2016 Annual ACTS Banquet

Alliance of Communities Transforming Syracuse will hold its annual banquet, “Transforming Syracuse: Claiming Power to Build an Equitable Community,” Tuesday, April 19, at Drumlins Country Club. The keynote speakers is Yusuf Abdul-Qadir, a social entrepreneur, speaker and policy analyst on sustainable development, foreign affairs, and issues of social, environmental and economic justice. Prior to becoming the Director of the Central New York Chapter of the NYCLU, he served under the Ambassador of the Panamanian Mission to the United Nations as an Advisor to the Ministers of Finance, and to the Vice President/Foreign Minister. Originally from the Bronx, NY, Yusuf came to Syracuse in 2004 as a student at Syracuse University in order to “understand the multidimensional layers of poverty and the means by which to eradicate them.” He has done more than study these issues: he has worked throughout the community, including at the Spanish Action League, Center of Excellence, and Islamic Society of Central New York. On a global level, he has managed and created international development projects in Sweden, South Africa, Turkey, the Balkans, Nigeria, Morocco and Egypt. A proud resident of Syracuse’s Southwest Community, he is passionate about developing innovative ways – particularly through sustainable development – to eradicate systemic poverty and discrimination, and views it as one of the most pressing challenges (and impediments to growth) of the Greater Syracuse community today. For tickets, visit here.