Historias del vecindario

Cuatro jóvenes de escuela superior están entrevistando vecinos y negocios en el Near West Side. Estos estudiantes han aprendido a presentarse, a explicar el programa, y pedir permiso para entrevistas y fotos. Además, aprenden a asegurarse de recoger datos correctamente y dar las gracias al terminar la entrevista.

Hasta ahora las entrevistas han ido muy bien y los jóvenes estan disfrutando su experiencia. Yo, como su supervisora, estoy muy orgullosa del trabajo que estan haciendo. Y prácticamente todos los entrevistados has disfrutado tambien. Hoy hablamos con dos personas que llevan mucho tiempo viviendo en el vecindario, y que ahora estan el los 90. Ambas personas quedaron muy contentas de ver que estos jóvenes tenian interés en sus historias. Fueron momentos muy agradables para todos!

Para mí ha sido una experiencia muy buena. Los jóvenes estarán trabajando hasta mediados de agosto así que si tiene una historia que contar, déjeme saber. Las historias serán publicadas en este website.

Near West Side stories

Four local High School students are working this summer to collect neighborhood stories. They started last week and have already interviewed several residents and businesses. The students have learned how to introduce themselves and explain the program. They also learned the importance of explaining what the information is for, of getting facts correctly, asking permission for interviews & photos, and thanking participants for their time.

As their direct supervisor, I feel very proud of the work they are doing. Some were a bit skeptical at the start, but they have enjoyed the experience. And everyone has been so nice! People getting interviewed seem to also enjoy the experience, as well. They are happy to share their opinions, their stories. That was especially true today, when we interviewed two long-time residents who are now in their 90’s. Having the students interview them was the highlight of their day!

For me, it has been a fun experience and very rewarding. It is nice to know the kids are getting something out of this job experience, and that the residents are getting something, too. They will be working in the neighborhood until mid-August so, if you have a story to tell, let me know! Stories will be posted on this website.

Redhouse Arts Center: independent arts in the Near West Side

There is a widely held belief here: that there exists an urgent need to attract and retain young professionals to Syracuse in order that the City may live up to its wish to successfully redevelop. We are aware of the need to re-brand Syracuse as a viable art market and creative hub, and as we all know, the arts are being used here as the driving force for both rebranding and economic development.

The current development of the Near West Side from dormant warehouses into a cultural and business hub for New York offers Syracuse the golden opportunity to attract an array of young professionals – exactly the demographic that we have been steadily losing since 2000. 

Situated in the Near West Side of Syracuse, Redhouse is an institution that attracts young talent and young audiences. We are the only independent arts organization in town that is able to generate national and international partnerships by bringing emerging and well-established artists, musicians, filmmakers, playwrights and theater companies to Syracuse. The art that Redhouse presents, produces and develops is global and attracts global attention. Redhouse is playing an important role in developing the cultural character of Syracuse through creative innovations in programming and networking.

For example, Redhouse has recently initiated and facilitated a new program funded in part by The New York Council on the Arts (NYSCA) – “The Upstate/Downstate Theatre/Presenting Initiative.” The mission of this new initiative is to foster, produce and present new works in theatre and to create meaningful partnerships among upstate and downstate producing and presenting arts organizations.  As a result of this new initiative, Redhouse is already working on co-producing and co-presenting plays with other like-minded organizations. All of these collaborative partnerships will serve to extend the reach of valuable projects that so often have very limited duration due to budgetary and space constraints. Another advantage of the initiative is that it will create cost-effective partnerships that will foster the development of new work. In addition, by co-producing plays, Redhouse and its partners will extend the stage life of new works whilst fostering diverse and significantly larger audiences for new work. New plays and emerging playwrights and directors will be able to tour their work from New York City to Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo, Ithaca and the opposite way, thus establishing and “Upstate/Downstate” cultural corridor.

Redhouse offers a great physical and technical resource for theatre companies, directors, actors, and playwrights, based in NYC.  Our upcoming “Artists-in-Residency” program will not only commission, develop and co-produce new work but will also provide theatre companies, playwrights and theatre professionals with state of the art and affordable space for new and experimental work development, summer residencies, new play workshops, and process based theatre.

In short, Redhouse is a vital addition to the bourgeoning cultural landscape of CNY and its programs are starting to generate a great deal of positive national and international recognition that reflects very positively upon CNY. If CNY is to be perceived as a vibrant cultural and creative hub and an interesting periphery for artists’ creations, then Redhouse is of major importance to further Syracuse’s economic development through the arts. While we in Syracuse are looking toward the Arts to generate economic development, we need to keep our eye trained on the ways that we interact with and develop cultural connections exterior to Syracuse, in order that we promote the influx of population that we will need to help sustain and redevelop the city. Redhouse is at the forefront of exactly this type of innovation, here on the Near West Side.

40 Below Video

It’s All Here Syracuse, created by 40 Below, works “to retain the talent we have here by creating an identity and instilling a sense of pride in our region.” Lots of up-to-date info on their site about Syracuse nightlife, entertainment, culture, careers, etc. Syracuse-based video company Ottovonmo Productions recently produced this video for It’s All Here Syracuse:

Green solutions for the Near West Side

The Near West Side neighborhood is part of the area that contributes stormwater to what is called “the Clinton sewershed.” That means that when it rains in the Near Westside, the water that runs off driveways, sidewalks, streets, and other (called stormwater runoff), ends up in the sewer system. That stormwater was going to be treated at the proposed treatment plant on the old Trolley Lot.

However, there are more “green” (environmentally-friendly) ways of dealing with stormwater than treating it with sewage. From Syracuse.com:

A half-dozen committees are meeting to explore ways to implement Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney’s decision to scrap plans for a downtown sewage treatment plant and instead use trees, gardens and similar means to keep storm water from flushing sewage into the lake.

The first fruit of their labors was recently unveiled to the county Legislature — a proposal to use $75,000 in state funds, $46,600 in county cash and nearly $49,000 in materials and services to reforest and plant rain gardens in the Near West Side. The neighborhood sits in the zone that would have been served by the Clinton Street sewage treatment facility.

…

The application for a state Urban and Community Forestry Grant calls for planting 400 trees. Some would eventually shade Near West Side streets. Others, more thickly planted, would turn vacant city-owned lots into miniature forests, said Brian Liberti, Syracuse’s city arborist and one of many collaborators working on the project.

The application also proposes planting two demonstration rain gardens on public land in the neighborhood.

One garden would be designed using storm water management guidelines put out by DEC. The other would be planted using a “how-to” manual for homeowners from the University of Wisconsin.

Both gardens would serve three roles, the application says: absorb excess storm water; recycle that water to grow the garden; and serve as a classroom where residents can learn how to install their own rain gardens.

There are many groups interested in working on these projects in the Near West Side. But to assure their success, the support from residents in the neighborhood is needed.

The Near West Side Initiative, Inc., has been hosting a series of neighborhood meetings on the evening of the 4th Thursday each month. Neighbors have created a series of workgroups dedicated to different topics. One workgroup is looking to “greening” the neighborhood. This group will be very important as the efforts to manage stormwater in the Near West Side move forward.

If you are interested in finding out more about green solutions for the Near West Side, please come to our next meeting. Watch for an announcement here on the blog!

Happy Residents after Tully Block Blitz

Don and Helen Walrath came to the June 26th NWS Neighborhood meeting and couldn’t have been happier about how volunteers, working through Home HeadQuarters and in conjunction with Onondaga Builders, went to town sprucing up their home at 515 Tully St. with new siding, paint and landscaping. Don bought his home with help from Home HeadQuarters a number of years ago. They were so happy they made CD copies of the pictures taken during the Tully Block Blitz and handed them out at the meeting .

I met Don the day of the Blitz as he sat in his chair surveying the activity. Painting his brand new picket fence in 95 degree heat was pure pleasure for me, one of those crazy, home renovator types who think painting and tearing out lathe is fun. Joining a great group of people most of whom I didn’t know, helping Don and Helen out, bringing new life to a once attractive home, was fun and satisfying.

I hear there’s another Block Blitz planned for the Fall. Count me in!

Tully Street Block Blitz

More on the Tully Street Block Blitz - a slideshow of images from the event! Click play to watch…

It was a good day in the Near West Side

Last Friday the 500 block of Tully Street saw an unusual amount of activity. The staff of Home HeadQuarters were joined by volunteers from United Way, Carrier, and others to improve the exterior conditions of five houses. I was there representing the Syracuse Center of Excellence, and did my share of landscaping. It was a hot, sunny day and volunteers were busy painting, landscaping, and even doing light demolition/construction.

About mid-afternoon, Maria came home after a hard day at work and was pleasantly surprised by what she saw. “I love it!” she kept saying as she surveyed the work done in her garden. It was a joy to me to see how happy she was with our work.

Luis is well known for helping out neighbors and taking care of things around the block. He spends a lot of time and effort working to renovate the interior of the house he shares with his wife, Magaly, and their two sons. However, the exterior needed much attention. Well, it was time for us to help Luis. The house got new siding, a paint job, and landscaping. Luis said he was so happy he would have danced! And he asked me, repeatedly, to tell everyone he would be forever grateful. So, I hope every volunteer reads this!

And what about the other homeowners, John, Carole, Don and Helen? Well, they were just as happy and grateful with the improvements done to their houses & gardens. 

Yes, it was a good day in the Near West Side. I went home tired but feeling at peace with the world. It feels good to do good!

Tully Street Block Blitz!

On Friday, June 6, Home HeadQuarters is hosting a Block Blitz on the 500 block of Tully Street!  In conjunction with United Way, Carrier Corporation, the Syracuse Center of Excellence, and others, 50 volunteers will take part in painting and landscaping four homes and the Welcome Inn that sit directly across from Skiddy Park.

Come take part in the transformation!!  Email info@homehq.org for more details.

A heart for the Near West Side

I have a real heart for the Near West Side. All the years I was a community health nurse, I learned so much about my patients by going in and out of their homes. It was a terrific way to help me understand the obstacles they faced and especially to get a sense of their spirit.

Part of public nursing is being an advocate for your patients, medically and politically.  This Near West Side Initiative is exciting to me, because it seems like an advocacy program of the best kind. I love the website and look forward to seeing it grow.