Larry D. Parham

Lawrence D. Parham was born in Union City, TN. He spent over 40 years living in New York State and considered it his home. Larry was involved in co-creating new and innovative local programs and projects that promote and elevate social and political involvement. He had over 20 + years of work experience as a grassroots organizer fighting for racial, social, environmental, and economic justice spanning the public, private and nonprofit sectors. Not only was Larry a seasoned community mobilizer, he was a genuinely kind hearted person. He had the ability to look at anyone struggling and be able to see the good , and the inspirational parts of them. Larry, simply put, had love for everyone. One could not be in the same room with Larry and leave without feeling newly confident about something. He brought people together. He is the former Upstate Campaigns Manager and served on the state board of directors for Citizen Action of New York (CANY), a grassroots organization fighting for Racial, Social, Environmental and Economic Justice. In conjunction with a local CANY leader, Larry developed an Anti-Racism curriculum and co-facilitated numerous region and state-wide Anti-Racism workshops. He is a well-recognized local and state-wide expert on Anti-Racism, Cultural Responsiveness, Restorative Justice, and grassroots organizing. He was sought out by public and private entities to conduct workshops on how to create a more inclusive work environment. As the Assistant Director of Prevention Services for the Southern Tier Aids Program (STAP), Larry was instrumental in the development and creation of Project VIIBES, providing support for communities of color with HIV/AIDS. He authored a NYS Department of Health approved HIV Prevention Curriculum for youth entitled “What’s Up.” A founding member of the Southern Tier Social Justice Project Larry was instrumental in helping to spearheaded the development of the Broome County Reentry Task Force which was run primarily by formerly incarcerated Individuals and their allies Larry was the founder and operator of The American Bushido Institute; he developed Bushido (The Way of the Warrier), an Art that combined the practical skills from Tae Kwon Do, Judo, Jujutsu and Karate. Larry was a 7th Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwan Do and was highly skilled in the other arts as well. He was a Sensei, mentor and friend and maintained ongoing relationships with many of his students. Larry served many years as the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for the Broome County Urban League, and was a member of the Broome/Tioga NAACP. Larry also served on the advisory board of the Community Foundation. He is the co-founder and CEO of CARES Advocates for Families Inc., a grassroots organization created to address disproportionality and disparities in public education, partnering primarily with families who are low-income, of color and/or who have children with disabilities. CARES is noted for the implementation of the Parent Mentor programs in schools in the Binghamton City School District and the yearly Backpack giveaway. In his role as CEO of CARES he also authored academic papers and presented at National academic conferences. Larry is the co-founder and co-facilitator of the Binghamton Witnessing Whiteness Community/EmbRace Seminars LLC. Witnessing Whiteness is a 12-week, sequential series designed for a multiracial group to build toward anti-racism work, by exploring how the political connects to the personal. EmbRace Seminars LLC has expanded to include tailored consulting and workshops to multiple organizations in the local area including, YWCA, the Village of Endicott, STAP, VINES and the Rural Health Network, The Fleishman Center at Binghamton University, Tabernacle Methodist church and the Binghamton Chamber of Commerce. All of Larry’s work utilizes a model of community and family engagement that informs, educates and empowers community members, families, students and activists. Most recently Larry Parham served as the Mission Impact Director of the YWCA Binghamton/Broome County. His primary role was to serve as the YWCA’s key resource for ensuring that the goal to eliminate racism and empower women is highly evident in all YWCA programs and community relations. Larry passed away peacefully in his sleep on September 15, 2021. He was predeceased by his daughter Ashera Danielle Parham, his parents June Brown Parham and Johnnie Parham. He is survived by his siblings Jacqueline Parham, Rickey Parham (Tonya) and Johnette Parham, many nieces, nephews and cousins; the loves his life, his granddaughter Meadow Kapczynski and Maya Yull-Johnson, his ex-wife Cheryl DeRosa, his step-children Stephen Kapcynski and Sara Kapczynski; his beloved close friends and colleagues Dr. Denise Yull (Thomas), Dr. Marguerite Wilson (Chuck) and Mary Clark (Denny). A community celebration of Larry’s life and gifts to our community will take place on October 2 from 3-5p.m. at Recreation Park, Beethoven St. and Seminary Ave., Binghamton NY. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers that donations be made to the organization that Larry started CARES Advocates for Families. To forward condolences please visit www.demunn.com. Arrangements for the family are directed by the DeMunn Funeral Home.