Purpose Prize

Marc Freedman Portrait

The Latest from CoGenerate

Want to Recruit Younger People? Look Within

Want to Recruit Younger People? Look Within

Denise Webb, 20, is a CoGenerate Senior Fellow. She’s a student at Berry College and a seasoned activist, working with organizations including United Way, Partnership for Southern Equity and The Sunrise Movement. She is the co-author of Why Aren’t We Doing This!...

Two Oscar-winning Films Shine a Light on Intergenerational Connection

Two Oscar-winning Films Shine a Light on Intergenerational Connection

Despite the ongoing drumbeat of generational conflict (a hate story), right in front of us is evidence of a new narrative of cross-generational connection and collaboration (a love story).  That love story was on full display at the Grammys, most visibly in the Tracy...

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Charlotte Holstein

FOCUS Greater Syracuse
Purpose Prize Fellow 2006

Tapping community creativity to impact change

Charlotte (Chuckie) Holstein, 80, created the nonprofit F.O.C.U.S. (Forging Our Community’s United Strength) in 1998 to engage local citizens and organizations to address the major economic, social, and environmental issues facing the Syracuse, NY region. With the vision and input of thousands of people, 87 goals were initiated, all germane to building a sustainable community. To meet the challenges facing the area, citizens prepared strategic plans of action to: 1) improve the water quality of a significantly polluted lake, 2) revitalize an economically depressed downtown area; 3) promote community preparedness for the impact on municipalities resulting from the large numbers of retiring baby boomers; and 4) create a free, 10-week “Citizens’ Academy” to encourage civic engagement and an understanding of how government works. Since then, the plans have begun to be implemented, improvements are underway, and civic engagement has significantly increased as a result. Through its work and its partnerships across the community, F.O.C.U.S. enables citizens to become increasingly involved in improving the quality of life and economic future of the area.