Briefs: IC inclusivity, Roe overturn, more

IC launches new initiatives to support inclusive experience

As Ithaca College (IC) ends the 2021-22 academic year, which also coincided with the 20th anniversary of the formal establishment of the Center for LGBTQ Education, Outreach and Services on campus, it recently unveiled two landmark initiatives set to debut in fall 2022 that will continue to push the college forward in its efforts to be an innovative institutional model for student belonging and success.

First of these efforts is the Open Pages Residence Learning Communities. IC has long prided itself in its residential college model, recognizing the developmental value of on-campus living as a key component to the student’s overall experience. However, typical housing infrastructures throughout higher education tend to unintentionally center cisgender students and are not always adequate to meet the needs of transgender and nonbinary students.

While IC already has a mechanism in place to support transgender and nonbinary students through the transgender housing accommodation process, the addition of the Open Pages Residence Learning Communities (RLC) adds a deeper layer to the college’s intention to ensure that all students have a safe space to call home during their time on South Hill.

RLCs are unique housing options made available by IC’s Office of Residential Life designed to foster meaningful peer connections and belonging through shared interests and lived experiences. Residents of RLCs have access to special programs, events and community resources.

The other effort announced by IC is the creation of a pride fellowship position. The IC Pride Fellowship is a two-year fixed term paid fellowship position made available to recent graduates and young professionals looking to gain access and insights into the fields of LGBTQ+ campus resource professionals, higher education and student affairs.

The role provides an early career experience designed to instill key core competencies to become effective leaders and changemakers to make a meaningful impact on students.

Learn more about these efforts at tinyurl.com/27u4gjms.

 

Tompkins Cortland wins grant to support international exchange

Thanks to a $25,000 grant from the 100,000 Strong in the Americas (100K) Innovation Fund, Tompkins Cortland Community College is collaborating with Universidad Federico Henríquez y Carvajal (UFHEC) in the Dominican Republic on the creation of reciprocal educational exchange opportunities for underrepresented students in the field of sustainable farming and food systems.

As part of the grant, a two-week intensive English program for UFHEC students is underway at Tompkins Cortland, with a focus on holistic exploration of farming and food systems through intercultural experiential learning.

The 100K Innovation Fund is a public-private sector collaboration between the U.S. Department of State, AgroAmerica, U.S. Embassies, Partners of the Americas, corporations and foundations working together to stimulate new higher education partnerships between the United States and the rest of the Western Hemisphere.

Tompkins Cortland’s grant was one of 12 awarded this year as part of the 100K Innovation Fund goal of inspiring U.S. universities and colleges to partner with regional higher education institutions to design and implement new models of academic exchange programs for underserved students throughout the Americas.

Tompkins Cortland’s project is called CRESE — Cultivating Reciprocal Education through Sustainable Exchange. It endeavors to increase the number of college graduates in the United States and the Dominican Republic with the linguistic, intercultural and technical skills needed to make an impact in their respective fields.

To achieve this goal, Tompkins Cortland and UFHEC are establishing reciprocal educational exchange opportunities to allow students from both institutions to learn about the different regional and cultural approaches to sustainable agriculture in their host countries.

The hope is that as they move into their professional careers, this partnership will allow graduates to advocate for sustainable development from a global perspective.

The current visit involves seven students and three faculty from UFHEC spending two weeks on the Tompkins Cortland campus and visiting various locations in the region. In addition to taking intensive English classes, students have visited Cornell University’s Homer C. Thompson Vegetable Research Farm, Van Noble Farm in Trumansburg, Agricultural Consulting Services and Dairy One in Ithaca, Northland Sheep Dairy in Marathon, and Food Venture Center, New York State Integrated Pest Management Program and Cornell AgriTech in Geneva.

They participated in a workday on the TC3 Farm, a tour of the college’s culinary arts center and restaurant Coltivare and visited with City of Ithaca Director of Sustainability Luis Aguirre-Torres as part of their experiences in New York state.

Learn more at tompkinscortland.edu.

 

Local Planned Parenthood responds to Roe v. Wade overturn

On June 24, Planned Parenthood of Greater New York (PPGNY) announced it has increased abortion appointment availability at all 23 health centers by 20%, in direct response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and uphold Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban.

By offering additional abortion appointments, PPGNY strives to decrease appointment wait times and maximize resources to care for more New Yorkers and people traveling across state borders to seek compassionate, nonjudgmental abortion services.

With more than 36 million people across the country at risk of losing access to abortion, PPGNY will take additional critical steps toward enhancing abortion services, including:

• Designating an abortion patient navigator to assist people who need to travel to New York from abortion-hostile states like Mississippi, Texas and Oklahoma, as well as many more states as a result of last week’s Supreme Court decision. This person will be on hand to facilitate travel, lodging and secure funding on behalf of patients.
• Increasing telehealth medication abortion to give people in the early stage of pregnancy the option to safely self-manage their abortion under the guidance of PPGNY’s expert clinicians. Through telehealth medication abortion, a patient receives a virtual evaluation before picking up their abortion pills at the nearest PPGNY health center. Telehealth medication abortion services will be available at PPGNY starting this summer and will also be available for follow-up appointments.
• Expanding abortion services in the Southern Tier to mitigate unnecessary delays for people traveling to New York. Abortion is time sensitive. By expanding services to include second-trimester abortion at health centers in Ithaca and Corning, PPGNY will continue to play a role in lessening the emotional and financial toll on people who are unable to get the care they need in their home state.

Up to 26 states are prepared to flip the switch on abortion rights, making this life-saving health care out of reach for people who already struggle financially to access affordable health care. The consequences of abortion bans fall largely on people who already face the greatest barriers to health care due to this country’s legacy of racism and discrimination, including Black, Latinx and Indigenous communities, people with low incomes, LGBTQ+ people, immigrants and people living in rural areas.

Thanks to the New York Reproductive Health Act of 2019, abortion remains safe, legal and accessible at PPGNY health centers and abortion clinics across New York state.

Joy D. Calloway, interim president and CEO of PPGNY, released the following statement at a recent press conference:

“Banning abortion does not take away people’s need to access abortion. We believe all people — no matter where they live — should have the right to control their own bodies, lives and futures. It is unacceptable that people in some states have been robbed of that right, forced to overcome unjust barriers to access the abortion care they need and deserve.

“While the court’s decision is devastating, we have been preparing for this day. At Planned Parenthood of Greater New York, we are committed to ensuring equitable access to all New Yorkers and people across the country in states hostile toward health care — and abortion is health care. When it comes to your body, your life, and your future — your personal decisions should be the only ones that matter.”

Visit ppgreaterny.org to view real-time appointment availability at most PPGNY health centers or call 800-230-PLAN to connect with a patient navigator.

 

Martha Van Ressler Hall at Cornell rededicated

On June 10 at 1:30 p.m., Cornell University and the College of Human Ecology (CHE) hosted a rededication and ribbon-cutting ceremony at Martha Van Ressler Hall (MVR) celebrating the completion in 2020 of three phases of renovations, each of which was certified LEED Gold under the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system.

After more than 15 years, the renovations have earned MVR a “first” among Cornell facilities: In winning LEED Gold certification, it received a credit for inclusive design aimed at supporting occupants’ physical and emotional well-being.

Guests included President Martha E. Pollack and other senior administrators, current and former CHE deans and representatives from the State University of New York Construction Fund, which since 2004 has invested more than $100 million in renewal of the now 90-year-old building.

Following the ceremony, participants took a self-guided tour through 10 points of interest, from the MVR Auditorium’s restored art deco chandeliers to the Commons linking MVR and the Human Ecology Building, where cloud-like mesh light fixtures are examples of “biophilic elements” designed to incorporate or reflect nature.

Learn more at tinyurl.com/26o7mwzh.

 

YMCA to offer blood pressure self-monitoring program

This summer, the YMCA of Ithaca and Tompkins County will begin offering the YMCA’s Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring Program, designed to help participants with hypertension lower their blood pressure by following a program that combines blood pressure self-monitoring, nutrition education and personalized support.

According to the American Heart Association, more than 80 million Americans have high blood pressure, but less than half have it under control. Research shows that the simple process of checking and recording blood pressure at least twice a month over four months may lower blood pressure in some people with hypertension. In addition, evidence shows that proper nutrition, particularly with a reduction in sodium intake, may help.

“One aspect of the Y’s work is preventive health — helping people be aware and proactive in order to take a role in their own health before they develop a more serious condition,” said Gunnar Madison, health and wellness director at the Ithaca YMCA. “In addition, the Y’s partnership with Cayuga Health Systems means we are able to communicate and complement the work of local health care professionals by offering more of these evidence-based programs. The goal, as always, is improving public health.”

As part of the Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring program, participants will measure their blood pressure at least two times a month for four consecutive months and record their readings in a self-selected tracking tool. A nutrition education component will encourage the participants to practice healthier eating habits, including reducing sodium in their diet.

The program is facilitated by Healthy Heart Ambassadors, appointed and trained by the Y, who will show participants how to use a blood pressure monitor, encourage self-monitoring and facilitate monthly nutrition education seminars.

The Y is looking for adults with high blood pressure who could benefit from participating in this program. Participants must meet the following criteria to participate in the program:

• Must be at least 18 years old
• Must be diagnosed with high blood pressure
• Must not have experienced a recent cardiac event
• Must not have atrial fibrillation or other arrhythmias
• Must not be at risk for lymphedema

The program will launch July 25 and continue through Nov. 11. Registration is open now, and details are available at ithacaymca.com/bpsm.

For program eligibility, enrollment, or questions contact Madison at gmadison@ithacaymca.com.

 

The Podglomerate brings on Ithaca College alum Chris Boniello

Podcast marketing leader The Podglomerate has hired Emmy Award-winning producer and Ithaca College alum Chris Boniello as its new vice president of production services.

In this newly created role, Boniello will oversee production and audio editing for The Podglomerate’s various clients and podcast series. Reporting directly to Podglomerate founder and CEO Jeff Umbro, he will work to broaden the company’s capacity for audio editing, mixing and sound engineering services for its high-profile portfolio of podcast clients.

“Great sound design can bring an audience into a new world unlike any other media,” Boniello said. “I look forward to working with our team at The Podglomerate to amplify exciting stories to listeners new and old.”

Boniello joins The Podglomerate after spending the past decade as a senior editor for multi-million-dollar commercial video campaigns and TV series, overseeing productions for Fortune 500 brands including Nike, Coca-Cola, Mercedes-Benz, Comedy Central, Paramount, Spotify and ESPN (where he won the Emmy Award for “Outstanding Sports Promotional Announcement” for his large-scale video production focused on the 2014 FIFA World Cup). After spending a brief time in the film unit at NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” Boniello jumped into the podcasting industry as a sound editor, mixer and producer.

“We’re excited to have Chris lead our production arm as we grow The Podglomerate’s services for our podcast clients and move into more original productions,” Umbro said. “Chris has the perfect mix of consumer and B2B facing production background and a clear passion for sound-rich storytelling, The Podglomerate is positioned to bring more podcasts to the masses with an even higher threshold of quality and integrity. We can’t wait for the world to hear what we’re working on.”

Learn more at thepodglomerate.com.

 

Callyn Pyhtila appointed branch manager of Tompkins Bank

Tompkins Community Bank recently announced that Callyn Pyhtila has assumed the role of associate vice president and branch manager of its main office branch in Ithaca.

Pyhtila, who formerly managed the West End location, brings 11 years of experience to her new role and will be focused on fostering existing commercial relationships, seeking new business development opportunities and supporting and developing the branch team.

Pyhtila has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and resides in Cortland with her husband and four children.

She previously volunteered with the Family Reading Partnership and is a current board member of United Way of Tompkins County, serving on its Community Investment Committee.

More information is available at tompkinsbank.com.

 

 

Children’s Garden to permanently implement hybridization to events

While many activities begin the shift back to in-person exclusive affairs, Ithaca Children’s Garden (ICG) is working to seamlessly, and permanently, integrate asynchronous activities that will complement its signature in-person events, taking further steps toward accessibility and inclusion.

“The pandemic has highlighted long-held exclusionary practices everywhere, and ICG is no exception,” ICG Communications Coordinator Monique Caraballo said. “Practices that are entrenched in ableism and privilege disregard the multitude of impediments faced by marginalized communities whose needs we are late to prioritizing. While hosting hybrid events does not resolve every insufficiency, it does afford more folks and families the opportunities to participate in nature wherever they are able, or where they feel included and safe.”

Ithaca Children’s Garden hosted its first hybrid event last winter with the return of its Festival of Fire & Ice. The festival offered performances and activity stations for visitors to the garden, as well as downloadable instructions for those activities.

Specially pre-recorded songs and stories performed by Haudenosaunee storytellers are also available on its website.

ICG’s recent International Mud Day celebration followed a similar format (a past year’s Mud Day is pictured).

On June 25 from 3 to 6 p.m., Ithaca Children’s Garden hosted its International Mud Day celebration for the first time in three years. ICG’s hybrid format allowed celebrants to choose their mud adventure, create mud pies with mountains of mud in the

Hands-On-Nature Anarchy Zone at the garden or make a splash in any mud puddle with Mud Day @ Home activities on ICG’s website (ithacachildrensgarden.org).

This virtual component is designed to be accessible and includes materials that are typical household staples.

 

Gift to establish Department of Real Estate at Cornell

A $30 million gift from Paul Rubacha (pictured), a 1973 Cornell University alum, will create an innovative, multicollege department of real estate, uniting partners across academia and industry and building on Cornell’s strengths in engaged learning and impact-focused scholarship to increase opportunities for students and advance the field.

The Cornell Board of Trustees voted May 26 to approve the Paul Rubacha Department of Real Estate, to be managed between the College of Architecture, Art and Planning and the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business.

“I’m deeply grateful to Paul for his support, which is allowing us to strengthen Cornell’s academic distinction in so many exciting ways,” President Martha E. Pollack said. “The Paul Rubacha Department of Real Estate will open tremendous new possibilities for our faculty and students: enabling new collaborations across disciplines, with industry practitioners and between programs in Ithaca and New York City.”

The new department will expand and enhance a program that integrates finance, development and the built environment in an unprecedented way.

“Formally combining these disciplines will create a thoughtful real-estate education unlike any other program in the country, one that’s as focused on design and development as it is on the balance sheet,” Provost Michael I. Kotlikoff said. “Combining faculty and staff expertise from the SC Johnson College of Business and the College of Architecture, Art and Planning will elevate Cornell’s existing array of real estate education, research and outreach.”

Rubacha said he’s hopeful his gift will catalyze similar success for generations of students to come.

Read more at tinyurl.com/2c2jrklp.

 

Stewart Park celebrates carousel anniversary

Friends of Stewart Park (FSP) celebrated 70 years of the Stewart Park Carousel on June 25, including carousel-themed crafts, cupcakes and, of course, free rides all day.

The carousel, manufactured by the Allan Herschell Company of North Tonawanda, New York, has been a favorite park attraction ever since it first opened in Stewart Park 1952. The ride was initially brought to the park by Robert L. Cochran along with a miniature train. It was owned and operated by Cochran and several other concessionaires over the years.

Eleanor and Montgomery May made many improvements when they owned it in the 1980s, most notably hiring artist Annie Campbell to paint the 30 horses. In 1998, the Park Foundation donated $75,000 to the City of Ithaca to purchase the carousel, and the city has owned and operated the ride since that time.

Since 2014, Friends of Stewart Park has worked in collaboration with numerous individuals and organizations to successfully restore and enhance the carousel: hiring local artists to paint the horses, replacing the chain-link enclosure with an attractive steel rail fence, building a ramp and wheelchair-accessible chariot to make the merry-go-round truly accessible and, most recently, raising the permanent cover in 2020, which enables the city to forgo the seasonal disassembly that was hard on the historic ride. The carousel restoration project would not have been possible without the generous support of the City of Ithaca, Tompkins County, New York state and many generous individual donors from the community.

In addition to free rides and amusements, the carousel’s 70th birthday party included a display of photographs of the carousel’s history and remarks by Friends of Stewart Park’s Executive Director Rick Manning.

For more information on the Stewart Park Carousel, including how you can provide a day of free rides, visit stewartpark.org/carousel-page.