Syracuse Center of Excellence (Syracuse CoE) Building
Archive for the ‘Business’ Category
Neighborhood in Transition (part 2)
Tuesday, March 16th, 2010Neighborhood in Transition
Monday, March 15th, 2010
Above Midtown Syracuse
I have lived or worked in the Midtown section of Syracuse since I arrived in the early 1990s. It remains one of my favorite parts of the city. The construction shown here (on the former Kennedy Square site) is not too far from my office.
Journalism for the Future
Tuesday, March 9th, 2010
Emil Wilbekin, managing editor, Essence.com
Essence.com Managing Editor Emil Wilbekin says that the future of journalism will be more like a conversation than the typical dictating monologue that’s been the better part of the history of magazines and newspapers.
Wilbekin says a lot of the change will be driven by technology.
He encouraged students at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications to take their interests and use digital media to change the game. But he added that the standard journalistic rules and standards will still apply.
Wilbekin was a founding editor at VIBE and recently headed Giant Magazine before coming to Essence.com in June.
The talk was sponsored by Syracuse University’s Magazine Department and the Black Communications Society.
Tough Love from the Principal
Monday, March 1st, 2010
Dr. Steve Perry
For too long the education system has fostered schools that are failing and according to Steve Perry, principal and education activist, failure is no longer an option.
“We can’t call a school a school if it doesn’t educate,” he says. “We have to create schools that are designed to be successful.”
Perry gave a lecture Saturday at Bethany Baptist Church that was sponsored by the Say Yes to Education program. He heads Hartford Prep (CT) and was featured on the CNN series Black in America 2 with Soledad O’Brien. Perry has also been interviewed often by New Inspiration for the Nation’s George Kilpatrick.
For Perry education is a calling, not just a profession. He drives several of his students to school each day and says 100% of the students at Capital Prep go on to college.
Perry says that he has no problem getting this across to his staff, and because you have a degree doesn’t mean you are a teacher. “I’ve fired some great people, they just weren’t good teachers,” he said.
Citing the McKinesey Report, Perry said that a child without an education will be a challenge for society. He said parents, teachers and entire community’s share responsibility for schools that don’t work.
“I love kids too much to care about grown people’s feelings.”
Vision & Exposure
Wednesday, February 10th, 2010Thinking too small gets you in trouble.
Brooklyn-based Pastor A.R. Bernard says part of growth and development is about increasing your capacity.
He spoke last week at Abundant Life Christian Center in East Syracuse on 5 Factors That Influence Our Lives.
The Whole (food) Market
Tuesday, November 10th, 2009I spoke recently with a member of my advisory board about the impact of environmental racism and how difficult it can be to find fresh fruits and vegetables in urban areas. When it comes to healthcare equity, we often overlook how it can relate to geography.
A few weeks later I see that a local group is planning to open a grocery store on the city’s Southside, and I also heard this interview with Dr. Rachael Ross about urban food deserts.
Resist Destination Disease
Saturday, October 17th, 2009Media company executive Todd Harrison, who graduated from Syracuse University in 1991, thought he made it to the pinnacle when he was on Wall Street living as a Master of the Universe. But he says there’s a difference between “being happy” and “having fun.” Being happy has nothing to do with making a lot of money and having material possessions, he said.
Todd Harrison, founder of Minyanville at Syracuse University’s Whitman School of Management
Harrison left his Wall Street position (over what he called philosophical differences) to create Minyanville (dot com), an Emmy Award-winning, animated, financial media company that he says covers the business “ABC’s to the 401ks.” He also created the humorous characters Boo the Bear and Hoofy the Bull.
Harrison encouraged those business students and others in attendance that the current unsettled economic climate is a reality, but it is also an opportunity.
Failures can help define your capacity, he said.
X Games
Monday, August 17th, 2009
What Happens to a Dream Deferred
Thursday, July 16th, 2009I met designer Pamela Williams last week during her first annual “Elegance from the Soul” Fashion Extravaganza. She explained that about 3 years ago she was diagnosed with stage-4 colon cancer and put her dreams of fashion and design on hold. During the recovery she was encouraged by video producer and friend Jay Dunmore to rekindle her dreams and career aspirations. So with faith and the strong support of her family, including husband Steven and son Melvin Eisland (aka M. Island), and a cadre of friends, she organized the show.
1st Annual Elegance from the Soul Fashion Extravaganza
Williams hopes that in addition to highlighting fashion and designers from around the region, the show will also be a catalyst to raise awareness of cancer.
The show featured a typical runway scheme along with live music. “It was amazing,” Williams said of her son M. Island’s performance. She particularly enjoys his song You Can Make It.
Syracuse’s the Blacklites also performed.
At the close of the show Williams shared her experience and brought many people in the audience to tears. Williams recommended early detection to detect and manage cancer. (She says a portion of the proceeds from the show will be made to the American Cancer Society)
You are truly Friends of God for helping me make this happen, she said.
For a first show the execution was great. I asked Williams how she could top this performance: “Come to next year’s show,” she said.
The dream continues.
Just Married
Wednesday, May 27th, 2009
John & Veronica
Congratulations to SIF Advisory Board member John Giles and his bride Veronica. They were married on Saturday at Eternal Hope Worship Church in Syracuse.