Staying Connected During Times of Crisis

By Hannah Fitzpatrick ’21, July 24, 2020

IC alumni join mayor for discussion on community engagement during COVID-19.

Dominick Recckio ’16, Svante Myrick, and Deb Mohlenhoff ’92 all took part in a Community Conversation, hosted by David Harker.

In June, Ithaca College’s Partnership Pathways group hosted its first “IC Community Conversations”, which brings together local leaders to discuss opportunities for community, social, and civic engagement.

The group was created in the fall of 2019, to drive a foundational part of the college’s strategic plan. The goal is to better develop, support and coordinate cross-sector and community partnerships through discussions with community leaders who have a strong relationship with the college and who promote community partnerships and perspectives.

The initial cohort, hosted by David Harker, the director of the Center for Civic Engagement at Ithaca College, featured Deb Mohlenhoff ’92, assistant vice president of college relations and chief of staff at Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3), Dominick Recckio ’16, communications director of Tompkins County, and City of Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick.

One of the main topics of discussion was the role partnerships play in supporting and uplifting the Ithaca community during the coronavirus pandemic.

What’s been really great is to have everybody else – on every hill and in the community – trying to figure out how to be able to provide those answers together and collectively.”

Deb Mohlenhoff ’92, assistant vice president of college relations and chief of staff at Tompkins Cortland Community College.

Mohlenhoff has been working with administrators at TC3, Cornell and IC to help devise return-to-campus plans. She said that although the past few months have been filled uncertainty, the schools working together has been rewarding.

“This is really the first time in history that I think we don’t actually have all of the answers that everybody has been looking to us for,” she said. “And what’s been really great is to have everybody else – on every hill and in the community – trying to figure out how to be able to provide those answers together and collectively.”

Recckio, who has been the county’s communications director since March 2020, currently serves as a key member in its Emergency Operations Center. He works with a team of public information officers to create an interdisciplinary approach to communicating with the public during the pandemic.

He said that one of the keys to an effective partnership is engaging in critical self-reflection.

“The very first class I had to begin college was ‘Education and Society,’ and the first lesson was all about what you should do to look at yourself in the mirror to improve who you are and improve your lens on the world,” he said. “That is something I've reflected on for a lot. When I think about partnerships, it's ‘what critical lens am I applying to that?’ Is this partnership helping to meet the needs of people? Is this partnership addressing equity?”

“I look forward to students coming back in whatever form and fashion because I think our community is better off when they're here. I think they push us to be better, more engaged, responsive leaders.”

Dominick Recckio ’16, communications director of Tompkins County

Myrick said that the most important aspect of community partnerships does not come from administrators, but from students who dedicate their time outside of classes to the community.

“The students, particularly the undergrads in college, are more deeply woven into the fabric here in the city of Ithaca,” Myrick said. “I think it’s in part of students from the excellent Park school providing all sorts of media coverage, from the radio stations to magazines to Newswatch. Media coverage is an extremely important part of our community functions, knowing where the problems are, who needs help, what's not working well - like antibodies in, in an organism. Having outlets here locally, often staffing powered and managed by students, helps keep politicians honest, keeps people informed about the good work that's happening.”

And although there’s still uncertainty regarding what Fall will look like in Ithaca, Recckio said he looks forward to having students return to the college town they call home.

“Bringing the students’ perspectives to town are one of the best parts that come with them,” Recckio said. “Everyone has to adapt to this COVID-19 crisis, and one of the things I think we need to be open to is that we might not be the ones who have the answers and oftentimes, it’s the students and folks who are in that mode of learning and are eager to help provide those insights. I look forward to students coming back in whatever form and fashion because I think our community is better off when they're here. I think they push us to be better, more engaged, responsive leaders.”