The Sankofa Wellness and Resource Center presents a bi-weekly food share on Wednesdays beginning in August. The center will provide dry goods (rice, beans etc.) and fresh produce. Items are set up for Grab N Go, and organizers will be utilizing social distancing guidelines to provide the food items. Photo ID is preferred. Pre-registration is not required. Limited spots for delivery for members of the community that are unable to find transportation to the event will be provided. To register, call (315) 345-4239.

Join Onondaga County Library via Zoom at 10 a.m. Aug. 11 for an interactive nature activity geared at preschoolers. Register by visiting bit.ly/GrowingUpWildAug11. Participants will be sent a Zoom meeting link. Sponsored by the Izaak Walton League of CNY, and supported by funds from the M&T Charitable Foundation.

City of Syracuse will host an Interstate 81 Jobs “Big Table” meeting from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13. The virtual meeting will explore policy, legislative and regulatory actions to ensure city residents can benefit from the jobs and economic opportunity that the Interstate 81 project will create.

The “Big Table” meeting will involve representatives of federal, state and local government; business, and organized labor and community stakeholders. The program will address best practices in local hiring; business and workforce preparation, and local spending and contracting on public works projects.

Panelists scheduled to join Mayor Ben Walsh include: New York State Assembly Transportation Committee Chairman William Magnarelli; Mark Frechette, project director, New York State Department of Transportation; Deka Dancil, president of the Urban Jobs Task Force; Greg Lancette, president of the Central and Northern New York Building and Construction Trades Council (CNNYBCTC); Mitchell Latimer, council representative of the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, and a representative from the office of U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. Syracuse Common Council President Helen Hudson and Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens will also participate.

Attendees can register to listen to the Big Table at this link.

The Table Community Food Pantry will offer a drive-thru style food giveaway will be offered from 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 15. Enter through the 298 entrance to receive one box/bundle of food per family and remember to bring proof of address for each family.

Learn the basics of ballet with Miss Liz. Liz Bryson has studied ballet for 25 years and teaches Ballet IV and Adult Beginner Ballet at the Syracuse School of Dance. Warm up with plié, tendu and relevé; learn to walk, run, skip and march like a ballet dancer, and then "pantomime" (act out) your own scene. All you'll need is a chair, socks and a little space to move. Intended for children ages 5 to 12; both girls and boys are welcome. Register by visiting bit.ly/BalletAug15. Participants will be sent a Zoom meeting link.

Tucker Missionary Baptist Church will hold an annual giveaway from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, for the community and in honor of the memory of Sis. Gwendolyn Mack.

The Connected Church Syracuse will provide a bag of food to residents in need. To learn more, email Demetria Hooks at Helps@theConnectedChurchSyr.Org

"How the Children Got the Sun Up in the Sky & Other Stories from Around the World” is a collection of stories that celebrates children and the things that are important their lives: Family, friends, the environment and more. Join LuAnn Adams and travel around the world in stories and meet children from Africa, India and other locations. She will use props, music and lots of audience participation to bring the stories to life. Intended for children ages 0 to 5. Register by visiting bit.ly/LuAnnAdamsAug18. Participants will be sent a Zoom meeting link. Program supported by funds from the M&T Charitable Foundation.

The Sankofa Wellness and Resource Center presents a bi-weekly food share on Wednesdays. The center will provide dry goods (rice, beans etc.) and fresh produce. Items are set up for Grab N Go, and organizers will be utilizing social distancing guidelines to provide the food items. Photo ID is preferred. Pre-registration is not required. Limited spots for delivery for members of the community that are unable to find transportation to the event will be provided. To register, call (315) 345-4239.

The Syracuse Parks Department will hold a ceremony in McKinley Park Aug. 20 in recognition of 100 years. Attendance will be limited in accordance to following COVID-19 health guidelines. No more than 50 may attend and masks must be worn. Mayor Ben Walsh and several Common Council members will be in attendance. To be added to the guest list, contact Audrey Haskell at aah1102@aol.com.

Fly high with the Syracuse Strong Lady Eagles who will lead you in a dance routine through this virtual program which explores the world of dance. Intended for ages 12 to 18. Register by visiting bit.ly/WorldOfDanceAug20. Participants will be sent a Zoom meeting link. Session is supported by funds from the M&T Charitable Foundation.

“Jay-Z – Made in America” by Michael Eric Dyson is the next book in ACTS (Alliance of Communities Transforming Syracuse) Race Matters Book Club session scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 24.

Henry Louis Gates calls this small volume “A poignant portrait of one of hip hops’ most intriguing figures. A TOUR DE FORCE.”  If you haven’t explored the world of music & poetry buried in hip hop, and its key purveyor, here’s your chance. As a sociology professor and public intellectual, Michael Eric Dyson is the perfect person to unravel its mysteries.  

ACTS' interfaith discussion group is open to all, and you may choose to participate only once or every month. Peter Sarver, ACTS Coordinator for Transformational Reading Groups, will co-facilitate with Dr. Ednita Wright, professor at Onondaga Community College, for the August gathering.  To register for the Aug. 24 session on Jay-Z, email petersarveracts@gmail.com.

Are you a Syracuse parent looking for interesting, educational and fun activities for your children? 4-H can make a world of difference for families coping with COVID. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County is now establishing 4-H Clubs in the city of Syracuse, beginning at Kirk Park. 4-H is open to all youth ages 5 to 18. If interested, take part in a virtual informational meeting about 4-H in Syracuse at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26. Email Onondaga4h@cornell.edu or call (315) 424-9485 for information about how to participate in the call.

The Connected Church Syracuse will provide a bag of food to residents in need. To learn more, email Demetria Hooks at Helps@theConnectedChurchSyr.Org

National Overdose Awareness Day is a global event held Aug. 31 to raise awareness of overdoses and reduce the stigma of a drug-related death. It acknowledges the grief felt by families and friends remembering those who have died or had a permanent injury as a result of drug overdose. This event is open to everyone in the community and will be streamed live on Facebook and Instagram. The agency goes live at 12:50 p.m. for a virtual program, which includes remarks from ACR Health Executive Director Wil Murtaugh, a candlelight remembrance, moment of silence and abreaking of the silence with singer Cathy Butler. Following the candlelight remembrance, a live Narcan Training will begin at 1 p.m.

ACR Health will lead a Virtual Narcan Training via Zoom at 1 p.m. This training is open to the community. Sign up by emailing BPrzepiora@ACRHealth.org to receive login instructions or call (315) 475-2430 for more information.

Join Prevention Network CNY to raise awareness and educate the community in honor of Overdose Awareness Day 2020. Prevention Network will have a drive-through set up to distribute medication disposal bags, train on how to use Narcan, give out Narcan kits, plus other educational, prevention material. Prevention Network CNY is happy to train you from your vehicle and its masked staff will hand you a tote bag with everything you need inside. Those who do not have access to a vehicle can be Narcan trained in the parking lot, wearing masks and practicing social distancing. For more information, call the office at (315) 471-1359 and ask for Jessica.