News
July 21st, 2025
Demonstrating Possibility: Finger Lakes ReUse and the Power of Community Sustainability – A Site Visit Recap
On our recent site visit to Finger Lakes ReUse, we were reminded that sustainability is not just a practice—it’s a culture, a community ethic, and for many Ithacans, a way of life. What began as a bold idea rooted in environmental responsibility has grown into a vibrant center of human engagement, where reuse becomes a pathway to equity, opportunity, and transformation.
At the heart of this organization is Diane Cohen, a visionary leader whose deep care and compassion have helped shape Finger Lakes ReUse into more than a reuse center—it’s a place of possibility. Under her guidance, reuse has become a tool for education, workforce development, and social connection.
Finger Lakes ReUse doesn’t just divert waste from the landfill—they invest in people. Through their innovative job training and reentry programs, they offer meaningful opportunities to individuals facing barriers to employment, including those returning from incarceration. Here, participants learn essential skills in technology repair, retail, materials processing, and logistics—gaining confidence, experience, and community.
Their education and leadership pathways create space for people of all ages and backgrounds to engage with sustainability in tangible, practical ways. Whether it’s a youth learning to disassemble a computer for the first time or a retiree leading a workshop on furniture repair, ReUse fosters intergenerational learning and leadership rooted in hands-on engagement.
Walking through their bustling spaces, you can feel the impact—not just in the tons of materials saved from landfills, but in the dignity of work, the joy of learning, and the culture of mutual care that permeates everything they do. I learned about programs I didn’t know existed. Did you know about their Ebay Site?! My favorite part of the tour was getting to see and touch the beautiful fabrics for their quilters program!
We were inspired by how Finger Lakes ReUse demonstrates that sustainability isn’t a luxury—it’s a shared responsibility and an invitation to reimagine how we live, build, and connect. Their model shows that climate solutions can be local, people-centered, and economically inclusive.
As we celebrate 25 years of community philanthropy, the Community Foundation is proud to support organizations like Finger Lakes ReUse—places that not only model change, but invite all of us to participate in it. They remind us that sustainability begins with relationships—with each other, with our environment, and with the shared belief that a better, more equitable future is possible.
Thank you, Diane and the entire Finger Lakes ReUse team, for showing us what it means to live our values—and for proving, every day, that reuse can rebuild lives. I’m still waiting for my T-shirt 🙂
~written by Gloria Coicou, Chief Engagement, Equity, & Grants Officer