While here in Syracuse for the summer I am discovering some wonderful things that help make this a truly vibrant community. Yes, it get hot. And yes, there are still things about Syracuse that are very funky; namely, the overwhelming number of streetlights that OBVIOUSLY do not sync together on the same street. But regardless, Central New York (and Syracuse, specifically) also have some incredible people and amazing ways to get involved within the community. Who would have thunk it?!
Moreover, who would have guessed I would be involved in "Save the Neighborhood Grocery Store" movement that has taken over in a neighborhood I do not even live in?
Moreover, who would have guessed I would be involved in "Save the Neighborhood Grocery Store" movement that has taken over in a neighborhood I do not even live in?
Wegmas Food Markets, Inc. is a family-owned supermarket chain headquartered just outside Rochester, NY (that's about an hour from Syracuse, NY). The grocer was founded in 1916 in Rochester, NY and is consistently acclaimed one of the best US grocery chains; it has ranked among the top 10 in Fortune's "100 Best Companies to Work For" list for eight consecutive years.
So, what's my beef with this amazing company?
They are tearing down TORE DOWN the Wegmans located in the Northside of Syracuse. This is a major problem for a number of reasons. First, the Northside of Syracuse has a rich history embedded in culture. Originally, this side of town was settled by German-Americans in the 19th century. Overtime, the Northside became home to all kinds of new Americans, and today in the 21st century, the neighborhood has become home to many nations representing diverse languages, cultures and ethnicities - Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Somalia, Bhurma, Nepal, Bhutan, Vietnam, and Eastern Europe. Why does a diverse culture (of many immigrants) matter, do you ask? Well, that brings me to the second major problem .. the people living in this area are starved for resources. Many people lack fluid incomes, access to reliable transportation, and fluent English speaking skills. And if it is not the refugee/immigrant populations to worry about, many low-income Americans and retired people live in the Northside too. When the one grocery store providing fresh produce, meats and dairy decided to leave this poor neighborhood, they ultimately created a food desert: any area in the industrialized world where healthy, affordable food is difficult to obtain. Food deserts are prevalent in rural as well as urban areas and are more prevalent in low-socioeconomic minority communities. They are also linked with supermarket shortages in a geographic location.
This is when I decided to get involved. When I heard news of a community meeting from my friend Dan, I jumped on the opportunity to provide my resources, ideas and young social media "expertise" to the struggling community. Since that initial meeting, the group has made great progress. Although Wegmans still closed its doors on the neighborhood (as promised on: June 30, 2012) the neighborhood association has riled the press media with press conferences, numerous letters to the editor, a viral video release, among other proposals. Although I, admittedly, am not on the front of this battle, it has been wildly exciting to get to know such an interesting group of people. Seeing them work together to bring in another grocer has been inspiring.
Take a look at their work: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feEVJW-GWpU&feature=plcp
And some of the media coverage: http://centralny.ynn.com/content/590226/at-least-one-proposal-submitted-for-pond-street-wegmans-site/
You can count on my own letter to the editor. It really is such a shame that Wegmans has selected this neighborhood to mess with; I think they have surprised everyone. And really... good for them.
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