Posts Tagged ‘2010’

Neighborhood in Transition

Monday, March 15th, 2010
Above Midtown Syracuse

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.

Can You Stand to be Blessed?

Monday, March 1st, 2010
Cora Thomas Gospel Extravaganza with Guest Richard Smallwood

5th Annual Cora Thomas Gospel Extravaganza with guest Richard Smallwood

Tough Love from the Principal

Monday, March 1st, 2010
Steve Perry, Principal

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.”

Welcome to Game Day

Saturday, February 27th, 2010
Game Day: Euclid Avenue

Game Day: Euclid Avenue

Game Day (a preview)

Friday, February 26th, 2010

Tomorrow’s Syracuse vs. Villanova game will make history.

The crowd of 34, 616  is expected to break the record for the largest on-campus crowd to see a college basketball game.

Camping Out in the Carrier Dome

Camping Out in the Carrier Dome

Since Wednesday,  hundreds of student season ticket holders have camped out inside the Dome, studying for exams, playing video games, sleeping on air matressess and waiting to participate in the spectacle.

Welcome to Game Day.

A Songstress

Saturday, February 20th, 2010

Erika Lovette, singerFans, fellow artists,  friends and family packed Sophistications Cafe in downtown Syracuse last night for singer Erika Lovette’s album release party. Her album is titled Love, Life and Everything In Between.

You can see Lovette performing one of the songs from her album at a previous Art & Soul Cafe here.

During last night’s gathering, she described the genesis for songs and various collaborations. She also mentioned that one of the songs was produced by Leonard Stephens, Jr. (who passed away last year).

Counting Crows

Thursday, February 11th, 2010
Above Irving Avenue

Near Irving Avenue

Vision & Exposure

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

Thinking 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.

What the Frack

Thursday, January 28th, 2010
Nick, Activist

Nick, Activist

I met an activist yesterday outside SUNY ESF who wants to prevent fracking for natural gas in Central New York.