In The Community

Past Leadership Lackawanna Class Projects

1987-1988
• Leadership Lackawanna Promotion (Color Brochure and Lapel Pin)
• Environment Video
• Youth Services Speakers’ Bureau
• Transportation/Social Services Seminar

1988-1989
• Volunteer Board Bank
• Recycling Calendar
• Seniorama
• Youth/Career Counseling Program

1989-1990
• Tutor Program
• Youth Leadership Seminar
• Reading Program
• Community Awareness Conference

1990-1991
• Publicity Campaign for The Lackawanna Valley Heritage Park Study
• Pediatric Art Project
• Lackawanna River Corridor Brochure
• Education Brochure and Speakers’ Bureau on Math/Science Careers

1991-1992
• Publicity Campaign for The Scranton Cultural Center’s Fund Drive
• Leadership Training Module
• Parade Manual
• “Home Alone” Brochure

1992-1993
• “Odyssey of the Mind” Problem: “Butt Out”
• Everhart Museum Projects: (a) Publicity/Membership Campaign and (b) Community Board Development
• Grade School Wellness Program
• Migrant Health Care Program

1993-1994
• Personal Safety Seminar
• Habitat for Humanity Long-Term Fund Raising Strategy
• Wildflower Planting Project
• “Money Matters” Program

1994-1995
• Career Skills Training Program
• Project HOPE Mentor Program
• Parenting Program
• Community Pride Essay Contest
• Health Promotion Program

1995-1996
• Arbor Day/Environment Project
• What’s-Special-About-Me Poster Contest
• Mulberry Central Neighborhood Development Corporation Publicity/Fund Raising Campaign
• Mentoring Program/Education Series

1996-1997
• Scranton Tomorrow Marketing Brochure
• Literacy/Educational Skills Enhancement Program/Day Care Directory
• Recycling For A Cause (Dialysis Patients’ Association)
• Mulberry Central Neighborhood Development Corporation Brochure

1997-1998
• The Everhart Museum’s Gateway Landscaping Project
• Cultural Diversity Seminars
• Scranton Tomorrow Web Page
• Employment/Economic Development Web Page With Wilkes-Barre Program

1998-1999
• Dress For Success Lackawanna
• Truancy Programs and Brochure
• FIRST Publicity Program and Anniversary Event
• Regional Image Campaign with EDCNP

1999-2000
• Signs/Banners Campaign for The Gateway To Scranton
• Youth Logo Contest with the Lackawanna County Cultural Diversity Council
• Car Seat Promotion and Distribution Program
• Green Space Directory

2000-2001
• Video on the benefits of the area to live/work here
• Life Skills Workshop for High School Students
• Entrepreneur Fair
• Senior Citizens Education Program on “Stay-In-Their-Own-Homes”

2001-2002
• “Aim High” program on career awareness for middle school students presented to guidance counselors/educators
• “Job Jumpstart” search information program for college graduates and dislocated workers

2002-2003
• Leadership Lackawanna Conference 2003
• “Community Pride Project” – Essay contest for fifth-grade students on why they are proud of their community
• “GVTA Business Plan Competition” – Partnered with Great Valley Technology Alliance to offer a business plan competition to college students

2003-2004
• Family Film Festival at Nay Aug Park, featuring three movies
• Promote the Lackawanna River Loop Project by including an insert in The Sunday Times and developing a model of the completed project for display at various businesses in the county
• Job Shadowing Program matching high school students with professionals in fields of their interest

2004-2005
• “Walk / Drive Scranton Project” – Phase One of Courthouse Square signage system to assist residents and visitors in locating points of interest, and help in negotiating streets
• “A New Leash on Life: Connecting People Through Pets” – Event to bring people and pets together for a special day
• “Elderly Resource Guide” – Create a resource guide to improve the quality of life of our community of elderly by raising awareness of services available to them.
• “Beyond the View: Lackawanna County Through the Eyes of our Youth” – Give area youth the opportunity to learn more about their local heritage through artwork

2005-2006
• “Helping Kids Rebound” – Children’s Advocacy Center fundraising/awareness event that paired the Harlem Jokers against area political, media, and business celebrities in a basketball game to benefit the CAC.
• “Women’s Resource Center Awareness Campaign” – Work with extended network of staff and volunteers of the WRC to gather information to update their website, promotional items and educational materials.
• Together with the Betton House developed a curriculum for the project. Met twice a month from January to June with students at Betton House. Each month had a theme and sessions focused on workshops, lectures and activities.

2006-2007
• “My Future in the Neighborhood” - Career Day in January for seventh-grade students at which they received a career assessment tool created by the team. The team, along with leaders from a variety of organizations, held targeted career information sessions with those students in April.
• “Gimme Shelter” – raise awareness and funds for the Humane Society of Lackawanna County. Put together a book that sold for $10 and held a Pet Walk at Nay Aug Park.
• “Doors Open Lackawanna” offered free admission to various historic sites and businesses, mainly in the downtown area, not generally open to the public. Goal was to let residents know what tourist attractions and treasures are available in the area. Free trolley service was provided to all sites.

2007-2008
• Leave Your Mark on the Park - Restoration of the Schimelfenig Pavilion at Nay Aug Park.  The project also includes installing landscaping and a brick-paver walkway and patio on both sides of the pavilion. 
• Project Success: A Conference for Youth - was designed to introduce local high school students to avenues that will help them to be successful by exposing them to various speakers, exercises, and activities.  The Conference will give the students an opportunity to shadow a local business professional and learn about a job they have some interest in pursuing following high school.
• “The Local Flavor of Lackawanna” – A wine tasting event to benefit Children’s Advocacy Center
• Answering the Call of the Wild - A project assisting the Genesis Wildlife Sanctuary in providing the best life possible to animals. The primary goals of this project include promoting awareness of the mission of the sanctuary, organizing various on-site cleanups and raising money for food and supplies. 

2008-2009
• THE RESTORATION OF HANLON’S GROVE AT NAY AUG PARK - The mission of this project was to restore and enhance a blighted section of the park to a point of destination, by reinstating a picnic grove and creating a site that encourages community pride and environmental connectivity. 
• BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB of NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA - This project involved painting, decorating and reorganizing the existing layout into a more kid friendly and modern computer lounge, complete with new technology.
• NORTHEAST REGIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE’S CANCER SURVIVOR PARK– The Cancer Survivors Park, at McDade Park in Scranton, was created to provide a physical location at which to display the artwork of individuals who participated in the Survivor’s Tiles Art Therapy Project. However time, and more specifically northeastern Pennsylvania winters, has taken a toll on the Park. This two phase, multi-step park renovation project included new/enhanced landscape, pathways, benches, pavers, tribute trees and the removal of the tiled spires.
•SCOLA - With the assistance of SCOLA Volunteers for Literacy, this project involved creating a year-long, public-awareness campaign. The campaign theme was “Read Better. It’s Not Too Late” and had two focuses. The first focus was on lifestyle, the latter economic. The campaign reached across a range of platforms, including television, radio, billboards, promotional flyers/cards, displays, newspapers and the Internet.

2009-2010
•The Heritage Explorer Bike Tour- together with the Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority(LHVA) organized a day-long, family and friends bicycle tour event on 6/4/10 highlighting the LHVA trail. The event will consisted of two parts: an opening reception and the bike tour. The goal of this event was to raise awareness and raise funds for the trail and to provide cycling enthusiasts and families the opportunity to experience the natural beauty, history, and cultural diversity of Lackawanna County and the surrounding communities.
•One Stop Donation Drop (OSDD) - This event builds on the concept that if we donate our gently worn clothing, household items and sports equipment to local charitable organizations, who assist the neediest of the needy, then we are keeping these items out of landfills and helping our community organizations at the same time. This year Leadership Lackawanna expanded OSDD to a new location, Scranton! This day-long community-focused, multi-tiered donation event will benefit several local non-profits including Ronald McDonald House, United Neighborhood Centers, Women’s Resource Center, Cinderella’s Closet, Voluntary Action Center, Friendship House, Friends of the Poor and Boys and Girls Clubs of NEPA. OSDD is a nationwide event and is coordinated locally by Nancy Sarno.
•St. Joseph’s Center- created and implemented a mentoring program at St. Joseph’s Center in Scranton to support women and families who move from either the Walsh Manor or Mother/Infant Program into permanent, independent housing. It will also include a new series of educational programs designed to inform and train community mentors. This program will match community mentors with single women and will provide the support, respect, integrity and resources needed to help these women and their children become independent.
•A Brush with Kindness - a neighborhood revitalization program under the direction of Habitat for Humanity of Lackawanna County. This program gives low-income homeowners in Lackawanna County an easy and affordable way to improve and revitalize their homes and neighborhoods. The program focuses on exterior home repair services like painting, minor exterior repairs, landscaping, and weatherization. Leadership Lackawanna’s launch of “A Brush with Kindness” will help Habitat for Humanity serve the citizens of Northeastern Pennsylvania on a greater level as we work to increase the number of families living in safe and affordable housing.
•Walk the Lake- working to build a pathway around the lake at the Abington Area Community Park on Winola Road in Clarks Summit, this project will provide a handicap-accessible, family-friendly walkway. The park now becomes a must-visit destination for people who want an opportunity to safely enjoy nature in a beautiful place.