#71: Community, Leadership, and Support ft. Melanie Littlejohn

An episode of the Cultivate with Alex Canavan podcast, hosted by CNY Women's Network, titled "#71: Community, Leadership, and Support ft. Melanie Littlejohn" was published on February 24, 2025 and runs 52 minutes.

February 24, 2025 ·52m · Cultivate with Alex Canavan

Summary

In today’s episode, we’re honored to welcome Melanie Littlejohn—a visionary leader, dedicated changemaker, and President and CEO of the Central New York Community Foundation. With a career spanning nearly three decades at National Grid, Melanie has been at the forefront of customer and community engagement, championing initiatives in economic development, social equity, and corporate responsibility. Before that, she led the Urban League of Onondaga County, advocating for community empowerment and systemic change. Melanie’s impact extends far beyond the boardroom—she’s served on 15 nonprofit boards, mentored rising leaders, and played a key role in shaping community investment strategies. Her passion for driving meaningful change has earned her numerous accolades, including the 2022 Woman of Prestige Award and the 2019 Wisdom Keeper Award. In this episode she shares her incredible journey, her vision for Central New York’s future, and the lessons she’s learned about leadership, service, and the power of community. This episode is filled with inspiration, wisdom, and actionable insights—so get ready for an empowering conversation. Let’s dive in!Follow CNYCF on Instagram!Visit CNYCF's LinkedIn! Upcoming Events:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠2025 CNY Women’s Summit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hosted by CNY Women’s Network at The Oncenter on Friday, March 7. If you're a woman professional or business owner in Central New York, get listed on the CNY Women's Network Directory to be seen, connected, and hired. Visit:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.cnywomensnetwork.com/get-...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out the directory:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.cnywomensnetwork.com/dire...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apply to be a guest on Cultivate CNY:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Alex Canavan, the host of Cultivate CNY:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   / alexandra.canavan  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Cultivate CNY on Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   / cultivatecny  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support this podcast:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sh...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow the CNY Women's Network on Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   / cnywomensnetwork  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow the CNY Women's Network on TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   / cnywomensnetwork  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This episode is brought to you by the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠CNY Women’s Network.⁠CNY Women’s Network is a Syracuse-based media company that prioritizes community and collaboration between woman-owned businesses. We connect, promote, and celebrate businesses in Central New York.Email [email protected] to learn more about how CNY Women's Network can amplify your brand.Join The Collective by CNY Women’s Network, a membership community for growth-minded women: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.cnywomensnetwork.com/memb...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Use the code: CULTIVATE10 for 10% off your first month or your first year with The Collective.This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Diam Media Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.diammedia.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Medicine Based Beauty⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://medicinebasedbeauty.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Medicine Based Beauty is a full-service medspa that offers medical-grade services by highly trained and certified medical professionals and products backed by medical expertise and scientific research. Whether it's advanced skincare treatments or rejuvenating procedures, your beauty journey is guided by expert hands.Learn more and join the Beauty Bank Membership:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://medicinebasedbeauty.com/beaut...⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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