Additional Resources

This material provides additional context for design competition participants and the community as a whole. It is not an exhaustive list, and new links will added as needed or requested.

Related Links

Below is a list of external links, of use to those interested in learning more about research on monuments and insights into the history and people of this region. Please note, this is not an exhaustive list and, as such, we encourage all to return as new content is added. Additionally, opinions expressed in or by these resources do not necessarily reflect those of the Onondaga Historical Association, the City of Syracuse, Onondaga County, or the project team of The Full Circle Design Competition.

• American Indian Law Alliance
  A nonprofit organization advocating for Indigenous rights, sovereignty, and legal protections, while supporting Native communities through education, policy work, and international representation.
• Blueprint 15
  Blueprint 15 is working with residents, community partners and local leaders of Syracuse’s historic 15th ward to reconnect and rebuild what was once a vibrant and thriving neighborhood.
• CNY Arts
  A regional arts council that supports and promotes arts and culture across Central New York through grants, advocacy, and programs connecting artists, organizations, and communities.
• CNY History (Onondaga Historical Association)
  The official site of the Onondaga Historical Association, offering exhibits, archives, and educational resources that preserve and interpret the history and culture of Central New York.
• Columbus Monument Corporation
  An advocacy organization dedicated to preserving Syracuse’s Columbus Monument as a symbol of Italian American heritage, emphasizing history, cultural pride, and opposition to the removal of the Columbus monument.
• Community Folk Art Center
  Syracuse University–affiliated cultural hub dedicated to promoting artists of the African Diaspora through exhibitions, performances, and educational programs that celebrate artistic expression and cultural diversity.
• Contested Histories
  The Contested Histories Initiative (CHI) studies disputes over statues, street names, and other historical legacies in public spaces with an aim to identify principles, processes and best practices for decision-makers, civil society advocates, and educators confronting the complexities of divisive historical memory.
• Downtown Syracuse Walking Tour
  A self-guided tour highlighting Syracuse’s historic downtown landmarks, architecture, and cultural sites, offering context on the city’s development as a commercial crossroads and its enduring civic and economic significance.
• Freedom For All – National Colored Men’s Convention Article
  A historical account examining 19th-century Black leadership and activism, highlighting the 1864 National Colored Men’s Convention movement’s calls for equality, justice, and civil rights in America. Convention events took place in the Wesleyan Methodist Church, which still stands on the north east corner of the Project Site.
• History & Restoration | Columbus (pamphlet)
  An 1990s perspective on the restoration of the Columbus monument in the City of Syracuse and Columbus in general.
• Indigenous Values Initiative
  A Syracuse-based organization advancing Haudenosaunee culture, environmental stewardship, and Indigenous knowledge through educational programming, community partnerships, and advocacy initiatives.
• Insights: The New Red Order on “Culture Capture: Terminal Addition”
  A short artistic or documentary-style video presenting visual storytelling tied to cultural, historical, or civic themes — through cinematic imagery and narrative sequencing.
• InterFaith Works of Central New York
  A Syracuse-based nonprofit that fosters interfaith understanding while providing social services—including refugee resettlement, aging support, and community dialogue—to promote dignity, equity, and inclusion across Central New York.
• La Casita Cultural Center
  A Syracuse University–affiliated cultural center on the city’s Near Westside that promotes Latino heritage through arts, education, research, and community engagement, connecting campus and local communities.
• Monument Lab
  Monument Lab is a nonprofit public art, history, and design studio based in Philadelphia. The studio is dedicated to advancing justice by re-imagining monuments as places for belonging, learning, and healing.
• Naming, Blaming, and Claiming – Panorama Journal
  An academic article examining Syracuse’s Columbus Monument controversy, analyzing how art, history, and activism intersect in debates over colonialism, identity, and diversity rights within the community.
• Neighbors of the Onondaga Nation (NOON)
  A grassroots community group fostering respectful relationships and solidarity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous neighbors through education, advocacy, and collaborative local initiatives.
• Onondaga Nation website
  The official site of the Onondaga Nation, sharing governance, history, cultural values, and contemporary issues of the Haudenosaunee people whose ancestral lands include Central New York.
• Our Stories: A Virtual Black History Museum, Syracuse NY
  A digital museum and oral history collection preserving the history of Syracuse’s 15th ward, a community displaced by the construction of U.S. Interstate 81. The Full Circle Design Competition project site is located within the historic footprint of the 15th ward.
• Stories from the Circle
  Stories from the Circle features varied perspectives on the Columbus statue in downtown Syracuse, New York. The project aims to promote dialogue about how we choose to remember the history of Columbus in relation to the histories and stories of Indigenous peoples, Italian Americans, and other communities in and around Syracuse.
• Syracuse Landmark Preservation Board (SLPB)
  A City of Syracuse board that oversees historic preservation by designating protected sites and districts and reviewing proposed changes to ensure the city’s architectural and cultural heritage is maintained.
• Syracuse Public Arts Commission (SPAC)
  A City of Syracuse commission that reviews and approves public art proposals, advises on the city’s art collection, and supports artists seeking to install works in public spaces.
• Syracuse University Research Guides
  Curated academic resources developed by Syracuse University librarians to support research across disciplines, including specialized guides on Indigenous studies, local history, and social justice topics.
• The Land You’re On Audio Series
  A Syracuse University-produced podcast exploring Indigenous history, Haudenosaunee culture, and the concept of land acknowledgment to deepen understanding of the region’s original inhabitants.
• Two Nicks & a Christoforo
  A locally produced video exploring Syracuse’s Columbus monument debate, blending historical context, personal perspectives, and community voices around Italian heritage, identity, and Indigenous concerns.
• We of Italian and Syracuse Heritage (WISH)
  A Central New York group promoting education, dialogue, and healing by reexamining Italian American identity and supporting the removal and reinterpretation of the Columbus monument.