CCE SULLIVAN BOARD: WHAT DO YOU ENVISION FOR US IN 2023?

Denise Frangipane MPA

Lee Karasik

I’m grateful for the opportunity to join the Board. I believe we all bring an important piece of the puzzle to the table and I look forward to working collaboratively with everyone, to make a positive impact on the organization, as we move into the future.

CCE Sullivan, as an organization, and the staff specifically, has always strived to identify and assist our local school districts with creating healthier generations of students. Over the past 10 years we have seen so many changes within the county, state, and federal wellness goals - and with those, countless examples of how CCE Sullivan staff and programming has flexed to keep their finger on the pulse of district needs and rise to the tasks. CCE Sullivan will continue to be a much needed partner for all of our local school districts.

I imagine CCE Sullivan will continue on a track to financial stability and wellness to support research based education and outreach all across the County!

In 2023, I would love to see our organization focus on the following:

1) Promoting and preserving Sullivan County as a peaceful, beautiful, diverse & inclusive (with abundant natural resources) destination to live and visit, by supporting agri-businesses and responsible development and sharing concerns with the community about the potential harm of irresponsible development in our County.

2) Educate the community about the extreme threat of the loss of vast numbers of bees (pollinators), and encourage and support local beekeeping.

3) Educate, encourage, and support local businesses to rent live Christmas trees, rather than the destructive and wasteful practice of chopping down a live tree for 2 weeks of celebration, creating a fire hazard and waste disposal problem in the process.

I envision collaborations for CCE with multiple youth serving organizations, including our own Sullivan 180, that will inspire and empower young people in our county with the tools and knowledge they need to live longer, healthier lives. I imagine a force of high school students that have been trained to stand up for change and advocate for more programs, more resources, healthier foods and more caring adults to support their physical, spiritual and mental health.

I envision CCE Sullivan as the leading resource for all things food-related in Sullivan County. Whether you are a grower needing advice on crop yields, animal husbandry, or business planning; a producer in need of a commercial kitchen; or a consumer looking for locally grown produce and advice on how to cook it, CCE is your go to provider. In 2023, CCE will leverage this position to build resilience into our food system, increasing food security, strengthening the role of agriculture and food production in our local economy, and protecting our agricultural resources from development pressure and climate extremes.

I envision an organization that reaches all sects of the community; that bridges gaps between urban and rural communities and educates on sustainability for present and future environmental concerns and safety.

Now knowing how amazing CCE is, I realize that it is one of New York’s best kept secrets. I am fascinated by the wealth of knowledge CCE puts to work in pursuit of economic vitality, ecological sustainability and social wellbeing. I envision amassing a wealth of useful information, learning and participating in programs that are engaging to more individuals and communities in conserving and maintaining the diversity of our environment.

Denise Luckman

For 2023, I would like to see many more people in Sullivan County becoming aware of CCE and all it offers, so more residents and business can utilize our services and leverage them to improve their personal and business lives.