Latest Common Ground Newsletter

August 2025 Newsletter

Educators learn from students how play promotes health and wellness and ignites learning

Wednesday’s Playful Learning Summit at the Memorial Art Gallery focused on the joy of play as a tool for learning.

The Healthi Kids event, titled “Joy in Motion: Reimagining Learning through Play, Creativity, and Recess” featured inspirational speakers sharing how learning through play can help students succeed. Dr. Deonna Smith, author of Rooted in Joy: Creating a Classroom Culture of Equity, Belonging and Care, contrasted two schools with different approaches to play but similar test scores. spoke about advocating for joy and play in schools.

A panel of youth shared why play is important to them, and even rain didn't dampen the enthusiasm. Participants took part in a 20-minute indoor recess designed by youth organizers featuring board games, a scavenger hunt and time to socialize with friends. Learn more.

Marc Solomon, senior research associate, and Sara Abrams, director of data services, served as data-quality experts Aug. 7. They hosted three roundtable discussions at Northstar Network's Quality Tradeshow. The tradeshow is part of the Healthcare Business Academy Fellowship Program.

FLPPS Career Pathways Training Program helping launch or advance healthcare careers

As the region’s designated Workforce Investment Organization, the Finger Lakes Performing Provider System (FLPPS) is managing the Career Pathways Training (CPT) Program in Western N.Y., the Finger Lakes, and a portion of the Southern Tier.

Designed to create a workforce pipeline to address healthcare workforce shortages, the CPT Program supports individuals who are starting or advancing careers in health, behavioral health, and social care. Participants can get tuition assistance, educational case management, tutoring services, mentoring and career coaching, and resume building and job placement support.

Learn more about the program.

A Call to Women of Color returns Sept. 13

The annual A Call to Women of Color event will be held on Saturday, Sept. 13 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. This year’s theme is "Sawubona: I See You. Celebrating Sisterhood through Our Unique Journeys." This free event focuses on empowering women of color to engage in conversation and to promote healthy living among women.
Get tickets.

Learn about Indigenous foods and wellness Sept. 15

During this Eating for Wellness event, Indigenous Health member Whitney Brooks, MS, RDN, CDN, the first Seneca Registered Dietician, will discuss how to establish a balanced, healthy eating pattern; dispel myths and misinformation; and incorporate Traditional Indigenous foods.

The event is on September 15 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Partners in Restorative Initiatives, 111 Hillside Ave. in Rochester. Register here. (Walk-ins also welcome)

Join other Black healers to get updates on what is happening in the community and hear about upcoming opportunities to engage with The Healers' Village. The gathering will also include a discussion of the supports needed in the current social and political climate. The event will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 30 at 5:30 p.m. at Common Ground Health, 1150 University Ave., Building 5, in Rochester. Learn more or register.

Save the date: Hair and Health Symposium, Oct. 12

The 2025 Hair and Health Symposium will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, at the Stardust Ballroom at the Edgerton R-Center, 41 Backus Street in Rochester. Learn more.

Sign up: Rural Health Symposium, Sept. 17-18

The NYS Association for Rural Health will host a Rural Health Symposium Sept. 17-18 at Lakefront Hotel in Geneva. Dr. Mantosh Dewan, president of Upstate Medical University will be the keynote speaker and Dr. Kaushal Nanavati, author of Core 4 of Wellness will be the plenary speaker. Register here. The symposium will continue discussion of the recently released Rural Summit on Aging Report.

“Our rural communities are resilient, but they need support,” added NYSARH Board Member and report co-author, Melissa Wendland, who is Common Ground's director of Strategic Initiatives. “With this report, we’re offering not only a diagnosis of the challenges but a vision for what is possible when we work together to advocate for the health and dignity of rural seniors.”

Read the report.

Partner spotlight: University of Rochester Aging Institute (URAI)

The URAI is committed to promoting health, independence, and engagement of older adults. This past spring, the URAI launched its Aging INSPIRED! campaign to contribute meaningfully to making Greater Rochester an age-friendly community. As part of this campaign, two new videos have been created to highlight how engagement with the arts is a powerful way to promote vitality in later life.

“The URAI’s Aging INSPIRED! campaign is itself truly inspired,” said Melissa Wendland, director of Strategic Initiatives. “This campaign is furthering efforts across our region to promote age-friendly communities and helping engage more older adults in the arts, which can deliver such benefits as improved mental health, creativity, and critical-thinking skills.”

See the videos and learn more about the campaign.