Ashley Kang

Meet Toryana Jackson: Henninger High School’s First African-American Valedictorian

By Sydney Gold After roughly a year of Zoom school, Toryana Jackson woke up to another day of classes on her computer. Before she logged on to class, she got a call. “I answer it, and it’s my principal, Ms. Dowdell,” Toryana recalled. “She said, ‘I want to tell you this exciting news. You are valedictorian. We’re so proud of …

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Q&A with Father Nitch Jones

By Sydney Gold Q: What did it feel like when you first became a father?A. To sum it up, it was the most amazing, scariest moment of my life. Q: What was your relationship like with your father?A. I really do not have one. Unfortunately, my father allowed life to get the best of him, and the relationship between my …

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Community Groups Call for Greater Lead Remediation

By Sydney Gold Families for Lead Freedom Now hosted the “People’s Public Hearing on Lead Poisoning: Environmental Justice for Syracuse Now!” Saturday, June 12, with hope of calling attention to Syracuse’s continued lead crisis. The event featured speakers from across the community, moderated by co-chairs Oceanna Fair, the South Branch Leader of Families for Lead Freedom Now, and Gabriel Mkandama, …

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Summer Photo Contest Returns

By Sydney Gold After more than a year of social distancing due to COVID-19 restrictions, finding ways to connect with the community has proven difficult — and crucial.  As the nation reopens and vaccinations continue, we’ve never been more eager to celebrate the faces and stories that define our community. To do so, The Stand will once again hold a …

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Residents March in Memory of George Floyd

By Eddie Velazquez Dozens of demonstrators and activists marched toward the Syracuse Police Department building downtown Tuesday, May 25, in commemoration of the one-year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd, rallying behind cries for just policing and calling for an end to police brutality. Bishop H. Bernard Alex leads marchers down Willow Street towards downtown Syracuse on May 25, …

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Onondaga County’s Rent Relief Eases Burden for Landlords and Tenants

Those in need encouraged to apply soon, before funds run out By Eddie Velazquez Charles Marsh, who manages a property on West Brighton Avenue understands precarity. “He lost his job and has been kind of depressed,” said Marsh of the tenant who rents his South Side property and was one of many nationwide who lost their job at the height …

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City’s Construction Training Program Seeks Applicants

Deadline to apply for first cohort is May 21 By Michael Garcia As the deadline nears to apply to Syracuse Build’s Pathways to Apprenticeship construction training program, Mayor Ben Walsh gathered community partners last week to announce the initiative. This has been in talks for some time, with Walsh mentioning the program during a Jobs to Move America press conference …

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