Executive Director Deka Eysaman was honored to be invited to lend her voice and expertise to help kick off the first session of Thursday Morning Roundtable’s 2025-26 season, “Launching the Conversation: Exploring What We Call Home.” The group, featuring John Tumino from In My Father’s Kitchen, Stephanie Pasquale from Allyn Family Foundation, and Cass Montressor from Housing and Homeless Coalition of Central New York (HHCCNY), fielded questions from SU Lender Center Student Fellows.

In her own words, Deka says she was most struck by the thoughtfulness in the approach to the work of her co-panelists. “Securing housing and keeping people housed is a multi-faceted issue that requires solutions from several angles,” she says. “As we think creatively and thoughtfully, it’s important that we reflect on past mistakes that brought us to the crisis we’re experiencing today.”

Thursday Morning Roundtable is a monthly public service program, sponsored by Syracuse University’s Office of Community Engagement, which features experts speaking on local, state, and national issues of concern to the community.

We are looking forward to continuing the conversation and following the threads that will be pulled in future Roundtable discussions. The next session in the Housing series is scheduled for November 13: The Conditions of Home: Health, Safety, and Access (Magnarelli Community Center).

We invite you to watch Launching the Conversation: Exploring What We Call Home here or on the Thursday Morning Roundtable website. Learn more about Thursday Morning Roundtable and these important conversations on their website.