Alliance of Communities Transforming Syracuse

At the May 2nd Common Council Budget Hearing for the city of Syracuse, members of ACTS came dressed in orange and armed with passion, ready to speak out in support of funding for Pre-Kindergarten. ACTS Education Taskforce Chairs, Peter Knoblock and Peter Kozik, and members of their taskforce including Margaret Diehl and Pam Percival all took turns speaking with conviction and concern about the importance of continued investment in Pre-kindergarten. Peter Knoblock shared with the Councilors that Syracuse has an outstanding Pre-K program that the city is beginning to reap the benefits of in our children’s performance in schools, especially for our at risk youth. He urged the Councilors not to allow us to take a critical step backwards by reducing the city's investment in this program. Peter Kozik reminded the Council that this was a "long-term investment in our children's futures" and that economically speaking the return on investment has been shown to be anywhere from four to seven times the initial investment. Other members of the ACTS community joined voices with the taskforce members on behalf of Pre-K. Rev Earl Arnold and Mike Malera, Executive Director of Catholic Charities of Onondaga County, spoke about the importance of investment in Pre-K and its long-term benefits. Current Pre-K teachers, some with over twenty years of dedicated work in the Syracuse City Pre-K, spoke about their personal experiences and the amazing impact they have seen firsthand that Pre-K have in child’s life. Other members of the ACTS community were there in orange to show their support including County Legislator, Linda Ervin and ACTS Vice President, Julio Urrutia Sr.

Thanks to all who came out, spoke up, and took ACTion.

The Common Council must vote on the budget by May 8th.

 2012 ACTS Spring Banquet:

The ACTS Spring Banquet was a success! There were over 

three-hundred people in attendance.

Please click here to view pictures on our banquet page!