by Lenore Wyant, GARE Director of Network Engagement
There’s something about driving north in the fall that invites reflection. As I made the five-hour journey from my home in Pennsylvania to Ithaca for our 2025 GARE Local Meeting, the landscape shifted in front of me — hills brushed in amber, deep crimson, and gold — a reminder from nature that transformation is both constant and beautiful. Every few miles, I found myself thinking about how change, whether in our communities or within ourselves, always carries both loss and possibility.
Arriving in Ithaca during peak fall season, that theme of transformation continued to unfold throughout our gathering, held October 19–22, 2025, at the new Ithaca Downtown Conference Center. This year’s GARE Local Meeting: Ithaca was a true convergence — a rich blend of local government practitioners and grassroots, community-based organizations coming together in ways that many attendees shared they had never experienced before. The energy was grounded, hopeful, and deeply relational.
For a peek at the full agenda visit this link .
Comments from the speakers at our opening mixer reflected that spirit of collaboration — a thoughtful mix of community and government leaders. Among them, Alderperson Phoebe Brown, Jordan Celmons of the Unbroken Promise Initiative, and New York State Senator Lea Webb joined in the conversations, enjoyed local music, and shared food alongside community practitioners, embodying the sense of connection that defined the gathering. My takeaways were reflections on the importance of community champions, community voice, giving people a first, second and third chance, and sharing leadership.
The all-group sessions carried that energy forward with thoughtful, challenging, and inspiring conversations. In “Forging Right Relationships with Indigenous Nations”, Michèle Hamel, Program Director for the First Nations Health and Wellness Program at NYS Department of Health, reminded us that equity work requires humility, listening, and respect for the sovereignty and expertise of Indigenous communities.
In the panel “Leading with Community: How Local Government Can Learn from and Lean into Community-Based Strategies”, moderator Charlene Holmes, Chief Equity and Diversity Officer (former), Tompkins County, NY asserted, "We are going to have a real conversation where feathers are going to be ruffled because it’s about the heartbeat of our community. We are going to be talking about individuals and communities working to shift how we do this work from transactional to transformational long before government was helping to challenge injustice.”
The session “Advancing Racial Equity, No Matter How: Strategies and Insights for Continuing the Work” was another standout moment. Moderated by Cathy Albisa, Co-Executive Director for Field-Building and Organizational Strategy at Branch 4, the conversation featured Linda Tigani, Executive Director of the NYC Commission on Racial Equity, and New York Assemblymember Anna Kelles. Panelists emphasized that “every community needs to look at its history and not be threatened by it,” underscoring the importance of honest reflection as a foundation for progress. The discussion offered practical strategies for sustaining racial equity work, especially in moments when advancements may feel incremental, and highlighted perseverance and adaptability as essential tools for long-term change.
The closing plenary, "Accountability and Next Steps for Advancing the Work,” led by Charlene Holmes and Marsha Guthrie, Senior Director, GARE, brought the convening full circle. The conversation highlighted qualities foundational to advancing racial equity through insightful reflections such as, “If you are not experiencing push and pull, then you are not heading in the right direction,” illustrating the role of courage, and “Clarity is a lens. If you have not interrogated your lens, you will do things the way they’ve always been done,” emphasizing the importance of examining assumptions and biases. Panelists underscored the value of collective responsibility, concrete next steps, and sustaining equity commitments beyond the meeting. Participants left feeling energized and ready to carry the work forward in their own communities and organizations.
One of the most moving moments of the convening came during the screening of the documentary, Are We There Yet?: A Compassionate Exploration of Contemporary Immigration,” followed by a thoughtful post-viewing discussion with attendees. The film’s exploration of immigrants and their stories of migration, community, belonging, and the ongoing pursuit of equity resonated deeply in the room. Read more about the film here.
Throughout the convening, we integrated three new GARE videos to anchor our discussions and highlight the shared purpose and vision of our network:
These videos served as touchpoints, sparking reflection, grounding conversations in shared experiences, and inspiring participants to think about how to translate collective learning into action in their own communities.
Each day, attendees also had the opportunity to visit a daily exhibit curated by Visit Ithaca, offering a window into just some of Ithaca’s rich and often underrecognized Black history. It was a beautiful reminder that local history holds the wisdom and grounding necessary for shaping equitable futures.
I want to extend deep gratitude to the planning committee, whose dedication helped to make this convening possible. Meeting for months in advance, they shaped the programming to reflect the needs and interests of attendees and brought hands-on support to every detail — many coming together at Greater Ithaca Activities Center over the weekend to stuff an amazing, full swag bag. Thanks to Leslyn McBean-Clairborne for all of the outreach, collections and organizing to make this happen. Their care and collaboration reminded me what’s possible when committed people come together to create something truly special.
As with any season of transition, there was also recognition of change within the local context. We took a moment to acknowledge the transition in Tompkins County, as Chief Equity and Diversity Officer Charlene Holmes — who played an instrumental role in bringing the GARE Local Meeting to Ithaca — prepares for her next chapter. The county is now seeking candidates for this vital leadership role; you can learn more here.
As the meeting came to a close, we enjoyed an Expo that brought together 10 local vendors and organizations who shared resources, tools, and opportunities to stay connected beyond the convening. The energy in the room was undeniable — people lingered, exchanged numbers, and sought ways to continue the dialogue. It was clear that this was more than an event; it was the beginning of something more.
Driving home through the same winding roads, now dotted with leaves beginning to fall, I carried a deep sense of gratitude — for our GARE team, for our members, for the people of Ithaca, and for everyone who showed up ready to do the work of transformation.
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