Onondaga Community College will hold a symposium on race and policing in America — “Change Is Going To Come" — at 1 p.m. Friday, April 30. The event is open virtually to the public.

The Southside TNT virtual public meeting will be held 6 p.m. Monday, May 3. It will feature a 
"Meet the Mayoral Primary Candidates" session. Each candidate will be given 5 minutes to introduce themselves. The moderator, Morgan Williams, will ask questions of the candidates; questions were selected from community submissions in advance. This session is not intended to be a debate.

Onondaga Votes, a community organization working to promote greater voter participation and education on the South Side of Syracuse, will hold a virtual meeting May 6, open to all.  Email Onondagavotes@gmail.com  to register and receive the Zoom link.

GreeningUSA’s 17th Annual Meeting:  The Virtual Big Tent: "Building a Sustainable Future" will be held from 8 to 10 a.m. Friday, May 7, virtually with opening remarks by Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh. At this year's annual meeting, organizations are invited to briefly share: The primary mission and activities of their organization and how others can help as a community of advocates. This event is free and open to all, but registration is required. To register, visit https://tinyurl.com/n7u2wjz6. A link to attend will be emailed prior to the event.

This virtual tribute features pre-recorded live performances by Trump Tight 315, Brownskin Band and UAD, as well as, a presentation of awards to local music pioneers who opened the doors for today's Black artists. Recipients include: Ernest Ringo, John Bowens, Marcus Curry, James "Gator Boutwell" and Robert "Bobby" Green. Event is hosted by Maria and Keenan Lewis and  sponsored by CNY Arts and JAMS (Joined Artists and Musicians of Syracuse). Run time 36 minutes.

City Market launches for the season May 9 and continues on the second Sunday of each month through October from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (May 9, June 13, July 11, Aug. 8, Sept. 12 and Oct. 10). Masks and social distancing required. It features vendors from all over the region selling ceramics, vintage clothing, furniture, home décor, handmade crafts, antiques, and much more. Parking at OnCenter garage is $2.50 with Everson Museum validation.

Syracuse's Department of Parks, Recreation & Youth Programs will host a virtual public information session for neighbors to offer input on the Habitat and Greenway Enhancement Project, coordinated in partnership with Onondaga Earth Corps (OEC), at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 12. City Arborist Steve Harris and OEC representatives will share feedback gathered from the March 18 public information session, an on-site public forum on April 20 and door-to-door outreach in the neighborhood.  The feedback will be used to inform the next round of design concepts for the slopes inside the fence and the flat areas outside the fence. Residents interested in joining the meeting can register online here to receive an email with information about how to participate.

The Office for Aging will host Nutrition Education sessions over Zoom. The same presentation will be offered on all dates, so individuals should register for one date that best fits their schedule.
After registering, individuals will receive a confirmation email. The two sessions will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, May 13, or 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 19. Email Heather Hudson at HeatherHudson@ongov.net with questions.

The Everson Up-Close Artist Series will spotlight Ellen Blalock in a virtual event from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 13.

On view starting April 10, "Who What When Where" is a provocative exhibition that poses questions about how narratives are constructed, interpreted and revised relative to time, place and positions of power. Spanning a variety of media and decades, WWWW features works by more than 50 artists and introduces several recent acquisitions that bring new and needed perspectives to the Everson’s collection. Blalock's work tells stories of the ignored and underrepresented. Her choice of media include photography, video, drawing, fiber and installation. During this artist conversation, Blalock will share about how she uses art to raise awareness of human conditions, social injustices, cultural diversities and religious and spiritual beliefs. She'll also discuss the meaning and inspiration behind her piece "Bang Bang, You Dead!" (2018), featured in "Who What When Where." Note registration will close 10 minutes before the start of this event.

Syracuse's Department of Neighborhood and Business Development and the Greater Syracuse Land Bank will hold a Vacant Properties Webinar from 6 to 7 p.m. May 13, to provide information to resident on how city departments and the Land Bank are working together to address  problem properties and improve neighborhood quality city-wide. The webinar will share current data on vacant properties and also detail the programs and pipelines in place to get properties back into productive use. Attendees will also be able to enter a raffle for a chance to win Salt City Market bucks and a  $50 Visa gift card.

Join Project S.O.U.L. (Southside Organizing Urban Lives) for a return of Civic Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 15, for a day of fun and purpose. Attendees will meet local candidates, receive voter education information as well as be able to register to vote. For more information, call (315) 991-4203.

This public meeting is called to discuss the proposed construction of a four-story residential building along the Salina Street Corridor, infill location is the 1600 block of S. Salina St. Join the meeting at Morgan's Inspection, 1638 S. Salina St. Contact Patrona at (315) 876-1887.

The Office for Aging will host a Nutrition Education session over Zoom for seniors 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 19. After registering, individuals will receive a confirmation email. Email Heather Hudson at HeatherHudson@ongov.net with questions.

Senator Rachel May will host the third annual State of the Youth rally via Zoom and Facebook Live. Special guest include New York State Attorney General Letitia James.

The Syracuse/Onondaga County Human Rights Commission will host a Public Meeting on the I-81 Project over Zoom at 3 p.m. May 20. The public meeting will be a listening session. Community members are encouraged to ask questions and learn the facts about the pending I-81 project. Contact Director of Human Rights at m.murphy@ongov.net for further information.

This is an independently organized cultural gathering honoring Haitian Heritage Month with a raising of the Haitian flag at City Hall. Masks are required as well as socially distancing; all are encouraged to wear red and/or blue.

The city of Syracuse in cooperation with the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County will conduct a tick bite prevention virtual workshop from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 20, via Webex. Residents are encouraged to attend to learn more about how to reduce the possibility of tick bites through personal protection, habitat management and cultural controls. The program will also provide information on the types of ticks that exist in Central New York and the habitats they prefer. To attend, login at bit.ly/tickbitepreventionworkshop.

The NYCLU will hold a community meeting on I-81 from 1 to 3 p.m. May 22 at the Faith Hope Center, 1029 Montgomery St. The event will include refreshments and music.

Syracuse Strong's minor league football season opener for 2021 is 7 p.m. May 22  at Sunnycrest Field.

For Mental Health Awareness Month, this panel discussion will examine what the transition into the post pandemic world might look like for families, teachers and individuals with disabilities?  It will address the concerns, support and resources needed as people re-think this next phase of the pandemic.

The Pan African Community of Central New York (PACCNY) will hold a Zoom Celebration for African Liberation Day – “The COVID-19 Pandemic and Global Africa" — from 1 to 3 p.m. May 29.

The Greater Southside Homeowners Association and community partners will launch a pop up Fish Fry June 4. The menu will also include grilled fish as an option, corn on the cob, tater tots and lemonade and ice tea. Order are take out; limited seating will be available. This will be a recurring event every Friday, held from noon to 7 p.m.

A Flea Market, organized by the Greater Southside Homeowners Association, will be held the first and second Saturdays of each month, with the kickoff event held Saturday, June 5.

Ecothot, a volunteer group committed to increasing city beautification, will hold bi-weekly cleanups in Syracuse. Residents are welcome and encouraged to participate. The first event is a kickoff of the city's Adopt-a-Block program and is set for 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 5, with Mayor Ben Walsh at McKinley Park, 351 W. Newell St.

Sankofa Saturdays will offer an urban market space for Black-owned businesses bi weekly starting Saturday, June 5. The market will feature food, music, art, natural products, head wraps, African apparel and more. Contact Pat at (315) 876-1887 for more information.