This weekend on In Focus, we’re discussing the impact of community centers across Upstate New York.

JoDee Kenney sat down with Albany Common Council Member Sonia Frederick, Fanny Villarreal, executive director of the YWCA for Syracuse and Onondaga County, and Jetaun Jones, executive director, Friends, Inc. at Dorothy J. Collier Community Center in Buffalo.

Frederick says community centers are not only a safe haven in many neighborhoods but provide vital resources as well. For young people, after school and summer programs provide engagement outside of school hours, and for seniors, Frederick said, there are opportunities to bond with others.

The YWCA’s mission, Villarreal said, is to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace justice and freedom for all. Two major programs Villarreal highlighted were the women’s residence and youth leadership and development. The residence provides more than just a safe space for survivors of domestic violence. 

At the Dorothy J. Collier Community Center in Buffalo, Jones says the center brings seniors together each day to share a meal, as well as conversation that builds bonds within the community. In addition, Jones said, various programs provide education and enhance senior wellness.

You can watch the full interview with Frederick, Villarreal and Jones in the video player above. And be sure to tune in for a look inside the biggest issues impacting Upstate New York, on In Focus with JoDee Kenney — every Sunday on Spectrum News 1.