The Barner-McDuffie House is happy to help students find ways to get involved in the greater City of Syracuse community through places to volunteer and Black-owned businesses to explore.
Volunteering Opportunities
Please note, the list below is provided for your information only. Inclusion should not be interpreted as official Syracuse University endorsement.
Brady Market is a community-centered grocery store on the Westside of Syracuse that provides the resources to build a new beginning, inspiring change through hope, health and healing: Hope by employing, educating and equipping individuals for success; health by increasing access to healthy and affordable foods; and healing by way of increasing social connections, access to resources and support within the community.
Point of Contact: Samuel De La Paz, samuel@bradymarket.org
Volunteer Opportunities
- Marketing: Assisting the marketing coordinator with content creation, market research and tracking return on investment (ROI) on marketing campaigns.
- Data: Tightening up data collection in our point-of-sale (POS) system and analyzing product sales trends to inform future strategy.
- Supply Chain: Assist with the management of our supplier database, especially in getting ready for the local harvest season so we can capitalize on our relationship with local farms.
Cafe Sankofa is a volunteer-run wellness cooperative on a mission to support, educate and provide the Southside community with healthy options, informed by a model of cooperative economics and community engagement. They’re working towards a future where all people in the City of Syracuse’s Southside community have equitable access to healthy food, wellness programming and health-related education and resources, regardless of their ethnicity or socioeconomic status.
Point of Contact: sankofacafe5@gmail.com
Volunteer Opportunities
- Fresh Food Access: Farmers markets, food shares, reduced cost groceries and more.
- Yoga and Fitness: Yoga, zumba, and other wellness and fitness classes.
- Community Resource Hub: A hub for information about community resources and events.
- Special Events: Cultural events and other timely programming, all open to the public.
The Center for Community Alternatives, founded in 1981, is a leader in community-based alternatives to incarceration and policy advocacy to reduce reliance on incarceration. They provide direct services to communities in New York City, Syracuse and Rochester, engaging approximately 3,500 youth and adults annually who would otherwise be incarcerated.
Point of Contact: cca@communityalternatives.org
Volunteer Opportunities
- Court Advocacy
- Gender-Based Substance Treatment and Recovery Communities
- Student Advocacy
- Violence Prevention
- Workforce Readiness
- Youth Mentoring for Justice-Involved Youth
The Community Folk Art Center‘s mission is to exalt cultural and artistic pluralism by collecting, exhibiting, teaching and interpreting the visual and expressive arts. Public programming includes exhibitions, film screenings, gallery talks, workshops and courses in studio and performing arts. A proud unit of the African American Studies Department at Syracuse University, CFAC is a beacon of artistry, creativity and cultural expression engaging the Syracuse community, the region and the world.
Point of Contact: Cedric Bolton, ctbolton@syr.edu
Volunteer Opportunities
- After-School Programming
- Arts Exploration
- Career Exploration
- Youth Mentoring
The core mission of The Dunbar Association, Inc. is to enhance the quality of life, break the cycle of generational poverty and develop racial equality in our community. The agency has filled the gaps created by the color division in the city and has helped to maintain African American culture in the city by acting as a location for the Black community’s social events like dances, youth groups, meetings and weddings.
Point of Contact: dunbarassociation@dunbarsyr.org
Volunteer Opportunities
- Senior Services: Health, financial and estate planning services; exercise classes; Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP); Home Headquarter services
- Youth Programming: Homework assistance, academic tutoring and STEM.
Syracuse Community Connections is a community-based organization whose mission is to help people better manage their lives. With each interaction with their clients, they have an opportunity to impact lives in a positive manner. Their team-oriented approach affords staff an opportunity to grow and develop while providing extraordinary customer service.
Point of Contact: receptionist@smnfswcc.org
Volunteer Opportunities
The majority of their positions are human services and health care-related, with a focus on women’s reproductive health. If you are passionate about working with the community and have a positive can-do attitude, learn how you can become part of their team.
Black-Owned Businesses
Please note, the list below is provided for your information only. Inclusion should not be interpreted as official Syracuse University endorsement.