A highlight of the 2019 NYS Funders Conference is that it convenes grantmakers from all corners of our state – many of whom may have never been to Albany or have only been in town for meetings. The site visits allow conference attendees to venture outside of the conference venue and explore the cities of the Capital Region: Albany, Schenectady, and Troy. On the three off-site tours, attendees took a bus to see the impact of philanthropy on these cities first-hand. There was also an onsite session exploring a more regional philanthropic initiative.
Tuesday, September 10th
Troy – Old Buildings, New Futures: Re-imagining Historic Properties for Community Benefit
Description:
On this tour, we will visit three significant Industrial Revolution era buildings (one in Albany and two in Troy) that have been re-imagined thanks to thoughtful philanthropic investment. As we travel on the bus to the sites, we will hear from the visionary community leaders who leveraged philanthropic investment and historic tax credits to re-purpose these vacant buildings into vibrant community and arts centers. We’ll first visit a former parish school that has been transformed into a community center serving individuals who are homeless, formerly homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless. Then, we’ll travel to a former shirt collar factory that now serves as an urban agriculture and fresh food distribution hub and utilizes the latest in green technologies. Lastly, we will visit a National Historic Landmark bank building built in 1875 that will soon serve as both a musical arts education and performance center.
Speakers:
- Rebecca Calos, Executive Director of Empire State Youth Orchestra
- Leslie Cheu, Executive Director of Troy Savings Bank Charitable Foundation
- Jon Elbaum, Executive Director of Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
- Amy Klein, CEO of Capital Roots
- Janine Robitaille, Executive Director of Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless
Albany – The Economic Value of Cultural Tourism: Preserving Our Historic Homes
Description:
Join Historic Albany Foundation’s Executive Director, Pamela Howard for a tour of historic homes and locations of the Capital Region. These sites tell the story of our rich and varied history and culture. This tour will take you to three properties. First, we’ll drive by the VanOstrande-Radliff House, the oldest building in Albany, built in 1728. This structure is currently undergoing stabilization efforts to ensure it’s standing for at least another 300 years. We’ll visit the Architectural Parts Warehouse, the Capital Region’s only architectural salvage shop and learn how that benefits the Historic Albany Foundation. Next, we’ll visit the famous Schuyler Mansion, home of the Revolutionary War General, US Senator and business entrepreneur Philip J Schuyler. Alexander Hamilton married Schuyler’s daughter, Elizabeth, in this house. Finally, we’ll stop in to Historic Cherry Hill. This 1787 home housed five generations of Van Rensselaer ownership. Together, the house and entire collections are a rare document of American History. This sets Cherry Hill apart and makes it a valuable resource to national and international researchers.
Speakers:
- Deborah Emmons-Andarawis, Executive Director, Historic Cherry Hill
- Pamela Howard, Executive Director of the Historic Albany Foundation
- Michelle Mavigliano, Head of Education, The Schuyler Mansion
Schenectady – Community Engagement as a Driver of Neighborhood Revitalization
Description:
Schenectady has undergone a renaissance over the past decade that, until recently has largely benefited the downtown business district and Mohawk Harbor. But several recent initiatives have begun to bring change to Schenectady’s neighborhoods as well, including areas beset by poverty and lack of economic opportunity such as Vale, Hamilton Hill, and Mont Pleasant. Your Schenectady tour will focus on how community engagement initiatives and aligned philanthropic investments are becoming driving forces in revitalizing neighborhoods. Tour stops will include Proctors (Downtown) and the Electric City Barn (Hamilton Hill), with drive-by glimpses of Vale Urban Farm, Hamilton Hill Art Walk, new Schenectady Boys & Girls Club and the Mont Pleasant Library.
Speakers:
- Philip Morris, CEO, Proctors
- Prince Sprauve, Director, “Cradle”
- Patrick Harris, Collective Effort
- Kristi Miller, Director, Thriving Neighborhoods Challenge
- Kristen Holler, Electric City Barn
- Marion Porterfield, Show the Love Where You Live
- Jennica Huff, The Community Builders
- Walter Simpkins, Community Fathers, Inc.
Capital Region (Onsite Session) – Upstate Alliance for Creative Economy Tour
Description:
The creative economy is a vital and vibrant component of the Capital Region’s economy. Creative industries generate about $1.4 billion in earnings and employ over 47,000 people. In an effort to more effectively support and cultivate the region’s creative assets, a diverse group of stakeholders came together to create the Upstate Alliance for the Creative Economy (ACE). In this onsite session, presenters will discuss how funding research and fostering cross-sector collaborations led to the development of ACE, and along the way uncovered the impact and future opportunities within the creative industries. The session will take a deeper dive into the timeline of the work – from the initial convening of stakeholders to the tangible outcomes of ACE’s efforts including reports, products, publications, and examples of local business development activated by ACE members.
