Summer with Purpose: Tackling Stigma with the Binghamton High School LPP

This summer, Liberty Partnerships Program students at Binghamton High School are doing more than just soaking up the sun—they’re tackling stigma head-on and making a real difference in their community while they’re at it.

The theme of this year’s Binghamton High School LPP summer program is stigma, with a focus on the ways stereotypes and assumptions affect everything from health and housing to opportunity and self-esteem. Through hands-on service projects, interactive workshops, and even a road trip to Buffalo, students are exploring what stigma really means—and how they can help break it down.

Here’s a peek at what’s happening this summer:

Ramp It Up: Building Access and Breaking Barriers

As part of the Liberty CITY (Community Improvement Through Youth) Project, students will grab their tools and join the annual Ramp It Up project.  They'll work together to construct handicap-accessible ramps for local residents in need. It’s a hands-on way to support people with physical disabilities while also challenging assumptions about what it means to live with one. This project reminds us that “accessibility” isn’t just a word—it’s a bridge to opportunity.

Soapy Cars for Stronger Communities

This summer features not one but two car washes, and these aren’t your average fundraisers. One wash will raise money for the Xáneya Thomas Future Leaders Scholarship, and the other will support the Department of Indigenous Cancer Health at Roswell Park. Students aren’t just scrubbing tires, they’re shining a light on health disparities in Indigenous communities and showing what it means to stand in solidarity.

Powerful Conversations with Powerful Voices

Students will also attend interactive workshops led by guest speakers doing real-world work on some of the summer’s most important topics:

• Dr. Hugh Burnam of Roswell Park will share insights about Indigenous health equity and the ways systemic stigma impacts cancer outcomes in Native communities.
• Dr. Nicole Jowsey will guide a conversation on re-entry and redemption, offering a real-world look at the stigma faced by formerly incarcerated individuals and the critical work being done to support their reintegration into society.
• A Psychoeducational Workshop will help students explore how mindset affects self-worth and behavior, along with a special activity involving “Letting Go Plates” (yes, actual smashing is involved!).

Buffalo Trip

Students headed west for an overnight trip to Buffalo, one of New York’s most segregated cities and the site of a tragic racially-motivated mass shooting in 2022. They visited cultural landmarks, took part in team-building fun, and reflected on how stigma shows up in communities like Buffalo and Binghamton alike. It was an unforgettable experience that helped to build empathy, awareness, and connection.

From ramps to reflections, this summer is about more than community service—it’s about challenging the narratives we hear (and sometimes believe) about people and places. Through their work, Binghamton High School LPP students are learning how to confront harmful stereotypes with compassion, facts, and action.