UnpluggedCNY

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” -Gandhi

I want to reach out and touch the hearts of those who may feel anxious, depressed, lost, hopeless or just want to give up. UnpluggedCNY allows me to do this! Our mission is to create environments where people can engage in the moment, be present, and build strong relationships with those around them, offline. We all experience pain in our lives and sometimes having someone there for us is essential to getting through it. I am not a therapist, but I will listen. I do care. I want to be there for those who are searching for comfort and hope. I think it’s pertinent to not assume we know how someone’s life is, but to genuinely become aware of what’s outside of ourselves and take the time to engage with others because you never know what someone may be going through.

There’s a stigma communicated to us that we should deal with it on our own. We don’t want to be seen as weak, but this is far from the truth. Life is difficult at times, and you never know what someone may be going through. Becoming more empathetic of others and talking to someone has more power than we realize. We may not be able to reach everyone but showing someone that they have a purpose and loving them unconditionally will make an impact.

We raised $3,782.17 from UnpluggedCNY’s 2nd Annual Event and were honored to give Contact Community Services this check to help them continue to carry out the amazing work they do for our community.

Suicide is becoming more prominent in our world today, partially because we are so embodied in technology, that we forget about truly being there for one another. Through Unpluggedcny I am striving not only to spread awareness but help prevent this increasing loss of life. I want to be there for those who need me.

Although my career is flourishing as a student at Newhouse, it is essential to remind myself to give back and help advance the lives of others. Surprisingly, giving back does more for your own life than it could do for someone else’s. Through A Movement of Shear Faith and UnpluggedCNY, the individuals I meet are gifts to me. It is better than any compensation I could ask for.

Let’s join together in making a difference.

Let’s create connections that will make our lives more meaningful.

When you’re too busy immersed in yourself, you don’t see the chances you miss to touch someone’s life.

Many of us have lost hope. “No matter how long you’ve traveled in the wrong direction, you can always turn around.”

In my past, I have struggled and felt my only option was leaving this world to get rid of all the pain. My life has profoundly transformed in ways I never thought were possible and it wouldn’t have been possible without eyes to notice me, ears to listen to me, arms to embrace me, and a voice to tell me everything was going to be okay.

-Andrea M. Capodagli

Andrea, 27, is a Cicero, NY native who serves as the Vice President of Community Outreach for UnpluggedCNY. She is a rising junior at the Newhouse School in Syracuse, majoring in Public Relations. Andrea has worked in a plethora of settings, including as an ophthalmology assistant, in the communications department at SRC, and at OCC in the advising center, where she received her associate’s degree and was chosen to speak at commencement. She worked in the cosmetology field and she recently formed A Movement of Shear Faith, an organization that provides free haircuts to underprivileged individuals in the Syracuse area. She was also recently hired as a crisis line worker by Contact Community Services, a 24/7 hotline that offers mental health support and a variety of other services. She will be directly working with the National Suicide Prevention hotline.

Andrea became involved with UnpluggedCNY because she wanted to do more to give back to the community and help those who really need it most. It has enabled her to work with many different kinds of people, and she greatly values being the person to be there for someone else in their time of need. Andrea has experienced struggles in her own life with mental health, and her involvement with both UnpluggedCNY and Contact Community Services allows her to make a difference in a big way.

– Writer and Editor, Paul Joyce