360 Magazine Spring 2019: Change Makers and Trendsetters by SU 360 Magazine

Cleaning your

PALATE p. 13

against the current p. 16

breaking

bread with the

Northside p. 27

RIN

360 019

As a college student, it’s easy to get caught in the bubble of campus. During my freshman year, I felt as if my entire world was confined to the boundaries of Irving and Comstock Avenue. My sophomore and junior years, however, brought about different opportunities to get off the hill, and I was exposed to a brand new Syracuse that I had never seen before. It is a city bustling with life beyond that of a college student; with diverse neighborhoods, locally-owned restaurants and tastemakers all around, I realized there was much more the city had to offer than what I had experienced during my first year. In memoriam of Dean Lorraine Branham Photo courtesy of Syracuse Univeristy

Letter From

The Editor

We’re not only surrounded by a city of trendsetters, but we’re also surrounded by a city of fighters. While covering an immigration beat during my reporting class one semester, I interacted with countless organizations and individuals who make sacrifices in their own lives and work countless hours working towards the ultimate betterment of our city. I was frustrated, though; how had I spent so much time in Syracuse oblivious to these people and organizations making such a big impact on the city around me? And with that sentiment, the vision for this semester’s issue was born. When some look at Syracuse, they may think of the university, the basketball team, or the ungodly amount of snow we get each year, but Syracuse has so much more to offer. Yes, it encompasses all of these things, but above that, Syracuse is a city full of trendsetters and change-makers. There’s evidence of this wherever you look. From an after school program that creates a safe space for refugee and immigrant children (p. 5) to a Muslim fashion designer paving the way for modest fashion (p.11), Syracuse is home to more than just the Carrier Dome.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in 360 Degrees are not necessarily those of the entire staff. 360 Degrees welcomes contributions from all members of the Syracuse University and SUNY-ESF community but retains the right to publish only material 360 Degrees deems acceptable to the publication’s editorial purpose. Mission Statement: Since its debut at Syracuse University in 1998, 360 Degrees has always strived to achieve a balance between tradition and change. Founded by Lanre Mayen Gaba as a new lens to view culture, 360 Degrees has a different focus, format, and feel than its predecessors. Through the years, the magazine has become a general interest publication with a cultural twist, dedicated to informing students about issues on campus, in the community, and in the whole world at large.

I’d also like to recognize Dean Lorraine Branham, who herself was a trendsetter and change-maker in journalism, at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and in the lives of those around her. Dean Branham inspired and encouraged students and faculty alike and drove Newhouse to new heights, creating new and better opportunities for students. During her time at Newhouse, she not only had an impact on the campus of Syracuse University, but she also greatly and positively affected the city as a whole. This issue is a reminder that there is more out there than just the four walls of your classroom or the weekly menu in the dining hall. Granted, there is still plenty of room for growth and change in the world, but that does not go unnoticed. Sure, it’s a world that needs change, but it is a world full of change-makers leading the way.

team 360

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF LAUREN STECKLY

executive EDITOR SAJIDA AYYUP

DESIGN DIRECTOR SAM LUO

FEATURES EDITOR SKYLER MURRY

360 EDITOR HANNA MARTIN

FRONT OF BOOK

Public relations TANNER MARTEL

PHOTO EDITOR SAM LEE

MARIA RAMOS-FRANCIA

WEB EDITOR ASHLEY JOHNSON

table of contents

CLEANING YOUR PALATE

ADDING FLAVOR TO THE SALT CITY

BRIDGING THE GAP

AGAINST THE CURRENT

PAINTING THE CITY BY NUMBERS

ROUGH AND TUMBLE

RAGE AGAINST THE ANTHROPOCENE

RECLAIMING THE XICANX IDENTITY

COVERED AND COUTURE

GETTING DOWN WITH DIVERSITY

BREAKING BREAD WITH THE NORTH SIDE

SPRING 2019

RISING TO THE OCCASION

RISING to the OCCASION Written by maria Ramos-francia, photos by Sarah lee, design by ELAINE Duckworth How one woman is paving the way for future change makers

or Erica Kokoszka, it’s a typical Thursday afternoon. She rushes from one side of the room to the other making sure everything is in place for the children who will soon be arriving for the After School Program hosted by Refugee and Immigrant Self Empowerment (RISE). As the education director at RISE, Kokoszka has developed a close relationship with many of the children, and as soon as the students arrive to the center, they immediately flock to her. She is flooded with questions about everything from the day’s activities to her hairstyle choice. It’s these moments -- the opportunity to watch them grow up and the chance to watch them develop their thoughts about their lives, themselves and their worlds, are the most rewarding parts of her job, Kokoszka says. And of course, she adds, she loves the pictures they draw for her. RISE was founded in 2004, as a community-based organization for the Somali-Bantu community in hopes of helping families coming to the area. In 2015, the organization opened its doors to be inclusive of all immigrants. Currently, close to 75 percent of the staff is made up of refugees and immigrants. The After School Program was created to offer support to those children, who may not be receiving it elsewhere. Little did Kokoszka know, her education would lead her to RISE. Growing up in central New Jersey, Kokoszka didn’t really know what she wanted to be, but teaching was always enticing. An interest in what people ate and how that impacted their lives and well-being drove her to commit to Syracuse University, where she graduated in 2017 with a degree in food studies and nutrition. During her time as a student at SU, she found RISE and decided to get involved. Kokoszka first began volunteering at RISE in 2017 and has since risen through the ranks to become the full-

time director of the youth education program. Her experience at RISE has shaped some of her life decisions, she says. It’s because of RISE that she has remained in Syracuse post-graduation. On a daily basis, Kokoszka works with her colleagues to develop the structure, mission and goals of the program to meet the changing needs of the students as they grow up and continue to integrate into American culture. The program responds to very immediate needs with long term effects, says Kokoszka, adding that for her, it’s about making sure they know anything is possible. “You know it’s not just two hours, but how much can we give them with just those two hours of time,” Kokoszka explains. And Kokoszka takes whatever time she has with the children seriously, as she knows how valuable it can be. She hopes to equip children, especially those that may have experienced more adverse childhoods, with tools and skills that allow them to better manage stress. She also hopes to aid students in developing their emotional intelligence, along with their social and emotional health.

SPRING 2019

What’s important now is the power of positivity and not just taking away from something, but contributing to it, says Kokoszka. Through her work, she is making an impact and changing the world one child at a time.

Bridging the Gap Journalists and artists from Syracuse and South Africa bring two seemingly different worlds together through multimedia

hen Ana McGough first arrived in Makhanda, South Africa in December 2017, she noticed that most of the shops in the town looked similar to the ones in Syracuse. The Newhouse Center for Global Engagement at Syracuse University organized a reporting trip to South Africa for not only SU students and professors, but also for students pursuing media communications from the Institute of Technology at Syracuse Central, or ITC. The idea of this project was to highlight social issues that exist in both towns, comparing and contrasting the conditions of the two places. By documenting people through their work and lives, this team of reporters aimed to bridge the gap between two communities through media and journalism. McGough visited South Africa with her peers and mentor as a part of the Inkululeko student program. She was

paired with a student from the Inkululeko non-profit organization, which focuses on providing college career assistance. “It was such a great experience -- getting to know all the Inkululeko students and interacting with the community there,” McGough says. “It was so eye-opening to see how it's so similar to Syracuse.” Along with being a social activist in Syracuse, McGough supports equal rights more than anything else. “Being someone from Guatemala, I think it’s really important for everybody to just be treated the same,” she says. “Everybody should be equal -- no matter the race, sexuality or whatever. No matter what issues have been going on, no one should be treated differently for that.”

Ken Harper, director of the center, introduced the South Africa project idea to the audience at the beginning of the event. “If this were easy, none of us would need to be here,” he says. “Fear confronts all of us but doesn't have to control us.” Each of the panel members brought their art to the table in visual forms, using photographs and short documentaries. Numerous photographs captured by the team that visited South Africa were also displayed outside the Joyce Hergenhan Auditorium in Newhouse. Paul Botes, Niren Tolsi, Gabrielle Goliath, Khadija Patel and Simon Gush were some of the panel members who work in South Africa as journalists. Apart from the visiting panel, locals like Jaleel Campbell, Ellen Blalock and Joe Lee added some Syracuse perspectives to the

discussion. The following day, ITC hosted an informal panel for students to interact with. Botes and Tolsi contributed to the conversation, along with Aggie Lane, Lanessa Chaplin, Jennifer Sanders and Ashley Kang. Some of the rising questions were about segregation in Syracuse’s history, which is similar to that of South Africa’s, the construction of I-81 and its impact on the community and career opportunities for the youth of Syracuse. Zuko Gqadavama, resource development coordinator at Inkululeko, also spoke about how social media has both pros and cons of being a tool to mobilize social issues. The same day, Gqadavama hosted an evening meet and greet session called “Syracuse Meet South Africa” at SU’s Nancy Cantor Warehouse. He introduced the attendees to Inkululeko and brought a few handmade pieces of jewelry for sale. McGough, who visited Makhanda with the Inkululeko student program, visited the Warehouse to meet Gqadavama. McGough’s mother, Kathie Maniaci, describes McGough’s South Africa visit as a life-changing experience. “I think she’s a little more sensitive to things that are going on politically,” Maniaci says. “We need the kids. We need all you kids to get things back to where they should be.”

Written by Sajida Ayyup, Photos by Sajida Ayyup, dESIGN BY jO ALLEN

SPRING 2019

A year after her trip, the center hosted “No Innocence This Side of the Womb” on Feb. 28, 2019, to commemorate the trip, featuring journalists from both countries. The event helped drive the already existing conversation in Syracuse regarding red-lining and labor laws that have shaped how the city functions today. Handpicking certain stories from Makhanda, which was previously named Grahamstown, the group of journalists shared their work depicting various causes in the town of South Africa, explaining the creative process of each.

round the back of ShoppingTown Mall in Syracuse, women carrying roller skates and pads walk through a back door and up a staircase. At the end of a narrow hallway, a door opens into a large room with couches, equipment racks and a roller derby track. Skaters on Syracuse’s Assault City Roller Derby team come to this room, known as “the vault,” three times a week for practice. In the vault, the sound of heavy breathing and gliding skates echoes off the brick walls and bounces around the open room, where inspirational quotes litter the walls. During practice, players perfect movements and review video footage from previous games, called bouts, to pinpoint areas of improvement. A bout consists of two teams of five people skating around the track for two 30-minute periods. Each period is broken into units of play called jams, each lasting roughly two minutes. This year, Assault City Roller Derby has enough skaters to field an A-team and a B-team, named Assault and Battery, respectively. “We used to have it for years, but for a while we didn’t have enough people to do it, so we’re finally bringing it back and we’re really excited,” Marie “Prymal Instynct” Martini says. The team turnover reflects the reality of family life. Many athletes coming in and out of the team lead typical lives, some having jobs and kids. The core group of skaters at Assault City has been with the team for four to six years. Beginners, people who have only been with the team for a few months, learn the necessary rules and techniques during a practice on Saturday mornings referred to as “Salt Mine.” Many players come in with little or no athletic background, but quickly learn how to own their space. The women take turns leading practices and always choose a few specific skills to focus on. For example, skaters should have proper skating posture with knees bent and flexible, and a low and forward center of gravity. Skaters also work on fluidly shifting their weight from foot to foot for strides and quickly coming to a stop while maintaining balance and proper form. “Over a year, two years, you see them hit those benchmarks that they thought were impossible and that I thought were impossible,” Crys “Tough Buck” Eldridge says. The team offers not only an opportunity for growth athletically, but also personally. 9

Assault City Roller Derby is a not-forprofit organization, meaning everyone dedicates themselves to furthering a cause. Skaters participate in as many community events as possible, often partnering with women and LGBTQ folks in Syracuse. The team works to align themselves with other not-for-profit organizations to make a real impact. In March, the team helped with a project called “Happy Period.” Everyone worked with a local group to collect feminine hygiene products for homeless women in need. “When you play roller derby, you have a community built around you that’s accepting, that’s so freeing, and I think that that liberation through strength and empowerment was not something I ever expected to get out of the sport,” Charlotte “Hitten Kitten” Visser says. For many of these women, roller derby was something that they discovered randomly. Some learned about it through friends or online posts, whereas others knew that roller derby teams existed and actively took steps toward finding one. Monica “Luna Sea” Hastedt heard about the team’s recruitment event through Facebook, showed up and hasn’t looked back since. “These ladies came out in their pads and their skates and their uniforms and they looked so cool,” Hastedt says. “I thought ‘I want to be a part of this girl gang. They’re all so confident and it’s amazing.’” Visser, on the other hand, approached a girl at a party who had recently joined the roller derby team and asked her about it. They ended up going to roller derby boot camp later that week and became good friends by driving to practice in a P.T. Cruiser while listening to Kanye West. “Here’s this girl, who I don’t know if I would have had this friendship with otherwise, who just created such a rich experience of acceptance and self-expression and channeled it into this really aggressive and structured sport,” Visser says. This self-expression is natural in the sport of roller derby; old school roller derby was theatrical in nature. The environment

welcomed players to choose nicknames for themselves, and this tradition continues in roller derby today. The names can also be considered a rite of passage for women coming out of training. Every skater has a unique route to how they arrived at their current nickname. The names typically reflect both a player’s personality and style of play. Eldridge chose the name “Tough Buck” because of an inside joke she shares with her father and as a play on the phrase “tough luck.” Visser picked “Hitten Kitten” because, besides loving cats, she has always been a strong and aggressive individual. Combining the aggressive nature of the sport and the personalization of the nicknames creates a unique team dynamic. “It’s just cool to be in an environment where even though you’re getting knocked down all the time, we’re all building each other up also at the same time,” Megan “Focus Pocus” Mills says.

ROUGH and

TUMBLE Written by Katie Hageman, Photos by Aaron Kassman, DESIGN BY ELAINE DUCKWORTH

SPRING 2019

Everyday women finding their strength on the skate track

COVERED COUTURE AND

One Muslim student makes a material change in Syracuse’s fashion world

althom Al Jiboury’s gray hijab with bright pink and deep magenta flower splotches breaks up the monotony of blonde and brunette students working hurriedly on their designs at the Warehouse, a seven floor building in downtown Syracuse which houses all the School of Design’s programs. She walks purposefully with her head held high across the large work room. As the only Muslim student in the Fashion Design program, her scarved disruption is an everyday occurrence. When Al Jiboury and her family moved to the Syracuse area from Iraq, the plan was for her to major in something that could help her easily earn money. So she decided to study accounting and business on her dad’s request. For two years she sat through classes that she didn’t like, sketching, painting and designing, all until she finally had enough of boring calculations. After hearing about the College of Visual and Performing Arts’ design program, she applied with the sketches and designs she had been gradually collecting over the years. She presented her portfolio to admissions and soon found herself accepted into the program--and a freshman all over again. It was hard for her family to accept at first -- they didn’t consider fashion a major and four more years of classes meant not only more time, but money. “They asked me, ‘What are you going to do later?’,” Al Jiboury says. “It takes a long time to build your own brand--it’s going to take forever, almost! But I told them: ‘I’ll find my way.’” Al Jiboury can be considered part of “Generation M,” a term coined by author Shelina Janmohamed which describes the global Muslim millennial born in the last 30 years. In her book, Generation M: Young Muslims Changing the World, she writes: “Their faith affects everything, and they want the world to know it. This is what sets them apart from their non-Muslim peers. It’s the single factor that will shape them and a world that they are determined should cater to their needs … They are a tech-savvy, self-empowered, youthful group who believe that their identity encompasses both faith and modernity.” Al Jiboury’s faith and Middle Eastern heritage not only influence her own modest style, but they also encourage her to design her own modest garments. The impact millennial Muslim women like Al Jiboury are having on the cultural conversation of what encompasses “modest fashion,” or a mode of dress that involves

purposely covering up due to religio-ethnic fulfillment or personal aesthetic, and who can be stylish regardless of one’s faith, shape, color or size is major. In 2015, Muslims made up 24 percent of the world’s population, and that figure is expected to grow to 31 percent by 2060, the Pew Research Center predicts. A Thomson Reuters report, from the same year, estimated that Muslim women spent $44 billion on modest fashion. That number is expected to reach $368 billion by 2021. Al Jiboury hopes to contribute to this modest movement (or mainstay) by creating her own brand, one that is loved by everyone-hijabi or not. During her first year as a fashion design student, Al Jiboury couldn’t help but to feel different, even though her classmates never said anything and her professors were there to support her. The designs of her classmates showed more skin, whereas hers would include a long sleeve or high neck. They liked her designs, so they said, but being the only Muslim student and modest designer in the room, she had her doubts on whether any of them would actually wear her pieces. For her, the fashion in Syracuse is remarkably different from back home. She recalls how fancy and cool everyone dressed all the time. Even showing out for a simple girl’s night out was the norm. “I don’t know, it’s just our way of life,” Al Jiboury says. “You have to wear something nice. That’s what has helped us create our own style and have something that is very us, very Middle Eastern.”

Thinking of Iraq always brings back her favorite fashion memories. As a child, Al Jiboury would pick and rummage through her mother’s clothes--her mother yelling at her from across the room to stop messing with her things. And when it came for Al Jiboury to learn to sew, her mother sat right next to her, teaching her how use the finicky machine. Her grandmother sends back trendy, weather-appropriate hijabs whenever she visits back home. Relishing in the scarves, the layering and the details of past familial clothing, Al Jiboury reaffirms why she designs the way she does. Now a junior in the program, that feeling of cultural relativism is fading from her classmates’ comments. She’s even more confident in her designs and her modesty. “Difference is good!” she exclaims.” You just have to prove yourself. I am proving myself. And I am proud of myself too.” She explains that fashion is the best way to express yourself. “You can get as creative as you want, as crazy as you want,” she says. The accessories and details are her favorite parts of designing. Al Jiboury describes her aesthetic as high fashion because she likes to incorporate a sense of elegance and femininity into her pieces. Even if it’s full coverage, it can be beautiful and elegant, she says. “The skills I have now, the knowledge I have, the friends and professors who support me have helped me really explore the connection between fashion and my faith,” Al Jiboury says. “I’m glad for that. Now I’m like, ‘What if I’m covered? So what! Is it a bad thing? Not at all.’”

SPRING 2019

Written by Skyler Murry, Photos by Skyler Murry, DESIGN BY JO ALLEN

CLEANING YOUR

PALATE Syracuse voices declare clean eating a mainstay in the community Written by Victoria Muriel , Photos by: Sam Lee & Skyler Murry, DESIGN BY ELAINE DUCKWORTH

alking into the co-op, one feels as though they are walking into someone’s home in the quaint neighborhood of Syracuse’s Eastside rather than a grocery store. It feels exactly how you would expect a 45-year-old mainstay in the community to feel; it is the epitomization of “local.” The nostalgia echoes through the creaking floorboards of the aisles, stocked with organic baking supplies, locally-sourced produce, and kombucha, among other things. It is the Syracuse Cooperative Market, the only one of its kind in Syracuse, and a one-stop shop for all-things sustainable: arguably, the epicenter of clean eating in the city. The phrase “clean eating” today is ubiquitous. One might imagine it as aesthetically-pleasing juice drinks, açaí bowls, and, of course, the infamous, avocado toast: all of which are typically purveyed by equally flawless looking Instagram models. However, the desire to eat “clean” is nothing new. As a movement, it has gained more traction over the last several years, and although there are many definitions for what clean eating is, it’s based on several key principles: knowing where your food comes from, typically plant-based and utilizing whole, organic, locally-sourced and unprocessed ingredients. Ultimately, clean eating is a challenge to the mainstream way of eating; it entails being in control of how food is produced, distributed and consumed. But the ambiguity of the word “clean” means it has different interpretations for those who subscribe to it. These self-identified clean eaters have managed to carve out a space for themselves in the mainstream, even in Syracuse. Aenea Kanaan is a sophomore at Syracuse University and thinks a lot about how she interacts with food, particularly when it comes to being clean. “When I think of clean eating, I think I might be a little biased,” she says, “I am vegan and so I might tend to see that as like, the only kind of way to be clean.” According to her research, Kanaan says she believes staying away from animal products is the healthiest way to consume. Despite her personal practices, she recognizes that “clean” is not a one-size fits all sort of thing. “I think there are levels of clean,” she says. “I think the core of clean eating is to be simple … It’s raw, wholesome, simple, clean.” Although she grew up around healthy eating, she recognizes the shift that clean eating has taken. “I think it’s becoming popular now because more people want to know where their food comes from,” Kanaan says. “More people are starting to challenge the older, more traditional ways of eating and thinking.” When it comes to eating clean in the Syracuse community in general, Kanaan says it’s difficult due to the influx of fast food and the lack of care regarding food consumption, which she sees in those around her. And although there are places to go, finding them can be a challenge. “If you know what you’re looking for, there are [options],” she says, adding that it can, however, be more difficult for those who don’t know where to look.

He says he is an ardent supporter of the cooperative model. “Instead of being owned by shareholders, the wealthiest man alive or a private family, we’re owned by the community,” DeChario says. “Better than 50 percent of our revenue returns to the community … for every dollar spent here turns into about three dollars into the local economy … the money stays here.” DeChario explains the push for clean eating is inextricably linked to waves of cooperative development of which the co-op is a part. “We realized corporate interests still don’t care about any of us except for profits,” he says, attributing it to “the increasing industrialization and consolidation in the food system.” When asked about whether he identified with eating clean, he simply explains that all of his shopping is done at the cooperative. “We just eat food,” DeChario says, “[and] try to focus on buying as much local as possible, organic by and large. I’ve never really considered ‘clean eating’ as the motivation for what I do; I support the local economy and the local food system.” He explains that a strict view of clean eating is not effective. “What that does is create a barrier to entry.. It goes back to the idea of food justice, being open and welcoming,” he explains.“I think prescribing diets that not everyone has access to or even interest in is definitely elitist … You should eat the best food you can afford realistically.” Certain Syracuse farms, such as Salt City Harvest Farm, are making it easier to access healthy, whole food options. Alden Morris is the vineyard manager and business development coordinator at Salt City Harvest Farm. Although its focus is not on clean eating specifically, it still has a part to play in the conversation, particularly accessibility. “Our mission is to provide the resources and opportunity for the

community to be able to grow their own crops,” Morris says. They primarily serve refugee communities on the Northside, which are made up of a variety of different nationalities, but are predominantly Bhutanese, Sudanese and Congolese. “About 95 percent of what we [grow goes] back to the community, and then the other 5 percent we [sell],” he explains. For Salt City Harvest Farm, the importance is both fresh and culturally-relevant ingredients. “Even though they can get this produce ‘fresh’ from NYC, it’s not fresh; there’s a complete difference in tasting certain ingredients that come up from NYC … versus [what] is picked right off the farm,” Morris says. The farm partners with a Syracuse organization called Refugee and Immigrant Self Empowerment, or RISE, in a four year program. Individuals from RISE are taught American farming methods for the first two years. In the third year, they manage their own portion of an acre of land with the support of the farm manager, and in their fourth year, they are then given business classes. The goal to give them the skills to start their own businesses. “Our focus in a way isn’t clean eating; it just kind of comes naturally,” Morris says. He recognizes the importance of making the work on the farm a collaborative effort. “The farm management team is going to be all new Americans, so they’re going to be leaders in their community,” he says, explaining future plans for the farm. “They teach us and lead us in methods they instinctively know … with clean eating, they’re almost teaching us how to do that,” Morris says about the participants. “We implement American tactics, but more so, we listen to what they say, because they’re usually just as right.” Clean eating is less of an Instagrammable trend than a way of life, and at its center is community. In Syracuse, this could not be more evident. In pushing for a cleaner way of life, it necessitates contributions on all sides: from the individual, to the grocer, to the farm.

SPRING 2019

Some places, like the Syracuse Cooperative Market, offer an alternative for those seeking healthy food options. Jeremy DeChario has been the manager of the Syracuse Cooperative Market for the last nine years.

the 360

Meditating in Hendricks Chapel is one of many ways for the Syracuse community to practice, learn and appreciate religion of all kinds. 15

design by Sam Luo

Against THE CURRENT Following the flow of the impact the Erie Canal has had on Syracuse

ne of Syracuse’s most significant historical tastemakers is not a person. It’s not a trend, nor is it a store. It’s salt and a

canal. Yes, that’s right. Salt and a canal. The Erie Canal, constructed between 1817 and 1825, was a significant factor in the creation and economic development of Syracuse. Prior to the opening of the canal, Syracuse was already famous for its salt production. The canal provided the perfect means to transport salt, says Ashley Maready, the curator of collections and exhibitions at the Erie Canal Museum. “[The canal] ran right through, where Erie Boulevard is now, and was essential for the transportation of the salt produced here,” Maready says. “The salt production industry and the canal are inextricably linked for Syracuse’s history.” In fact, the Syracuse we know today can attribute its early economic boom to the transportation abilities of the Erie Canal. According to Maready, the canal allowed for an influx of immigrants to catch an easy ride to Syracuse in order to work and reside in the city. The population boomed from 250 to over 22,000 in 30 years; Syracuse’s economy was up and running. “People came to work not just in the salt industry, but with other businesses that had sprung up here, such as a few motor companies, the Marsellus Casket Company, soda ash production and Stickley furniture,” Maready says. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Syracuse’s industries had grown to include Smith Corona typewriters, Remington Arms and other nationally recognized businesses, according to Maready. These businesses helped shape the creation of the city that we all enjoy today. The canal ran through Clinton Square, making the area the heart of downtown Syracuse.

written by Hanna Martin, Photos courtesy of the Erie Canal Museum

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The services that are provided today by the tastemakers of the Salt City, such as activism through art at the ArtRage Gallery, dance lessons at Wacheva Cultural Arts, or traditional tea experiences at Roji Tea Lounge, all exist thanks to the Erie Canal. The following stories will explore several modern cultural influences in Syracuse, touching on art, dance and food.

RAGE

against the

Anthropocene

okom (Grandmother) Lena Jerome Nottaway crouches next to a large metal bucket at her sugarbush camp surrounded by two of her granddaughters in March of 1988. Facing the harsh winter wind, she proceeds with her routine of filtering the sap water through cloth, teaching her granddaughters as they will soon be continuing this tradition. Now September 1988, Nottaway camps out with 16 others, protesting the clear-cutting of Parliament Hill. She stares into the eyes of exploitation as groups of workers loaded with heavy machinery stand before her; the only green seen in the eyes of those across from Nottaway is that of economic profit. Continued shouting fades into the sound of approaching sirens. Nottaway, seventy-five years old at the time, does not back down. She understands the trees and their importance that has been lost through capitalistic corruption. She and the 16 others were arrested for trespassing that day. These are only two of the stories that Kokom Lena of the First Nation of Algonquin, an exhibition at ArtRage Gallery, displays through the lens of photographer Michael Greenlar. ArtRage Gallery, a local art gallery in Syracuse, was founded 10 years ago by a coalition of people who desired to see social change and to share important social issues with the community. ArtRage saw the work of Greenlar, his series of photographs over two decades and four generations of the Algonquin people based in Quebec, Canada, and knew this showcase of the symbiotic relationship held between these people and their environment needed to be seen. The exhibition focuses on Nottaway, the matriarch of her community, and the way she taught them to utilize and embrace nature fully. The exhibition takes the viewer through an in-depth journey of the Algonquin people and their customs and traditions. Walking through the exhibition of these photographs, one can’t help but notice the recurring theme of their relationship with the natural world. One photograph depicts a man named Jacob scraping fresh frozen moose hide. The description explains, “No part of the moose goes unused. The carcass is butchered. The hide is scraped. The meat is cooked on an open fire.”

Story by George Hashemi, Photos by Haiyi Xu

How a Syracuse art exhibit commands our attention to the world around us

It appears as though humanity has lost touch with the planet that gave us life. The desires and needs of a growing human population outweigh the importance of recognizing the loss of finite resources. There are those, however, like the Algonquin nation, who have stayed connected to their roots and the practices of their ancestors. For the Algonquin, the natural world doesn’t represent a deposit of resources to be exploited, but rather a part of their community that is respected and embraced, like any other member. The Algonquin people recognize their reliance on the earth’s resources, but the U.S. and other major contributors to pollution seem to have missed the mark. Oceans are continuously filling with pounds of plastic and trash. Air quality declines by the day with continued greenhouse emissions. Ecosystems which once flourished with biodiversity are now destroyed. Current environmental issues continue to worsen, and they will

continue to do so until it is too late, unless there is change. In light of this, ArtRage Gallery aims to educate the public on issues such as these through photo series and exhibitions, like that of Kokom Lena Jerome Nottaway. This passion for driving change is evident, even in their volunteers. “If I’m not careful I can forget where food comes from, where water comes from, where everything comes from. People need to stop being so detached from the Earth,” says volunteer John Haritatos. It is a detachment that seems to come all too easily, and this divide between people and their environment has created a space for exploitation. Yet the Algonquin people continue to listen, instead of take, from the world around them. There is much to be learned from Lena Nottaway and the Algonquin nation, as portrayed by Michael Greenlar’s exhibition at ArtRage Gallery.

Humans cannot survive without nature, Nature can survive without humans SPRING 2019

Like the moose, this group has found purpose in all parts of something. Nothing goes to waste; instead unused resources are repurposed to become useful resources for the community. In this way, less is taken from the environment in vain. The Algonquins understand the give and take exchange between themselves and the earth, which is required to maintain the well-being of both themselves and the land on which they live.

GETTING DOWN with Diversity

Story & photos by Maria Sanchez

here is a saying that love can get you through anything, and Biboti Ouikahilo, founder of Wacheva Cultural Arts in Syracuse, has manifested this into reality through his hard work. Ouikahilo began his journey performing with prominent Ivory Coast National Dance & Drum Company, which enabled him to travel the world. After 17 years, Ouikahilo decided to move to the U.S. to partner with different artists to create Africa Azolou, which is a show celebrating the cultures of Africa, Brazil and the U.S. Ouikahilo also spent some time working various jobs surrounding dance and music in New York City; his work gained him some recognition, such as the opportunity to participate in a Hollywood film. With all of his success, Ouikahilo set his sights on serving the community and connecting others to his own passions. Ouikahilo eventually decided to begin a new chapter in Syracuse. In 2004, Ouikahilo brought Wacheva Cultural Arts, a dance and drum organization he began in Ivory Coast in 1994, to Syracuse, and in 2008, it received not-for-profit status. The love and passion Ouikahilo has for dance became bigger than himself with Wacheva Cultural Arts. The multicultural arts organization creates programing that allows the community to experience and learn about many different cultures and traditions.

The Wacheva Cultural Arts center promotes cross-cultural unity through dance

“At Wacheva, you can take African dance, drum, or cardio salsa, belly dance, Flamenco, deviant dance tribe, zumba, partner salsa or Capoeira,” Ouikahilo says. “These disciplines are under one roof where the community of people comes together no matter their ethnicities, colors, cultures, customs and religions because Wacheva is the house of unity.” Wacheva Cultural Arts creates a unique sense of unity and understanding in the Syracuse community. “We are trying to do our best saying that unity, it is powerful,” Ouikahilo says. “We should not only say the word, but we should feel it. We can have different ideas, but we should always be united.” Wacheva Cultural Arts serves as a reminder of the beauty that can be found in the little things in life, like taking a dance class with strangers. Ouikahilo cultivates an environment to do just this, in which all feel welcomed. “At Wacheva my leitmotif phrase to my former students, is always welcome any new students in any of our classes,” Ouikahilo says. “When there is kind communication, the unity comes, and when there is unity, the love of others comes and peace of mind follows up. When there is peace between friends … then you will see the unity grow.”

Adding Flavor to the

Salt City

Get a taste for some of the restaurants mixing up the Syracuse food scene

he Stoop: As founder and manager, Eric Alderman describes his restaurant as “tangible fine dining with local products and interesting flavor profiles.”

“It’s named after those steps leading up to the top of an apartment building you see in cities. People used to gather, socialize and share stories,” Alderman says. “I wanted The Stoop to be that place.” With an inclusive dietary population, the bakery,

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Alderman, who was born and raised in the Salt City, says there was a gap in the emerging food scene in Syracuse, and he aimed to fill a portion of that gap with his seasonal gastropub, The Stoop.

café and restaurant aim to have a variety of plates – both in flavor concentration and size. They tend to locally source as much as possible, Alderman says. “We go through phases of flavors, from Moroccan to African spices,” he says. “We have traditional options, but we really try to meet the marketplace.” With an eclectic menu, The Stoop’s goal is to spark conversation and expand cultural aspects throughout Syracuse. A new spring menu has just been released, with more vegetarian options and new flavors to be excited about. Syracuse has been expanding its cultural palate over the years, and one can find a variety of flavors at The Stoop. Roji Tea Lounge: Celebrating its 15 year anniversary, Roji Tea Lounge opened with the goal of blending Japan and New York City culture and teas. Christian Van Luven and his late wife, Tomomi Yoshida, were nervous at first about the endeavor, Van Luven says. “Syracuse is a small city, and most people told us it wouldn’t work.” “The idea was to incorporate a feeling of having traditional tea in a more urban and chill atmosphere as an alternative to the bar scene, yet a place you could talk without screaming over each other,” Van Luven adds.

Over the years, the menu has expanded from primarily Japanese-based teas to other Asian dishes and teas. Van Luven said all the tea essentially comes from the same plant, and although Roji still adheres to the Japanese aesthetic, the shop tries to represent various Asian teas and traditions, which their employees and customers appreciate. “Our fan favorite dish is the soba noodle. And the Taiwanese bubble tea is the favorite dessert drink,” he says. Roji Tea Lounge offers yoga classes, art shows and an array of other alternative events that one would not expect a café to showcase, but it embodies the original mission behind the lounge and what it was named after. According to the tea lounge’s website, roji is a garden-filled path that leads to the tea room, from the machiai, or the waiting room. Roji indicated the first stage of meditation and intended to break the connection with the outside world. After losing Yoshida to cancer in 2012, Van Luven was hesitant to continue running Roji, but he says the overwhelming response from his friends, family and the city of Syracuse made him remember how important the café was to his wife. “It seemed to go beyond Tomomi and I,” he says.

Story by Jo Allen

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the 360

Painting the City by Numbers One and a half years ago, Syracuse’s

then commissioner of Neighborhood and Business Development found a Rochester code enforcement program to solve housing issues in the city. Each time the City of Syracuse needs a solution to a new or existing issue that requires a perspective through the lens of data, the Innovation Team, or i-team, steps in. Formally known as the Office of Accountability, Performance and Innovation, the team is the inhouse consultant that is “data-driven and human centered,” according to their website. The i-team has members with diverse backgrounds ranging from information management, design,

public relations and public policy to data analytics. Samantha Linnett, the design innovation lead of the i-team, went to S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications for public relations and also studied public policy at Maxwell. Her inclination towards both brought her to join the i-team which was then being funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies for up to $1.35 million. The team follows an “Innovation Team Playbook” that explains every minute step to finding a solution. The book contains different case studies about other i-teams and suggests ways to

develop new kinds of data, and Syracuse is not lagging behind. DataCuse is an online public data portal that is run by the i-team to let the public study the data, as well. Right now, the portal has spreadsheets of data on topics like neighborhoods, housing, infrastructure and lead risks that anyone can download and analyze. The i-team began brainstorming ideas to solve housing stability in 2018. According to Syracuse.com, Mayor Ben Walsh said that the length of the period in which individuals live in their homes has an impact on their children’s ability to learn in school. The city’s newspaper also reported that the eviction rate in

Syracuse Housing Authority properties had reduced by 75 percent in 2018, meaning Syracuse residents need this “human centered” approach to solving problems in the city. Linnett said that the goal of this current program is to improve housing stability for residents and to reduce the number of forced moves that they have to experience every year. “We try and focus on what we at the City can have impact on,” she says. Linnett uses project management and human-centered design to develop public policy solutions for some pressing issues prevalent in the city. She first heard about the i-team position through her internship supervisor at Syracuse Northeast Community Center. After meeting with Sam Edelstein, the chief data officer of i-team and the mastermind behind DataCuse, she joined the team in 2016. The i-team uses a “feasibility-impact scale” to determine if the impact of solutions to issues directly relate to

the feasibility of those fixes. “If it’s high impact but virtually impossible, like feasibility is incredibly low, we’re not going to drop it off,” Linnett says, explaining that solutions which would have large, positive impacts on the community, but that are difficult to complete, are not just thrown away. Due to the complicated nature of these solutions, the team must revisit them at

“We try and focus on what we at the City can have impact on.” a later date, when seeing the solutions through may be feasible. Housing came to be one of the issues that showed a good balance between both impact and feasibility. “We can do more than complain about problems -- I know there are ways to fix it,” Linnett says, commenting on the code inspectors who do routinely check-ins on homes.

Linnett went on multiple ride-alongs with the inspectors to understand what they really needed. When she asked them about their daily challenges and how things could be done differently, the most common response was, “You know, no one has ever asked me that.” Having “ideation” sessions is a huge community engagement agenda that Linnett believes in, she says. These sessions involve gatherings outside of City Hall during non-work hours, so everyone can attend and suggest improvements the city needs. In one of the sessions, they got around 500 suggestions, Linnett says. In her line of work, Linnett believes that thinking processes need to shift from problem-oriented to solution-oriented. For example, although the code enforcement inspectors knew what they were doing, Linnett says they were not thinking in terms of solutions; instead, they focused on what the problems were. “Two years later, to see that change in thinking is, like, really cool,” she says, reflecting on her work with the i-team.

Solving public issues in Syracuse using data

Story and photos by sajida ayyup, design by erin toy

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and design

RECLAIMING THE XICANX IDENTITY s a Xicana, coming to Syracuse University was A a culture shock. Within the first few months, I had become homesick; I missed the easy access I had to my culture back home in Chicago. Things like blasting music from Los Tigres del Norte while cleaning up just didn’t feel right, and trying to reference things like Lotería, Tajin and cumbia sonideras was tiring, as explanations fell on deaf ears. I felt isolated. It wasn’t until a friend introduced me to the Xicanx Empowering Xicanx (XEX) organization on campus that I began to feel more welcome. The XEX organization, created in 2016, is an open society at Syracuse University that empowers Mexican culture within the U.S. We use the term Xicanx to step away from the Latino/a/x identity and question the European/Spanish identity that was imposed on us as a collective group. The term begins with an “X” because it declares itself in solidarity with indigenous, mestizx, colonized and

other dispossessed people everywhere. The “X” at the end of “Xicanx” ensures that our name and group is inclusive of all intersecting gender identities. Our mission is to grow the cultural competence of our members and empower our existence. We celebrate our heritage with pride on campus and work to create a safe community for various ethnicities and beliefs here at SU. Given the present political climate, we are aware of how our presence on campus can be used to positively impact others. It is imperative as an organization to revel in our identities in a powerful way and support the success of marginalized students. I was connected with one of XEX’s amazing members, Janet Flores -- founder and curator of Brown Mujeres Media -- who immediately welcomed me into the group and offered her support as a friend. Janet not only connected me to the rest of the group, but she also helped me with other things,

GLOSSARY Los Tigres del Norte: Mexican music group. Lotería: Traditional Mexican game, similar to bingo. It has images instead of numbers. Tajín: Spicy condiment put on everything from fruit to popcorn. Cumbia Sonidera: Musical genre born in Mexico. Fusion of cumbia with synthesized sounds. Primo: Spanish word for cousin. Carne asada: BBQ style event. Familia: Spanish word for family.

A personal essay describing one campus organization’s way of fostering cultural competence and empowering students to embrace their identities

Since then, XEX has hosted many events, like a carne asada where everyone had a chance to bond; it felt like I was back in my primo’s backyard having a good time. XEX not only generates inclusive environments, but it also offers learning opportunities. For example, XEX hosts different educational events, such as “Becoming Brujas: Women and Queer of Color Witches in Pop Culture.” A highlight from my experience with XEX was the release of “21 Miles of Scenic Beauty...and then Oxnard,” written by one of the founding members of XEX, Martín Alberto Gonzalez. Martín uses the power of counter-storytelling in order to fight against the institutional racism and injustices challenging the predominantly brown community in Oxnard, California. His book is a masterpiece that addresses the

many forms of prejudice and oppression the brown community faces, and his book gives the reader a sense of power and ability to reclaim one’s story.

Plus, it’s always nice to eat authentic Mexican food.

When you’re part of XEX, you really are part of la familia. The culture is strong, and I have never felt prouder, stronger and more educated in my identity. XEX has presented me with many opportunities to get involved. Not only was I was able to find a family, but I found my current job at La Casita Cultural Center, as well.

Unfortunately, there is a very small identifying population of Xicanx on campus, and it can be challenging to get the word out about the organization. Regardless, I am proud to be a Xicana; thanks to XEX, I have grown more in my understanding of what that means. I wouldn’t trade my XEX family for the world and hope others would like to relish in the opportunity to join it.

Written by Olivia Flores, photos by Sarah Lee, design by erin toy

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like grocery shopping. She exemplifies profound cultural competence and has a huge heart.

BREAKING BREAD WITH THE NORTHSIDE Written by Lauren Steckly, Photos by Claire Stocum, DESIGN BY eRIN TOY

ike any other Monday morning, Ronnie Wyatt is seated at a round table happily engaging with those around him. From one end of the room, a woman yells out asking if anyone would like an English muffin or a bagel. On the other end, a table with cups, sugar, creamer and a coffee maker offers a fresh start to any takers. As individuals continue to filter into the building to escape the cold mid-March air, Wyatt stops what heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s doing to greet each of them by name. These warm Wyatt welcomes occur daily in The Neighborhood Church of Syracuse. Each Monday morning, the church offers free coffee, bread and clothing to those in the community who need it. Wyatt, the pastor and planter of the church, and his family moved to Syracuse from North Carolina to serve the Northside six years ago. At its beginnings, The Neighborhood Church consisted of just their family. They had everything planned out when it came to starting the church, Wyatt says, but they believe 27

OY God had other plans. He says it seems as though God was dropping hints for them to follow along the way. “Ours began with a phone call from a guy who said, ‘Would you like some bread?’ And I’m like, ‘I love bread. Yes! I can take some bread!’ But then he brought me a truckload of bread,” Wyatt says, adding that when he prayed about what he should do with all of it, the answer was made clear. “Just give it away, you big dummy.” This kind act was just the first. Someone later donated 800 winter coats to the church, thus starting their clothing giveaways. All of these opportunities were falling perfectly into place, Wyatt says, but none of it aligned with his original plan, which confused him. However, it wasn’t long until God revealed what The Neighborhood Church’s purpose in Syracuse was, he adds.

“And then that’s when...we also realized that we were just going to be a blessing to people” “And then that’s when we realized that our focus needed to change, and we also realized that we were just going to be a blessing to people,” Wyatt explains. Since then, keeping this mission of helping those who may not be able to repay the favor in mind, Wyatt and The Neighborhood Church have continued to serve the city of Syracuse. “The way we do ministry is upside down ministry. We bless people first,” adds one of The Neighborhood Church’s founding members. In addition to their bread, coffee and clothing ministry, there’s a free meal shared at the church before they begin their weekly service every Saturday night. In addition to their own service, the church shares its space with a Bhutanese congregation and a Hispanic congregation, whose services are held at different times throughout the week. Wyatt and his team aim to live out their motto “Show Jesus, so we can share Jesus,” which is the source of their hope, Wyatt says. Regardless of whether they get to the latter half of their motto, they ultimately desire to meet and help others where they are, regardless of their background, he explains. Their doors are always open.

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As one sign in the storefront window reads, “Struggling through life? Past haunting you? Heartbreak got you down? Good, then you will fit right in with THE NEIGHBORHOOD CHURCH us!”

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