The Refugee and Immigrant Self-Empowerment (RISE) Center, serving local immigrant communities, has landed a federal grant of nearly $600,000 to improve long-term prospects for younger clients and promote local outreach. The money will target a Catch-22 that has long vexed new Americans — how to generate enough income to survive while finding time and resources to expand their career horizons …

The Stand receives three honors in club’s first virtual presentation Reporters, special contributors and photographers for The Stand Newspaper were awarded three honors from the Syracuse Press Club May 19 for work in Print & Online Journalism. On the second evening of a four-night event held virtually due to the novel coronavirus outbreak,  honors were presented for best print and …

Everyone acknowledges the capacity of, say, The Chicago Tribune or USA Today, but likely less recognized and appreciated is the power of the South Side Newspaper Project that produces The Stand, and the thousands of other community newspapers  like it all across the US. Shante Harris El Community newspapers provide an invaluable form of public service by bringing communities together …

For Mother’s Day, daughter reflects on all Donna Reese accomplished Dear Mom, you were the Queen of the South Side. Kobe of Syracuse — Icon , Legend, mentor and inspiration to many. Tammy with her mother Donna Reese. Though I know you were all of these phenomenal things, to me you were just mom. A superwoman mom, but still just …

The intersection between East Adams and East Fayette streets has gotten much more colorful. Four columns beneath the I-81 viaduct are painted with murals as local artists’ collective 315 Alive’s city beautification initiative. 315 Alive is a collective of Syracuse-area public artists, street artists and others in the arts who want to beautify the city, making it a more beautiful, …

Oakwood Cemetery, founded in 1859, sprawls across 160 acres and edges along the back of SUNY ESF. From I-81 you can see the original entrance, standing out like castle gates covered in graffiti. It is these sacred acres that the Historic Oakwood Cemetery Preservation Association (HOCPA) has been committed to protecting since forming as a nonprofit in 1991. This month …

There’s no point covering up what this story’s about. If you have the skills to sew protective masks and want to put those talents to use against COVID-19, go to syracusemaskproject.org. If your business, agency or medical facility needs quality homemade masks, also go to syracusemaskproject.org. The website is the brainchild of Nancy Gaus of Baldwinsville, an engineer-turned-seamstress who is …

A Friendly Five columnist Reggie Seigler shares memories of the well-known Syracuse busker Yesterday was April 7, it was the fifth anniversary of the death of my good friend and musical brother, Jeff Houston. I had been thinking for a couple of days about Jeff and some of our adventures, both musical and non-musical, and about the things we would …

Some ways to practice social distancing while staying connected to our community Central New York musicians untied last night in honor of beloved Syracuse street musician Eli Harris, who died in a hit-and-run accident last week. Another tribute is scheduled this evening online. Tonight’s virtual eulogy, organized by Jack Brown, will start at 7 p.m. and stream live from Distribution …

Residents throughout Syracuse and Onondaga County will soon receive mailers from the U.S. Census Bureau. The mailers will invite a representative from each household to fill out the easy, safe and important census questionnaire online, by phone or by mail. The direct mailings are a part of the self-response period, which continues until mid-May, and allows respondents to voluntarily provide …