08/13/2026
We at Tillie’s Touch are deeply saddened by the passing of Mark Cass. We knew Mark as a friend, community leader and partner.
This is a big loss for the Northside community, and we are keeping his family, friends and the Northside Community Center in our thoughts.
Immense gratitude for Mr. Mark, as the kiddos at the Northside Learning Center call him.
This brother right here has dedicated his time, effort, heart, and soul to keeping this home away from home alive for New Americans of all ages in our Syracuse community. It isn’t just a school. It’s a safe space for so many who have never known what it feels like to have one.
It’s humbling how much power a single person has to shape the world, and how different that power looks when it’s guided by a heart full of love, as opposed to one marked by its absence.
“In these confusing times, we are bombarded with messages, images, and often divisive rhetoric. I’m blessed to have real relationships with fellow humans from many places and backgrounds. In my heart, I know that if people come together to talk, break bread, and simply be with one another, fear and the perceptions and misconceptions that come with it would melt away.” -Mr. Mark