The Stand

Rachel Johnson found healing through a holistic approach. Now, she wants her community to have access to the same services. By Sarah Merke Rachel Johnson’s inner circle expected her to go to college. Johnson, though, wanted a choice, and the thought of college or nothing did not sit well with her.  During her senior year of high school, she entered …

By Greta Stuckey After Shaunna Spivey-Spinner gave birth to a son during the pandemic, the Syracuse native was ready for a change. Spivey-Spinner felt uncomfortable in their body and started looking for ways to get fit. Soon after, Spivey-Spinner decided to make fitness more than a hobby. In 2023, they made their dreams a reality by becoming a personal trainer …

By Laura S. Román López Eileen Baugh has always loved helping others with their business endeavors.  Having joined the United States Air Force in 1980, and then working in banking at Wells Fargo, Baugh received extensive training in administrative support.  In 1999, she took the plunge and began Admin-On-Call LLC, a resource for entrepreneurs and small business owners to receive …

By Greta Stuckey After a decade of working in cleaning and maintenance, Arteika Hunter decided that it was time to start her own business. She wanted to show her children that hard work could lead to new beginnings. In August 2022, she founded Clean & Glo Cleaning Services and never looked back.  Vision Hunter grew up on the South Side …

A local public charity has launched a nonprofit bridge loan program to help organizations as they wait for approved government grants.  By Laura Román López  More than half of the nonprofits in New York state experience delays in getting state funds for programs the state has already contracted for. The Central New York Community Foundation hopes its new nonprofit bridge-loan program, …

The South Side community met Monday to discuss crime and housing, with city leaders advocating for the passage of a state senate bill that would outlaw unwarranted evictions. By Laura Román López and Greta Stuckey City police warned residents at Monday’s Southside TNT meeting not to leave their cars running unattended, as tempting as that may be on a cold …

The Syracuse community gathered at La Casita Cultural Center on Saturday to celebrate the legacy of renowned artist Juan Cruz. By Laura Román López Mia Cruz-Worthy looked at the crowd at La Casita Cultural Center and marveled at the turnout for her father’s funeral, calling the assembled artists and art lovers “my dad’s chosen family.”  Juan Alberto Cruz died on …

By Jaden Wilson Bentley Bryant is an ASL-teaching, music-loving, Texas native who brings Syracuse’s deaf community together every Friday evening.   “Deaf Coffee” is a national deaf social event that dedicates itself to providing a safe space for deaf people to socialize. Bryant is the host and creator of Deaf Coffee in Syracuse, which meets at 6 p.m. Fridays at different …

A local nonprofit seeks to empower a new generation of readers through the Book Buddies program, which connects community volunteers, college students and young children through literacy activities in Syracuse schools.  By Laura Román López  Young children line up, lunches in hand, as they wait to be let into the classroom.  They crane their necks to get a better view, …

Breast cancer screening is an important part of a woman’s health, a message experts are pushing in October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Learn about programs in the Syracuse area that provide the resources to support you or a loved one. By Sarah Merke Janet Bacon, on a whim, decided to go for a mammogram after a community health worker from …

The Sankofa Doula Collective is striving to improve prenatal and postpartum care through lead awareness in Syracuse. By Sarah Merke After eight months of developing proposals and presenting them to the community, the day had come. On a sunny spring day, Syracuse residents gathered to vote and select the proposal that best served the city’s dire need to tackle lead …

Staff at the Southwest Community Center, as well as the families that rely on it, are outraged by the sudden suspension of the center’s OASAS Afterschool program.  By Za’Tozia Duffie Afterschool programs provide a lifeline to working parents who need to bridge the time between when their kids get out of school and when they get out of work.  The …