The Near Westside Initiative handed out four “Risk Taker-Dream Maker” awards and one “Groundbreakers” award to local residents, businesses and organizations that have shown commitment to making the Near Westside neighborhood a thriving community or encouraged economic opportunities.

The Near Westside neighborhood is the western terminus of the Connective Corridor, serving as a gateway into downtown Syracuse and Armory Square.

This is the first year for the awards, presented during the Near Westside Initiative Board annual meeting and dinner on Sept. 11 at Skiddy Park.  The event included a community dinner and entertainment by the Latin Theatre Youth Troupe and youth from the Determination Center.

Award winners were King & King Architects, LLP, St. Lucy’s Parish and Nojaims Supermarket, and neighborhood residents Julyanne Rosario and John Graham. Each award recipient will receive a painting by neighborhood artist Juan Cruz.

“The level of commitment to building and maintaining a vibrant and sustainable community displayed by the award winners is remarkable and quite inspiring,” says Marilyn Higgins, president of the Near Westside Initiative Board and SU vice president for community engagement and economic development. “We are thrilled to have them lead by example, and hope that their achievements will encourage other organizations, businesses and individuals to embrace our mission for the neighborhood.”

Awards were presented by Higgins; Near Westside residents Carol Horan, Gladys Smith and Maritza Alvarado; and School of Architecture Dean Mark Robbins.

About the Award Winners:

King & King Architects, LLP, will receive a special Near Westside “Groundbreakers” Award for its bold move to relocate from the suburbs to its new home in the Near Westside neighborhood, embracing the goals and mission of the Near Westside Initiative. King & King Architects is the first business to relocate to the Near Westside neighborhood. Founded in 1868, it is the oldest architectural firm in New York state and the fifth-oldest in the country. In the Syracuse area, some of King & King’s notable buildings include Crouse College, Bird Library and Manley Field House, as well as the Onondaga County Courthouse, Niagara Mohawk, The Galleries of Syracuse and the Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce.
St. Lucy’s Parish will receive the Near Westside Non-Profit Organization award. St. Lucy’s, long the heart of the neighborhood, has provided many Near Westside vital services through its ministry. Some of its services include the Bread of Life meal program, the community garden, the food pantry and the Community Christmas Celebration. In addition, St. Lucy’s was the birthplace of the Near Westside Initiative.
Nojaims Supermarket will receive the Near Westside Business award. Nojaims, located at 307 Gifford St., has been a fixture in the Near Westside neighborhood since it opened in 1919. Despite a decline in the population and tough economic times, Nojaims remained a source for fresh food and jobs, and recently, through its Food Works program, is helping young children understand how food gets to the table, from the farm to the grocery store.
Graham will receive the Near Westside Resident Community Leader award for his longstanding work in the Near Westside community. Graham has worked tirelessly for 37 years to ensure that Near Westside children were well taken care of. He worked to develop the new Vincent House youth center on Seymour Street to provide children a safe, clean gathering place.
Rosario will receive the Near Westside Youth award for setting an example as a young person with goals in the neighborhood. Rosario, 18, attends Onondaga Community College and hopes to one day attend medical school to become a pediatrician. She also hopes to start a nonprofit organization in the future. Throughout her high school years she was actively engaged in community events.