InterFaith Works of Central New York

InterFaith Works of Central New York 

Founded in 1976, InterFaith Works is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) human services agency in Syracuse, NY, that builds bridges of understanding to affirm the dignity of all people and faiths in Central New York. InterFaith Works empowers people in need, including refugees, the elderly and the institutionalized through direct service and educational programs. The agency touches the lives of nearly 10,000 people each year who live in Central New York.  The agency’s four main programs are the Center for New Americans, Center for Dialogue, Interfaith Initiatives and Senior Services. 

In 2019, the: 

Center for New Americans: 

• Resettled 229 refugees from Afghanistan, Burma, Central African Republic, the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Sudan, Somalia, Syria and the Ukraine. In addition, 300 to 400 visitors each month who have been in the country longer than three months receive assistance. 
• Delivered mental health and intensive case management services to 147 clients.  
• Helped 275 clients avoid homelessness by linking with essential government and private programs. 
• Placed 144 people in jobs, and 34 clients participated in the Refugee Driving Assistance Program to learn about rules and customs of driving in the U.S.  
• Provided 67 individuals with citizenship preparation classes through the Path to Citizenship program. Two InterFaith Works’ staff who are U.S. Department of Justice accredited representatives provided immigration services to 132 clients and assisted 46 individuals in completing naturalization applications and 78 individuals in completing Green Card applications.  

El-Hindi Center for Dialogue: 

• Engaged 280 students in eight city and seven suburban middle and high schools in dialogue to break down racial and ethnic stereotypes and build bridges of understanding.  
• Led more than 160 Syracuse City School District high school students in the Seeds of Peace program, which aims to build inclusion, peace and activism. These students developed and led a Youth Symposium on Gun Violence attended by 220 Syracuse City School District high school students. 
• Conducted 10 police-community dialogues with 136 participants. 
• Implemented an intensive dialogue-to-action program with 280 students in Syracuse University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science.  

Interfaith Initiatives: 

• Provided 23 chaplains representing five faith traditions to more than 2,000 individuals in three correctional facilities, two hospitals and a nursing home who were in need of emotional and spiritual support.  
• Presented “Worship Without Worry: A Security Summit for Houses of Worship,” with guest speakers from the Syracuse Fire Department, New York State Police, Onondaga County Trauma Taskforce and U.S. Department of Homeland Security. 
• Organized, along with Women Transcending Boundaries, the World Interfaith Harmony Assembly during which more than 400 people of varied faiths came together to celebrate their diversity as well as their commonalities.  

Senior Services: 

• Helped 170 older adults in Onondaga, Cayuga and Madison Counties stay active and increase their independence while living in their own homes through the Senior Companion Program.  
• Connected volunteers with 36 elders living in nursing homes through the One to One Program. During weekly visits, volunteers help elders who have no regular visitors throughout Onondaga County experience greater joy and social connection. 
• Assisted 15 elder refugees break down barriers and become socially engaged through Gather Around, a program that addresses the obstacles older adults face while learning English.