Minority awards’ audience urged to take on challenge

SYRACUSE — Syracuse has had three major economic expansions, Vaughn Irons told more than 300 people gathered May 24 in the grand ballroom of the Marriott Syracuse Downtown for the inaugural Community Engagement Awards, held by the Upstate Minority Economic Alliance.

The first two expansions — the prosperity brought on by the Erie Canal and the salt industry and the industrial boom of the early 20th century — saw full participation by the minority community, he said. But, he noted, the current expansion, built on education and medicine, “has not helped the minority community in the way the previous two did.”

Irons was the keynote speaker for the awards program. A Syracuse native who graduated from Corcoran High School and Syracuse University, he worked for a dozen years at Freddie Mac, the government-supported mortgage backer, rising to national director of housing and community investment. He is now CEO of APD Solutions, an economic-development firm currently involved in building a $200 million sports and entertainment complex in a 98 percent minority neighborhood outside Atlanta. 

Recalling his youth in Syracuse’s Brighton neighborhood, Irons said, “We knew where everybody’s parents worked.” Now, “jobs have moved to someplace else.”

Irons told the audience that only 10.5 percent of the jobs in the city of Syracuse are held by African Americans, even though about 30 percent of Syracuse residents are African American.

He noted that 110 years ago, Syracuse was home to more than 500 factories making more than 300 distinct products. “We were awesome,” he said.

Irons showed a photo of a gingerbread-style home on the Southside from that time. “We made that,” he said. He showed a more recent photo of the home, ravaged by the years. “We made that too,” he said solemnly.

He urged listeners to get involved and make things better in his hometown. Irons recalled the words of his grandfather, a road-builder who moved to Syracuse from South Carolina. “My grandfather told me, sometimes the system does let you down, but sometimes you are part of the system because you are not part of the solution.”

Irons shared statistics for his old neighborhood, showing it was 76.3 percent African American, 18.3 percent Jamaican, and that 30.2 percent of residents don’t own a car.

That final fact meant jobs outside the city are hard to reach for many Brighton residents but he added that six of the largest 20 employers in the city are in areas adjacent to the Southside.

He said the Southside needs investment because investment is like air and “the Southside has simply been suffocating for the last 30 years.”

His call to “roll up our sleeves” to take on the challenge was greeted by a standing ovation.

Irons’ keynote followed the presentation of the Community Engagement Awards, held by the Upstate Minority Economic Alliance. Awards were given in several categories.

• David Nutting, of VIP Structures, was named executive of the year.

• Tajuana (Tae) Cerutti, of Onondaga Community College, was named procurement professional of the year.

• Pathfinder Bank won community partner of the year.

• Deborah Little, of Lil More Stix, was named innovator of the year.

• Home HeadQuarters was the community organization of the year.

• Price Rite Supermarket was selected as community development project of the year.

• Onondaga County took home the prize for municipal procurement of the year.

• Dreissig Apparel Inc. was named MWBE business of the year.

• Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney received the Legacy Award. 

In accepting her award, Mahoney discussed her administration’s efforts to reduce barriers for minorities, including doing away with rules that once required those seeking county jobs to have their applications signed by county legislators.

SYRACUSE — Syracuse has had three major economic expansions, Vaughn Irons told more than 300 people gathered May 24 in the grand ballroom of the Marriott Syracuse Downtown for the inaugural Community Engagement Awards, held by the Upstate Minority Economic Alliance.

The first two expansions — the prosperity brought on by the Erie Canal and the salt industry and the industrial boom of the early 20th century — saw full participation by the minority community, he said. But, he noted, the current expansion, built on education and medicine, “has not helped the minority community in the way the previous two did.”

Irons was the keynote speaker for the awards program. A Syracuse native who graduated from Corcoran High School and Syracuse University, he worked for a dozen years at Freddie Mac, the government-supported mortgage backer, rising to national director of housing and community investment. He is now CEO of APD Solutions, an economic-development firm currently involved in building a $200 million sports and entertainment complex in a 98 percent minority neighborhood outside Atlanta. 

Recalling his youth in Syracuse’s Brighton neighborhood, Irons said, “We knew where everybody’s parents worked.” Now, “jobs have moved to someplace else.”

Irons told the audience that only 10.5 percent of the jobs in the city of Syracuse are held by African Americans, even though about 30 percent of Syracuse residents are African American.

He noted that 110 years ago, Syracuse was home to more than 500 factories making more than 300 distinct products. “We were awesome,” he said.

Irons showed a photo of a gingerbread-style home on the Southside from that time. “We made that,” he said. He showed a more recent photo of the home, ravaged by the years. “We made that too,” he said solemnly.

He urged listeners to get involved and make things better in his hometown. Irons recalled the words of his grandfather, a road-builder who moved to Syracuse from South Carolina. “My grandfather told me, sometimes the system does let you down, but sometimes you are part of the system because you are not part of the solution.”

Irons shared statistics for his old neighborhood, showing it was 76.3 percent African American, 18.3 percent Jamaican, and that 30.2 percent of residents don’t own a car.

That final fact meant jobs outside the city are hard to reach for many Brighton residents but he added that six of the largest 20 employers in the city are in areas adjacent to the Southside.

He said the Southside needs investment because investment is like air and “the Southside has simply been suffocating for the last 30 years.”

His call to “roll up our sleeves” to take on the challenge was greeted by a standing ovation.

Irons’ keynote followed the presentation of the Community Engagement Awards, held by the Upstate Minority Economic Alliance. Awards were given in several categories.

• David Nutting, of VIP Structures, was named executive of the year.

• Tajuana (Tae) Cerutti, of Onondaga Community College, was named procurement professional of the year.

• Pathfinder Bank won community partner of the year.

• Deborah Little, of Lil More Stix, was named innovator of the year.

• Home HeadQuarters was the community organization of the year.

• Price Rite Supermarket was selected as community development project of the year.

• Onondaga County took home the prize for municipal procurement of the year.

• Dreissig Apparel Inc. was named MWBE business of the year.

• Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney received the Legacy Award. 

In accepting her award, Mahoney discussed her administration’s efforts to reduce barriers for minorities, including doing away with rules that once required those seeking county jobs to have their applications signed by county legislators.