Born from Community

 

10 years ago, as New Americans were joining our community in high numbers, volunteers came together to ensure there was a safe place for people of all ages to learn, navigate needed resources, and find their places in this new country. Founded in 2009 by members of the local refugee and immigrant communities, the North Side Learning Center (NSLC) is a learning community that cultivates trusted and respectful relationships with newcomers to Syracuse who are pursuing their fullest potential and dreams. In 2014, the NSLC purchased and moved into a former Catholic school.

 

Totally volunteer-led in its early years, there are now over 2,000 members in our learning community annually who are actively engaged in various roles related to educational, social, and cultural programming. The NSLC partners with over 50 organizations and groups. Our learning community is diverse, intergenerational, and intercommunal. Throughout our history, 90-95% of our staff are immigrants and refugees, and come from the communities we serve. 

 

At any given point you might see an 8 year old running through our halls with a camera capturing the stories of the day through their eyes, a family getting help for ID’s and paperwork needed to rent a new apartment, teenagers surveying the neighborhood to gather input on the direction of our community’s services, someone coming to pick up food for a family in need, or a family setting up a wedding or graduation reception in our community room.  Each weekday there are dozens of three and four year olds attending PreK classes - offered in our space by another nonprofit which partners with the City schools. On weekends, two Congolese Christian congregations hold their services in the NSLC. 

 

The North Side Learning Center is the safe, comfortable and known place everyone can belong on the Northside.  The key to our approach is that we respect how communities are already historically and culturally organized and simply offer a safe place for us to come together.  With this strength based approach, we amplify our reach, legitimacy, and impact to become a place for honest community input– we have become the trusted place people come with their hopes and their challenges.

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COVID Crisis Called Forth Expanded Services

The young people who led mutual aid work in the COVID crisis  came from eleven different ethnic communities. They reached out across the Northside and served hundreds of families and have begun to step up to lead our next phase of growth. In the early COVID months, we received a grant to provide two-weeks’ supply of staple food items to 75 families. After the first week of distribution the numbers were so strong, our funder increased their support and we served 250 families during this project.  Fast forward to 2022 and together, young leaders have formed a project within the North Side Learning Center called Northside Futures.  They have conducted a survey in the community to source the primary areas of need to guide the future of our work collectively.  

 

In these surveys and interviews there are clear themes to address: Disconnection, Racism and Xenophobia; Job Training and Small Business Support; Unsafe Housing; and Public Safety.  These all limit us from the economic opportunity, care, and shared prosperity we deserve.

 

Northside Futures, Meeting the Next Phase of Our Community's Vision

The community has outlined a clear direction for us moving forward to remember our shared stories and create new stories that include everyone and foster a culture of belonging and self determination.

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Driven by our local leaders, businesses, and community groups on the Northside of Syracuse and our region.  

Together, we build safe, affordable housing and infrastructure, provide workforce training and business development support, and ensure safety and wellness that is led and owned by our community. 

 

Northside Futures is our non-profit that delivers programs and services, and Northside Futures, LLC is a limited liability corps that hosts our housing portfolio.  Both structures are led by local Northside community leaders.  Our priorities, approach, governance, and programs and services include the diverse ethnic backgrounds found in our neighborhood to ensure maximize impact and benefit.

 

Northside Futures Goals

1. Provide safe, affordable housing and infrastructure in our community

2. Ensure safety, wellness and belonging in our community

3. Support local workforce training and business development of our neighbors

4. Support leadership and coordinated action from individuals and organizations on the Northside 

 

Northside Futures 2023-24 Objectives

1. Build 3-5 properties with community input, design, and workforce 

2. Host workforce training opportunities for our communities 

3. Launch Northside Futures Roundtable for coordination and communication internally and with city/ county/ state agencies

4. Launch Community-led Wellness and Safety Program

5. Build our internal infrastructure and capacity to lead sustainably for the long term