Tag Archives: Central New York

Local mother starts outdoor preschool to foster creativity Asoft rain fell over Manlius one October morning. Under the cover of cedar trees, Casey Johnson sat around the Sacred Circle shielded from the precipitation and wind. Preschool students sat on flat rocks on the forest floor, tearing through their afternoon snacks in what other schools might call “circle time.” At Creatures …

Group uses photos to combat stigma of drug addiction As the opioid crisis continues to grip the United States, photographers in Syracuse are picking up their cameras to help those in need. Layers of Hope, an organization founded this year, aims to raise awareness for addicted individuals. Photographers look to remove the stigma of addiction by attaching human faces to …

Greater Syracuse Land Bank to team up with schools for new community project

Lawyer helps those who have criminal records conquer barriers to jobs

Anti-violence activist introduces his book to inspire others to ask for forgiveness Rashawn Sullivan pauses while addressing the crowd at his Jan. 6 book-signing event. After a deep breath he says, “These are tears of joy. I went to prison at age 17, and now I’m here.” Sullivan was released from prison in 2015 for committing a drive-by shooting in …

An unlikely friendship opens opportunities for homeless community It’s a cloudy Saturday afternoon as Kate Waltman crosses the intersection of South Clinton and West Onondaga streets. She walks under the overpass where the “Lives Change Here” sign is painted and stops at a bridge. Looking down, she points to a spot below. “That’s where Timmy and I would sometimes meet.” …

South Side native uses his storytelling talent to inspire the community Growing up on the South Side near Midland Avenue, Quindell Williams developed a unique relationship with many in the community, which allowed him to understand the broader image of the stories he covers. Depending on the individuals involved and the type of stories he covers, whether it be crime …

Local agency helps grow readers with one-on-one tutoring With a mission to not only teach adults who can’t read how to read, but to help non-English speakers learn the language, LiteracyCNY works to strengthen the community by increasing adults’ proficiency skills. With a wait list averaging 85-100 deep, this local agency — which is the legacy holder of literacy pioneer …

Literacy pioneer’s 100th birthday celebration to fundraise for adult literacy

“Seriously, I’m not lying to you,” adult literacy instructor for LiteracyCNY Kevin Lucas said repeatedly to his English Language Learners (ELL) class. He was trying to explain the punctuation to end a sentence is known as a period. “Online and websites — that’s a dot.” LiteracyCNY enrolled more than 450 students last year. Funding is provided by a mix of …