CNS students volunteer at Home Headquarter’s annual Block Blitz

	Oct. 2, 2025: Just a few weeks ago on a sunny Friday, 20 students from Cicero-North Syracuse High School’s Money & Banking classes joined forces with hundreds of other Central New York (CNY) students to take part in Home HeadQuarter’s Annual Block Blitz. Led by teachers Mark Vinette and Amanda Parker, the students spent the day in neighborhoods on the southwest side of Syracuse working on projects that included painting, landscaping, raking, trimming, trash removal and more. Their efforts were part of a much larger community revitalization effort.
“Block Blitz connects perfectly with the lessons we teach in Money & Banking,” said teacher Mark Vinette. “Students learn not only about the importance of homeownership but also about the broader impact a safe, well-kept home has on families and communities. We usually partner with Home HeadQuarters to bring in a lending professional who can also explain the mortgage process.” Block Blitz, launched in 2009, is an annual day of service that unites homeowners, community partners, skilled workers and volunteers to clean, paint and repair homes in high-need neighborhoods. Since its inception, the initiative has improved more than 600 properties across Syracuse. This year’s event saw 61 properties receiving much-needed improvements in a single day. For CNS students, it was more than a class project, it was a hands-on lesson in civic responsibility, teamwork and the value of giving back.