Leadership Capital Region Class of 2026 is proud to announce they have selected SCAP—Schenectady Community Action Program as their class project.

Class Project Summary:

Sojourn House is the only transitional housing program in Schenectady County dedicated to serving homeless mothers and their children. For 25 years, it has provided families in crisis with safe shelter, 24/7 staffing, counseling, case management, employment support, meals, and stability as they work toward permanent housing. The first floor of the facility—where families spend most of their time—has become worn and no longer feels like home. The Class of 2026 aims to change that through a full revitalization project.

The LCR Class of 2026 will:

Repaint the entire first floor in warm, calming colors
Refresh décor and replace worn furniture
Potentially enhance exterior landscaping and improve the children’s play area (pending available funding)
Participate in hands‑on volunteer days, including painting and outdoor work
Fundraise to support the full transformation

The Goal: To create a welcoming, dignified, trauma‑informed environment where mothers and children feel safe, valued, and supported as they rebuild their lives.

Impact:

Improves housing stability by making Sojourn House a true healing and supportive space
Strengthens economic mobility by giving mothers the foundation they need to focus on employment
Provides lasting, tangible improvements that will benefit families for years
Demonstrates our community’s commitment to its most vulnerable residents

Please reach out to [email protected] if you have any questions.

Leadership Capital Region Class of 2026!

Katie Alessi Trifecta Collaborative	Kelsey Knutsen Crisafulli Bros. Home Services
Amanda Amyot Highmark Blue Shield of Northeastern New York	Dave Kovalefsky UHY LLP
Ryan Anthony M&T Bank	Chuck Kurgatt Amazon Customer Fulfillment
Steve Basile Ascent Wealth Partners	Dominique Madore Vanderheyden Inc.
Darlene Carnibucci Brightside Up, Inc.	Rawdon Marroquin Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Ashley Celebucki Joseph’s House and Shelter	Jeff Martino Pyramid Brokerage Company
Peter Crasto-Donnelly Capital Area Council of Churches	Dezoré McCarroll Capital Bank, a division of Chemung Canal Trust Company
Cassie Diorio CDPHP	Eric O‘Bryan Bond Schoeneck & King PLLC
Jennifer Doret Rehabilitation Support Services, Inc.	Tyler C. Robbins  Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP
Keith Edwards Ellis Medicine	Joy Rodriguez Arrow Bank
Marie Garnett Center for Disability Services	Megan Ross  Broadview Federal Credit Union
Mike Gestwick Bonacio Construction	Alec Royka Nixon Peabody LLP
Emma Gill Residence Inn by Marriott, BBL Hospitality	Brian Rudolph University at Albany
Rev. Pauline A. Glenn Unity House of Troy	Matt Shaughnessy Northern Rivers Family of Services
Salah Harris S&S Capito	Janelle Shults Healthy Alliance
Scott Hayden Trinty Alliance of the Capital Region	Christine Smith HATTAS
Malachai Hendrix The Food Pantries for the Capital District	Joe Sterling Living Resources
Kate Hoefer MVP Health Care	Michelle Storm Monaco Cooper Lamme & Carr, PLLC
Stephanie Horton Literacy Volunteers Capital Region	Maria Tubbs Citizens
Tasha Hudson Proctors Collaborative	Eric Wilczak Market 32 & Price Chopper Supermarkets
Kaitlyn Kelder Bank of America	Priya Winston Ph.D. LMSW  The Arc Lexington
Muhammad Khan SABIC	Naomi Wood, LMSW Schenectady Community Action Program
Yolanda Kirby, CPH-FP, BSN United Way of the Greater Capital Region