Voices

Community organizers rally South Side to cast ballots in next election The historic victory of President Obama and the political excitement his 2008 campaign generated evoke “Yes, We Can” memories for many, especially as the country heads toward the next presidential election this November. But many South Side residents are not registered and won’t show up to vote. “I will …

Xi Chapter of Lambda Kappa Mu Sorority, an organization of graduate business and professional women, established in Syracuse since 1955, observed its annual Lambda Kappa Mu Week March 11-17, 2012. This week is set aside by the organization’s National Office to bring attention to the many community service activities completed by the various local chapters. Xi Chapter was engaged in …

Dunbar Center puts major plan into action to keep its doors open When you walk into the office of the Dunbar Association’s new executive director, Julius Edwards, you will see a man grinning from ear to ear. As someone who understands the impact Dunbar can have on a community, he has an open-door policy. With the doors wide open, people …

Anthony Harris El focuses on national pride, a sense of peace Anthony Harris El raises his hands at the lectern, his eyes tightly shut in concentration as he leads his study group in prayer. The Moorish flag billows over the airway, side by side with the flags of Islam and the United States. A hushed silence hovers over the group …

Pedal to Possibilities offers bikes, bonding and beverages for the homeless It’s barely dawn on a Monday morning, and Andrew Lunetta is already up and working. The senior peace and global studies major at Le Moyne College is busy fine-tuning a bicycle for one of his riders. It’s all part of a routine he follows every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Syracuse native Khalid Bey ready to make a difference in 4th District Khalid Bey, the Democratic candidate who narrowly prevailed in a race for the Common Council’s 4th District seat, said he knew all along it would be a very close contest. Bey defeated Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins, 1,154 votes to 1,072. “A win is a win, but I …

Note to readers: The “South Side Achiever” feature about Linda Green of The Newland Center, as published in the November issue of The Stand, includes an error as well as information that should be clarified. The error has to do with the origin of the R.E.A.D. program; the other information has to do with “therapy pets” used in the program. …

Home HeadQuarters helps buyers afford home financing one property at a time A widow in her 80s once wrote to Kerry Quaglia, thanking him for fixing her roof. Now, she told him, she wouldn’t have to lug heavy trash cans upstairs to catch the rainwater leaking through the cracks, and she could sleep peacefully at night, gratefully. Quaglia, executive director …

Fed up with renting, one Syracuse woman buys her dream home through Home HeadQuarters Aishah and Lonnie Jones’ dreams of owning their own property came true with help from Home HeadQuarters Inc., a nonprofit organization that builds new homes and rehabilitates older ones in disrepair. Aishah Jones, a Queens native, moved to Syracuse 17 years ago for its lower cost …

Linda Green teaches others to read with help from best friend Note to readers: The “South Side Achiever” feature about Linda Green of The Newland Center, as published in the November issue of The Stand, includes an error as well as information that should be clarified. The error has to do with the origin of the R.E.A.D. program; the other …