Community Foundation Hosts Successful Evening Focused on Cornhill Neighborhood Revitalization

The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties hosted a successful Community Dinner on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, bringing together community leaders, residents, and stakeholders to discuss a series of initiatives aimed at enhancing neighborhood investment and community engagement.

The evening began with a warm welcome and dinner, featuring remarks from Alicia Fernandez Dicks, President & CEO of the Community Foundation, and Jawwaad Rasheed, the Community Foundation’s Immediate Past Board Chair. Together they set a collaborative tone for the event, highlighting the importance of community involvement in the Cornhill Neighborhood Revitalization efforts and the history of the concept. 

Dicks presented an insightful update on the Community Foundation’s initiatives, emphasizing the theme “You voted, we listened,” which underscored the Community Foundation’s commitment to projects that reflect the choices and priorities shared by the community.  

Tyler Hutchinson, Business Process Manager at the Community Foundation and Project Manager for the West Street and James Street Impact Centers, provided a recap of the concepts and designs as well as an update on project funding. Jeffrey Rehler from the Oneida County Planning Department elaborated on a corridor study aimed at fostering connectivity between the centers and throughout the neighborhood.

Project partner Mid-Utica Neighborhood Preservation Corporation (MUNPC) shared an update on its partnership with the Community Foundation and the status of the organization’s Executive Director search. 

"I believe, like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., that beloved community is possible and can transform opponents into friends, and old age of gloom into a new age,” said MUNPC Board President and Board Chair Hilda M. Jordan. “The Community Dinner was inspiring and a reflection of generations of work bringing together representatives of law, education, infrastructure, health care, residents, and grassroot advocates to envision, collaborate, and build a place of shared ownership and investment that will transform our Cornhill community.”

The event also served as a launch for the new Cornhill Revitalization Project website (www.revitalizecornhill.com), featuring a dedicated calendar section for community events, history and updates about the project, and community perspectives on what the Impact Centers will mean for the historic neighborhood.

The evening concluded with a question-and-answer session, providing attendees with the opportunity to voice their thoughts and engage directly with project leaders.

“This interactive event involved all sectors of our Utica community,” said Rasheed. “The community members had meaningful and thoughtful discussions specifically on issues affecting the everyday life of the Cornhill community.”

“This event exemplifies our dedication to fostering a vibrant, inclusive community,” said Dicks. “We are excited about the positive changes on the horizon and look forward to continued collaboration, like this Community Dinner, with all stakeholders.”

For more information about the Cornhill Revitalization Project, visit www.revitalizecornhill.com.