Gina Rivers, cialis program director for Mercy Works, Inc.
Ms. Rivers, a founding advisor to SIF, was the keynote speaker for the Teen Tech Program summer session commencement on Monday evening. The event was held at the Vision Center on South Salina Street.
Below is a portion of her remarks, which skillfully interpreted and updated the essence of the “I Have a Dream” speech by Dr. King.
The “I Have a Dream” speech was given at the 1963 March on Washington 50 years ago on this day.
We send congratulations to SIF Advisory Member Odetta Norton on her marriage last week to Attorney Dale Clarke at the Seawatch on the Ocean in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
A Wedding Story on M & M’s
Congratulations to Dale & Odetta (Norton) Clarke on their wedding over the weekend. And thanks for the invitation. More photos to follow.
University of Miami School of Law Dean Patricia D. White (who was born and raised in Syracuse) congratulates Ms. Norton shortly after the 2012 Graduation Ceremony.
The Past is Not Past: The Continuing Quest for Racial Justice and Peace panel at was held before a capacity crowd at Syracuse University’s Newhouse III this morning (pictured l to r: Janis McDonald, Andrew Young, Linda Carty, Martin Luther King, III, and moderator Paula Johnson).
SU’s Linda Carty (Dept of African American Studies) cited several statistics and said there are several obstacles to the notion of peace, including: substandard education, poverty, and the misapplication of justice that spawned the prison industrial complex.
Former Ambassador Andrew Young said freedom is a constant struggle. He also advised students not to get mad, but to get smart.
SU alum and SIF Advisory Board Member John Giles, Jr. (pictured in the audience near event co-organizer Scott McDowell of SU-NYC and media personality George Kilpatrick) dialouges with the panel about coalition building as it relates to seeking justice in the modern day Civil Rights Movement.
Martin Luther King, III, the son of the legendary civil rights leader, said true justice is justice across the board (for everyone).
Vision Center Program Director Gina Rivers, along with Rev. John Carter, spoke to graduates of the 2012 Synergy Program during a ceremony held at Upstate Medical University on Friday.
Mercy Works, Inc. gathered 2012 Synergy Program students and local leaders at Upstate Medical University yesterday to participate in a Celebrity Apprentice-style program to culminate a summer of development and leadership training. Synergy is one of several enrichment programs run by Mercy Works.
Student team leader Keith Rowser
Team “X Static 8” celebrates a win for Service Project of the Year
Mercy Works Inc. Director of Development Clarence Jordan (right), who served as a celebrity judge, talks with Sen. John DeFrancisco during the program.
Gina Rivers
Congratulations to Gina Rivers, one of the founding advisors to SIF. Here is a photo of her from her birthday last week.
Teen Tech graduates with class sponsor Sam Haines (front right) and class instructor Natisha Crossman (front left)
Mercy Works, Inc.’s Teen Tech Program held their 2011 Spring graduation this week. For completing the coursework, participating students received computers that were donated by LeMoyne College. The class was sponsored by Nixon Gear. The guest speaker for the program was Syracuse Police Chief Frank Fowler.
Chief Frank Fowler speaks to the students at the 2011 Spring Teen Tech graduation. He was introduced by Vision Center Program Director Gina Rivers (left).
OCC graduates Tela Hamm, Melissa Guiles and Patrice Cage at the War Memorial
Congratulations to the graduates of area colleges and universities, including SIF Advisory Board member John H. Giles, who earned his master’s degree from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University today.
SIF Board Member John H. Giles, Jr.
April Gascon (right), who earned a Masters degree in International Relations, celebrates with her mother Yvonne at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School.
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.