About: Christina Levin
- Profile
- Christina is a senior studying political science, sociology, and newspaper & online journalism at Syracuse University. She's interned for political watchdog groups like Common Cause, Democracy Matters and the Syracuse Peace Council. Originally from Ukraine, she enjoys coffee, culture, debate, social and political justice, news, board games and movie nights with friends and family.
Posts by Christina Levin:
Deterring Crime
Businesses could benefit from potential installation of security cameras Corcoran High School senior Delores Woody, who lives near the intersection of Midland Avenue and West Colvin Street, lost three family members to violent crime: two shootings and one stabbing. She’s heard that surveillance cameras were installed on the West Side, and thinks it could help [...]
Focus on Disparity
Mayor adds two African-Americans to Citizens Cabinet The everyday South Siders who call for more African-Americans to represent them in government may have to do it themselves. But political experts in town and some African-Americans who have made it into city leadership acknowledge getting involved is costly and somewhat intimidating, and the very people calling [...]
Calling All Voters
Community organizers rally South Side to cast ballots in next election The historic victory of President Obama and the political excitement his 2008 campaign generated evoke “Yes, We Can” memories for many, especially as the country heads toward the next presidential election this November. But many South Side residents are not registered and won’t show [...]
Business With a Pop
A Community Test Kitchen Helped Echols Gourmet Desserts Get Started In the fast-paced era of frozen meals, Echols Gourmet Desserts offers a taste of the good old days, when most food was made from scratch. Charlene Echols-Barnes founded the wholesale dessert company 15 years ago in Syracuse. She decided to pursue a family dream of [...]
Startup Success
Business Incubator helps aspiring entrepreneurs put ideas to action Bennie McDonald says he runs his company the way he was trained to act in the military — with structure and discipline. “The difference between myself and Bill Gates is that he makes more money than me, but I have to have the same structure set [...]
Building a Community
Home HeadQuarters helps buyers afford home financing one property at a time A widow in her 80s once wrote to Kerry Quaglia, thanking him for fixing her roof. Now, she told him, she wouldn’t have to lug heavy trash cans upstairs to catch the rainwater leaking through the cracks, and she could sleep peacefully at [...]
Filling Vacancies
Andrew Maxwell is revitalizing Syracuse with dedication and help from a new grant In a Sept. 13 community meeting attended by casually dressed local residents, Andrew Maxwell stood out. Dressed in a crisp navy suit, the 27-year-old director of the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability clenched his hands around his knee, listening intently to his [...]
Director's Blog
Current Issue
Issue No. 19 of The Stand is packed with 24 pages of South Side updates, spotlights and timely stories.
Read about how former convicts are earning themselves a second chance while working at Omanii’s Lemonade Heaven, read about how South Side homeowner may be asked to purchase costly flood insurance and many other local stories.
To view the entire issue as a pdf, click on the cover to download a copy.
And you can find copies of our free Summer Print Issue distributed throughout the South Side or feel free to contact ashley@mysouthsidestand.com to request a stack.
Environment
Community Air Screen Program Introduced
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is often contacted by citizens regarding the quality of the air in their community. To help address many of these concerns, DEC is initiating a new community-based program, the Community Air Screen (CAS). This program uses local volunteers to gather air samples for laboratory screening to identify possible air pollutants. The screening results will help both the community and DEC better understand and address specific local concerns about air quality.
Events
Summer Workshops
Three workshops are planned this summer for those in the community interested in getting involved with The South Side Newspaper Project and contributing to The Stand. The first, offered at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 19, at the South Side Communication Center, will provide a lesson in journalist writing and discuss additional ways to contribute to the project.
Health
Grant to Fund Hearing Aids for Youth
The Gifford Foundation recently awarded $13,000 to Aurora of CNY, Inc. to support its Low Cost Hearing Aid Program for Youth who are Hard of Hearing.
Voices
Special Achiever
Sam Rowser with On Point helps local students achieve college dreams
Ever since Sam Rowser overcame the obstacles in his life that stood between him and a college degree, he has firmly believed that education is the key to positive change and success.
“In my life, I’ve had some bumps in the road, and the one thing that was consistent for me was the fact that having an education always balanced things out,” Rowser said. “It always opened doors for opportunity.”
