Brenda Muhammad tells neighborhood stories in the name of justice

Pair complete OCC programs this Saturday Mother-and-daughter pair Sharon Hill and Toni Jones will be graduating together from Onondaga Community College this semester. Although the two started at different times and never had a class together, they’ll both be receiving associates degrees at OCC’s commencement ceremony this Saturday, May 14. For Hill, 58, receiving her degree comes after multiple occasions …

Healthy Neighbors partnership encourages active lifestyles for seniors Residents of Toomey Abbott Towers are taking steps toward a healthier lifestyle. The Healthy Neighbors partnership between Syracuse Housing Authority and SUNY Upstate Medical University has launched a new walking program at the senior living facility. The partnership began in 2011 as a way for Upstate to leverage its resources in the …

Science program at OCC helps underrepresented students Strides are being made toward increasing the representation of minority groups in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields — through Onondaga Community College’s Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program. Known as CSTEP, the program was established to provide support for individuals from underrepresented groups. It helps more than 100 students each year …

Local agencies come together to discuss solutions

In our current Summer print issue, the cover features local teen rapper Makhai Bailey known as Truth Speaker. Urban Affairs reporter Ryan Raigrodski shares how Bailey finds an outlet through his lyrics to raise awareness on children’s rights. The Stand Director Ashley Kang contributed a look at a recently published study co-written by Syracuse University addiction experts and anti-violence community workers on …

When Leola Rodgers was in high school, she had aspirations of becoming a legal secretary, but her guidance counselor told her she could do better. No one in Rodgers family or neighborhood had gone to college, so she didn’t think that was an option for her. With the help of her counselor, Rodgers received a scholarship to the University of …

First of many events organized to address impact of community violence

Board hires new managers, plans grand reopening The Eat To Live Food Cooperative is set to open its doors again, after being closed for two years due to financial overruns. Joseph Bryant, the president of the cooperative, said that during the two-year closed period the board made changes that would ensure that the store remains open. Last year at this time, the …

Discussion centers on how Syracuse expanded care for child abuse