The Near Westside Initiative (NWSI) will hold its fifth annual Multicultural Block Party at Skiddy Park on Thursday, Aug. 14, from 1-6 p.m. Residents and supporters of the Near West Side are invited to attend this celebration of the community revitalization that is taking place in the neighborhood with the help of Syracuse University.
Last year’s Multicultural Block Party
The event is sponsored by the NWSI, La Liga, La Casita, the Westside Residents Coalition, the Literacy Coalition, PEACE Inc., ProLiteracy, WCNY and CNY Latino. This year’s festival promises to be bigger and better than ever, says Maarten Jacobs, director of the Near Westside Initiative in Syracuse University’s Office of Community Engagement and Economic Development. More than 100 volunteers from the Near Westside Initiative Board of Directors, local businesses and the greater community will be on hand to assist with the event.
Jacobs says the annual block party is a way to celebrate the consistent progress, vitality and diversity of the Near West Side neighborhood.
“Syracuse University, the Near Westside Initiative and our partners are thrilled to host this year’s Multicultural Block Party in Skiddy Park,” says Jacobs. “For the last four years we have watched this event grow from a small picnic to a huge event with over 1,000 people in attendance. This year will be no exception, with more fun things to see and do than ever before. The block party has been a great way to celebrate the network of connections that now exists between SU faculty, students and local residents and businesses.”
“The projects that this neighborhood has undertaken with the Lerner Center for Public Health promotion at the Maxwell School, and with the Syracuse University School of Visual and Performing Arts, are recognized nationally and worth celebrating,” says Marilyn Higgins, the University’s vice president for community engagement and economic development.
Isaac Rothwell will emcee this year’s celebration, which will include music by DJ Jett and Luther Edwards; a performance by the Bomba y Plena dancers; demonstrations by Pulse Zumba studio and Urban Life Crossfit; a Syracuse Silver Knights soccer clinic; Sunshine Horses; a graffiti wall; a dunk tank, inflatables, games, face painting and more.
A neighborhood awards ceremony will begin at 5 p.m.
Food and beverages will be provided by Hofmann’s and Nojaim Bros. Supermarket and ice cream by Byrne Dairy. Additionally, more than 25 community organizations will be on hand with information about the services they offer.
This year’s Multicultural Block Party is made possible thanks to the generous support of the Jim and Juli Boeheim Foundation; the Rosamond Gifford Foundation; the CNY Community Foundation; the Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion; St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center; Hofmann’s; Nojaim Bros. Supermarket; Byrne Dairy; and the Near Westside Initiative Board of Directors.
For more information, contact Jacobs at mjacob01@syr.edu or 480-7678.
