Join Focus Greater Syracuse for a forum on Bridging the Digital Divide in Central New York. Eliminating the digital divide in urban and rural communities is a long-standing national challenge which was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, as access to technology was essential to daily necessities of life. If digital inclusion and equity are not achieved, existing disparities in educational, health status, health care access and income security will become even greater across economic, racial, ethnic and geographic groups. Panelists for this forum include David Bottar, executive director for CNY Regional Planning and Development board; Annabeth Hayes, co-founder CNY Digital Inclusion Coalition and director of Tully Free Library; Jennifer Tifft, director of Strategic Initiatives for the city of Syracuse, and Kevin Sexton, chief information officer for Onondaga County Department of Information Technology.

The Historic Oakwood Cemetery will honor the Black Civil War Veterans who are buried in unmarked graves at 10 a.m. Sept. 25, with a special focus on James Jameson and the unveiling of his new government issued marker. This will take place in the Civil War Section of the cemetery, Section #47. Jameson, originally from Syracuse, enlisted in the 54th Massachusetts Infantry, the first African-American regiment in the Civil War, in 1863. His life will be celebrated with speeches, songs and a military honors presentation.

The People's AME Zion Church will hold free grocery giveaways this fall. The giveaway will include fresh produce, meat along with groceries or dairy items. Those walking to the church may want to bring a cart, as boxes may be heavy. Food is available while supplies last and provided by People's AME Zion Church, the Food Bank of CNY and Abundant Life Christian Center.

Each Friday, Project S.O.U.L. (Southside Organizing Urban Lives) will provide fresh foods for South Side residents in need of food assistance. A free box of food will be provided. Boxes are limited to one per household and distributed while supplies last. There is no income requirement but identification is required. For delivery options, email thegreatersyracuseprojectsoul@gmail.com or call (315) 991-4203.

Onondaga VOTES! and Greater Syracuse Southside Neighborhood Association will hold a series of Talk Tuesdays political debates to help voters be more informed. Hear from the board of education candidates from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28, at Syracuse Community Connections.

Join FORCE (Focusing Our Resources for Community Enlightenment) for a special session of Community Preparedness: Simple Activities for Everyone. The evening's guest will be Chief Kenton Buckner of the Syracuse Police Department. Topics of discussion will include: community preparedness; safety precautions; crime prevention; defining desired roles and interactions between the Syracuse Police Department, community organizations and residents before, during and after disaster and emergency situations; developing trust and stronger relationships between law enforcement and our community, and preventative measures to avoid injury and displacement in disaster situations. This is an online event. The session is free and open to all.

Syracuse SCORE will host a Google marketing webinar with Randi Penfil from Google. The workshop will explain how Google search works and how you can improve a website's visibility with Search Engine Optimization (SEO). The session also introduces products like Google Business Profile, Google Trends, Search Console, Google Analytics, Google Ads and more. Discussion in the workshop will center around best practices for Improving your website’s visibility in Google’s organic search results on all devices, creating a free Google Business Profile and advertising your business on Google. Those interested must register for the webinar.

Each Wednesday, Project S.O.U.L. (Southside Organizing Urban Lives) will hold a food pantry for South Side residents in need of food assistance. A free box of food will be provided. Boxes are limited to one per household and distributed while supplies last. There is no income requirement but identification is required. For delivery options, email thegreatersyracuseprojectsoul@gmail.com or call (315) 991-4203.

The Syracuse Metropolitan Transportation Council hosts virtual quarterly forums. These meetings provide an opportunity for citizen to: Hear directly from planners about pedestrian and bicycle transportation projects, ask questions and voice concerns. All are welcome to attend and participate, but attendees must register in advance.

Each Friday, Project S.O.U.L. (Southside Organizing Urban Lives) will provide fresh foods for South Side residents in need of food assistance. A free box of food will be provided. Boxes are limited to one per household and distributed while supplies last. There is no income requirement but identification is required. For delivery options, email thegreatersyracuseprojectsoul@gmail.com or call (315) 991-4203.