Ever since 2002, Mary Nelson, founder of the Mary Nelson Youth Center, has worked to empower her community. Recently Nelson decided to reach kids through the form of entertainment. On Thursday, April 12, Nelson will hold her first mock interview of the radio program Rise Up, which she says is scheduled to air on Clear Channel’s Power am 620 on …

Today the newly revamped Citizen Review Board is excited to announce the appointment of the administrator that will lead the group forward. Joseph L. Lipari will be assuming the position of administrator on May 15, 2012.

Featuring the Jeff Houston Experience Syracuse has abundant musical talent, but much of it is underexposed. Syr JAMS’ Music Stand — which stands for Syracuse’s Joined Artists Musicians and Singers’ Music Stand — is a new feature created by The Stand’s A Friendly Five columnist Reggie Seigler and intended to be a platform for talent.

In the cafeteria of Bethany Baptist Church, more than 200 students, parents and teachers sang, danced and rapped all for the same purpose — to learn how to be better writers. The church, located at 149 Beattie St., was host to writing consultant Erik Cork. Cork, the founder of International Write Now, Inc., presented his high-energy, interactive workshop, “Rap, Rhythm …

Upcoming South Side program aims to train youth for summer employment With the help of some fresh vegetables, meat, and spices, Brenda Jones and Ayesha Abdulazeem are turning a neighborhood tradition into a large-scale youth empowerment program.

A Ghanaian musician uses music to bring American and African cultures together David Etse Nyadedzor believes it is important that the messages one expresses through music be positive. In his view, “music is a powerful medium that can carry a message farther than anything.” David, 43, is from Accra, Ghana. He has lived in the United States for about 14 …

Go ‘Behind the Scenes of The Stand’ on April 14 Staff reporters with The Stand will share how they developed their story ideas and the process taken to put together an article for the print issue in a unique workshop where we let you go Behind the Scenes of The Stand.

Community can help create a local, healthy snack garden April 14 Frank Raymond Cetera — board member and co-founder of The Alchemical Nursery — loves the outdoors. That is why before he attended a recent class sponsored in part by the nursery — Community Training on Ecological Design — he waited in the center’s garden.

The Stand welcomed Ricky Maeweather, Alexandra Hitzler, Seneca Wilson, Carey On, Ruthnie Angrand and Michael Gaut to the second offering of The Syracuse Poster Project’s Haiku Workshop for the South Side March 3, 2012 at the South Side Communication Center.

Corcoran fights a national trend by exposing the city youth to lacrosse Emmanuel Rowser’s parents wanted him to be involved in sports year-round when he was young. So when Rowser was 12 and the basketball season ended, they told him he needed to find his next sport. Rowser decided on lacrosse — but there was something different about it. It …