The South Side Community Growth Foundation is immensely proud to celebrate former Board Secretary Sharon Owens, who was elected as the 55th Mayor of Syracuse on January 1, 2026. Owens is the City’s first Black mayor.

Sharon has dedicated her career to public service and community development. As deputy mayor under Ben Walsh, she oversaw critical city services including the Syracuse Police and Fire Departments and the Neighborhood and Business Development Department. She led transformative initiatives such as the Mayor’s Office to Reduce Gun Violence and the Office of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA), while championing police reform, youth employment programs, and housing affordability efforts.

Prior to her role as deputy mayor, Sharon served as CEO of Syracuse Model Neighborhood Facility, Inc. and deputy commissioner of Neighborhood and Business Development. Her extensive nonprofit leadership includes work with Home HeadQuarters, Inc., PEACE, Inc., Jubilee Homes, and the Dunbar Center—organizations that have shaped Syracuse’s neighborhoods, including the South Side, for decades.

South Side Community Growth Foundation board members attend United Way State of Caring Breakfast

As a member of our inaugural board of directors, Sharon brought her deep expertise in neighborhood development and her unwavering commitment to community-driven solutions. Her leadership style—rooted in listening to neighbors and building inclusive partnerships—perfectly embodied our Foundation’s values.

We are grateful for Sharon’s service to our board and excited to see her continue championing our community from the mayor’s office. Her historic achievement inspires us all, and Syracuse and the South Side are fortunate to have her leadership.