On this episode of Syracuse Side Hustles, we talk with London Ladd. A graduate of Syracuse University, he works as a parking attendant for the university and as ramp agent Delta Airlines, but devotes his spare time to his career as a children’s book illustrator. His books demonstrate an interest in using his artwork to tell the stories of famous and not-so-famous African Americans — such as Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King Jr., Oprah Winfrey, and Lilly Ann Granderson, an enslaved woman and literacy champion born in 1821. Ladd speaks about the role family and identity have played in his evolution as an artist and about the challenges on taking on projects for economic gain.

For more on Ladd visit www.SyracuseSideHustles.com

On this episode of Syracuse Side Hustles, Theresa Barniak, a 55-year-old assistant manager at a hospital gift shop, shares her experiences in the male-dominated world of magic. She’s cut herself into six pieces, turned a doll into a real woman, and made it snow on stage, but being one of the few female magicians in Syracuse presents different challenges.

For more on Barniak visit www.SyracuseSideHustles.com

On this episode of Syracuse Side Hustles, we profile Michael DeSalvo. owner of and hairdresser at Hairanoia. When he’s not cutting hair (and sometimes while he’s cutting hair), DeSalvo works as an activist. With the support of the community, he runs Friends of Dorothy House, a Catholic Workers’ home that provides a safe place and hospice for people suffering from HIV/AIDS. Since the house’s founding, DeSalvo and his partner Nick Orth have helped more than 40 people die and many more recover — while also fighting the stigma of HIV/AIDS. A longtime activist, he has learned how to be on the front line, fighting for justice, and how to step back and be a good ally to others.

For more on DeSalvo visit www.SyracuseSideHustles.com

On this episode of Syracuse Side Hustles, we meet Talia Shenandoah. When Shenandoah is not advocating for LGBTQ teens at the Q Center, she runs Salt City Burlesque as Headmistress Harlow Holiday. She co-founded Salt City Burlesque four years ago and is responsible for organizing shows and bringing in headline performers. Shenandoah also performs herself, and says burlesque provides her with a creative outlet and a means to practice self love. 

For more on Shenandoah visit www.SyracuseSideHustles.com

On this episode of Syracuse Side Hustles, carve alongside wood craftsman Craig Donnelly. Creating things out of wood has been a constant in the Donnelly family — from the tree forts he built with his dad as a child to the tables he learned to make as an adult. So starting Donnelly Designs Woodworking, a business built on handcrafted items such as blanket ladders and knickknack shelves, felt like an organic career move for him. In this episode, he tells us about the therapeutic effects of woodworking, balancing being a husband and father, and escaping from his job as a senior claim representative for an insurance company.

For more on Donnelly visit www.SyracuseSideHustles.com

On this episode of Syracuse Side Hustles, we follow Indaria Jones, 26, who works full-time as an Economic Development Specialist for the City of Syracuse. When Jones clocks out, she spends her free time on her entrepreneurial endeavor, a coworking space and network called thelikeminded that seeks to help entrepreneurs and creatives find their tribe. It also will house a studio and private gallery. Jones has received much recognition for her entrepreneurial initiatives. She was awarded one of CNY Business Journal’s “40 under 40” awards in 2018, the youngest recipient to be selected, and earned coverage on blogs such as Urban CNY and the Instagram account @Theblackupstart. Jones hopes her entrepreneurial efforts will revitalize individuals and businesses in her hometown.

For more on Jones visit www.SyracuseSideHustles.com

On this episode of Syracuse Side Hustles, meet Torrance Jackson, also known by his stage name, Mr. Jaxn. As a forklift operator for Empire State Container during the day, Jackson spends his 9-to-5 moving and sorting shipping containers. In his free time after work, he transforms into Mr. Jaxn and performs stand up comedy in front of live audiences in Syracuse and beyond. 

Mr. Jaxn got his start to comedy at The Funny Bone comedy club. With the support he receives from a local comedy group, Mr. Jaxn has had the ability to perform stand up and host in front of live audiences. He performs around Syracuse and has traveled as far as Albany to tell his jokes. He gets his inspiration from everyday life: the news, his nephew, and occurrences at the construction site.

For more on Mr. Jaxn visit www.SyracuseSideHustles.com

On this episode of Syracuse Side Hustles, meet Celine Rahman, costumer and founder/owner of Cup of Rahman, an online shop powered by “pink joy.” Cup of Rahman began as a music blog and an Instagram page where Rahman posted content that reflected her interests. Images of her original artwork, nostalgic ‘90s creations, and female empowerment posts quickly gained a lot of traction. In fact, her Instagram account for @cupofrahman boasts more than 30,000 followers and now serves as the main driver of traffic to her online shop, which offers handmade earrings, keychains, and prints featuring her illustrations. And if you think of candy while perusing the site, please know it’s intentional.

For more on Rahman visit www.SyracuseSideHustles.com

On this episode of Syracuse Side Hustles, we explore the art of restaurant cook and bartender Tino Lopez. The work of the 35-year-old muralist and graffiti often features monsters and fantastical scenes, and Lopez, a trans man, credits art with helping him to learn to love himself.  He spends his free time mentoring local LGBTQ adolescents with the hope they too will use art as a means to find themselves.

For more on Lopez visit www.SyracuseSideHustles.com

On this episode, we meet Monique Williams, mom and up-and-coming rapper. According to a 2017 study by Market Researchers OnePoll, if motherhood was treated like an official job, moms would clock in at almost 100 hours a week. Those numbers definitely reflect Williams’ work week. As a mother of five, she spends her days like most stay-at-home mothers — sending her sons off to school each morning, doing chores around the house, and preparing food for her family. But in the evenings and on the weekends, Williams transforms into MoeBetta ThaGoddess, a rapper performing at venues across Syracuse. A few years ago, at the suggestion of a friend, Williams began putting the poems she wrote to beats, creating songs that reflect both the joys and struggles of her life. MoeBetta ThaGoddess has since pushed 20 songs to SoundCloud, including her latest album, Pain for Profit.

For more on Williams visit www.SyracuseSideHustles.com