Central New York Chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union - NYCLU

08/11/2026

Thank you for your interest in working with us as a credible messenger! Please complete the brief form below and our team will follow up.

08/10/2026

A reminder that our Credible Messengers application closes tomorrow!

The New York Civil Liberties Union is looking for Credible Messengers - trusted, well-connected community members - to help educate the public about the dangers of lead exposure. Any candidate needs to be a resident of, or have a personal connection to, the City of Syracuse's Eastside.

Thank you for your interest in working with us as a credible messenger! Please complete the brief form below and our team will follow up.

08/06/2026

❗️Independent Contractor Opportunity: Credible Messengers: August 11th Deadline ❗️

The New York Civil Liberties Union is looking for Credible Messengers - trusted, well-connected community members - to help educate the public about the dangers of lead exposure. Any candidate needs to be a resident of, or have a personal connection to, the City of Syracuse's Eastside.

The Messengers will be paid by the hour, using their community standing to facilitate one-on-one or small group conversations about lead risks. Before doing so, the NYCLU will provide the Messengers with training and materials to distribute.

This will be a short-term position, in preparation for an open community meeting that the NYCLU will be holding on Tuesday, August 25, at the Boys & Girls Club at 2100 E. Fayette St.

If anyone you know is interested in becoming a Credible Messenger, or if they have further questions, please fill out this interest form here:

Thank you for your interest in working with us as a credible messenger! Please complete the brief form below and our team will follow up.

07/25/2026

The New York Civil Liberties Union is seeking Credible Messengers, apply now!

Thank you for your interest in working with us as a credible messenger! Please complete the brief form below and our team will follow up.

07/25/2026

❗️Independent Contractor Opportunity: Credible Messengers ❗️

Are you plugged into the Syracuse Eastside community?

The New York Civil Liberties Union is looking for Credible Messengers –trusted, well-connected members of the community—to help spread awareness to their neighbors about the dangers of lead exposure and connect them with resources and community meetings.

Credible messengers are independent contractors paid per hour, for a total of 20 hours, using their community and relationships to facilitate conversations about lead safety. This includes hosting informal “kitchen table talks”, one-on-one conversations with neighbors, and encouraging attendance at community meetings focused on the lead crisis.

Training will be provided; no prior experience is needed.

Responsibilities:
- Credible messengers are responsible for tracking their own hours, submitting invoices, and completing a W-9 form. We will support you through every step.
- Host small, informal gatherings to discuss lead hazards and safety precautions.
- Conduct one-on-one conversations with neighbors about lead risks, testing, and remediation resources.
- Distribute materials provided by the New York Civil Liberties Union
- Encourage and follow-up on community meeting attendance
- Track hours and work with the CNY Organizer

Qualifications:
- Lives or has strong ties to Syracuse’s Eastside
- Comfortable having one-on-one and small group conversations
- Spanish speaking is a plus

This is a paid, independent contractor position (not employment) of 20 hours total, compensated at $29.95/hour. Total compensation cannot exceed $599.

How to apply:
Fill out a brief interest form here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScYwHShA1ivM08tRZIZYBq3rntg9M3fsS6Qf1qcRawCbNTjVg/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=109246873552823521717
Email Kevin Atwater at: [email protected]

Thank you for your interest in working with us as a credible messenger! Please complete the brief form below and our team will follow up.

07/14/2026

The NYCLU and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund (LDF) have released "The Other New York: The Legacy of Slavery and the Case for Reparations Now."

The goal of the report is to demonstrate how slavery laid the foundation for many of the policies written and executed that continue to impact Black New Yorker’s today. It discusses everything from the air we breathe, infrastructure, the educational system, to housing and mass incarceration.

https://www.nyclu.org/report/the-other-new-york

Authors: Lanessa Owens-Chaplin, Chantelle Williams & David Wheaton

Jul 14, 2026 Reports The Other New York: The Legacy of Slavery and the Case for Reparations Now Voting & Representation Racial Justice Economic Justice Share: By: Lanessa Owens-Chaplin Racial Justice Center Director, Racial Justice Center & Chantelle Williams Assistant Director, Racial Justice Cente...

06/24/2026

Community members and friends of the NYCLU,

We want to remind you of our community meeting happening this evening at the Syracuse Dunbar Center from 5:30pm-7:30pm!

Lanessa Owens-Chaplin, Director of the Racial Justice Center, and Oceanna Fair, chair of Families for Lead Freedom Now!, will present updates on the lead water crisis. This is a great opportunity for residents to get their questions answered, we encourage you to come and bring a friend, neighbor, or loved one.

Join us to learn about this public health crisis, what we are doing about it, and how you can protect yourself from lead exposure.

Community members and friends of the NYCLU,

We are pleased to announce the next in our series of community meetings around the dangers of lead in Syracuse's drinking water.

On Wednesday, June 24th, Oceanna Fair, chair of Families for Lead Freedom Now Inc and Lanessa Owens-Chaplin, Director of the Racial Justice Center at the NYCLU, will present on the lead crisis at the Syracuse Dunbar Center.

With over 14,000 homes with lead water pipes, Syracuse has one of the worst lead problems in the country. Lead is a neurotoxin that is dangerous to humans, particularly for children. Please join us on June 24th from 5:30-7:30pm to learn about this public health crisis, what we are doing about it, and the safety measures you can take to protect yourself and your family.

Please RSVP here: https://secure.ngpvan.com/qVfyjSdBqUu7TQIWVq5m6g2

06/10/2026

Get Your Child Tested for Lead! Lead can hurt your child's health. A lead test is quick and easy. Testing is available in June. Walk-ins are welcome. No appointment needed. A blood lead test is the only way to tell if your child has been exposed to lead!
📞 Call: (315) 435-3271
📧 Email: [email protected]
📋 Fill out a short form: https://redcap.link/r8076nak