Syracuse native Tim Bryant recognized the problem in his hometown but wasn’t sure about the solution. With one of the country's highest child poverty rates, Syracuse had obvious issues, but Tim wasn’t sure where to put his efforts. He thought about what broke down barriers and connected individuals-what lay at the heart of so many shared experiences. On reflection, he saw a clear answer: food. Tim said that he grew up in Jersey City under challenging circumstances, which gave him an “understanding of what it's like to struggle, and how important food was to find connection, to find dignity.”
After learning about food waste and its environmental impact, he felt confident about where to focus his efforts. He says he started out only being familiar with the environmental impact of food waste, but soon realized the possibilities it presented. He wondered if there was “a way to capture the food that's wasted, keep it out of the landfill and address food insecurity in our community.”
Tim described joining the Idealist Action Incubator as “perfect timing.” He had been in the middle of a graduate program in social entrepreneurship when an injury forced him to take a break from school. Having used Idealist for years to find job postings, he learned about our program and decided to participate. He shared, “I had just started to land on food waste and insecurity. I had the time, the space, and I had sort of a mission.”
His experience in the program was pivotal. He had an idea of how to talk about his idea, but the Idealist Action Incubator showed him how to take concrete steps forward. “What I was missing were the real, tangible pieces. Like, how do you get from Step A to Step C? The Incubator started to help me hone in on some of those things while working with a mentor who introduced me to other folks.” He added that it allowed him to “understand the mechanism it would require to make an impact.”
Currently, Tim is the lead Community Connector for the Syracuse Onondaga Food Systems Alliance, where he translates those insights into action as part of a solid team. Talking about what he’s gained from his current work, he shared: “It really has connected me in my community in a way that didn't exist for me personally prior to this. It's still made me realize we have a lot of ability to make an impact and help people.” Tim added that his work gives him the confidence to take on larger grant projects and community initiatives.
When asked what advice he would give to anyone thinking about starting a nonprofit, he gave a characteristically circumspect answer: “Don't fall in love with the solution; fall in love with the problem.” Amid the twists and turns in his journey, few people embody this committed ethos better than Tim.
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Want to hear more stories about people making a difference? Read about our team member, Terry, and the impact she made with her work in Kidsav.
John Melendez
John Melendez is a writer and musician based in Brooklyn. His work has appeared in Full Stop Magazine, On The Run, and Bluegrass Unlimited. He is co-author of a biography of jazz trumpeter Kenny Dorham, forthcoming in Spring 2026 from University of Mississippi Press.