{"id":3212,"date":"2022-08-17T11:21:17","date_gmt":"2022-08-17T15:21:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=3212"},"modified":"2022-08-17T11:21:17","modified_gmt":"2022-08-17T15:21:17","slug":"mary-nelson-building-a-better-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=3212","title":{"rendered":"Mary Nelson: Building a Better World"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Stephanie Herbert<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hometown hero, visionary, and caregiver, Mary Nelson is dedicated to providing services to at-risk greater-Syracuse area youth to unleash their unlocked potential. From mentorships to financial assistance programs, Mary has built an empire of \u201chelpers\u201d to step in for the challenging moments in our children\u2019s lives.<\/p>\n

Mary\u2019s dream of inclusion and access didn\u2019t transpire overnight. Mary, a Syracuse resident of over 50 years, saw economic deterioration in her communities and knew something had to change.<\/p>\n

Mary\u2019s story starts as a young girl in a family of migrant workers who moved to Auburn in 1968 to change employment and create a successful life. She embodied independence as her parents frequently worked. She considered herself a caregiver as a child because she learned how to cook and support her two brothers.<\/p>\n

Despite difficult living conditions and frequent travel, Mary said that education was always a priority in her family. She and her brothers were enrolled in what is now known as Dr. Martin Luther King Elementary School, where she learned the importance of a good education. Mary attended Eastwood Junior High School and Corcoran High School in the following years.<\/p>\n

In high school, at age 16, Mary became pregnant with her first child, Bolerianteria. Despite Mary navigating a difficult circumstance, her parents ensured she finished school and walked the stage with her graduating class of 1978. She has no regrets about her childhood and is thankful for programs like BOCES and educational mentors who helped shape her adolescence.<\/p>\n

She noted that she never had a \u201creal\u201d childhood as the oldest sibling who cared for others in the family before herself. For example, she would help her siblings with homework and prepare their clothes for school the next day. In doing so, Mary began to understand that having a meal, and being cared for, is one of the most incredible things you can do for a child.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy commitment to my community, especially for children in need, is truly my passion,\u201d Mary said. \u201cTo see them smile, hear their laughter, and feel their joy is my healing from my childhood of not being able to be a child fully.\u201d<\/p>\n

From navigating significant loss in her early adulthood to experiencing domestic abuse, Mary was determined to be a great mother to her now three children and navigate this \u201cstorm\u201d to come out stronger and wiser than before. Mary feels that love and family can be a liaison for greatness.<\/p>\n

When Mary left high school to the present, her story was nothing short of a tragedy-turned to passion. Yet, Mary said she feels no anger or hatred for the traumatic moments in her life, only love, because she believes she can be a positive influence in moments of darkness.<\/p>\n

Tired of the violence, Mary decided she could help be the change her community needs. Mary said people used to call her the \u201cbackpack lady\u201d as she confronted the streets of Syracuse every August, shouting \u201cSTOP THE VIOLENCE,\u201d handing out hundreds of free packs with necessities like food, clothing, and school supplies for children\u2019s return to school. Her vision was clear, and she knew that to make a difference, she had to empower others to do the same. \u201cI can\u2019t relax,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

In August 2002, Mary started youth programming in Syracuse following the loss of her nephew, Darryl Patterson, to gun violence. Mary was inspired to create a platform to provide young people with the necessary values and skills to become exceptional community leaders. She knew that support for children was lacking. She knew gun violence was a growing concern for families in disadvantaged communities. So, in 2009, Mary opened the Mary Nelson Youth Center as a 501c3 nonprofit.<\/p>\n

The Mary Nelson Youth Center offers educational programs, health information, career advice, services (nutrition, legal, career, and more), and mentorship.<\/p>\n

\u201cCommunity building is the grassroots of my efforts to communicate to Syracuse youth that education, and not violence, is where success in life can be found,\u201d said Mary. The youth in Syracuse require a lot of support and encouragement, and Mary believes that her center can be the comfort needed when a traditional family isn\u2019t present.<\/p>\n

The now thriving youth center wasn\u2019t always financially stable. Mary notes there were scary moments through the early stages of inception when she couldn\u2019t afford rent. However, she said that \u201cUsed Car King\u201d Todd Caputo bought the building from Mary, releasing her from making payments and allowing her to focus on what she truly wanted: safe and accessible education for children. Moments like that in her career allowed Mary to double down on her mission and be the community caregiver she knew she could be.<\/p>\n

For 23 years, Mary worked at Upstate Medical University, where she interviewed patients for upcoming exams and scans, and as a front desk receptionist in the radiology department. In addition, she worked part-time as a resident counselor at Vera House and in several other speaking roles, consulting on government boards and participating in community groups. Mary was engulfed in every part of the community while continuing to serve her role as president and CEO of the Mary Nelson Youth Center.<\/p>\n

Philanthropist Oprah Winfrey took notice of Mary\u2019s incredible journey. In 2014, during a surprise visit, Oprah offered $100,000 to the Mary Nelson Youth Center, kickstarting a robust and fulfilling future for the center and the community it serves. First, Mary grappled with the correct use of the funds; after considering community basketball courts, Mary knew a more robust approach to social services would affect families for many years.<\/p>\n

Oprah wasn\u2019t the only one to endorse Mary\u2019s dedication to her mission. Businesses such as Walmart and Lowes, the Jim & Juli Boeheim Foundation, and hundreds more have donated money, services, and items to support the Mary Nelson Youth Center and its thorough programming.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What\u2019s next for Mary Nelson and the youth center?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Every year, on the third Saturday in August, Mary hosts an Annual Youth Day Barbeque where thousands of children (and parents!) can join in back-to-school festivities. The fun includes backpacks, school supplies, food, games, music, guest speakers, and various vendors, all for free. In addition, businesses in the community donated food, supplies, money, volunteers, and tabling activities for the yearly event; in 2019, the event held over 16,000 community members.<\/p>\n

Mary is looking forward to record numbers in 2022 for the Annual Youth Day Barbeque, with new features such as Upstate Medical University offering free mammograms and ultrasounds and Keybank financial literacy trucks helping community members to open bank accounts. The event will also allow local businesses to set up their tables and shops to network and personalize the community experience.<\/p>\n

Through Mary’s vision, millions of dollars in school supplies, from electronics to toiletries, have been donated to families over the past 18 years. Mary ultimately wants to reinforce the idea that loving and supporting our youth and providing outlets and alternatives to violence will allow students to explore careers and education with less barriers. In addition, Mary wants her center to emulate safety and comfort so community members can get the services they need while feeling like they\u2019re part of a family.<\/p>\n

With the tragic loss of her brother to gun violence in 2014, Mary finds herself more determined than ever to give back to the community. Mary said that though her efforts may not end gun violence, they offer a gift of empowerment to every child that receives a backpack or uses a service. In addition, Mary noted that family is critical and, whether your family is present or not, you have a support system who can guide you through challenging transitions.<\/p>\n

\u201cEach and every day, I learn something new by giving, and that alone is a gift to me,\u201d said Mary.<\/p>\n

Mary started her outreach as a child, caring for her beloved siblings. She journeyed through years of intense and powerful situations to inform a lifetime of support for children in the Syracuse Area.<\/p>\n

But she through those setbacks, she followed a simple mantra that helped her continue to pursue a better future for the children in the community she loves: \u201cDon\u2019t let your situation become your circumstance.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Stephanie Herbert Hometown hero, visionary, and caregiver, Mary Nelson is dedicated to providing services to at-risk greater-Syracuse area youth to unleash their unlocked potential. From mentorships to financial assistance programs, Mary has built an empire of \u201chelpers\u201d to step in for the challenging moments in our children\u2019s lives. Mary\u2019s dream of inclusion and access…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3213,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[100],"tags":[1207,1205,1206,1209,1208],"class_list":["post-3212","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cover-story","tag-center","tag-mary-nelson","tag-mary-nelson-youth","tag-oprah-winfrey","tag-stop-the-violence"],"gutentor_comment":0,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Mary-Nelson-Syracuse-Woman-Magazine-05-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1708&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2330,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=2330","url_meta":{"origin":3212,"position":0},"title":"Special feature:\u00a0Sarah\u2019s Guest House celebrates 25 years of service","author":"Staff","date":"April 3, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"By Becca Taurisano \u00a0 Sarah\u2019s Guest House is tucked away in Strathmore across the street from Most Holy Rosary Church. Originally used as a convent, the 11-bedroom home provides a place for adults and their families to stay while they receive medical treatment in Syracuse. For the more than 18,000\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Causes"","block_context":{"text":"Causes","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=104"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Mary-Keogh.jpg?fit=960%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Mary-Keogh.jpg?fit=960%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Mary-Keogh.jpg?fit=960%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Mary-Keogh.jpg?fit=960%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3743,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=3743","url_meta":{"origin":3212,"position":1},"title":"Inspire: Mary Pat Speno – Dance school director reflects on 40 years of teaching","author":"syracusewomanmag_c4lfdt","date":"September 1, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"By Alyssa Dearborn After 40 years of owning the Syracuse School of Dance and acting as the artistic director of the Syracuse Contemporary Dance Company, Mary Pat Speno is retiring. Over the years, the school has expanded the different dance styles offered to students, but the school has remained dedicated\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Special Feature"","block_context":{"text":"Special Feature","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=4"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/mary-pat-speno-H-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/mary-pat-speno-H-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/mary-pat-speno-H-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/mary-pat-speno-H-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/mary-pat-speno-H-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":700,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=700","url_meta":{"origin":3212,"position":2},"title":"Mary Michaels","author":"Staff","date":"April 29, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Team Tess' Tomorrows By Lorna Oppedisano | Photography by Alice G. Patterson In 1955, a group of parents got together. They had one thing in common: their young children had been diagnosed with a chronic, incurable disease \u2014 cystic fibrosis. The children weren\u2019t expected to live past elementary school. The\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Featured"","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=99"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Mary-Michaels-Cystic-Fibrosis-Research-Advocate-0007.jpg?fit=1200%2C802&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Mary-Michaels-Cystic-Fibrosis-Research-Advocate-0007.jpg?fit=1200%2C802&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Mary-Michaels-Cystic-Fibrosis-Research-Advocate-0007.jpg?fit=1200%2C802&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Mary-Michaels-Cystic-Fibrosis-Research-Advocate-0007.jpg?fit=1200%2C802&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Mary-Michaels-Cystic-Fibrosis-Research-Advocate-0007.jpg?fit=1200%2C802&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1168,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=1168","url_meta":{"origin":3212,"position":3},"title":"Fighting Alzheimer’s and Dementia","author":"Staff","date":"October 27, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Critical Concerns for Women Submitted by Loretto and the Central New York Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association Alzheimer\u2019s is a progressive neurological disease that has no cure, but what many don\u2019t realize is that nearly two-thirds of the 5 million Americans diagnosed are women, according to a recent report from\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Features"","block_context":{"text":"Features","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=101"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/cropped-SWM-logo-use-this-one.jpg?fit=930%2C448&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/cropped-SWM-logo-use-this-one.jpg?fit=930%2C448&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/cropped-SWM-logo-use-this-one.jpg?fit=930%2C448&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/cropped-SWM-logo-use-this-one.jpg?fit=930%2C448&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1152,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=1152","url_meta":{"origin":3212,"position":4},"title":"Brenda McCutcheon","author":"Staff","date":"October 27, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Caring for the Caregiver By\u00a0Brenda McCutcheon | Photography by Mary Grace Johnson Whether choosing caregiving as a profession, planning to be a caregiver for a family member or becoming a family caregiver unexpectedly, women in caregiver roles often find themselves suffering from denial, anger, social withdrawal, anxiety, depression, exhaustion, guilt\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Featured"","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=99"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/SWMBrenda-2.jpg?fit=1024%2C684&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/SWMBrenda-2.jpg?fit=1024%2C684&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/SWMBrenda-2.jpg?fit=1024%2C684&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/SWMBrenda-2.jpg?fit=1024%2C684&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":542,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=542","url_meta":{"origin":3212,"position":5},"title":"Karen DeJarnette","author":"Staff","date":"February 27, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Empowering Women in the Workforce By Riley Bunch | Photography by Mary Grace Johnson\u00a0 For 2016 Syracuse Woman of the Year Karen DeJarnette, it\u2019s all about the big picture. Her day-to-day life consists of putting puzzle pieces together to help organizations be competitive in the marketplace and individuals achieve necessary\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Featured"","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=99"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Z_Inspire_Karen-DeJarnette_0317_ONLINE.jpg?fit=1200%2C802&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Z_Inspire_Karen-DeJarnette_0317_ONLINE.jpg?fit=1200%2C802&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Z_Inspire_Karen-DeJarnette_0317_ONLINE.jpg?fit=1200%2C802&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Z_Inspire_Karen-DeJarnette_0317_ONLINE.jpg?fit=1200%2C802&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Z_Inspire_Karen-DeJarnette_0317_ONLINE.jpg?fit=1200%2C802&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3212","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3212"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3212\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3215,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3212\/revisions\/3215"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3213"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3212"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3212"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3212"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}