Syracuse’s Underground Poetry Spot holds poetry slam anniversary Members of the Underground Poetry Spot performed original slam poetry pieces covering themes of love, relationships, authenticity and depression during its fifth anniversary show held Friday, Sept. 19, at Syracuse Stage. Seneca Wilson founded UPS in September of 2009. It was a way for him to engage with poets in the community …

Call for New Board Members The Stand currently has an opening for a community member to join our Board of Directors. Board members meet every other month for two hours on a Saturday morning. Members discuss story suggestions, events, advertising opportunities and workshop offerings.

Jon Speed: The Book Scout has an inventory of 15,000 books Jon Speed held its grand opening this week. The business hours are from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Owner Jon Speed brings 20 years of antiquarian bookselling experience to the Syracuse literary scene, and the store’s fields of specialty are: literature, modern first editions, Americana and …

Reception for From Where We Stand is Tonight This summer, The Stand offered a new storytelling series — From Where We Stand — in which South Side and West Side residents shared their families’ summer stories through photos. The idea was simple: put real people behind the camera and let them tell their own stories.

Market set for first two Saturdays of each month A soft rain is falling, coating a carton of Concord grapes in a fine layer of mist, as South Side residents pass by the Eat 2 Live Food Co-op. The building’s doors are shut, but a group of community members are grouped on the sidewalk beneath a white tent, resilient to …

Twiggy Billue’s book documents suspensions in city schools Nina Billue thought that her life was over when, after graduating from the Syracuse City School District, a school counselor told that she was performing at a third-grade level and she was not “college material.” The counselor then suggested that she should enroll in the military or in a trade school. “I …

This summer, The Stand offered a new storytelling series — From Where We Stand — in which South Side and West Side residents shared their families’ summer stories through photos. We invite you to view participants’ photos during a final gallery reception for the project being held at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, at the Link Gallery at the Nancy …

Syracuse JAMS hosts first summer get-together for musicians, families Food plus live music equals fun. On July 19, Syracuse’s Joined Artists, Musicians & Singers, known as JAMS, hosted its first cookout. Dubbed the “Musicians’ Cookout 2K14,” the event was held at Clark Reservation State Park in Jamesville, with roughly 200 JAMS members and other arts supporters. JAMS is a loosely …

Jennifer King succeeds Leo Cosgrove, moving up to principal at South Side school After serving as vice-principal for six years, Jennifer King, 38, takes on a new role. She sat down with The Stand Aug. 5 for a conversation. This is an edited transcript. TS: Tell us a little bit about yourself. JK: I was raised here in Syracuse. My …

Teen mom welcomes baby girl Our cover story in the September issue featured Myah Lynell Baker, an expectant teen living at the Salvation Army’s Transitional Apartments and Parenting Center. We are happy to share that Baker gave birth to a healthy baby girl at 4:54 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5, at Crouse Hospital. Amarionna Lynell Baker weighed 7 pounds, 5 ounces …