Syracuse Woman Magazine March 2020

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Syracuse Woman Magazine

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March 2020

Womens' Empowerment Edition

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PAPPARAZZI REJUVENATE FULL PAGE

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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FROM THE EDITOR.........................................................................6 CONTRIBUTORS.............................................................................. 7 PAST EVENTS................................................................................. 11 FASHION Use Fashion to Feel Empowered...............................................11 SPECIAL FEATURES Local artist sells reusable totes, hosting art show

March 21............................................................................................... 12 Salt City Roller Derby.......................................................................18 Vera House launches 26th annual

White Ribbon Campaign......................................................... 20 SYRACUSE EATS Syracuse Co-Kitchen ......................................................................14 KINDNESS COUNTS Leading with Her Heart: Mi Mama........................................... 16 WISE WOMAN Diana Jaramillo.................................................................................... 24 ON THE COVER Dr. Juhanna Rogers, Director of Community

Engagement and Empowerment at

Centerstate CEO............................................................................ 26 SYRACUSE WOMEN OF DISTINCTION Matilda Joslyn Gage.......................................................................... 31 HEALTH & WELLNESS Self Care:

Ophelia's Place carries a message of

self-empowerment.................................................................... 32 Reproductive Health Clinic:

Pelvic Pain, Painful Periods and Infertility:

All About Endometriosis........................................................... 34 INSPIRE Matilda Joslyn Gage Girl Ambassadors..............................38 Kira Smith.................................................................................................42 FOR A GOOD CAUSE Girls on the Run.................................................................................. 46 UPCOMING EVENTS.................................................................. 48 MOVERS AND SHAKERS.......................................................... 50

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EDITOR'S WORD

W

hen you commit to improving your mental health, it’s not as easy as improving your physical health.

You can’t just increase your steps to cure your depression or eat more fruits and vegetables to ease your anxiety (unless your anxiety stems from not getting enough fiber). When you’re already struggling, just taking the first step can seem impossible: where do you start?

It really depends on where you stand. Included here are some suggestions compiled from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger: • Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

• Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255); En Español 1-888-628-9454; TTY 1-800-799-4889.

Veterans can call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) and press 1 or text to 838255 for a trained responder.

• Text “HELLO” to the Crisis Line at 741741.

• If you have experienced a natural or human-caused disaster, call the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 or text “TalkWithUs” to 66746.

• All of these emergency lines are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

• If you see a social media post that concerns you, dial 911 or contact social media outlets directly (https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/help-someone-else/safety and-support-on-social-media/ shows you how).

For less immediate referrals, the following options are available: • Call the SAMHSA Treatment Referral Helpline, 1-877-SAMHSA7 (1-877-726-4727) from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday to get general information on mental health and locate treatment services in your area.

• Talk to your doctor. Your primary care practitioner can provide an initial mental health screening and refer you to a mental health specialist.

• Federal agencies can also point you in the right direction: the Health and Human Resources Administration, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, National Library of Medicine and Department of Health and Human Services all offer information about practitioners and coverage.

• Check with your insurance company. They can provide you with a list of covered providers.

• 211cny.com provides a comprehensive listing of government and nonprofit services throughout Central and Northern New York, grouped by specialty.

• Local colleges, universities or medical schools may offer treatment options, or they can refer you to a provider who can.

• Veterans and their families can contact the Veterans Administration, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Military OneSource (1-800-342-9647), TRICARE, or the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (1-866-966-1020).

• Ask your friends and family for recommendations.

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PUBLISHER

CONTRIBUTORS

David Tyler

EDITOR Sarah Hall

DESIGN

Andrea Reeves

PHOTOGRAPHERS Ana Gil-Taylor Steven J. Pallone Alice G. Patterson Maureen Tricase

Angela Antonello Nichole A. Cavallaro Alyssa Dearborn Sarah Hall Farah Jadran Jamie Jenson Alicia Madonna Megan Sheehan Lisa Sousou Larry Stansbury Becca Taurisano

Cover photo by Alice G. Patterson at her studio in Baldwinsville. Makeup by j. luxe salon.

ADVERTISING SALES

Renée Moonan Linda Jabbour 315.657.7690 315.657.0849 Rmoonan@eaglenewsonline.com Ljabbour@eaglenewsonline.com

ADVERTISE WITH US Unlike any other publication in the Syracuse area, our feature articles address major topics that interest local women. Each issue includes articles on health, fashion, fitness, finance, home matters, dining, lifestyle and personal perspectives, as well as a spotlight on local Syracuse women. Ads are due on the 15th of the month prior to publication.

The print magazines will be distributed locally in over 350 locations and will be in your inbox electronically by the middle of every month.

The publication is available free of charge.

CONTACT OUR HOME OFFICE 315.434.8889 | 2501 James Street, Suite 100, Syracuse, NY 13206

It may take some trial and error before you find the right provider and the right kind of therapy for you. Don’t give up if you don’t click with the first one. For further information, visit mentalhealth.gov or nami.org.

The magazine is published 12 times a year by Community Media Group, LLC and Eagle Publications, 2501 James St., Suite 100, Syracuse, NY 13206

CORRECTION: In our January edition, the story on Rheta West (“INSPIRE: Rheta West, World-Class Weightlifter and Business Owner) ran without a byline due to an editing error.

The story was written by Carol Radin. We apologize for the error.

Copyright © 2020 Community Media Group, LLC. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or republished without the consent of the publishers.

Syracuse Woman Magazine is not responsible for unsolicited submissions, manuscripts, photos or artwork. All such submissions become the property of Community Media Group, LLC and will not be returned.

Sarah

March 2020

Womens' Empowerment Edition

CONTRIBUTORS

This month, we asked our contributors: In honor of International Women's Day on March 8, what woman has had the biggest influence on your life?

Angela Antonello

Alice G. Patterson

My mother.

The biggest influence comes from the women closest to me, starting with my mom who has been my biggest champion and supporter. Professionally, I was very influenced by the success of female photographers I admired, Mary Ellen Mark, Joyce Tenneson, and of course, Annie Leibovitz.

Nichole A. Cavallaro I would have to say she is a little woman and she is my daughter. She has had the biggest influence on my life in the most prodigious and magical way.

Alyssa Dearborn A woman who has deeply inspired me every day of my life is my grandmother. Though she has faced many challenges in her life, she wakes up every day with a courageous spirit and a whole coffee pot's worth of strength. She is a true warrior woman and I am blessed to have her in my life.

Ana Gil-Taylor

Megan Sheehan I was lucky enough to have three: A mother, and two older sisters. Collectively they taught me strength, humor, kindness, devotion, compassion, and of course, how to deal with whichever one I was in disagreement with at the time. It was a small house, it's to be expected.

Lisa Sousou

I have been blessed to have had the support of numerous women throughout my life, each leaving me great tools.

My mother. She is compassionate and giving, and has taught me the importance of always doing what good you can. She is also a nurse, which sparked my interest in medicine!

Farah Jadran

Becca Taurisano

Mi MamĂĄ es la mayor influencia para mi. My Mama is my biggest influence. She has surrounded me with love, strength, faith in God and the so much joy. Because of her, I know dreams are fleeting.

Work hard and they become realities.

My mother Katherine Traynham has had the biggest influence on my life. She is a published author, a journalist, an activist, and a pioneer, getting her start in television news in the 1970s, which was then a male-dominated field. She taught me three pieces of invaluable advice that I use to this day: (1) Never let them see you sweat. (2) Walk into the room like you own it. (3) If you get disappointed, spend 20 minutes feeling sorry for yourself and then get over it.

Alicia MADONNA As cliche as it may sound, my mom has had the biggest influence on my life. She has been, and still is, my biggest supporter, advocate, counselor, best friend and so much more. I learned all my good (and some difficult) qualities from her. I hope one day I can be as great a mom as she is. Love you mom!

Steven J. Pallone There have been many women who have influenced me throughout my life, starting of course with my mother and her mother (who worked around the corner from our house and was omnipresent through my childhood). Teachers, managers, friends, and a lineage of exes (live and learn!) each have helped shape me, and cheesy as it sounds, I'm a better man for it (but still learning!).

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Sarah Tietje-Meitz Easy — my mother. I look at her and see so much of what I strive to be as a person. She is my best friend and never faltered in finding a way to love and support me throughout my craziest times.

Plus, she is a total badass.

Maureen Tricase My mom, Mary Evans, is the woman that has had the biggest influence on my life. She taught all six of her children to work hard, always do your best and be true to yourself. She also taught us to enjoy life and laugh often!

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March 2020

Womens' Empowerment Edition

PAST EVENTS

Central New York Goes Red for Women’s Heart Health Photos courtesy of Kristy Smorol/American Heart Association Heart Walk The American Heart Association recently held a kickoff event for its 2020 Heart Walk at Syracuse Community Connections, formerly the Southwest Community Center. The event featured fun physical activity with Field Days games. The Field Days program is a new way for Heart Walk team coaches to engage their teams to fundraise and get some exercise.

The Heart Walk will be held on a new date and time this year. The event will be Sunday, April 19, 2020 at SRC Arena at Onondaga Community College. The doors will open at 10 a.m. and the walk will start at noon. The fundraising goal for this year’s event is $680,000.

Participants and teams can register at www.SyracuseHeartWalk.org.

Hard Hats with Heart The American Heart Association recently teamed up with the local construction industry to host the third annual Hard Hats with Heart event at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Syracuse Destiny USA. The event brought construction industry leaders and workers together with American Heart Association staff and volunteers to help fight heart disease and stroke.

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The event was led by volunteer Al Marzullo, American Heart Association advisory board member and Business Manager and Financial Secretary with IBEW Local 43. Adults in the construction industry have a slightly higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease compared to other industries. They are more likely to smoke and more likely to get no physical activity outside of work.

Go Red Day (city) Central New York celebrated National Wear Red Day on Friday, Feb. 7, to help raise awareness and funds to fight the number one killer of women – cardiovascular disease. In Syracuse, representatives from the AHA and sponsor St. Joseph’s Health joined with the City of Syracuse and Onondaga County to celebrate National Wear Red Day. Eleven buildings and landmarks around the Syracuse area are lighting up in red or displaying red decorations to help spread this important message in honor of National Wear Red Day. Those buildings include: Barclay Damon Tower, Crouse Hospital Clocktower, KeyBank, Loretto, National Grid, Onondaga Community College, St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center, Syracuse, City Hall, Syracuse University: Hall of Languages and Hendrick’s Chapel, Upstate Medical University Weiskotten Hall.

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WE MEAN BUSINESS! SUPPORT WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES!

March 2020

Womens' Empowerment Edition

FASHION FORWARD

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think empowerment is all about confidence and fashion is an amazing tool to show the world what makes you tick. Having a unique style means taking pride in your own body and personality and knowing precisely who you are.

Power dressing has thankfully evolved since the days of shoulder-pads and pinstripes, and we no longer need a flashy outfit to communicate that.

Feeling confident through fashion requires taking the time to discover what suits your unique personality. The main focus in this area should be with a simple goal in mind: making yourself happy.

When you’re wearing clothing that you truly love, it will be easy to feel empowered in all aspects of your life.

Social media is constantly telling us what we need. Going down your own path can feel impossible when it comes to fashion trends.

I challenge you to seize the opportunity to do something different and truly discover your signature style. There is nothing stopping you from setting trends other than feeling like you need to follow them.

Part of feeling confident is feeling comfortable without feeling out of place or fearing judgement. This can be difficult to believe and practice. Therefore, I wanted to share my top three fashion tips that will help you feel better about yourself, increase selfconfidence and achieve ensemble empowerment.

Use Fashion to Feel Empowered BECAUSE YOU DON'T NEED A CAPE TO BE A REAL-LIFE SUPER WOMAN

By Angela Antonello

1. Invest in better quality clothing.

It may seem simple for me to say this, but it is often overlooked. Investing in well-made garments is instantly going to boost your self-confidence. When you wear high quality clothes, your sense of self-worth starts to increase because you are only putting the best on your body. It is that euphoric, excited feeling you get when you’re being treated to luxury.

2. Master the art of power dressing.

One of my favorite tricks to feeling more confident in what I wear is to find the clothes that make me feel the most powerful.

Power dressing is about allowing your personality to shine through. You are essentially putting your best self forward while staying true to who you are. It is about making up your own set of rules that are authentic to only you.

Once you’ve found your mojo, use that one outfit that makes you feel empowered to create alternative outfits that make you feel just as good.

3. Own your look.

The common saying “fake it ’til you make it” comes to mind here.

Instead of walking down the street telling yourself, “You can’t possibly feel good in what you are wearing,” I want you to own your look. Hold you head high and believe that you are making great style decisions. Once you have mastered all the above steps, don’t allow yourself to waver. Create a new voice, one that is positive and tells you how awesome you are.

Life is too short not to wear what you like and feel good about yourself in what you are wearing. Uncover your own empowering ensemble and the sky is the limit! SWM Angela Antonello owns Fashion Rescue 911 Fashion Truck & Boutique, located at 52 Oswego St., Baldwinsville; (315) 857-6690. Hours are noon to 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, noon to 6 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

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SPECIAL FEATURE GREEN AND GIVING

Local artist sells reusable totes, hosting art show March 21

By Ashley M. Casey

Photos courtesy of Jacqueline Colello

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COLELLO CREATIONS | Baldwinsville-based artist Jacqueline Colello is selling hand-painted reusable grocery totes.

Colello’s art show next month will benefit the David Clark Learning Center in East Syracuse.

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acqueline Colello paints with a purpose.

Often, Colello uses her artwork to give back to others.

In December, Colello collected supplies for area animal shelters by placing donation boxes at Syracuse-area establishments where she sells her paintings.

Now, Colello is continuing to give back in 2020. She is planning an art show for March 21 at Laci’s Tapas Bar to benefit the David Clark Learning Center, Access CNY’s music and art center for people with brain injuries. One of the owners of Laci’s, Laura Serway, helped found the center in 1994 after her brother, Charles Serway, sustained a traumatic brain injury in a 1991 car accident.

“It resonates with my story,” said Colello. “Back in 2011, I was in a really bad car accident and then I found painting, found God and got sober.”

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Colello was fortunate to recover from her injuries, but she remembers the frustration of not being able to do things she used to, and the judging stares from people gawking at her broken nose and jaw. She underwent reconstructive surgery for her injuries.

“I [couldn’t] chew properly because of the way my jaw had to be put back together. It was so frustrating,” she recalled. “It made me really grateful for life.”

The accident was a wake-up call for Colello, who decided to seek treatment for her alcoholism. Without alcohol as a distraction, she had to figure out her purpose in life.

“We get stuck in that ‘What can I do next to make me happy?

Go out and get my hair done and my nails done and go out drinking with my friends?’ Our society is very ‘me’-focused,” she said.

Colello picked up a paintbrush and turned her focus outward.

She said her goal is to generate “just some positive energy put out in the world,” especially given recent tragedies in the news such as the Australian bushfires, earthquakes in Puerto Rico and the helicopter crash last month that killed basketball superstar Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven other people.

In addition to benefiting the DCLC, the show at Laci’s gives Central New Yorkers a night out that is not focused on drinking.

“Our community really needs a bit more culture. Doing an art show gives people a reason to go out besides drinking at the bars or going to an SU game,” Colello said. “Laci’s is a hidden gem.

There’s a lot of people who need to know that Syracuse has this awesome spot.”

While she is preparing for the art show next month, Colello has released another project. She is selling hand-painted reusable grocery totes — just in time for New York state’s ban on single-use plastic carryout bags, which takes effect March 1.

“I’m really for the planet, I’m for animals, I’m just an advocate for all living beings and the earth that we live on,” Colello said. “I think it’s awesome that our world is starting to change.”

Colello’s bags feature designs reading “Straight Outta Groceries,” “This queen goes green,” and “Love reigns here,” which has the planet Earth sporting a crown.

“That’s what the whole basis of going green is: loving our world.

We have to treat it with love and respect,” she said.

The totes are $30 each or two for $50 at colellocreations.com.

Colello’s art show benefiting the David Clark Learning Center takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, March 21, at Laci’s Tapas Bar, 304 Hawley Ave., Syracuse. Admission is $10. The first 25 guests will receive a free art print.

For more information, contact Jacqueline Colello at: colellocreations@gmail.com or 315-715-5103. Check out her art @ColelloCreations on Facebook and Instagram. SWM SyracuseWomanMag.com

SYRACUSE EATS SYRACUSE CO-KITCHEN

SYRACUSE COKITCHEN:

Creating community through cooking

By Sarah Tietje-Mietz

Photos by Steven J. Pallone

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oworking spaces like WeWork, Impact Hub and, locally, Syracuse CoWorks, provide professional environments for those not working out of traditional offices.

Members have access to the benefits of standard offices, like meeting rooms, communal workspaces, and unlimited WiFi, all at an affordable cost.

But what if instead of desks, there are ovens? Instead of meeting rooms, stovetops and stand mixers? That’s the idea behind Syracuse CoKitchen: a local coworking space where members pay a flat fee for access to a New York state-certified commercial kitchen.

Chefs, farmers markets vendors, and food truck operators are

Mark Pawliw

utilizing the Syracuse CoKitchen to make the products they sell to the public. But there are others using this space that might come as a surprise.

Wunderbar, the muti-faceted LGBTQ bar and event space at 201 S. West St., opened in April of 2019 and has been using Syracuse CoKitchen since. General manager Ashley Slater trained in the culinary program at Johnson and Wales University and uses the CoKitchen to prep and cook for their monthly Drag Brunches.

She sees the ability to scale up their events because of the benefits of having access to the kitchen, and sees the CoKitchen creating opportunities for other local cooks and small culinary businesses.

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“There's so many struggling smaller businesses and to be able to have a space where that can allow you to continue growing without having to purchase your own kitchen or be worried about that the financial aspect associated with that,” Slater said.

Babette Puzey uses the CoKitchen to whip up cookies, baked goods, soups, and an abundance of bacon for The 443 Social Club and Lounge (formerly The Listening Room). With industrial mixers, large ovens, and flexible scheduling, the CoKitchen suits her needs.

After encountering issues with the space and previous management, Puzey and the owner of The 443, Julie Briggs, stepped back from using the CoKitchen, but struggled finding another space that met their production, scheduling, and pricing needs. When they heard the space was under new management, they wanted to give the CoKitchen another try. She credits the new manager, Mark Pawliw, with bringing them back.

“I met [Pawliw] down there when he was first taking over. And he had a whole crew of people in there tearing the place apart, cleaning it, making sure everything was functional,” said Puzey. “It’s so much easier... everything since Mark has taken over it has become easier...

And I have faith that he cares enough.”

Mark Pawliw is a boomerang. After trying different cities on for size, he returned to the Syracuse area in 2010. Pawliw had always been involved with the food and beverage industry and jumped back into the local farm and food scene. He created Farm to Fork 101, a “sustainable experience that reconnects the farmer with the consumer in a delicious way.” Through this, he focuses on food, education, and sustainability in the Syracuse area through special events and dinners.

Pawliw first connected with the CoKitchen by using the facility for Farm to Fork 101 events. After becoming more involved with the space, took over operations after the previous manager stepped down.

He saw how much his growing business benefited from it, and the potential it had to fill this need for others.

“I think it gives people that want to go into the food business a place for them to use and try out, which is not super expensive,” said Pawliw.

“So if it doesn't work out they're not losing their shirt. The idea is for everyone to be able to use all that stuff, and we... work together for the common good of promoting the food businesses in the area.”

Located at 808 N. Salina St. on the Near Northside, the Syracuse CoKitchen is part of a multi-use compound owned and operated by 800 Block II, LLC. Partners Stephen Case and Troy Evans purchased

Mercedes Jones of The Soulfood Extension in the kitchen

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part of the historic Assumption Church campus in 2017 from the parish, which has been serving the Northside neighborhood since 1845. Residential lofts were retrofitted in another campus building, but Case was admittedly unsure of what to do with the parish hall.

Then the calls started coming in — people wanted to rent out the former parish kitchen to cook in. After looking around, they realized that commercial kitchen spaces were limited for those in the Syracuse area to use, and the ones that were available had restrictive hours and high rental costs. They saw a need in the community — and an opportunity to fill it.

“Every building project we do is done with a community focus,” said Case. “We want to activate the streetscapes that have been run down...and get a vibrancy back on the streets.”

In 2018, they pushed forward with the idea of creating a commercial production kitchen, one with affordable member ship fees and a range of rental times. A co-working space, but for cooking.

Industrial appliances were purchased and the facility brought up to meet the strict code requirements for commercial food production. Those using the kitchen needed to provide proof of insurance and all food products, but the CoKitchen provided everything else.

Salt City Market, the soon-to-be spot for global cuisine and goods in Syracuse, stationed all their auditioning “food merchants” out of the Syracuse CoKitchen. Twenty-two culinary creatives, of various backgrounds and ethnicities, have been vying for eight stall spots in the market opening in Fall 2020. Adam Sudmann, market manager for Salt City Market, feels the CoKitchen has created the space and opportunity for, locals, refugees, and immigrants alike, to step into the culinary market without the personal or financial risk that opening a kitchen, or even a food truck, can entail.

It is clear there is an understanding by those who own, manage, and use the Syracuse CoKitchen, of the community-based values it embodies. For example, in exchange for access, Salt City Market helped outfit the kitchen with tools and equipment their cooks needed, which are now available for others using the facility.

It echoes the ethos of Case and Evans’ vision for the space, and is well on its way of creating, as Sudmann said, “a more connected culture across the community.” SWM

Coconut rice with black beans on tomato wrap

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KINDNESS COUNTS

Leading with her heart: My Mama

By Farah Jadran

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i Mamá es la mayor influencia para mi. My Mama is my biggest influence.

Her name is Jeanie, but she is Mama to me. She stands at 4 foot 10 inches, but that is deceiving. Like age, height is just a number.

Mama stands out wherever she goes. Her beautiful presence is unforgettable. Mama’s heart is bigger than you can picture with the wildest imagination. She is always ready to offer help, show compassion and kindness, and give back.

Growing up in a big family in one of Mexico’s largest cities, it might be daunting for someone to think about standing out, making a difference or following dreams.

As the second oldest of 12 siblings, my Mama was always encouraged to do her best. Her mother would change what “normal” would mean when it came to what each child would accomplish in their youth and expect out of their futures. While opportunities might have been different for boys and girls in Central Mexico — that did not matter.

“I think she was thinking of empowering her daughters to have higher education or as much as the boys in the house,” Mama shared.

“Older generations were more focused on daughters getting married.”

On top of education, her mother would also make sure each daughter learned how to drive. At the time, it was more common for only boys and “wealthy women” to learn how to drive.

Mama’s natural ability to show compassion and kindness would soon shine far beyond the walls of her home in Mexico and the new home she and Papa would make together in a Chicago suburb after they got married in her hometown.

Her hard work led to a degree in business administration and French. She would not stop there. She moved up quickly in management positions at different companies in Illinois. I remember some of them, because I would find myself writing, coloring and eating cookies near or under her big office desk.

It would be Mama’s powerful talent for teaching others that would help her touch the lives of thousands of people. After earning another degree and her teaching certification, Mama taught at several

Chicago area school districts designing and launching their Spanish curriculum. That was years ago, but there is no doubt several schools still use the model she put in place.

Beyond sharing her first language with others, she found herself sharing one of her other languages with people from all over the world. For decades, and still today, Mama teaches adults how to speak, read and write in English.

Teaching English as a second language takes time, patience and understanding. Her students come to the United States from places such as Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Macedonia, Mexico, Ecuador, Columbia, Peru, Guatemala, El Salvador, Bolivia, China, Palestine, Iran, Ukraine and Russia — to name just a few.

When asked how she became part of this field, Mama simply says, “I felt comfortable teaching.”

The raw truth is that Mama has and does take calls from students asking questions and looking for guidance in studying for their GED or citizenship exams. Her dedicated students take on her determination and don’t look back.

It takes a special kind of person to be a teacher. Any teacher reading this knowsit!Youliveit.Yourheartisspecial, kind and carries a piece of every student you’ve ever taught. Mama remains my biggest influence because she continues to show me the sky’s the limit. If you lead with your heart, the future is bright not just for you, but everyone around you.

Kindness can change someone’s heart. It can help others realize there is a world around them and more to life than possessions and petty arguments. Kindness can be the message you wear and walk with because you choose to live life with genuine gratitude for each day you are given. Tomorrow is not promised. Why not spend today being kind and being positive? SWM Farah Jadran is the anchor of CBS5 This Morning and CBS5 News at Noon for CNYCentral in Syracuse. Farah also served as editor of SWM for more than four years after she helped launch it in January 2011. If you or someone you know is spreading kindness in our community -- tweet at her -- @FarahJadran using #BeKindSyracuse.

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SPECIAL FEATURE

Salt City Roller Derby

By Megan Sheehan

W

hen you mention “Roller Derby” in casual conversation, the typical response always seems to be a strong one.

Descriptions run along the line of brutal, teeth gritting, pain, and general chaotic ass kicking. There are visions of bright red lipstick, fishnet stockings, knee highs, pigtails and short skirts on skates crashing recklessly into one another and yelling obscenities, yet also seemingly submissive and sexual. These tough broads mean business and are not a force to be reckoned with. They will clearly knock you in the shin and steal your husband without smearing their Red Vixen No. 22.

But here’s the thing—that ain’t it. I (don’t actually) hate to burst your bubble and destroy the stereotype in your brain, but roller derby is not what it used to be. I ventured into the dark corners of Shoppingtown Mall and into the Vault, where I was able to sit amidst a pack of these wild ones. I met with the local crew’s Head of Public Relations, Megan Rydzak or “Focus Pocus,” who has been skating since 2016. Megan speaks about the re-launch and rebranding of the Syracuse league.

“It’s really evolved into more sport than spectacle now,” she said.

“It’s very hard and competitive.”

Assault City Roller Derby began in 2007 with a very different feel. There weren’t even companies making roller derby jerseys yet. The end of 2019 brought a new name and new logo to Syracuse’s only Roller derby league.

Now known as Salt City Roller Derby, the team feels more represented as individuals, as a community, and as a sport. Their logo now features actual words and is no longer a singular, specific player look and style.

So, if these women aren’t the Rockabilly pin-ups we’ve been imagining, who are they?

I sat down with six teammates who filled me in after hours of practice runs together. They sat collectively on chairs, couches,

and the floor patting one another on the back, smiling, hydrating, and picking at their skates. The other teammates mopped up sweat, and playfully put mats away.

“The group of women that play roller derby, they just come from all walks of life,” the diversity is amazing and everyone is just so incredibly supportive of each other,” said Pushin’ Buttons (Stacey Walton). “You have cops and CPA’s and teachers, and stayat-home-moms, and college students and we just, we all come together and work together and we support each other and that feeling is amazing.”

Walton wasn’t the only one who felt this way. The group of women vocalized and bobbed their heads in agreement.

“Roller Derby finds you when you when you need it most in your life,” said Terror Dactyl (Tara Thornton). “I feel like it’s taken me out of some depression, some self-doubt, and has given me so much self confidence that I’ve never had in myself. I can’t preach enough to people of how important it is in our community.”

Most agreed that the initial beginning of each derby career was intimidating yet instantly solidified their paths.

“I’ve played a lot of things but nothing like this,” said Prymal Instynct (Marie Martini).

Recalling her first practice, she said, “I try some skates on and was like ‘Oh, yeah this is amazing.’ I just felt like all of a sudden I had wings. It was amazing.” dExtra Terrestrial (Erica Tauzer) spoke about how unique the dynamic is to have a team for adult women.

“I’ve always been attracted to the strength and motivation roller derby brings,” Tauzer said.

“I’m a smaller person, so I was a little unsure if roller derby was going to be the place for me.

There’s a place for everyone, and when you know your strengths then you can find that space and really make a good experience out of it.”

As the women spoke, their words flowed together as if they were

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one being, sharing a continuous thought. It only makes more sense that there is such a bond and connection when you join a roller derby league. Instantly, you become part of a team. You are taught how to stand strong, how to safely fall, reminded of the protection you have from gear and your teammates, and are told to stop saying “I’m sorry” as a No. 1 rule.

“Once you start to question [constant apologizing] you can kind of start to work on it and see how unnecessary it is most of the time,” Martini said. “That’s when it changes the rest of your life because then you’re not saying sorry at work or in so many other situations or to your partner.”

SCRD is a competitive team running under the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) and are now able to be ranked country wide. Because they are in an official association, there are guidelines and rules that must be followed, so no need to be too terrified of ultimate chaos. There’s rhyme, reason, technique and different classes of teams.

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“You get to play against these women and you’re competitive, but you can still have respect for each other and you can still enjoy each other and you can still have fun on the track even though you’re beating the crap out of each other,” Walton said.

“It’s still enjoyable.”

“Derby forces you to look at yourself and ask yourself, ‘What am I really capable of?’ and that’s honestly what keeps me around,” Tough Buck (Crys Eldridge) said. “It’s completely reframed my ability to look at my life. I no longer look at things that are difficult as something to be afraid of but I look at them as opportunities to grow. I see that in derby and I see that in my life and it’s just been a really incredible ride so far.” SWM Join or support your Salt City Roller Derby League by attending a game in their upcoming season at their new location: The Onondaga Nation Arena March 21, April 25 and Sept. 12 and by following on social media @Saltcityrd or their website www.saltcityrollerderby.com

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SPECIAL FEATURE

Vera House launches 26th Annual White Ribbon Campaign

By Megan Sheehan

F

or the entire month of March (and beyond), those wearing a white ribbon, pin or bracelet are making a personal statement to never support, commit, or remain silent about abuse. These white ribbons mean “No more.”

Vera House has run its White Ribbon Campaign for 26 years.

The effort not only raises money for the organization, but seeks to raise awareness about domestic and sexual violence by getting men on board to spread the message. This year, the campaign is led by Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh and Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon. The two leaders, along with a team of male county government workers, have also completed Vera House’s 12 Men Model Program, which focuses on bringing men together to hold one another accountable.

“Participation in the 12 Men Model was transformative for all of us,” McMahon said at a press conference. “Certainly, for me as an individual, and as a leader, I think what is particularly powerful about it is for us to go through that experience and then to go back out into our work environments and to begin to see that ripple effect that this program can have.”

George Kilpatrick, Vera House’s Men’s Outreach Project Coordinator, said the 12 Men Model has proven extremely successful in changing men’s attitudes toward gender and masculinity.

“We create a safe space for men to share their most intimate thoughts in ways that they had never anticipated that they would,” he said.

The model engages men in groups, sometimes as small as four or as large as 30, to enter into a dialogue about masculinity and male roles. In four to five one-hour sessions (this is flexible), the groups challenge traditionally held thoughts about gender roles — “boys will be boys” and victim blaming that can lead to a culture that allows violence and abuse — and encourage participants to carry the lessons they learn out into the greater community. In doing so, the groups hope to create a community that not only redefines the concept of healthy masculinity, but also rejects the culture of domestic violence and calls it out when they see it.

This is a unique program which has been studied by The Worker Institute of Cornell — and it has been determined to be effective.

Their summary states to have found that “After completing the program, men rethought their attitudes toward gender and masculinity and took action towards preventing abuse.”

Kirkpatrick was thrilled to have two of Onondaga County’s male leaders on board with the program.

“That was amazing,” he said. “When I tell my colleagues across the country that we had our mayor do it, and that we had our county executive do it, that’s really impressive. I can’t emphasize enough how significant that is.”

For their part, McMahon and Walsh were happy to be part of the campaign.

“I’m very honored that I was asked to participate as an honorary

co-chair and lend our platform, [and] to encourage more people to get involved and have these conversations,” McMahon said.

“It doesn’t make you weak; it makes you strong.”

Walsh agreed. ““We are a model here in Syracuse that we are proud of,” he said. “Before long it spreads far beyond the walls of your office, or your home, throughout your community, throughout your neighbor-hood and it just keeps going.”

And that’s the real purpose of the White Ribbon Campaign, according to the campaign’s co-chair, James Branche.

“The main goal is to educate and to get the awareness out about domestic violence and sexual abuse, because it happens,” Branche said. “[The fact that] 26 years later, we’re still doing this [White Ribbon Campaign] means it’s necessary. It’s needed to be able to hopefully stop this at some point. I think that’s the most important thing that I see from this campaign is the education piece and what we can do.”

Kirkpatrick said in order to make the campaign successful, more men need to sign up for the 12 Men Model.

“We want more men to take a leadership role. We want more men to understand that they have a role to play in promoting gender equity and ending gender-based violence,” he said.

“We know that the majority of men are not committing violence but there’s a small percentage that do and we want to reduce that percentage especially because women are impacted most.”

Branch ended with some advice for men.

“Sometimes the most difficult conversations are the most rewarding. Being uncomfortable isn’t a bad thing,” he said.

“Change doesn’t happen in the comfort. You have to be uncomfortable to make change.”

Vera House has set a goal of $20,000 for this year’s White Ribbon Campaign. You can help by fundraising the White Ribbon Campaign Walk on Friday, March 20 at 12PM starting in Clinton Square and ending at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown.

If you are interested in participating in a Men’s Outreach Program, contact George Kilpatrick at Gkilpatrick@Verahouse.org or (315)425-0818 ext.2254.

For more information on Vera House programs and fundraising efforts visit www.verahouse.org As always, if you are in crisis, call the 24 hour help line at (315) 468-3260. SWM

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SPRING PREVIEW... TAKING ON FASHION

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COVER STORY DR. JUHANNA ROGERS

DR. JUHANNA ROGERS

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND EMPOWERMENT AT CENTERSTATE CEO

Creating a New Narrative

By Becca Taurisano

D

r. Juhanna Rogers is making her dreams come true in Syracuse.

Rogers is the Director of Community Engagement and Empowerment at CenterState CEO. She is also a motivational speaker, activist, and performer, having appeared in “For Colored Girls” at Auburn Public Theater and acted as a member of the Harriet Tubman Troupe. Her latest project, “Behind the Woman,” is a television series airing this April on WCNY. You might call her the next Oprah.

“If I can do this work for as long as I can, and empower people along the way, that will make my heart very happy,” Rogers said. “I had no idea how this was going to lead me to becoming the next Oprah. In this small town in Central New York, where I have no other connections, every piece of the dream I’ve been talking about since I was [young] has come together.”

Rogers wants to use her own success and her own connections to help others achieve their goals.

“Everybody doesn’t get the same chances. Everybody’s skills and talents won’t show up the same way,” she said. “If we provide spaces for people to come to understand what their purpose is and the way they can operate within the realm of their existence, then my job is done.”

The Great Eight For Rogers, the path began as an Integrative Arts student at Penn State – Altoona, when she was named the Central Pennsylvania NAACP Woman of the Year Award for her work in the theater. Rogers thought if her theater work could get her noticed, what else could she achieve?

In May of 2016, she graduated with a PhD in higher education from Indiana University’s School of Education. She garnered national attention at the time as one of eight African-American women to be awarded doctorates at the same time from the same school.

Getting eight women, especially women of color,

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to graduate from one college or program at the same time is a rare occurrence, one Rogers described as “divine intervention.”

“It’s an example of how we will be stronger together than we are apart,” she said. Anyone who has been through [the PhD] process will know it is not pretty, it is not glamorous, and it tears your soul apart. You question everything about who you are and how you are formed as a person.”

Rogers pointed out that the process is much more difficult as a woman of color.

“You are doing that in a predominantly white space with faculty that don’t look like you, that don’t really understand what [it’s like] growing up in an urban environment, or being a first generation college student,” she said. “For the women that were in the program, the amount of criticism and ridicule and silencing that happened throughout that process, makes you doubt - can you do this, can you finish?”

But the Great Eight, and Rogers herself, were fortunate to have a strong support system throughout the process.

“I had a phenomenal group of black female mentors during that time,” she said. “They provided opportunities to me that other individuals did not.

They reassured me that I could struggle through this, because this is not built for us, but you can do it.”

That support pushed Rogers to finish her degree despite the obstacles.

“I’ve continuously been a part of this village of women. We must recognize

that we have strength in numbers and sometimes it’s hard to find a tribe and the tribe looks different,” she said.“We want to be in a position to bring our community forward.”

And Rogers was determined to help her community however she could. During the PhD process, Rogers left campus with the blessing of her mentor and “academic mom” Dr. Robin Hughes and came to Syracuse. She was hired at Southwest Community Center by then-Executive Director (and former SWM cover woman) Sharon Owens, who now serves as deputy mayor of the city of Syracuse.

“In a community like [Syracuse], I understand what it is going to take to help people grow out of the conditions they are in. I can advocate for that,” she said. “I was not trying to do that in a space that didn’t understand.

That helped me get back to my dissertation and be able to finish it.”

That’s when the real work began.

‘Behind the Woman’ Living and working in Syracuse helped Rogers recover from the grueling PhD process and achieve her dreams.

“The universe has aligned here,” she said. “There is room for me to grow and blossom, so that’s what I’m doing,” Rogers’ upcoming WCNY television series, “Behind the Woman,” is a manifestation of that healing.

“This is a love-heart project,” she said. “This is about showcasing that there are some brilliant black and brown women here who have things to say. We are more than just our titles. We experience things and feel things. Getting to where we are is not easy.”

“If I can do this work for as long as I can, and empower people along the way, that will make my heart very happy.”

— Dr. Juhanna Rogers

Syracuse Woman Magazine

Photo by Alice G. Patterson

Continued on page 28

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COVER STORY DR. JUHANNA ROGERS

Creating a New Narrative from page 26 Rogers created the project because she said she feels called to advocate and empower the community she comes from.

“It’s easy when you have the credentials to climb the ladder.

It’s important to me to let the community I come from know that I’m thinking and intentionally working to empower and uplift and advocate for the people who are not sitting around the table,” she said. “If I can create art to give voice to that experience, or show up to work every day and address the systemic barriers and policies that are keeping people in that place, then that is my job, that is my role. For the women around me that are at the table with me, that is our collective responsibility.”

Rogers hopes the show will be a spark of inspiration for women who tune in.

“I want to do that in ways that continue to tell stories of people that look like me, of women that look like me,” she said. “I feel like I am called to create spaces to empower disenfranchised people.”

Rogers hopes the show will start a conversation about what kind of community Syracuse could be. As a native of Newark, NJ, Rogers sees similarities between her hometown and the city of Syracuse.

“When you come from the urban corners of America as a black person, it’s almost as if there aren’t entrepreneurs, families that have done well, people that are working hard. Where does that narrative continuously come from?”

Rogers created Behind the Woman to help shape a different narrative.

Behind the Woman will air in April on WCNY on Tuesday nights at 9 p.m. The series will feature 13 dynamic Central New York women interviewed by Dr. Rogers.

“I’ve created a framework for other women to say what they want to say. We will find out what their story is,” she said.

“There is something powerful when humans can sit down and hear someone’s lived experience in a way that is thoughtful and intentional. Regardless of race, color, and gender, we can see the human connectedness.”

Committing to yourself Rogers’ other important role is as mom to Nile, 14.

“He is such a special being,” Rogers said.

Her son was the driving force behind her pursuing graduate school.

“He was my motivation to think about… my calling,” she said.

“I didn’t want him to see me just working. I wanted him to think, ‘My mom loves her job. I wanted him to know he can pick something that you really love and enjoy doing and pursue it.’”

It was important to her that Nile understand that just because something is expected doesn’t mean that’s the way it’s supposed to be done.

“I think to a degree as women, we have these social norms that are chirping at us, this is how it’s supposed to be done,” she said.

“The real source of empowerment, is not to detach from all of them, but we have to take the ones that are really pulling on us and ask ourselves why? Then from there, think about what’s important to you. Some of the things I was able to do was because, during the mothering process, I was in graduate school. [Nile’s] dad has always been there as a supporter. I made this commitment to take time for myself.”

There are many women she has in her life who have empowered her along her journey. These include her mother, Annie Rogers, Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens, her grandmothers Agnes Rogers and Anne Lester, her aunts, The Great Eight, her colleagues at CenterState CEO, Gwen Webber-McLeod of Auburn Public Theater, Nadrea Njoku fellow Great Eight member, and so many more.

“Behind the Woman” is dependent on viewer financial support.

If you would like to donate directly to Behind the Woman or nominate a dynamic Central New York woman to be part of Season Two, please visit www.wcny.org/behindthewoman. SWM You can learn more about the ways Dr. Rogers is empowering women at her website juhannarogers.com.

“If I can create art to give voice to that experience, or show up to work every day and address the systemic barriers and policies that are keeping people in that place, then that is my job, that is my role. For the women around me that are at the table with me, that is our collective responsibility.”

— Dr. Juhanna Rogers

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Behind the Woman will air in April on WCNY on Tuesday nights at 9 p.m.

The series will feature 13 dynamic Central New York women interviewed

by Dr. Rogers.

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Photo by Alice G. Patterson

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HEALTHY WOMAN

SELF CARE

Ophelia’s Place carries a message of self-empowerment

By Nichole A. Cavallaro

W

hen I think of empowerment, I think of the sparkle or magic each of us is born with, and whether or not that magic was harvested into a brilliant, healthy autonomy that we carry throughout life. Sometimes it isn’t, sometimes it is, sometimes it’s a work in progress, “it” being us.

I recently became an active board member with a local nonprofit called Ophelia’s Place. I can honestly say that so far, as a professional, the involvement with such a place gave me a sense of empowerment and personal accomplishment thus far; one that I am sincerely grateful for. At OP and in their café (Café at 407), the message of empowerment and self-love runs like electricity in the walls. For this month, I wanted to shift my voice to another woman’s voice and experience. I recently met a truly kind, intelligent and sweet person, Holly Lowery. She is the Chief Operating Officer for Ophelia’s Place, and I decided to pick her brain on what “empowerment” means given her line of work.

N: Can you tell us who you are, how did you get to where you are with Ophelia’s Place (OP) H: I am Holly Lowery, Chief Operating Officer for Ophelia's Place.

My role is largely working to maintain and grow the integrity and mission of the organization through strong leadership and team coordination. So practically, that looks like overseeing educational programming, coordinating the team to meet goals and complete projects, managing communications both internally and externally, analyzing and improve organizational processes, and serving as a spokesperson for OP. N: And what influenced your choices to get where you are?

H: I came to OP through my own work towards eating disorder (ED) recovery. After I moved through the beginning stages of recovery I knew I wanted to help others break free from the constraints of diet culture that I lived in for so long, as many of us do. I also wanted to help people make the connection between the harms of dieting and the development of disordered eating and eating disorders. For me, my ED started with what I thought was a "harmless" diet, but as my body and brain became malnourished, no matter how much weight I lost, it never felt like enough. And what was really underneath that desire to lose weight was deep wounds around perfectionism, people pleasing, a lack of belongingness, lack of connectedness, a lack of confidence in myself regardless of my body. So, as I began doing all the work to unravel all of that, I started doing some educating on behalf of OP, and became so in love with the culture, community and mission of the org. And now they can't kick me! ;) N: What does empowerment mean to you, personally?

H: To me, empowerment means owning all of who I am — the messy, difficult, imperfect, wounded parts, too, especially those parts — and acting in alignment with my values, even when it feels really scary. I believe empowerment is a practice that grows

with time and can be nurtured by intentionally surrounding ourselves with a community that makes us feel heard and empowered, by choosing to set boundaries, and by doing the work to uncover and rewrite narratives that have taken our power.

N: What does empowerment mean to you on a social level?

H: On a social level, it means validating the experiences and elevating the voices of those who don't have as much power as we might. For example, in the work I do/we do at OP, this means recognizing my own privilege as a thin-presenting, white, young, able-bodied cis woman (which arguably give me a lot of power, believability, ease of existence), to elevate the voices and experiences of those more marginalized than myself, like larger people, people of color, trans people, etc. For example, it's not my experience to be told to buy two plane tickets because of my size.

I might not have the experience of being scoffed at for asking for a seat belt extender on a plane. But I certainly can be empathetic and listen and validate that experience. I can use my voice and privilege to speak up for that person if I witness that happening, and I can call that out as an act of discrimination. It might feel uncomfortable or messy to practice this, but it's these types of empowered acts that create change and equity on a cultural level.

N: What would your message be, to women at any age, regarding empowerment?

H: Just one?!?! Oh gosh. Know that your experiences, your feelings, your needs are valid. And practice validating those experiences, feeling those feelings, and meeting those needs, without apology or justification to others around you. The more we honor ourselves, the more empowered we feel. And with that, (so maybe this is two) practice doing the same for others, especially those who aren't typically given that kind of space, like fat/larger people, people of color, disabled people, trans people. Validate their experiences, let them know their feelings are real and raw and important, and help them meet their needs if you can. That's how we empower others. SWM I really want to thank Holly for being candid on both her professional and personal experience, and for her time and words.

Nichole is a local mental health provider. You can find more of Nichole’s writing on www.mentalhealthwellnesstherapy.com in the ‘blog’ tab.

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HEALTHY WOMAN

WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

Pelvic Pain, Painful Periods and Infertility: All About Endometriosis

By Lisa Sousou

What is endometriosis?

March is National Endometriosis Awareness Month. Some 176 million women around the world, 5 million in the United States alone, are afflicted with this commonly painful, sometimes debilitating condition. Caused by tissue similar to the inside lining of the uterus (endometrium) growing outside of the uterus, endometriosis can commonly lead to very painful periods, chronic pelvic pain, painful intercourse, and sometimes infertility. In other cases, it can be present and cause no symptoms. The implanted tissue behaves like endometrium: it breaks down and bleeds during a women’s menstrual period. This can cause pain and scar tissue formation. Some places where endometriosis implants can be found include the ovaries, fallopian tubes, the lining of the pelvic cavity (peritoneum), or even on the intestines or bladder; in very rare cases, endometriosis has even been found in more distant organs, such as the lungs.

Among women who do have symptoms, pelvic pain is the most common symptom of endometriosis, and can be mild or severe.

This includes painful menstrual periods, which can worsen over

time; pain can also occur between periods, during intercourse, or even with bowel movements. In both women with and without symptoms, endometriosis can lead to difficulty becoming pregnant; infertility affects 30 to 50 percent of endometriosis patients.

Who gets endometriosis, and what causes it?

Globally, around 10 percent of all women have endometriosis.

Among women with infertility or chronic pelvic pain, the percentage is much higher (up to 50 percent of women with infertility, and up to 70 percent of women and adolescents with pelvic pain).

The condition is most commonly found in women and girls of reproductive age, but has been found even in girls who have not yet started menstruating, and in postmenopausal women.

Although endometriosis is very common, its cause is still not known for certain. One theory is that retrograde (backward) menstrual flow, from the uterus through the fallopian tubes and into the pelvic cavity, leads to the implantation of endometrial cells.

There are other theories as well. There also appears to be a genetic

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component to the condition; a woman’s chance of endometriosis is increased if her mother or sister have it. Some other factors that increase risk of endometriosis include young age at first menstruation (before age 11), late menopause, heavy menstrual bleeding, and never having given birth. Risk is decreased among women who are older at first menstruation (over age 14), who have had multiple births, and who have breastfed for extended time periods.

How is endometriosis diagnosed?

If endometriosis is suspected, a pelvic exam will be performed.

In some cases, a provider may be able to detect endometrial implants on exam, but often, pain on examination may be the only indicator. Imaging, such as pelvic ultrasound, may be done to rule out other causes for pain, but endometriosis is not usually detectable through imaging. Surgical exploration is the only way to be sure if it is present, but treatments for pain are often tried first without surgery if endometriosis is suspected.

How is it treated?

Non-surgical treatments for endometriosis can include: • Pain medications: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen or naproxen, over-the-counter or in prescription doses, can help with pelvic pain and painful or heavy menstrual periods.

• Hormonal birth control: Options include the pill, the patch, the vaginal ring, contraceptive injections or implant,

Syracuse Woman Magazine

and intrauterine devices (IUDs). Some can (reversibly) stop menstruation entirely to give relief from painful and heavy periods.

• Other medications: GnRH agonists or antagonists, when taken for several months, can help relieve symptoms.

• Oral aromatase inhibitors may be used in severe cases.

A type of surgical procedure called laparoscopy can be used to find and remove endometriosis if it is severe or if medications do not help. Surgical treatment may also be recommended if endometriosis is suspected as a cause of infertility. Unfortunately, it is possible that endometriosis will return after laparoscopic treatment.

Hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) with or without oophorectomy (removal of the ovaries) can also be an option for women who do not plan to become pregnant in the future.

There is hope!

If these symptoms sound familiar to you, don’t wait. See your gynecologic provider promptly. Severe menstrual pain, painful intercourse, and pelvic pain are not normal, and are not just something that you have to live with. Not becoming pregnant after 6 months (if you are 35 or older) to a year (if you are under 35) is not usual and warrants further investigation. Early detection and treatment are important to help avoid progression of the disease and more severe symptoms. Endometriosis can be successfully treated.

There is hope! SWM

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INSPIRE

MATILDA JOSLYN GAGE GIRL AMBAS

By Alyssa Dearborn

V

anessa Johnson, director of the Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation’s Girl Ambassadors program, is as much an advocate for the power of dialogue as she is an advocate for teaching Gage’s legacy. As the leader of the Girl Ambassador program, where she teaches a rigorous program to selected young woman from various Central New York high schools, Johnson sees the value in connecting the lessons that Gage teaches with the present issues challenging America’s young people.

“The most important thing for the Girl Ambassador program is that they look to Matilda Joslyn Gage as a mentor whose voice is as powerful in the present as it was in the past,” Johnson said.

“All of the social justice issue that Gage confronts are relevant today, probably tomorrow, and unfortunately probably forever in this country.”

In the first years the Girl Ambassadors was founded due to a partnership between the U.S. State Department, the American Museum Association, and the International Sites of Conscience.

From this collaboration, the girls chosen to be the first ambassadors in 2012 created dialogs with other girls from Chile and Sri Lanka.

Although the funding granted to this program expired after its first year, the Gage Foundation saw how important the Girl Ambassadors program could be and continued to sustain it.

“For us to challenge this new generation to think for themselves is one of the most important things that we can teach them,”

Johnson said. “And one of the things that I said to the girls is that wherever you stand politically, we are a nation that is so polarized right now that the skill that you are learning as young women in this organization is a crucial skill to have.”

The skill of dialogue is central to everything Johnson tries to inspire. According to her, teaching young adults the skill of dialogue does much more than teach them how to be great communicators or conversationalists.

“It is a powerful skill for these girls to have, to know how to facilitate dialogue,” she said. “Because in dialogue, it’s not about who is right and who it’s wrong. It’s not about what you believe and what you don’t believe. It’s about, ‘Can we sit down and talk about this?

Can we each share our opinions and learn from each other without killing each other?’ It’s about inviting people to the table.”

By teaching the young women to invite a variety of perspectives to their tables, Johnson exemplifies to the girls what it means to be an ambassador.

“We have high expectations for the work that the young women are doing during their time as Girl Ambassadors. Ambassadorship is about reaching outward from the organization,” she said.

“They learn from each other, we train each other, and we do dialogues together. But the importance of the program’s outreach is that we do have a list of volunteer opportunities that they must participate in. They must do two dialogues, for example, in the

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SSADORS community. What those dialogues are, they decide. So I walk this line between mentorship and being their leader of their program.”

In 2018, Johnson and the Girl Ambassadors were invited by the Women’s Bar Association of New York State to participate in an evening of intergenerational dialog that was a part of the United Nation’s Women’s Commission on the Status of Women.

“We spoke on how we reach diverse communities of girls who may not have the opportunity for something like the Girl Ambassadors program,” Johnson said. “We specifically spoke to girls in the rural and inner city because often the issues they are challenged with are the same. And often their statistics are the same. It surprises people. We want to see them as two different worlds, but often they are the same types of deserts of opportunity for girls.”

This year, Johnson plans to take the girls’ dialogue skills to Washington, D.C., to host a panel on the conflict between Israel and Palestine.

“They were given the task of first making sure that they were

educated about the issues and understood the historical context of the conflict,” Johnson said. “We made sure that they heard both sides, were prepared with how to conduct a dialogue that wasn’t going to turn into a screaming match, and what questions were going to be discussed.”

In the more local front, in addition to leading dialogues within the community, she teaches the Girl Ambassadors to be a force in local activism.

“I was asked to speak at the Syracuse Women’s March,” she said.

“And I took one of those minutes and spoke about Gage and the Girl Ambassadors. Then I handed the mic over to two of the young women in the organization because we have to hand over the mic.”

The greatest achievement any organization can achieve is the creation of new, enlightened leaders for the future. And Johnson knows that there is only one was to accomplish this.

“We who are older have to be willing to let go of the reigns and hand them over to the younger generation,” she said. “The only way that you create leaders is to give them leadership opportunities.” SWM

Photos by Ana Gil-Taylor

“It is a powerful skill for these girls to have, to know how to facilitate dialogue... It’s about inviting people to the table.” – Vanessa Johnson

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WISE WOMAN DIANA JARAMILLO

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INSPIRE

DR. KIRA SMITH DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS

Powerhouse of Midwife Nursing

By Larry Stansbury

K

ira Smith is not your ordinary nurse, she’s a nurse that empowers women to be women, especially when giving birth to the first child.

Smith was introduced to midwifery. She always wanted to be a midwife and initially thought she was going to be an obstetrician-gynecologist (OBGYN) because she had a passion for women’s health, specializing in delivering babies. After completing her internship, she realized that her passion aligned with both midwife and OBGYN, where this led to her being a Certified Nurse Midwife. This route allowed her to do sexual and reproductive health along with all aspects of women’s health.

“I always knew I wanted to work with Doctors Without Borders and didn’t think I’d be with the practice for more than a few years,” Smith said in regards to working at the Yale School of Medicine in the OBGYN Department as a Gynecological Teaching Associate. “The midwifery service became my baby and I invested almost 10 years serving the women of Connecticut.”

Being able to be with women through their best and worst moments, supporting them and witnessing their experiences, Smith empowers women to live through their experience for the better. She guides women to find their strength, voice and themselves. This is the major factor of her role – encouraging a mother to give birth to her first child – and also teaching teenagers to have a positive and educational experience through their first pelvic exam. As a nurse, she supports women who’re going through disclosing sexual assault and walking with them on their path of survival and healing.

“I believe one of the ways to empower others is by speaking the truth and being authentic,” Smith said. “We often see someone do or achieve something that we admire but think that we could never accomplish the same because of whatever imaginable shortcomings we have. I believe it’s my responsibility to not only tell others they can do anything but also to share my challenges, struggles and obstacles to show that they too can overcome things in the way. In fact,

you can take those things and make them your strengths.”

After working with MSF (Doctors Without Borders), refugee camps, MSF sites in Ethiopia highlands, Somali sections of Ethiopia, South Sudan and had assignments serving the Rohingya people in refugee camps both in Bangladesh and Myanmar, she had many challenges as a nurse.

“I also had the experience of not being taken as a legitimate knowledgeable healthcare provider because I'm not a ‘doctor’,” she said.

This is a big challenge for many women, having to work twice as hard to earn respect in the workplace in order to be equal.

But Smith doesn’t let this stop her from doing what she loves.

“I’m motivated by just knowing that something I can do will empower another person and those ripples keep going,” she said. “And I’m motivated by the people I’ve met in the world and the relationships that grow.”

She’s also inspired by the people she’s around with every day.

“I’m inspired by the person who leaves an abusive partner, the person with mental illness who shares their story, the person who is suicidal and chooses to live another day, the person who claims their sexuality or gender, the person who speaks up for someone else even though it puts them at risk, the person who chooses the peaceful nonviolent route, the person who loves and cares for others. I’m inspired by people who speak their truth,” Smith said. “I look for inspiration in everyone.“ This can be challenging when you inspire both people and yourself on this journey because people can bring negativity to you.

“I do think that a hardship that all women face is ‘shaming’.

We are shamed for our bodies, slut-shame, shamed for putting ourselves ‘in certain situations’, fat shame, shamed for working too hard or not hard enough, being a stay at home mom, not having children, shamed for getting an education, etc, etc.,” she said.”We need to embrace one another and raise each other up.”

Now as an educator, she helps students reach their goals and

“I’m motivated by just knowing that something I can do will empower another person and those ripples keep going. And I’m motivated by the people I’ve met in the world and the relationships that grow.” – Kira Smith

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Photo by Tara Polcara

potential in school.

“During this time, I continued educating by precepting students,” she said. “I once had a student who got down on herself because she didn’t know something that she felt she ought to know, she questioned if she was going to be able to make it... I told her that’s why she was a student, to learn those things and it was my job to teach them to her. But what I couldn’t teach her was how to care for our beneficiaries, I couldn't teach her to be compassionate or empathetic and that’s what is required.

Since she had those in abundance the rest would come into place... And did it ever, she’s an amazing nurse-midwife.”

She ends her job with a Maya Angelou quote: “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” SWM

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FOR A GOOD CAUSE

Girls on the Run

DANIELLE FLECKENSTEIN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR What is the mission of Girls on the Run?

Girls on the Run inspires girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running. Girls on the Run is a physical activity-based positive youth development (PYD) program that is designed to enhance girls’ social, psychological and physical skills and behaviors to successfully navigate life experiences. The program’s intentional curriculum places an emphasis on developing competence, confidence, connection, character, caring, and contribution in young girls through lessons that incorporate running and other physical activities.

Can you give me some background on the organization?

Girls on the Run uses running and other physical activities as a platform for teaching life skills and promoting holistic health outcomes for girls in grades 3 through 8. The curriculum includes lessons relevant for 8- to 13-year-old girls. Before the season, volunteer coaches participate in a National Coach Training Program, which prepares them to build relationships with girls, create a positive, inclusive environment, support individual improvement, and deliver the intentional curriculum. The 10-week curriculum includes lessons that specifically target helping girls improve in Competence, Confidence, Caring, Character, Connection, and Contribution.

Girls learn critical life skills such as how to manage emotions, help others, make intentional decisions, and resolve conflict that they use at home, at school, and with friends. The season concludes with a celebratory 5K event. Completing a 5K gives the girls a tangible sense of achievement as well as a framework for setting and achieving life goals.

Girls on the Run Upstate NY is an Independent Council of Girls on the Run International, which has a network of more than 200 locations across the United States and has served over one million girls throughout its 20-year history.

Why running? Of all the ways to reach out to and/or empower young women, why running?

Running is just one component of the program!

Who is eligible to participate?

Any girls in 3rd through 8th grade located in one of the 10 counties we serve — Cayuga, Cortland, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Onondaga, Oswego, Seneca, St. Lawrence, and Tompkins.

How many girls are currently involved in the Syracuse-area programs?

Our Syracuse area teams make up over 500 girls.

What kinds of programs do you offer?

We offer a 10-week program in the fall and spring that meets twice a week. The season concludes with a celebratory 5k event.

What kind of impact do you have on the greater community?

The program inspires girls to build lives of purpose and to make a meaningful contribution to community and society. This comes to life through a key element of the Girls on the Run curricula when each team creates and executes a community service project.

How can girls sign up?

What if an adult wants to volunteer?

Girls can sign up via our website, www.gotrupstateny.org and look to see if their school or community center has a site! Anyone wishing to volunteer can also sign up on our website! We are always looking for volunteers to help out in a variety of ways. Whether helping put together team bags for the season, being involved as coach or helping out at our 5k! We couldn’t do what we do without the help of volunteers!

Is there anything I didn’t ask that you think people should know?

This program has more impact on our young girls than you can imagine. Seeing their face as they finish the 5k is an experience everyone should have. There is such pride and confidence it can bring you to tears. SWM

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UPCOMING EVENTS Wednesday, March 4

Annual Campaign Kickoff 2020 YMCA of Central New York

When: 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Where: Holiday Inn,

441 Electronics Parkway, Liverpool What: The kick-off will include information on the Y’s Annual Campaign,

Y stories and resources to support the Campaign.Come in your casual

attire (or better yet - your Annual Campaign t-shirt!) for a night of food

and drinks and fun.

Cost: Free Info: eventbrite.com/e/annual-campaign-kickoff-2020-ymca-of-central-new york-tickets-90798429547?aff=ebdssbdestsearch Friday, March 5

MasterChef Junior Live!

When: 7 p.m.

Where: The OnCenter,

800 S. State St., Syracuse What: The family friendly show will feature head to head cooking

demonstrations and fun sometimes messy challenges with past

MasterChef Junior contestants and an overall immersive audience

experience fun for all ages.

Cost: $24 to $127.50 Info: (315) 435-8000 or facebook.com/events/1470017786469982/? active_tab=about Thursday, March 5

A Cause to Celebrate Gift Gathering Reception

When: 7 to 9 p.m.

Where: Mohegan Manor,

58 Oswego St., Baldwinsville What: Come join us as we kick off our fundraising efforts to benefit

The Cpl. Kyle R. Schneider Foundation. All participants are asked to

bring one item of $25 or more. These items will be used for our

Silent Auction at our Gala on May 1 .

Cost: The $25 item you bring is your only cost. Appetizers will be served.

Info: Cheryl Heller at (315) 416-1000, or email causetocelebrate@yahoo.com Friday, March 6

Wild Beginnings: How do Animals See?

Friday, March 6

Make the Magic 2020 Fundraising Gala

When: 6 to 11 p.m.

Where: Marriott Syracuse Downtown,

100 E. Onondaga St., Syracuse What: Make The Magic helps ensure we can send all the kids we serve to a week

at Camp Kesem, which provides support for kids whose parents are

fighting cancer. Dinner and two drink vouchers included with

ticket purchase.

Cost: Adults $85; children 11 and younger $50; tables of 10 $775.

Info: syracuse@campkesem.org or donate.kesem.org/ Friday, March 6, and Saturday, March 7

Edventure Academy: Freshwater

When: 10:30 a.m. to noon Friday (ages 3 to 5 with parent);

10:30 a.m. to noon Saturday (ages 3 to 5 with parent);

and 1:30 to 3 p.m. (ages 6 to 10 parent optional) Where: Rosamond Gifford Zoo,

1 Conservation Place, Syracuse What: Freshwater ecosystems account for less that 0.01 percent of the planet’s

total surface area but yet more than 100,000 species live there.

They are on of the most endangered habitats in the world due to

human interference. Find out what lives there, why they are threatened,

and what you can do to help..

Cost: Members: $18 per child/adult pair; non-members:

$23 per child/adult pair; $12 per additional child in same session Info: Call (315) 435-8511 ext. 8531 or email education@rosamondgiffordzoo.org Saturday, March 7

St. Paddy’s Bar Crawl

When: 3 to 9 p.m.

Where: Syracuse Suds,

320 S. Clinton St., Syracuse What: One of the most festive crawls in the country invades Armory Square.

Cost: $17 to $25 Info: eventbrite.com/e/syracuse-st-paddys-bar-crawl-tickets-90984957457? aff=ebdssbdestsearch Sunday, March 8

Spring Ahead Model Train Show

When: 10 to 10:45 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. to noon Where: Rosamond Gifford Zoo,

1 Conservation Place, Syracuse What: Specially tailored just for little ones, aged 12 months to 3 years.

Cost: Members: $8 per child/adult pair; non-members:

$10 per child/adult pair; $5 per additional child in same session Info: Call (315) 435-8511 ext. 8531 or

email education@rosamondgiffordzoo.org

When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: Camillus Fire Department,

5801 Newport Road, Camillus What: The Central NY Chapter, National Railway Historical Society Inc. is

sponsoring the first annual Spring Ahead Model Train Show.

Featured more than 40 tables of new and vintage toy model trains in

various scales for sale and display. Food will be available.

Cost: Adults $5.00, children 15/under free Info: (315) 451-6551 or cnynrhs.org/.

Friday, March 6

Sunday, March 8

When: 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Where: 101 Lake Drive, Liverpool What: Participant will learn about the principles of trauma informed care

and how they apply in all relationships.

Cost: $40 Info: eventbrite.com/e/trauma-informed-care-workshop-tickets 89869904303?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

When: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Where: Double Tree Syracuse,

6301 Route 298, East Syracuse What: Battle of the Brunch is a fundraising event for the CNY Diaper Bank.

The event will feature some of the best brunch restaurants in Syracuse

serving tastings of their most popular brunch item in a festive atmosphere.

Ages 21 and up.

Cost: $35 to $50 Info: eventbrite.com/e/battle-of-the-brunch-benefit-for-cny-diaper-bank-tickets 86492560577?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Trauma Informed Care Workshop

Battle of the Brunch

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Thursday, March 26

When: 8:30 to 10 a.m.

Where: The Tech Garden,

235 Harrison St., Syracuse What: The training program meets and exceeds all mandated content and training

requirements in New York state’s new sexual harassment law. Allocate 1 hour

for the first portion and ½ hour for the second portion of this training.

Documentation provided that training has been completed.

Cost: Free Info: lmetot@centerstateceo.com

When: 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Where: Drumlins Country Club,

800 Nottingham Road, Syracuse What: Enjoy an evening of pasta while supporting the Arc of Onondaga Foundation.

Cost: $25 Info: eventbrite.com/e/pasta-for-a-purpose-tickets-82978674449? aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Creating a Positive Workplace

Pasta for a Purpose

Thursday, March 27

Friday, March 13

CNY Business Journal Book of Lists Happy Hour

When: 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Where: Rosamond Gifford Zoo,

1 Conservation Place, Syracuse What: Come explore the wonders of poop in this stinker of a class. For 6- to

12-year-olds. Caregivers must stay.

Cost: Members: $20 per child/adult pair; non-members:

$25 per child/adult pair Info: Call (315) 435-8511 ext. 8559 or email kcoons@rosamondgiffordzoo.org

Saturdays and Sundays, March 29, April 4, 5, and 11

Family Twilight: The Scoop on Poop

Saturday, March 14

Syracuse St. Patrick's Day Parade

When: Noon Where: Salina Street, Syracuse What: Annual downtown Syracuse St. Patrick's Day parade Cost: Free Info: info@syracusestpatricksparade.org or syracusestpatricksparade.org/ Sunday, March 15

The First Empowering Young Women Luncheon

When: 12:30 p.m.

Where: Drumlins Country Club,

800 Nottingham Road, Syracuse What: Join us for the First Empowering Young Women Luncheon! Meet our

mentees. Learn about our programs. Keynote speaker: Assemblywoman

Pamela Hunter. Hosted by CNY Central Anchor Melanie Johnson.

Cost: $50 Info: eventbrite.com/e/the-first-empowering-young-women-luncheon-tickets 91951642839?aff=ebdssbdestsearch Saturday, March 21

Syracuse Health and Wellness Fair

When: Embassy Suites by Hilton Syracuse,

6646 Old Collamer Road S., East Syracuse Where: Come out and learn some new ways to improve your health and wellness.

Door prizes, local vendors, and speakers on a surprising variety of topics.

Cost: $2 Info: eventbrite.com/e/syracuse-health-wellness-fair-tickets-90446484871? aff=ebdssbdestsearch Tuesday, March 25

CNY Business Journal Nonprofit Awards

When: 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Where: Holiday Inn,

441 Electronics Parkway, Liverpool What: Presented by M&T Bank.

Cost: Free Info: cnybj.com/2020-nonprofit-awards/

Syracuse Woman Magazine

When: 4 to 6 p.m.

Where: The Scholar Hotel,

1060 E. Genesee St., Syracuse What: The most comprehensive resource publication on Central New York

Businesses, covering16 regions, providing the names of decision makers'

contact info with annually-updated 50-plus Top Ranks lists.

Cost: $25 Info: cnybj.com/2020-book-of-lists-happy-hour/

Breakfast with the Bunny

When: 9 and 11 a.m.

Where: Rosamond Gifford Zoo,

1 Conservation Place, Syracuse What: Come visit the Easter Bunny at the zoo and enjoy a fun-filled morning of

delicious food and activities. Bring your camera for a photo with our

special guest! Ticket includes post-breakfast zoo admission.

Cost: $15.95 members; $19.95 non-members; children under 2 free

(ticket needed) Info: syracusezooevents.org/event/breakfast-with-the-bunny/ Tuesday, March 31

Friends of the Central Library Presents Tayari Jones's "An American Marriage"

When: 7:30 to 9 p.m.

Where: 421 Montgomery St., Syracuse What: 2018 Oprah’s Book Club Selection, an instant New York Times bestseller,

and a National Book Award finalist.

Cost: Free Info: (315) 435-1832, focl@onlib.org or https://www.foclsyracuse.org/ events-calendar/ Thursday, April 2 (Baldwinsville) & April 9 (Syracuse)

Expansion to Joy, An Exclusive Event for Powerful Women

When: 10 a.m. to Noon or 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Where: Baldwinsville: Heart, Home & Community,

12 Oswego St., Baldwinsville Syracuse: Genesee Grande,

1060 Genesee St., Syracuse What: Gain deeper understanding of yourself, your emotions and your energy

body. This interactive and experiential event with Michelle J. Howe

introduces new concepts and tools to live your most authentic life feeling

powerful, strong and loved.

Cost: $30 or, bring a friend and get 2 tickets for $50 - "Early Bird Pricing” on or before 3/22: $40 or, bring a friend and get 2 tickets for $70 “Regular Pricing” - after 3/22 Info: www.empathevolution.com

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MOVERS AND SHAKERS

Rodriguez joins St. Joseph’s Health as Director of Payer Strategies

St. Joseph’s Health welcomes Sheri Rodriguez as its new director of payer strategies. In this role, Rodriguez is responsible for payer relations and Managed Care contracts and developing strategies focused on ManagedCare payers. She reports to chief financial officer Meredith Price.

Prior to joining St. Joseph’s Health, Rodriguez served as director of behavioral health contracts and operations at metropolitan family services in Chicago. While there, she oversaw clinical teams that support Managed Care, provider network contracts, and population health initiatives. Rodriguez also developed actionable business strategies to increase revenue.

Rodriguez also worked as a project manager at Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago, working closely with senior leaderships to manage several clinically integrated network (CIN) and accountable care organization (ACO) projects.

Rodriguez earned a master’s degree in sociological marketing from the University of Chicago in Chicago and a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Columbia College in Chicago, Illinois. She also holds a project management strategy certificate from the University of Chicago. Rodriguez started on Oct. 21, 2019.

Gaffney joins St. Joseph’s Health

St. Joseph’s Health welcomes Dr. Lisa Gaffney to St. Joseph’s Primary Care Center West in Syracuse, New York. In her role, Dr. Gaffney joins a team of diverse and highly qualified family physicians to provide comprehensive health care to the community. Gaffney is a board-certified pediatrician with over a decade’s experience.

Most recently, Gaffney served as a staff pediatrician at Wee Care Pediatrics in Cicero, New York and as director of pediatrics at the volunteer clinic at Amaus Health Services at Cathedral's in Syracuse. Prior to that, Gaffney spent five years at St. Joseph’s Health’s Maternal Child Health Center. Before returning to New York state, Gaffney practiced at Cornerstone Pediatrics in Cary, North Carolina.

Gaffney earned her Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry from Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York and her Doctor of Medicine from the State University of New York in Syracuse.

She completed her medical training with a residency at SUNY Health Science Center in Syracuse, New York.

Gaffney is welcoming new patients at St. Joseph’s Health Primary Care Center West located at 321 Gifford Street. To schedule an appointment, please call (315) 703-2600.

March 2020

Womens' Empowerment Edition

WE MEAN BUSINESS! SUPPORT WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES!

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