The Joy in Family Moments  Guest Column by Habakkuk Nickens Read More »

My Return Home Guest Column by Habakkuk Nickens Read More »

The Summer 2022 edition’s cover story shares how transgender and non-binary teens navigate the difficult terrain of transitioning. It includes a comic created by ITC High School junior Jasper Cotroneo, who is also a graduate of the Syracuse Journalism Lab. Additional stories spotlight Syracuse boxing prodigy Amir “Cash” Anderson, named a member of USA Boxing’s 12-person 2022 Youth High Performance ... Read More »

A Polarizing Promise: The Potential of the Afghan Adjustment Act “I think one of the first things I learned when I immigrated to America is about the polarization of politics,” said Saboor Sakhizada who’s lived in the United States for the past decade. “There’s these two dominant political parties that seems like they couldn’t get along on any matter. There’s ... Read More »

Guest Column by Habakkuk Nickens My name is Habakkuk Nickens, and I recently returned home from a 20-year prison sentence, convicted on racketeering charges. My time was cut to 13 years and 4 months on a compassionate release motion I wrote myself. Habakkuk Nickens Next, the First Step Act allowed for an additional year off my sentence, providing me immediate ... Read More »

Meet local audio engineer, record producer & inventor Langston Masingale By Reggie Seigler If there were a person who’d invented a device used on over 30 Billboard No. 1 songs, with thousands in production and used around the world, including placement in a Shang-Chi Marvel movie and numerous Grammy winning songs, a knee-jerk reaction might be that the person was ... Read More »

Summer Photo Contest continues, two Photo Meetups planned Board members and staff at The Stand look forward to bringing back the annual South Side Photo Walk. This event continued to grow each year, until being re-imagined due to COVID-19. The pandemic forced us to rethink this annual community engagement event but did result in a partnership with the Urban Video ... Read More »

By Ashley Reeves Q: You are raising your two brothers. What did it feel like when you became their guardian?A: I took custody when our father died in 2015. It’s been really interesting. I’ve gone from being their awesome, cool, outrageous, trouble-making big brother to now the authority figure. It’s been a difficult transition if I’m being transparent. For seven ... Read More »

Updated to announce prizes for this summer’s top winners Read More »

“When we came from Afghanistan, my wife was pregnant and she was in such a bad situation inside of the airplane,” said Arsalan Sultani, who was evacuated to the United States when Afghanistan fell last August. “I started to make a better life for my family. I want to do everything for them.”  Sultani, 25, served in the Afghan Armed ... Read More »