Fed up with renting, one Syracuse woman buys her dream home through Home HeadQuarters Aishah and Lonnie Jones’ dreams of owning their own property came true with help from Home HeadQuarters Inc., a nonprofit organization that builds new homes and rehabilitates older ones in disrepair. Aishah Jones, a Queens native, moved to Syracuse 17 years ago for its lower cost …

Phoenix Philosophies restores properties and strives to rebuild South Side back to glory A rising nonprofit is helping rebuild neighborhoods on the South Side, one house and one family at a time. Phoenix Philosophies Inc., a year-old organization, is focused on providing affordable housing for the homeless while renovating vacant and tax-delinquent properties throughout the city.

Democrats swept the commissioner of education race Tuesday night, winning all four open seats. “It’s an opportunity for real reform, we are reformers,” said Steve Swift, one of the candidates who brought in 7,510 votes. “We need to create 21st century schools and we will do that.”

Linda Green teaches others to read with help from best friend Note to readers: The “South Side Achiever” feature about Linda Green of The Newland Center, as published in the November issue of The Stand, includes an error as well as information that should be clarified. The error has to do with the origin of the R.E.A.D. program; the other …

Traveling produce stand brings fresh food to residents’ homes Four bananas, two pears and two tomatoes: $3.25. These are the fresh produce items that Betty Brooks, 87, bought recently without even leaving home. On Wednesdays, Brooks goes downstairs to the lobby of her Valley Vista Apartments home to purchase her weekly produce from the brightly colored vehicle that brings nutrition …

School board candidates participate in South Side forum As a community, Syracuse will soon be electing officials that will aid in shaping the future of its children. The upcoming vote will decide which candidates will fill the four available seats on the Syracuse City School District Board of Education.

The closing of the Ida Benderson Senior Center in September because of city budget cuts has opened an opportunity for displaced seniors to attend the Salvation Army’s Adult Day Program. In existence for 62 years, it serves people 60 and older. Staff members provide a variety of services, and they welcome people from Ida Benderson to join.

Community-university partnerships are research-proven forces for revitalizing communities. The concepts of community-university partnerships include community participation and service-learning concentrated on achieving a particular goal, such as community, cultural and economic development. The benefits of community-university partnerships are mutual and include educational, financial, social, governmental and ecological improvements.

Calmesha Givens raising funds to shoot her first film, ‘Fighting the Odds,’ here in Syracuse The evening of Sunday, Oct. 30, at the Hergenhan Auditorium at Syracuse University was just as much a fundraiser as it was a welcome home celebration. South Side native Calmesha Givens, known amongst friends and family as “Caly,” hosted an evening of elegance to raise …

Stevie Wolf and Carolyn Kelly have taken different career paths, but both currently perform locally When I decided to do a story about the Blues on the South Side, interviewing Syracuse’s “Bluesman” Little Stevie Wolf immediately came to mind. I also figured that while I was at it, I would finagle a guitar lesson from him as well. Wolf was …