THE SCHENECTADY FOUNDATION INC

Strategic initiatives:schenectady foundation, inc. Carries out the foundation's programs and strategic initiatives.in 2024, strategic initiatives included:1. Food security:a. Schenectady county food council - the food council continued to work in three key areas to improve the local food system: a.) access & equity; b.) advocacy & empowerment; c.) agriculture & food systems. The council conducted many community meetings to better understand how residents are experiencing food insecurity, and to present learning opportunities about a variety of food and nutrition topics.b. Weekend backpack program - the program provides weekend meals to elementary school children in schenectady county. During 2024 there were 200 students served.2. Neighborhoods:a. Thriving neighborhoods challenge projects, a program supporting city of schenectady residents to make neighborhood improvements, continued in 2024. Projects such as park improvements and cultural/ educational programs were advanced by the cooperative work of 85 volunteers with the resulting improvements benefiting all city residents (65,000).3. Community-driven systems change:a. The one schenectady systems change strategy began implementation in 2024 with the establishment of a community change council comprised of residents, and grassroots and grasstops leaders. The change council focused its efforts on housing issues within the city, and the development of an app to provide renters with greater transparency as to code violations and conditions at rental properties. One schenectady serves the entire county of 150,000 people by changing the systems that have kept current societal inequities in place.