The Syracuse Violence Reduction Expo will broaden awareness of anti-violence resources within the Syracuse community for those who do not have access to these resources. This event will bring together anti-violence groups, programs and initiatives in the city of Syracuse to highlight the many resources offered by these groups and to connect those resources with those affected by violence or living in communities where they risk being affected. The event will also feature the voices of survivors of shootings, a martial arts demonstration by the students of Hung-Ga Syracuse Kung Fu Downtown, original music by Sadeesha Morgan and DJ Richard Boyer. The Violence Reduction Expo is funded by a Gifford Foundation “What If” mini-grant and additional financial support from Molina Health Care.

In the wake of the massacres in Buffalo and Uvalde, TX, Central New Yorkers will come together to demand real gun safety legislation from their representatives in Washington D.C. A group will march from the Everson Museum in downtown Syracuse to the Federal Building where attendees will rally. This event will be one of more than 500 across the country as part of a national day of action called by March For Our Lives.

First of many events organized to address impact of community violence

Photos and Story By Timia Cobb Syracuse residents don’t wait until July 4th to celebrate freedom. For many, the more meaningful holiday is Juneteenth. In honor of the historic day of freedom for African Americans, residents of all backgrounds filled the city’s streets on Saturday waving colorful Pan-African flags, dancing to music and enjoying food. At 11 a.m. sharp, dance …

Annual event set to march into its 10th year July 27

Anti-violence activist introduces his book to inspire others to ask for forgiveness Rashawn Sullivan pauses while addressing the crowd at his Jan. 6 book-signing event. After a deep breath he says, “These are tears of joy. I went to prison at age 17, and now I’m here.” Sullivan was released from prison in 2015 for committing a drive-by shooting in …

To better understand how neighborhood violence impacts youth, Syracuse therapists met with Clifford Ryans, creator of OGs Against Violence, June 24 to learn about his on-the-ground anti-violence campaign and how they can help. Their meeting followed the tragic shooting June 19 during an annual Father’s Day cookout where one man was shot and killed and two others were injured on …

City Rotary Club launches new series to engage residents on current topics The Syracuse Inner City Rotary Club kicked off a new initiative to engage the community with its rotary chat: a monthly, informal session with a prominent individual in the Syracuse community. For January, Aggie Lane presented information about the Urban Jobs Task Force, a nonprofit organization advocating for …

This great nation under one beautiful law sometimes reminds me of a dog startled by one of its own farts. The dog wheels around but can’t comprehend what  happened much less why. Then it shrugs off  the perturbation and moves on — until the next time. So here we go again, frantically searching for the source of our self-generated flatulence. …

How Rashawn Sullivan plans to turn a place of grief into a memorial garden