Crying out against injustice, voices united, focused on the value of human life. Residents of Syracuse and Central New York gathered in downtown Syracuse Friday, March 30, to honor Trayvon Martin and shed light on his death, injustices committed in this country and in our own backyards.

Register your group for the Earth Day Cleanup by April 6 Help beautify our community by volunteering for OCRRA’s annual Earth Day Litter Cleanup event happening April 20 and 21. Just donating an hour or so of your time can have a huge impact on the look of our community.

Brenee Jones wanted a hair salon of her own, so she saved enough money to rent shop space. After one year of careful saving, a Syracuse beautician realized her dream of opening her own hair salon. The skills she honed dressing customers’ hair at her home, she says, will now be put to use at her new business, the Brenee …

Three organize a ‘1,000,000 Hoodie March for Trayvon Martin’ this Friday Ashley Miller of Clay never thought twice about putting a hoodie on her 3-year-old son, Daquan. A hoodie, she thought, is nothing more than a jacket with a hood — a piece of clothing to keep her son warm. Her thoughts changed in the wake of the death of …

In partnership with the New York State Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped (CBVH), AURORA of CNY is amping up the state-of-the-art technology it can offer clients who have vision loss. “We have new laptop systems that include Braille embossers, for example, and new desktop and handheld video magnifiers. Another handy piece of equipment is the Victor Reader Stream,” …

Volunteers and attendees agreed that the Sister Circle was one of the most powerful moments of the Image Initiative’s annual “Sisters Empowering Sisters” conference on Friday and Saturday, March 23 and 24. While the girls sat in a circle with their eyes closed, other participants, many of them strangers at the time, whispered affirmations in their ear.

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 up to vote. “I will …

Xi Chapter of Lambda Kappa Mu Sorority, an organization of graduate business and professional women, established in Syracuse since 1955, observed its annual Lambda Kappa Mu Week March 11-17, 2012. This week is set aside by the organization’s National Office to bring attention to the many community service activities completed by the various local chapters. Xi Chapter was engaged in …

After cut in funding, Jubilee Homes continues to revitalize community With less money to work with, Jubilee Homes is doing things differently. The nonprofit that has worked in the area for decades will build fewer homes for Syracuse residents over the next year, refocusing on less costly rehab projects instead due to a cut in federal funding.

When Daniel Hammond gets ready to break bricks, he sees more than the pile in front of him. Careful to ensure the bricks don’t slip on the ground, he arranges three around a towel on the floor. Hammond raises his hand and breathes in, envisioning the brick broken into rubble. Hammond then smashes his hand through the brick on top, …