Category: Faith & Family

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — A longstanding Southampton tradition is getting a helping hand from the community as the Southampton 4th of July Parade Inc. prepares to host a Spaghetti and Meatball Dinner Fundraiser on Thursday, October 22, to support next year’s Independence Day celebration.

The fundraiser will take place from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Southampton Elks Lodge, located at 605 County Road 39A in Southampton.

All proceeds will benefit the 2027 Southampton Fourth of July Parade, helping organizers continue a patriotic tradition that has brought generations of residents together.

Keeping a Southampton Tradition Alive

With the nation celebrating its 250th anniversary in 2026, the fundraiser carries a patriotic theme that reflects Southampton’s longstanding commitment to honoring American history, community and service.

The Southampton Fourth of July Parade has been a centerpiece of local Independence Day celebrations for generations, bringing together veterans, families, civic organizations and neighbors.

The organization is highlighting 107 years of community tradition as it looks ahead to the 2027 parade.

Under the theme “Same Spirit, A Brighter Tomorrow,” organizers are encouraging residents to come together to help preserve the annual celebration for future generations.

Dinner, Fellowship and Community Support

The October 22 event will feature a spaghetti dinner with traditional meatballs and turkey meatballs. A gluten-free option will also be available, and takeout orders are welcome.

Tickets cost $35 per person when purchased in advance or $40 at the door. Children ages 10 and younger can attend free of charge.

Beyond raising money, the gathering offers an opportunity for neighbors to enjoy an evening together while supporting one of Southampton’s most recognizable community traditions.

How to Attend

The Spaghetti and Meatball Dinner Fundraiser is scheduled for Thursday, October 22, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Southampton Elks, 605 County Road 39A, Southampton, NY 11968.

Advance tickets are available for $35, with admission at the door costing $40. Children 10 and younger are free.

Residents seeking tickets or additional information can contact Thea Fry at 631-276-3435.

All proceeds will benefit the 2027 Southampton Fourth of July Parade.

For organizers and supporters, the message is simple: Keeping community traditions alive requires the continued participation of the people who make them meaningful.

And on October 22, a plate of spaghetti can help support another year of patriotic celebration in Southampton.

Collaboration and Courage: Lessons from the UJC Summit

By Blair Garner

I had the opportunity to attend the UJC Summit at The Shed, sponsored by Roc Nation. What I experienced was more than a conference. It was a powerful gathering of people committed to criminal justice reform, community healing, and creating better opportunities for those impacted by the justice system.

The summit brought together more than 40 vendors and featured eight informative and engaging panel discussions. Topics ranged from youth justice initiatives and college-in-prison programs to mental health in the Black community and the experiences of incarcerated women.

The room was filled with activists, advocates, students, educators, community workers, and organizations from across the country. There was a genuine sense of purpose and camaraderie. People were not simply showing up to talk about problems. They were sharing ideas, building relationships, and looking for ways to make a difference.

People Doing the Work

Several individuals and organizations stood out to me because of their passion, commitment, and sincerity. While I cannot give everyone the recognition they deserve in one article, I want to highlight a few who made an impression on me.

I had the pleasure of connecting with Mr. Walter “King Tut” Johnson, who shared his new book, Second Chance First Responsibility: How I Rebuilt My Life Inside and Outside of Prison. Our conversation was inspiring. His story is a reminder that a person’s past does not have to determine their future. It also reinforced my belief that we must continue creating opportunities for people to grow, rebuild, and reach their full potential.

I also connected with some emerging organizations doing meaningful work in their communities. The Family Systems Collective, led by Dr. Franchesca Capellan, has a mission that speaks for itself: “We keep families impacted by incarceration connected to resources.” When a family is affected by incarceration, the impact often extends far beyond the individual. Connecting those families to the support they need is an important part of helping communities heal.

Another group that caught my attention was T.R.U.C.3. Inc. I spent time with Vincent, Terrence, and Meshach, three mentors and youth justice advocates whose personal experiences with teen violence have helped shape their commitment to young people. They are using their experiences and wisdom to guide the next generation toward better choices and brighter futures.

Their work highlights something we should never overlook: the people who have lived through difficult experiences can become some of our most effective teachers, mentors, and advocates.

Collaboration Is the Key

As the summit began to wind down, I reconnected with an old friend, Leperry Fore of The Best Inc. We took the opportunity to discuss our next community collaboration.

That conversation brought me back to what I believe was the central message of the entire event: collaboration and courage.

The summit reportedly brought together approximately 50 organizations that tabled to promote their causes, along with 1,700 guests representing hundreds of other organizations and agencies from around the country. Think about that for a moment. So many people, from different backgrounds and organizations, came together around a shared commitment to justice, opportunity, and community improvement.

Yet, as important as these gatherings are, we must ask ourselves what happens after everyone goes home.

Do we follow up on the conversations? Do we share resources? Do we connect organizations that serve the same communities? Do we put our egos aside long enough to recognize that another organization’s success can also be a win for the people we serve?

Too often, organizations working toward similar goals operate separately. We may compete for funding, recognition, or attention when we could be combining our strengths to accomplish much more. The people and communities who depend on our work cannot afford for us to operate that way.

Collaboration does not mean that every organization must do the same thing. It means recognizing what each organization brings to the table and finding ways to work together toward a common goal.

Let That Sink In

In today’s climate, when communities are facing so many challenges and the need for meaningful solutions remains urgent, collaboration is not just a good idea. It is a responsibility.

We cannot talk about healing communities while refusing to build relationships with the people already doing the work. We cannot claim to be committed to change if we are unwilling to share knowledge, open doors, and support one another.

The UJC Summit reminded me that there are people across this country who are committed to making a difference. They are working with young people, supporting families, challenging injustice, educating communities, and helping individuals rebuild their lives.

Now, we must turn those connections into action.

As I continue my own work in the community, I remain committed to building partnerships that produce real results. Because at the end of the day, this work is bigger than any one person, organization, or title.

“If we truly want to move our communities forward, we must learn to move forward together.”

Let that sink in… especially in this climate.

This is Blair Garner, and this is Civically Engaged.

By Blair Garner | Suffolk News Now | October 16, 2026

MELVILLE, N.Y. — I attended the annual Legislative Breakfast presented by Long Island Families Together (LIFT) on Friday, an event focused on raising awareness about children’s mental health, family support services and the challenges confronting young people throughout our communities.

The gathering at the Melville Marriott brought together families, advocates, service providers and elected officials to discuss how public policy can better serve children and families navigating behavioral health challenges.

I expected an informative morning. What I experienced exceeded those expectations.

The Stories Behind the Statistics

One of the most powerful portions of the program was the lived-experience panel, where speakers shared personal accounts of navigating mental health challenges and the systems intended to support them.

Their stories were deeply personal, and each one offered a reminder that discussions about mental health cannot be separated from the people living through these challenges.

The moment that resonated most with me came from Isaiah Santiago, a young Rochester school board member who was elected at just 19 years old.

Santiago spoke about experiencing homelessness and instability at home while navigating a school environment that, in his account, contributed to an already developing mental health crisis.

His experience challenged the assumption that schools automatically provide the stability and emotional protection young people need.

“Even though schools are supposed to be safe spaces, they can push you into isolation,” Santiago told those attending.

That observation stayed with me.

Schools are expected to educate and protect children, but policies intended to maintain order can sometimes have unintended consequences for students who are already struggling.

When a child is experiencing trauma, homelessness or emotional difficulties, the response from the adults and institutions around them can make a meaningful difference.

Legislators Discuss Possible Solutions

Following the lived-experience panel, state lawmakers, including Assemblyman Kwani O’Pharrow and Senator Monica Martinez, participated in a discussion about legislative opportunities to strengthen mental health and family support systems.

Among the issues discussed were reducing exclusionary school discipline, including proposals to eliminate suspensions for children in kindergarten through fifth grade, expanding support for students with mental health and developmental challenges, and improving resources for families.

These discussions highlighted an important question: Are our schools and support systems responding appropriately to the needs of children, particularly those facing difficulties outside the classroom?

Discipline and accountability remain important parts of education. But policymakers must also consider whether removing young children from school addresses the underlying behavior or simply creates additional obstacles for students and their families.

Greater access to mental health professionals, developmental services and family-centered resources could help schools intervene earlier and provide alternatives before problems escalate.

Listening Must Lead to Action

Long Island Families Together works to elevate the voices of young people and caregivers while advocating for improvements in children’s mental health services.

Events like this Legislative Breakfast provide an important opportunity for those directly affected by existing policies to speak with the lawmakers who have the authority to change them.

What made this gathering particularly meaningful was the connection between personal experiences and public policy.

The lived-experience panel demonstrated that the consequences of institutional decisions are not abstract. They affect children, parents and families trying to navigate difficult circumstances.

The legislative discussion offered an opportunity to examine how those experiences might inform better decisions.

I left the event encouraged by the willingness of participants to address difficult issues and impressed by the individuals willing to share their stories.

LIFT delivered an interesting, informative and thought-provoking program that exceeded the expectations I had going in.

The next step is ensuring that the conversations continue beyond the breakfast and contribute to meaningful improvements for the children and families who need these services most.