While the end of spring usually brings about senior bar crawls on Marshall Street, Syracuse University, along with the State University of New York Upstate Medical University and National Grid, have planned a completely different type of crawl.

During the winter recess, SU announced the first-ever Baldwin Corridor Cultural Crawl. The event will take place on April 25 and 26 as part of the local community’s support for the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund of CNY.

The Baldwin Corridor Cultural Crawl will take place along the Connective Corridor, with shops, businesses and other downtown venues providing samples, discounts, specials and activities throughout the two days. The event is planned in conjunction with the Syracuse International Film Festival and the cultural art exhibits of TH3.

Elizabeth Baldwin, executive director of the fund, said she expects the event to link organizations along the Corridor, while serving as a rewarding experience for the population already in Syracuse for the film festival.

‘The event brings awareness to the city’s cultural and historic diversity while at the same time bringing awareness to breast cancer research,’ Baldwin said.

Participants must purchase a passport to be presented and stamped at each business or venue involved in the event. Posters featuring large pink ribbons will designate locations selling passports and participating in the event.

SU’s involvement in the event is part of Chancellor Nancy Cantor’s larger initiative to link downtown and the university. This is one of the chief goals of the Connective Corridor program.

Marilyn Higgins, vice president for community engagement and economic development, said she sees the event as a great way to call attention to the Connective Corridor while helping a very worthy cause.

Higgins was brought into SU last semester from National Grid, specifically to tackle projects such as the Cultural Crawl.

‘I think it’s going to be a fantastic way to drive increased pedestrian traffic and public participation downtown,’ Higgins said. ‘The idea of an event like this is to connect these efforts with the wonderful institutions in the city so people go into those doors to see what’s interesting in Syracuse.

‘It will increase public awareness of cultural venues and participation in those venues,’ she added.

Campus involvement ranges from TransMedia students and faculty, who are already involved in the film festival, to student volunteers selling passports on campus during March and April.

Cantor said in an interview that she is pleased with the positive support that the community has lent to the event, and believes it will help to accomplish the goals of the Connective Corridor.

‘You bring the cultural organizations, public, students, faculty, academic organizations, events like the film festival and community organizations together to have a great event like this to unite the community and raise breast cancer awareness,’ Cantor said.

National Grid, the utility company for the area and a partner of the event, strongly supports the effort to unite the community for such a positive purpose. Melanie Littlejohn, regional executive for the Central New York region of National Grid, recognizes breast cancer awareness as a critical issue that affects many of National Grid’s customers, in addition to the entire Syracuse community.

‘The successes of the event are really two-fold,’ Littlejohn said, ‘we get a chance to connect with important venues along the route; we get to highlight our great city and the great institutions in it. Also, it’s a constant journey to elevate awareness of breast cancer and breast health.’

Published on January 13, 2008 at 12:00 pm