Archive for October, 2010

100 and Running

Friday, October 29th, 2010
Jabari Asim at Syracuse University

Jabari Asim at Syracuse University

Journalist Jabari Asim, editor of The Crisis, spoke this week at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communication. He said The Crisis has a legacy of fighting against “erase and replace syndrome”  and correcting historic inaccuracies about African Americans.

The Crisis, the official publication of the NAACP, was founded in 1910 by W.E.B. DuBois. The first issue was published in November of that year, and the circulation was 1000. Today the readership is over 200,000.

Asim said his current goal is to keep the magazine relevant and cultivate a younger audience (average age of a reader is now 63).

Legacy of Grace

Monday, October 25th, 2010
Giles and McGriff: Students of Grace

Giles and McGriff: Students of Grace

Keith Herring Muhammad and Brenda Muhammad, along with Focusing Our Resources for Community Enlightenment (F.O.R.C.E.) held a tribute for (Sensei) Vinson Grace on Saturday. The program included family tales, a short film, story-telling, and various martial arts demonstrations. SIF Advisory Board Member John Giles (left), a 2nd degree brown belt and Robert McGriff, a black belt, began martial arts training with Grace when they were children.

A Rich Legacy

Monday, October 25th, 2010

“Mentoring leaders understand that it takes one to know one, sale show one, seek and grow one.” –John C. Maxwell

I attended the Homegoing celebration for one of my earliest mentors last week, Mr. Richard Orville Mayo, Sr., the father of SIF Advisory Board Member Marc Mayo.

The eulogy was given by Pastor Ben Quintana, whose church is in my hometown of  West Grove, Pa.

Syracuse Architectural Digest

Saturday, October 16th, 2010
Green Home Otisco Street

R-House at 619 Otisco St.

The LEED movement continues to receive the green light on the city’s Near West Side.

During the Rust Belt Conference at SU,these two properties on Otisco Street, and other S.A.L.T. district developments were cited as model sustainable neighborhood efforts.

Green Home Otisco Street

TED House, 621 Otisco St.

Just Enough for the City

Friday, October 15th, 2010

The Syracuse University School of Architecture (SoA) celebrated city life this week at the Formerly Urban (Projecting Rust Belt Futures) Symposium. Speakers from Syracuse, Cleveland, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Toronto and Paris discussed depopulation, prairie urbanism, redefining district identities, and new structures to activate urban life.

SoA Dean Mark Robbins said architects should harness the drive of commerce for the betterment of our cities and create incentives to do better (design, planning) work.

Power Game

Tuesday, October 12th, 2010
Former President Bill Clinton stumps for Dan Maffei in Syracuse

Former President Bill Clinton stumps for Dan Maffei (left) in Syracuse

Former President Bill Clinton finished his multi-state campaign tour in Syracuse last night to stump for Congressman Dan Maffei.  Clinton urged the crowd to get out and vote. He also warned against falling into the politics of frustration.

Higher Learning at the Blackboard Jungle

Monday, October 11th, 2010
Reenah L. Golden discusses urban education following her performance in No Child...

Reenah L. Golden discusses urban education following her performance in No Child… at Syracuse Stage

I finally got a chance to see the production of No Child… (written by Nilaja Sun) at Syracuse Stage on Saturday.  The one-act play features Rochester-native Reenah L. Golden, an actor, poet, activist and educator as the sole performer of nearly 20 characters in a play within a play set in a New York City school.

The direction by Timothy Bond, which featured a photo montage of various Syracuse School district locations, and the post show dialogue with the audience, made for a wonderful theater experience.

Maars, the SIF Conversation

Wednesday, October 6th, 2010

The Maars post-show interview was posted and can be seen/heard here.

Finally…A Live Recording

Sunday, October 3rd, 2010
Dr. Joan R. Hillsman

Dr. Joan R. Hillsman

Musicians and Producers Robert Short, Jr. and Dr. Joan R. Hillsman (above), along with the Bethany Baptist Church Choir and guests recorded a live CD last night. There were several selections of Christ-inspired original compositions  featuring Short, Hillsman, Pastor Phil Turner, Tisha Barnett ,George Kilpatrick, III and many others.

Rev. Phil Turner

Rev. Phil Turner

Martian Invasion

Friday, October 1st, 2010
Mars, emerging artis

Maars, emerging artist

We are grateful that mixed-media artist Maars, a friend of SIF, chose to hold his one man show at our studio location last night.

An interview we did with him and photographs will appear soon.  Maars’ next show will be held at Homegrown in Ithaca, New York.