UTICA, N.Y. — The Mid-Utica Neighborhood Preservation Corporation (MUNPC) has hired Leslie Pasco as executive director, the first person to hold the position in more than 20 years, the organization announced.

In the new role, Pasco will focus on strategic planning, programming, and support for the planned West Street Impact Center, a key component of the $77 million Cornhill Revitalization Project spearheaded by the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties.

MUNPC is a key partner, as well as the landowner, for the future site of the center. The organization, commonly known as the Leisure Time Activity Center, offers adult social programming, physical fitness, and Bible studies through its Bessie Hicks Senior Program and coordinates Utica’s annual Juneteenth celebration.

“MUNPC was founded 45 years ago with a mission to serve the greater Utica community through strategic partnerships to end blight, facilitate healthy living, and preserve Utica’s cultural history,” MUNPC President and Board Chair Hilda M. Jordan said in a news release. “Our formal partnership with the Community Foundation fosters a new generation of collaboration to recreate larger community-directed impact centers in Cornhill. We are excited to announce and welcome Leslie Pasco, with an extensive background in marketing and strategic partnership, as our executive director to steward the storytelling and administrative processes needed to help our collaborative community efforts shine.”

Pasco brings experience in marketing, strategic partnerships, and community engagement to the role through a career that includes positions as director of marketing at Legends Sales at Syracuse University, director of annual giving at Le Moyne College, VP of marketing at AmeriCU Credit Union, and director of off-campus retail operations at the Colgate University bookstore.

“We are thrilled to welcome Leslie to our team,” MUNPC Board Member Kevin Alexander said. “Her extensive experience in advancement, marketing, and program management will be invaluable as we strengthen our board and build our capacity to expand our current programs. Leslie’s expertise will also be pivotal in collaborating with the Community Foundation and People First for the anticipated impact centers, a project that will significantly benefit our community.”

The Community Foundation awarded MUNPC a five-year, $300,000 grant to position the organization for growth, expanded opportunities, and hiring an executive director.

“This is pivotal moment for the Cornhill community, and the hiring of Leslie is a critical step in driving meaningful change,” Community Foundation President/CEO Alicia Fernandez Dicks said. “Strong leadership is essential for bringing partners together, creating opportunities, and building a sustainable future for this neighborhood.”