Browne, Stam honored by The Genesis Group

December 2017     No Comments

Shining the spotlight on the stories of others has once again shined a light on the work of a SUNY Poly faculty member and staff member, receiving some much deserved community recognition.

Lynne Browne and Dr. Kathryn Stam were among those honored by The Genesis Group at the 12th Annual Celebration of Education, an event recognizing outstanding educators and programs in the Mohawk Valley region.

The event was held Thursday, November 16 at Hart’s Hill Inn in Whitesboro.

Browne and Dr. Stam were recognized for their incredible ongoing efforts to shine a spotlight on some of the 15,000 refugees who sought refuge from war and political or ethnic strife, from Cambodia to Sudan.

Through photo exhibits such as Portraits of Hope at Munson Williams Proctor Institute (in conjunction with renowned National Geographic photographer Steve McCurry), to The Faces of Refugee Resettlement in Central New York in the Gannett Gallery at SUNY Polytechnic Institute, Brown and Dr. Stam have spent years documenting the refugees who have helped revitalize the Utica community and bring new languages, ideas, and arts to the region. Through their photos and stories, the dup raise awareness about cultural diversity and improve communication between people from different cultures.

The success of their projects has received deserved recognition beyond the borders of just the Central New York Region, earning an award from the New York State Regional Bibliographic Database Grant program that will help to preserve their work and allow them to create an archive collection of images related to their exhibits. The project will involve permanent online archiving of images from social media and other venues and the collection of additional information to help preserve their work and further strengthen connections to the refugee community in the City of Utica.

The Genesis Group is a civic organization that unites Business and Community Leaders working to advance regional economic, social and cultural interests, and to foster unity and cooperation in the Mohawk Valley region.