Education

Empowering Youth, One Book at a Time

Book Buddy volunteers working with students at STEAM at Dr. King Elementary School in October.

A local nonprofit seeks to empower a new generation of readers through the Book Buddies program, which connects community volunteers, college students and young children through literacy activities in Syracuse schools.  By Laura Román López  Young children line up, lunches in hand, as they wait to be let into the classroom.  They crane their necks to get a better view, …

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Finding Community — And Hope

Rhonda Davis teaches an art class this summer at the Boys & Girls Club of Syracuse. Photo by Za’Tozia Duffie

Rhonda Davis, who grew up in the 15th Ward, helps Syracuse youth express themselves through art. By Za’Tozia Duffie   The students huddle around a petite woman with an Afro, as she bends down to warmly embrace each child.  The pupils range in size and age, but each has the same question: What art form will they get to explore today? …

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Getting Ready for School

Families getting ready for school

Teachers and school officials met on the South Side this week to talk about the upcoming year, including the upcoming back-to-school event at Dr. King Elementary School on Tuesday

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Eliminado el racismo y empoderando su comunidad

Nacida en Perú, Fanny Villarreal se ha convertido en una gran persona en la comunidad de Syracuse por su esfuerzo en eliminar el racismo y empoderar mujeres y niñas a través de YWCA. Here’s Ortiz’s interview with Villarreal in English. Escrita por: Tania Ortiz Antes de que Fanny Villarreal decidiera establecerse en Syracuse, ella sirvió como jueza en las selvas …

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Eliminating Racism, Empowering Community

Born in Peru, Fanny Villarreal has become a well-known name in the Syracuse community with her work to eliminate racism and empower young women and girls through the YWCA. Aquí está la entrevista de Ortiz con Villarreal en español. By Tania Ortiz Before Fanny Villarreal decided to settle in Syracuse, she served as a judge in the Peruvian jungle and …

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Getting Technical

P-Tech gives students opportunities in higher education, professional fields Whenever Jo’sada Pacheco’s grandmother gets a new phone, she goes straight to Jo’sada for advice. The buttons and features confuse her, but Jo’sada is there to help. Recently her grandmother’s computer broke, and Jo’sada was there to delete the unnecessary files and get the device up and running. “I played with …

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Healing Touch

Timothy Bryant’s tumultuous childhood motivates him to help others affected by trauma Timothy Bryant was a single father working as a massage therapist and director at a Syracuse spa when he met a client who was a Syracuse University professor. As the professor learned more about Tim, she suggested to him that a degree in public health might feed his …

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Data-Driven Method

Corcoran implements interim tests to determine whether students are learning concepts Corcoran High School was removed recently from New York state’s “priority school” list for schools with low graduation rates. Corcoran improved its graduation rate because more students passed the state’s Regents Examinations, which they must do to graduate. The rate improved after the school’s top two officials — then-Principal …

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Art Portfolio

Corcoran High School alum credits Talent Agency for her drawing skills Alexis Belt, SUNY Purchase freshman, sat in her drawing class as her professor walked around and looked over other students’ work. He seemed to find something wrong with every single one of them but when he made it to hers, something changed. “He said he can’t be too easy …

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Educational Advocate holds Book Signing

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 …

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