or volunteering, the agency is proud of its staff and its work to make the night a successful one.

On May 22, 2024, PEACE, Inc. held its first Champions of Diversity Celebration since the pandemic at Syracuse University’s Nation Veterans Resource Center. It was a beautiful celebration of PEACE, Inc.’s programs, true champions of diversity, and the community at large. Over the next couple of days, we’ll be sharing with you many of the highlights. Today, we want to express our gratitude for our sponsors and our honorees, Joseph E. O’Hara, Rasheada Caldwell, and Tamika Otis. They are all wonderful advocates of our community whose calls inspire us all to do better.