Brady Receives Racial Justice Award
Interfaith Works and the El-Hindi
Center for Dialogue honored Brady
Faith Center, along with three other
individuals, at its 2017 Racial Justice
Awards on Wed., March 1 by presenting
the Organizational Racial Justice Award
to the entire Brady community, staff
and board. The award recogized Brady’s
dedicated and tireless commitment to
equal rights and service to Syracuse’s
south side residents. Over 100 people
gathered at Syracuse Stage for light
refreshments and a ceremony prior to
the Stage’s production of Ain’t Misbehavin’.
The award extends to you, our supporters, volunteers, and donors, as we recognize
this as God’s work through the gifts of many. Thank you!
"Jeff" Cont’d
whom live with him, and one on the way. The lovely woman in his life is working
toward her GED, and has influenced Jeff to study for his GED as well. A man of all
trades, Jeff has learned plumbing, landscaping, drywall, general construction and
housing maintenance, however is out of steady work.
At Brady, Jeff finds purpose and work. He helps with deliveries, picks up donations,
shovels and fixes bikes. He became interested in fixing bikes after watching Patrick
Coyne, a volunteer bike repairman for Pedals, fix his bike a few times. Now, after
lessons and hands-on experience, Jeff repairs bikes alongside Patrick.
“Getting approval to fix bikes at Pedals has been a great and exciting gift,” Jeff said
with a can’t-hold-back smile. “It is a great feeling to be involved with fixing bikes and
making quite a few friends!”
The staff and community at Brady comforted and supported Jeff after he was hit by
a car on Jan. 3 while riding his bike. Jeff thanks Brady for its presence through his
injury, and for providing advocacy support and Christmas gifts.
“Being at Brady taught me how to keep my cool, stay calm, be safe. Brady helps me
with my problems. I don’t stress about food or other family necessities. At Brady,
where there is a staff or volunteer, there is a way. Amen!” Jeff said. He plans on
sending his boys to Brady’s kids programming, grateful for Brady’s efforts in keeping
kids out of street gangs.
Jeff reflects on his time at Brady with relief and pride. “My time at Brady is a good
escape. It provides me with a safe environment. Brady is my little safe house,” he said.
Brady Faith Center would like to thank Mr. Jeff Martin for his presence at Brady,
his work at odd jobs around the center, and for volunteering as a bike repair specialist.
Thank You to...
• The following Five Churches and family who
provided gifts to individuals and families in our
Christmas Gift Giving Ministry: Cathedral, Holy
Family, Immaculate Conception, Most Holy Rosary,
and St. James, Dennis and Mary Ann Brodey
• Juanita Davis for sharing her spiritual gift of
hospitality and joy-filled cleaning at the Center
throughout the week and for her enthusiastic
singing during Sunday Church
• Julia Nosovitch, for your warm presence and
wonderful cooking for people in our drop-in
center and P 2 P program.
• Bob Street and JoAnn Adjei for the
exceptional leadership of our men’s and
women’s weekly Bible Study.
• Our great cooks from St. Michael - St. Peter
Parish who prepare a delicious meal for our
men’s group every week.
• Beverly Vinnette and Chris Toomey and
everyone who makes soup for Sunday Faith
Formation and Service participants. Your healthy
and delicious soups feed our spirits.
• Janet Patrick who is always willing to be our
fill-in cook due to cancellations or opening.
You always provide us with “manna” from the
heavens!
• Patrick Coyne and Jeff Martin for fixing bikes
non-stop so we can keep riding bikes through
the city as a community and giving them to our
graduates!
• Isaiah and Elaine Wolfe for farm videography
• Dr. Carol Recker and the Upstate Physical
Therapy Education program for farm work
• Xumin Xu for building our Farm website
• Darius Adjei for your reliable and timely
assistance as the transportation minister for the
women's group.
• Beth and Roger Schafer for working with us
to provide hospitality, good food, and clean-up
for our Sacramental Retreat at Alverna Heights!
Thanks so much for your friendship with us at
Brady!
• Thanks to The Lynch Family for installing a
much appreciated playground set on Bellevue
Ave. near to so many of our friends! It is being
used by children regularly with great joy!
P2P Needs
Brady appreciates all donations to Pedals to Possibilities. If you are connected with shops, rides
or communities which could rally support for us we would greatly appreciate it!
We are always collecting bike parts including wires, inner tubes, tires,
lubricants, bikes and/or bikes for parts, patch kits, and specialized tools.
4
Your time and energy to help us repair bikes is also always welcome and appreciated.
Spring 2017
404 South Avenue • Syracuse, NY 13204 • 315-472-9077 • bradyfaithcenter.org
From Rider to Bike Repairman
Board of Directors 2017
Mark F. Cass, President
Executive Director
Northside Learning Center
Randy Wolken, Vice President
President
MACNY
Howard Triche, Vice President
Brewing Technical Training
Manager at Anheuser-Busch
Linda F. McHugh, Treasurer
VP Finance
CADimensions, Inc.
Andrew S. Lunetta, At Large
Executive Director
A Tiny Home For Good, Inc.
Jim Barry
Owner
James J. Barry, Jr., CPA
Hon. Julie Cecile
Judge
Onondaga County Family Court
Dr. James Duah-Ageyman
Director of Office of Multicultural Affairs
Syracuse University
Eileen M. Clinton
VP Risk Management
Brown and Brown of Empire State
Jeff Martin remembers being around Brady
Faith Center as a child, before it relocated
to its present location. Now he is not only a
regular Pedal to Possibilities rider, but one
who moved from participant to helper to
regular volunteer as a bike repair specialist.
Jeff credits Father John for reigniting his
relationship with Brady after many years.
Father John noticed Jeff riding his bike often,
so he told him about the Pedal Program.
He connected him to another rider, and
coincidentally a man from Jeff ’s past, Carlton
Sheldon, now deceased, who raved about the
program and encouraged Jeff to come down to
South Ave. to ride.
Jeff completed his 10 rides and graduated
from Pedals on Nov. 16, 2016. “It was very
affirming and rewarding to receive my t-shirt,
lock, helmet, bike and certificate. I put the
certificate in my safe VIP folder. Being at Pedals to Possibilities reassured me that I will
keep my bike life alive,” he said.
Having a bicycle has secured for Jeff a means of transportation, which he uses to get
food for his family. He has four children: two daughters, ages 28 and 16, the latter in
foster care, and two sons who reside with him. He also has three grandchildren, two of
"Jeff" Cont’d. on Page 4
Year #2 at Brady's Urban Farm:
Kinship, CSAs, and Growth
Kevin T. Frank
Executive Director at BFC
By Jessi Lyons, Urban Farm Coordinator
Tim McCarthy
Board of Advisors
Jail Ministry
It took a while to have “regulars” at the Brady Faith Urban
Farm stand last year, our first year. By September we began
to notice familiar faces, and every week a few more would
take the first step to stop, shop and learn. This is the story
of one such man.
Louise Poindexter
Long time neighborhood activist
Dan Queri
Owner
DQ Consulting Services
Fr. John Schopfer
Pastoral Director at BFC
Robert J. Street
Product Line Manager
Anaren Microwave
Eunice Williams
VP/ Chief Diversity Officer
Onondaga Community College
Brianna Wright
Attorney
Hancock Estabrook, LLP
A student proudly displays his
hand-picked beet
This man was drawn to Brady’s farm stand to buy enough
vegetables to feed his extended family during Sunday
dinners. He became a regular because he felt our presence
represents dedication to community, love, and stewardship
of people and the land. Our conversation during his third
visit gives us continual hope and perseverance.
He began talking about the upcoming presidential election. After we bantered a bit,
he said “Clinton and Trump, they’ll never be here. They’ll never touch our lives. You
and me here, that’s what matters. It doesn’t matter what your race is, and what color I
am. You’re here selling vegetables on the corner, and I’m here buying them. You’re here
doing this good work in the community, and I’m here supporting you. This election can’t
"Farm" Cont’d. on Page 2
"Farm" Cont’d
change that.”
If it weren’t for the farm stand, I don’t
know if I would have ever had the
opportunity to talk to this man, or him to
me. But the farm gave us a meeting place,
and his kinship means the world to me.
Stories like these will grow along with our
crops and that is what makes this project
so beautiful. Our update for you is exciting,
and we encourage you to get involved as a
buyer, volunteer or both.
This spring we’ll start the Brady Farm CSA.
CSA stands for Community Supported
Agriculture, and is a way for consumers and
farmers to better support each other. Smallscale vegetable farming is risky. CSAs allow customers to buy a share of a farm, entitling
them to a portion of what’s produced and a voice in what is grown. In turn, farmers get
reliable income and help planning what to grow. The Brady Farm CSA will allow families
to choose between a half or full share of produce, receive a discount for other products,
and use food stamps to buy the share.
In addition to the CSA, we’ll offer online ordering, two market stands, and low-income
discounts. We will grow more of the food that people love and will partner with other
local farms to offer more variety.
Throughout the year you’ll witness construction of a new greenhouse, a packing shed, a
fence, and twice the food planted as last year. We encourage you to come visit the farm,
located at 150 Ford Ave., to witness, support and take part in the second year.
The labor of love that we share with neighbors and volunteers will be evident through it
all. . Our mission is lofty, and farming is hard work, but we know its value is far greater
than the exchange of goods.
Brady Farm CSA Quick Facts
• Families select 16 weeks to receive a box between June 18 – October 28.
• A limited # of shares available at half cost for low-income eligible families.
• Share holders can also add items to their weekly box at a discount.
Family Share
(8-14 items/week) $400/season
Regular Share
Sponsor (Family+/Regular+)
(6-12 items/week)
$320/season
8-14/6-12 items/week
+$80 donates goods to a family in need
* Family and Regular Shares can be fully sponsored as well
Contact Jessi Lyons at [email protected] for more.
Keep in touch on Facebook @BradyFaithFarm
“Joining P to P has helped me in a lot
of ways! The spiritual and faith part
of my life has grown because of the fellowship at Brady. At the lowest points
in my life, in my time of need, people
at Brady are there for me. Ever since
I started riding with the team and
earned my bicycle, my physical health
has improved. Both my heart and
arthritis are better, I don’t need to take
cholesterol pills and I’m in good shape.
Before P to P I had to depend on others
for my transportation needs. Now, I
have my independence, wherever a car
can go, I can go. I thank God for Brady
and the positive atmosphere it provides,
it’s the place I choose to be."
-Juanita Davis
Come, Ride with Us
By Andrew Lunetta, founder of Pedals and
Director of Tiny Home for Good, Inc
We’ve got it all as cyclists in Syracuse. Flat and smooth to the North.
Rolling and scenic to the East. Hilly and challenging to the South. And
a bit of everything to the West. But we tend to overlook the roads right
under our wheels. Too often the City of Syracuse is just an obstacle we
need to “power through” before arriving to “the ride.” It’s a shame. The
roads, neighborhoods, and people that make up our city are treasures.
However, there is a cycling group that gets in their miles riding the
city streets. Departing from the Brady Faith Center, every Monday,
Wednesday, and Friday, the riders of Pedal to Possibilities wind their way through the Southside, the Valley, Sedgewick, and every
neighborhood in between. I have been a proud member of Pedal to Possibilities since 2011. Here are three reasons why.
One, there is no set of criteria to ride with Pedal to Possibilities. All are welcome. A typical ride at Pedal to Possibilities is made
up of individuals facing homelessness, local community members, students, suburbanites, and whoever is feeling a ride that
particular morning. There are very few activities out there that have zero barriers to entry. Pedal to Possibilities is one.
Two, I love riding my bicycle in the city. Red lights become a nice rest break, not a patience testing hassle; so I smile more. I
travel at a pace where I can recognize others walking and biking; so I wave more. And when on the bike, I don’t autopilot the
journey; so I see more. Pedal to Possibilities affords the opportunity to smile, wave, and see.
And three, I love the people of Pedal to Possibilities. It is exciting to meet people who are so insightful due to ample life
experience and diverse in every way. I always, without fail, leave Pedal to Possibilities in a better mood than when I arrived.
Pedal to Possibilities has opened my eyes to the roads, neighborhoods, and people – the hidden treasures - that the City of
Syracuse has to offer. Why not get a taste of those treasures too? Mark Sunday, June 4 on your calendar. Be a part of the 4th
Annual Bike and Walk for Brady and come experience the treasures that exist right below our tires and shoes.
Bike for Brady (and Walk, too!)
Riders and walkers alike are looking forward to celebrating
with us at our fourth annual community bike ride and walk.
This important ride/walk brings people together while raising awareness and support of our Brady Programs, including Pedal to Possibilities.
A new 3K walk has been added to this year’s event so that
everybody can join this year’s healthy celebration! The Bike
for Brady (and Walk too!) is scheduled for June 4. The day
is filled with new and different bike rides, 10, 20 and 40
miles long through the streets and neighborhoods of our
city. This year you will be able to register online through
our website. Registration is $25 per person for the bike
and walk events, and last year over 150 riders participated.
This year’s event is co-chaired by Arnie Artessa, David
Philippone and Bob Dougherty, dedicated riders and supporters of the Brady Faith Center. They are planning on
making this year’s event the best ever. The festivities will
begin and end at the Brady Farm which is located at 150
Ford Ave. We will enjoy spreading out on the 6 acres of
land and enjoying the food and celebration, which end this
one of a kind event.
So grab your bike helmet and walking shoes and remember
to save the date, Sunday, June 4, to celebrate with us at the
fourth annual Bike for Brady (and Walk too!)
Consider Sponsoring
Bike for Brady (and Walk, too!)
As in years past the Brady Faith Center is asking for
corporate and individual contributions. Interested
individuals can call Kevin Frank for more information
at 315.472.9077.
Sponsorship Levels
Naming Sponsor - $5,000
Pedal to Peace - $2,500+
Pedal to Hope - $1,000+
Pedal to Justice - $500+
Sponsors in each category
receive recognition on the
event t-shirt, in the printed
program, on our website,
and in our 1,600 subscriber
newsletter, plus highlighted
recognition at the event.