Nominated by John Akins, Fatherhood Community Health Worker Q: What did it feel like when you became a father? A: Exciting. During the pregnancy I was in Oneonta Job Corps., but her labor was induced. There was no crazy call: ‘She’s having her baby, hurry!’ So I had time to be there. I was supportive through the labor, but I …

Chess association wins grant to create more clubs, host workshops A Syracuse middle-school teacher plans to use a $2,000 grant to help more people develop mental discipline, emotional resilience and strategic planning — all by playing a 1,500-year-old board game: Chess. Anton Ninno, 64, a computer lab teacher at Southside Academy Charter School and the founder and president of the …

Pair complete OCC programs this Saturday Mother-and-daughter pair Sharon Hill and Toni Jones will be graduating together from Onondaga Community College this semester. Although the two started at different times and never had a class together, they’ll both be receiving associates degrees at OCC’s commencement ceremony this Saturday, May 14. For Hill, 58, receiving her degree comes after multiple occasions …

Healthy Neighbors partnership encourages active lifestyles for seniors Residents of Toomey Abbott Towers are taking steps toward a healthier lifestyle. The Healthy Neighbors partnership between Syracuse Housing Authority and SUNY Upstate Medical University has launched a new walking program at the senior living facility. The partnership began in 2011 as a way for Upstate to leverage its resources in the …

Science program at OCC helps underrepresented students Strides are being made toward increasing the representation of minority groups in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields — through Onondaga Community College’s Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program. Known as CSTEP, the program was established to provide support for individuals from underrepresented groups. It helps more than 100 students each year …

Local ‘groundbreaking’ study reveals allure of streets mirrors other behavioral addictions “The hardest part of my job is hearing the mother’s scream after a homicide.” Those are the words of Timothy “Noble” Jennings-Bey, director of the Trauma Response Team, whose job is to respond to neighborhood killings and provide help to victim’s families. “I’m in the business of trying to …

Local agencies come together to discuss solutions

In our current Summer print issue, the cover features local teen rapper Makhai Bailey known as Truth Speaker. Urban Affairs reporter Ryan Raigrodski shares how Bailey finds an outlet through his lyrics to raise awareness on children’s rights. The Stand Director Ashley Kang contributed a look at a recently published study co-written by Syracuse University addiction experts and anti-violence community workers on …

Article on Land Bank problematic To the Editor: In the April edition, you had an article about the “Land Bank Dispute.” The gist of the article was the contention by Councilors [Nader] Maroun, [Chad] Ryan and [Jean] Kessner that it is city policy to sell all properties through the Land Bank (LB). They insist the city could be making money …

Syracuse teen raps to raise awareness of children’s rights issues