October 1, 2023 – Urban CNY

Events News

Call to Action: Share Your Family Photographs and Help Create a Syracuse Community Archive

by Urban CNY News
October 1, 2023

October 13 – October 15, Everson Museum of Art Syracuse, NY…A new historical project launches on the weekend of October 13 with the aim of creating an inclusive living archive of Syracuse’s history through family photographs and the stories they tell. On October 13, 14, and 15, Family Pictures Syracuse is inviting local community members to the Everson Museum of Art to share their family photographs and the stories behind them as part of a unique effort to preserve often-overlooked and marginalized people and parts of the city’s history. “Treasured photographs that line the walls of our homes or lay in wait, carefully curated and organized in boxes tucked away under the beds of the elders, serve as entry-points into our family and local histories while at the same time, do the work of amplifying the love, joy, and complexities of Black lives, lived. Images shape what will become and what has become the accepted narratives of History, Family Pictures Syracuse aims to employ a reparative framework to our local history by including the images and stories of the very people who are Syracuse,” said Jessica Terry-Elliott, a PhD Candidate of history at Syracuse University and a member of the Turning the Lens collective which is organizing the project in collaboration with the Family Pictures Institute for Inclusive Storytelling. “These personal photos are repositories not just for family histories but also of communities that have long been excluded from public historical narratives. We see this project as fundamentally reparative in this respect.” The weekend kicks off with a screening of “Through a Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of a People,” by Thomas Allen Harris, at 6:00 pm, Friday, October 13 at the Everson Museum. The documentary unveils hidden and unknown photographs shot by African American photographers through history. The film opens a window into the lives of Black families and their experiences, which are often left out of the traditional historical record. After the screening, Harris will discuss the power of inclusive storytelling through family pictures. From 9:00 am to 2:00 pm on Saturday, October 14, community members are invited to the Everson to share their family photos and stories. There will be activities for children and people can learn more about photo preservation. From 2:00 to 4:00 pm, on Sunday, October 15, at the Everson, there will be an interactive grand finale event with live performances and special guests. The entire event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required but reserving a spot in Saturday’s photo-share event is highly recommended via EventBrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/family-pictures-syracuse-family-photo-share-day-tickets-725170202597 Organizers believe the community’s photos and stories are especially important to preserve as the city prepares for significant urban transformation with the dismantling of the 1-81 viaduct and the redevelopment of public housing within the city. “This weekend of events is meant to celebrate the launch of a project that members of our community can participate in building together–and that’s important. We have so much to learn from one another, and the archive we hope to build using the stories shared at these events will be one that centers public memory and our everyday histories. So, we encourage everyone to come out, bring your photographs, and be a part of the festivities,” said Caroline Charles, a co-organizer of the project and a PhD Candidate in English at Syracuse University. The launch of Family Pictures Syracuse is a collaboration amongst multiple Syracuse University colleges, schools, centers and offices (including the Special Collection Research Center, Light Work, The Humanities Center, Community Folk Art Center) as well as community institutions, including Onondaga Historical Association, Everson Museum of Art, and the Northside Learning Center.

Events Health News

Annual Health Event Returns to City’s South Side

by Urban CNY News
October 1, 2023

Syracuse, NY – Early this fall, 100 Black Men of Syracuse will promote its message of physical fitness, healthy living practices and preventive medical care while celebrating the enduring legacy left by one of the city’s most notable medical figures. The 14th edition of the annual Winston Gaskin Community Walk for Health & Wellness, bolstered by a group of local community organizations, will be held Oct. 7, returning for the second consecutive year to Kirk Park, 300 W. Borden Ave., and extending along a nearby section of the Onondaga Creekwalk. “We’re back at Kirk Park to continue the progress we made last year in drawing attention to a number of health issues affecting the neighborhoods in the surrounding community and the city of Syracuse,” said 100 Black Men President Drake Harrison. “It’s also a great opportunity for anyone to experience the beauty of the Creekwalk and gather information about the resources available to help narrow health disparities in our community.” “We also intend to bring a focus at this event on issues the 100 has been engaged in this year, such as lead poisoning and gun violence,” said Charles Anderson, who chairs the 100 Black Men’s Health and Wellness Committee. Like 2022, the family friendly event will feature games and other youth-oriented activities, as well as a pickleball demonstration. The event, which begins at 9 a.m. and concludes at 1 p.m., honors Winston Gaskin, an African-American Syracuse resident, pharmacist, Army veteran and community leader who passed away in 2009. In 1987, he was honored as a pioneer in the black community by Syracuse’s Black Leadership Congress. The Congress said he became the first black druggist in the city when he opened a pharmacy on South Avenue in 1964. In 2021, Housing Visions, a non-profit organization he co-founded, opened Winston Gaskin Homes, a 66-unit affordable housing development. While the Winston Gaskin Community Walk is free and open to the public, 100 Black Men of Syracuse urges participants to pre-register at https://forms.office.com/r/yzcaKn1LZz. For more information about this event, visit the 100 Black Men of Syracuse website at 100blackmensyr.org. The Winston Gaskin Walk is supported by our community partners: Housing Visions; OGs Against Violence; Onondaga County Department of Emergency Services; Onondaga County Health Department’s Cancer Services Program; Planned Parenthood; Restoreforlife, Inc.; Symphoria; Syracuse Community Health Center; and Upstate Medical University’s You Matter, She Matters, We Matter programs. Photo by Pixabay

News Voices

Voices: Rep. Brandon Williams, Joined by U.S. Representatives Stefanik and Tenney, Pen Letter to Gov. Hochul on Mask Mandates

by Urban CNY News
October 1, 2023

Syracuse, NY — On Tuesday, October 26th Congressman Brandon Williams (NY-22), and U.S. Representatives Elise Stefanik (NY-21) and Claudia Tenney (NY-24), sent a letter to Governor Kathy Hochul calling for New York State to commit to rational and evidence-based policymaking concerning COVID-19 and government healthcare mandates. During the COVID-19 pandemic, New Yorkers suffered from overly restrictive lockdowns that resulted in the closure of small businesses and lost learning amongst students. Yet, in nursing homes, the New York State government failed to actively protect vulnerable senior citizens, resulting in thousands of unnecessary deaths. This letter urges Governor Hochul to not repeat past failures and to embrace reasonable and nuanced COVID-19 policies. It also seeks to clarify how the Hochul administration will govern on this issue by urging the Governor to elaborate on whether or not she plans to issue statewide mask mandates and whether her administration has learned from the failures of pandemic-era education and nursing home protection. “As the COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted working families across New York, leaders in Albany failed our local communities. By resorting to broad, draconian lockdowns, and ignoring the needs of New Yorkers, Governor Hochul subjected vulnerable populations to isolation, including our children and senior citizens,” said Congressman Brandon Williams. “While not forgetting the irreparable damage done, moving forward, Governor Hochul must acknowledge the mistakes of the past and commit to evidence-based healthcare policies that do not restrict the rights and livelihoods of New Yorkers.” Draconian mandates left an irreversible impact on Upstate New York devastating seniors, children, small businesses, schools, hospitals, and communities and cannot be repeated,” said Congresswoman Elise Stefanik. “Kathy Hochul and the Far Left Albany Democrats cannot be allowed to use COVID-19 as cover to impose power-grabbing policies and exercise unprecedented government overreach. I will do everything in my power to ensure that mask mandates do not return to the state of New York.” Read the full letter here.

News Voices

Voices: Eleven Local Leaders pen letter demanding an apology from John Mannion after labeling constituents “ignorant”

by Urban CNY News
October 1, 2023

Eleven Town Supervisors and Local Mayors in Senate District 50, are demanding an apology from Democrat Senator John Mannion after he was caught making flagrantly disrespectful comments regarding his constituents, calling them “ignorant” because of their concern about the national migrant crisis. His comments came in the early months of his candidacy for New York’s 22nd Congressional District. In June, Town of Salina Supervisor Nick Paro received a call from the Office of New York City Mayor Eric Adams: migrants were to be bussed to a hotel in his community within days. In partnership with local leaders in Town and County Government, Paro spoke up and fought to block the influx that his community was not prepared for and never signed up to take on. This effort was a success and the judge granted a temporary restraining order to block the proposed hotel from housing migrants. Publicly, Democrat State Senator and candidate for Congress in NY-22, John Mannion, indicated support for the local leaders, saying that “local governments should not have to manage this crisis,” and calling the situation, “a policy failure playing out in real time.” But privately, in an apparent attempt to shore up the Democratic base on a zoom call with local Democrats, Mannion contradicted himself and insulted his constituents for their concerns, referring to their “ignorance.” “Calling your own constituents “ignorant” because of their concerns is not only disrespectful, but flies in the face of the principles of open dialogue and constructive engagement that we should all promote… We kindly request that you publicly address and apologize for the comments made in the private video,” Paro and his fellow local leaders wrote. In his private comments, Mannion acknowledges that his constituents are deeply concerned about the crisis, saying “I represent those very Republican areas…when you go into those rooms, you know, they are fearful that buses of migrants are going to come into where they live and change their community.” Attached is a copy of the letter sent to Senator and Candidate Mannion

Cover Stories Events Westcott (east)

Westcott Street Cultural Fair Sunday, October 1, 2023

by Urban CNY News
October 1, 2023

Program and Performance Schedule, Booth Locations Map and List The Westcott Street Cultural Fair (WSCF) will take place on Sunday, October 1, 2023 from Noon – 6:30 p.m. along the 500 block of Westcott St. and several side streets. With six stages, the WSCF offers an impressive lineup for fans of local music and dance. Performances include Sammy Award-winning rock, blues, and funk groups, multicultural dance groups, and belly dancing. The children’s stage features magicians, storytellers, and musicians. Special to this year’s Kid’s Stage will be a performance of the opera Papagayo by Syracuse Opera Company. More than 120 booths will line the streets. Many feature vendors of handmade items including jewelry, pottery, clothing, candles, soaps, and more. Others host non-profit groups, government agencies, and others who provide information and advocate for important issues. The mission of the WSCF is to promote a strong sense of community among the diverse people who live and work in the Westcott neighborhood. A powerful heart beats in the Westcott community; we can’t wait to see that demonstrated when the streets are filled once again! “This is my favorite city festival of all!” says author Paul Otteson. “It’s rich with color, energy, and cool people, and there are amazing performances wherever you turn.” Petit Branch Library for the month of September has a display of Westcott Street Cultural Fair memorabilia going back the 30 years of the fair. More than thirty area businesses and organizations help fund the WSCF. Our top 2023 supporters include our Stage Sponsors — WAER, NY State of Health, Rise N Shine Diner & Lobster Babe — and our Westcott Wizards — Autotech of Syracuse, Boom Babies, and University Hill Realty. The WSCF also relies on grant, sponsorship, and other support from the City of Syracuse, CNY Arts, Onondaga County, and the Westcott Community Center. For more information about the 2023 Westcott Street Cultural Fair, visit us on the web at https://www.westcottstreetfair.org or our Facebook page. Parking People with Disabilities Parking for people with disabilities is located in the public lot at 471 Westcott Street, near the New Garden Restaurant. Approach from E. Genesee St. Official disabled parking plates or permits are required. General You may park in the streets in the vicinity of the fair. Pay close attention to even/odd parking sides — This will be an “odd” parking day. You may also park in a Thornden Park parking lot. Parking rules are very strictly enforced in the neighborhood on the day of the fair!

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Call to Action: Share Your Family Photographs and Help Create a Syracuse Community Archive

Annual Health Event Returns to City’s South Side

Voices: Rep. Brandon Williams, Joined by U.S. Representatives Stefanik and Tenney, Pen Letter to Gov. Hochul on Mask Mandates

Voices: Eleven Local Leaders pen letter demanding an apology from John Mannion after labeling constituents “ignorant”

Westcott Street Cultural Fair Sunday, October 1, 2023

Black Voices