Stories by: Sydney Kornegay
Sydney Kornegay is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in Aidemocracy, The Columbia Star, and Observatario Economico. She has a master's degree in International Development and Economics from Fordham University and is the director of adult programming at Refugee Response in Cleveland.- 1
When Democratic Republic of Congo native Juvens Niyonzima came to Cleveland in 2020, he hoped to get a job in media or in healthcare—two fields in which he had education and training. Instead, the only work he could get was a hospital cleaning job. New Bridge Cleveland and Ohio Media School put him on the road to success in his fields.
Many immigrants are often hesitant to access the American healthcare system—primarily because many American providers don't understand their cultural backgrounds. One Nigerian-born pharmacist is trying to remove the barriers in Cleveland's refugee community with IKON Health Foundation.
When Jonas Mbonga crossed the border from Mexico to Texas in the summer of 2018, he thought it would be the end of a long and dangerous journey. Instead, it was the start of an even more difficult path—navigating the immigration detention system in the United States.
Several hundred members of Cleveland's Afghan community rallied on Saturday to voice their worries and feelings about the Taliban takeover.
The Tamir Rice Foundation and SPACES have joined forces to collect art supplies for incarcerated youth in an effort to provide a creative and healing outlet to tell their stories.
The match is on! For the third year in a row, Cuyahoga Arts & Culture and ioby have teamed up to support organizations and residents as they make Cuyahoga County more vibrant through the arts.
Despite putting their own health at risk throughout the pandemic, some healthcare providers, as well as certain minority groups, are not quite ready to trust the COVID-19 vaccinations for themselves. The experts are working to build their trust.
The growing shortage in nurse assistants has given new urgency to Cleveland-area healthcare workforce groups to recruit and inspire a sense of duty in future healthcare workers, as well as find ways to better incentivize, support, and compensate entry-level workers.
More Americans are working from home these days—with the trend expected to grow in the next year. Find out how Cleveland's downtown office landscape is changing and what the experts see happening in commercial real estate and coworking space as the home office takes the lead.
After moving to Cleveland in May, Manembo Manembo, AKA Real Mane TMP, has been living his dream of creating Afrobeats music, positivity, and inspiration, as well as sharing stories of his native Congo.
No COVID-19 cases have been traced back to the Greater Cleveland RTA, but ridership has largely decreased during the pandemic—partly due to worries about safety. What can be done to bring those riders back?
COVID-19 has hit Cleveland's travel and tourism industry hard. Hotel occupancies are low and one in four employees in the industry were laid off this past summer. While the hotel industry awaits Congressional help, local museums and tourist attractions have gotten creative in their programming.
With about 1,000 students in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District either living in homeless shelters or with relatives, Project ACT makes sure those students can continue in their current schools while also providing both technology and personal support during the uncertainties of the pandemic.
The pandemic may make it impossible for most houses of worship to congregate in-person, but institutions find their missions and prayers extend beyond the sanctuary walls.
When the coronavirus brought everyday life to a screeching halt and area hospitals worried they would run out of PPE, several Northeast Ohio manufacturers and other businesses stepped up to adapt their processes, save jobs, and make what was needed.
From cooking pots and cleaning supplies to groceries, the large Congolese refugee community living in Cleveland ensures everyone in their neighborhoods are cared for during the COVID-19 pandemic.
More than 1,500 people gathered at the Cleveland Police Second District precinct on Saturday to demand justice for 22-year-old Desmond Franklin, who was short by an off-duty officer in April.
Cleveland refugee leaders and service providers are turning to social media and animation to translate coronavirus health safety warnings for new arrivals who don't speak English.
Though Cleveland schools are closed for now, school lunches are still available. But if you're working and your kids are staying indoors, how are you supposed to pick up the food? Babies and Brunch, a newly formed neighborhood volunteer effort, is stepping up to the plate.
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