This month’s Journalism Workshops on Producing a Personality Piece were taught by Gina Chen, a veteran newspaper journalist who is studying for a communications Ph.D at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.

Dozens of South Side residents attended the Common Council Candidate Forum at the Beauchamp Branch Library Tuesday, Oct. 13. The event, arranged by The Southside Coalition and Syracuse United Neighbors, gave community members a chance to hear the candidates answer questions related to the area.  It was also a chance for residents to speak up and have their voices heard. …

Today I received an e-mail from Mary Nelson, who is well-known in the community for her annual Youth Day Barbecue and Backpack Giveaway and most recently for her youth center. She is in search of funding to keep her programs going.

When Marcelle Haddix received the news of 20-month-year-old Imani Jennings’ death, she understood that a tragedy had befallen the community: a toddler was repeatedly abused and later beaten to death by her teenage mother’s 15-year-old-boyfriend. Yet, the one thing she couldn’t understand was why community members had failed to support Jennings or her mother long before the toddler’s death. Haddix, …

The Stand will still participate with the writing workshop being held Nov. 7 at Dunbar Center but will continue without Prof. Steve Davis. The two journalism sessions will be led by Ashley Hanry, director of The Stand, and may possibly feature a guest presenter.

In an increasingly fast paced world, finding time to exercise and stay healthy is becoming harder and harder.  But FIT Parks!, a collaboration between Upstate Medical University, the City of Syracuse Department of Parks, Recreation and Youth Programs and Onondaga Community College, is trying to change this.

I just learned about a unique event being offered by Mothers Offering Youth Opportunity (MOYO): A set of six workshops geared for mothers. The flier says it is to “Help mothers to care for themselves so they can care for their children.”

Ashley Hanry, director of The Stand, will present two journalism sessions during the free community writing event to be held from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Dunbar Community Center, 1453 South State St., Syracuse.

Tonight, Jubilee Homes will hold the fall session of its Home Maintenance and Repair program.  The free program is the third and final one of this year. “The main purpose is to teach current and potential home owners how to make repairs to their house,” said Desaree Dixie, Jubilee Homes’ housing director.

Meetings and workshops … This has been my entire week. I’ve been driving from the South Side Innovation Center to the Syracuse University campus nearly every day.