Civic Engagement: Perspectives from Local Leadership

Sharon F. Owens is the 55th Mayor of the City of Syracuse. Mayor Owens was elected to lead the city in 2025. She was elected with an overwhelming majority of votes and is the first African American and second woman to serve as Mayor in the city’s history.

Mayor Owens is a graduate of Syracuse University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. She attended Syracuse University as a track and field scholar-athlete, becoming an Orange Plus Hall of Fame inductee and achieving Olympic qualifying status in the women’s long jump. In her time in Syracuse, Owens found community, mentorship, and her spark for service.

Owens’ journey in nonprofit service and leadership began at Dunbar as a Syracuse University intern. Over time, her service grew to include significant community revitalization initiatives, securing expanded support for human services and communities in need. This includes serving as the Early Head Start Family and Community Coordinator and Youth Services Component Director for P.E.A.C.E. Owens was also the third CEO of Syracuse Community Connections at Southwest Community Center, Deputy Director of Housing for Home HeadQuarters, Inc., and Jubilee Homes of Syracuse. In each role, she was responsible for organizational operations, program development, grant writing, supervision of staff, and developing relationships with countless families throughout the city, assisting them in strengthening their households and neighborhoods through affordable housing and community development programs.

Owens would go on to serve as Deputy Commissioner of Neighborhood and Business Development from 2010 to 2013 during the Mayor Miner Administration. In this role, Owens administered the City’s Community Development Block Grant funding to foster the revitalization of neighborhoods and the creation of job opportunities through housing, community development, and economic development efforts. She also managed Section 3 and Minority/Women-Owned Business participation for funded projects. She returned to City Hall with the Mayor Walsh Administration in 2018 to serve as Deputy Mayor and Chief of Staff. In that role, she oversaw city programs and services that address quality of life, including Neighborhood and Business Development, Diversity and Inclusion programs, and the Police and Fire Departments.

Her role as an executive and community leader would also continue to expand to include Board President of BluePrint 15, Inc., a non-profit organization committed to working with residents, community partners, and local leaders of the Historic 15th Ward to reconnect and rebuild the community in a manner that reflects the needs and wants of neighborhood residents. She served on the Central New York Community Engagement Committee, which was created to identify community priorities and develop a process for directing investments from New York State and MICRON in the Central New York region. She is an ex officio mayoral appointee to the CNY Works Board of Directors, which ensures that Central New York attracts and supports new businesses, job seekers, and employment training providers. She also serves on the Southside Community Growth Foundation, Inc. Board of Directors. 

Mayor Owens resides on the city’s East Side.  

Rita Paniagua was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and has been a resident in Syracuse since June of 2003. Her 35 years experience in Business Administration, Fundraising and Public Relations has been instrumental to her success in Syracuse. Paniagua also brings with her experience in performing arts, radio, and special events production.

Since her arrival, Rita has been committed to serve the Syracuse community at all levels. She was appointed the Executive Director at the Spanish Action League of Onondaga County, which opened the doors to subsequent work with the New York State Puerto Rico/Hispanic Taskforce. In 2016, Paniagua was elected as a Commissioner of Education for the Syracuse City School District, and in 2019 was elected to the Syracuse Common Council as a Councilor-at-Large. She currently holds a position with Molina Healthcare as Community Relations Lead for New York State.

Among her many responsibilities, Rita currently serves on the Board of Directors for: the New York State Council of the Arts; CNY Arts; Interfaith Works; and Cancer Connects. She is also a Council Member for the Alliance of Economic Inclusion, and the CNY Regional Economic Development Council. Additionally, Rita is the Co-Chair of the Greater Syracuse HOPE Anti-Poverty Initiative.

Nicole Watts is the Legislator-Elect for District 9 (Syracuse’s Northside) and Nominated Chairwoman of the Onondaga County Legislature, known for her collaborative leadership and commitment to equitable, community-centered governance. As President and CEO of Hopeprint, she has championed transformative work with refugees, immigrants, and long-time residents on Syracuse’s Northside, advocating for neighborhood revitalization, mobility access, and inclusive economic opportunity. She brings to county government a proven record of strategic leadership, thoughtful stewardship of public resources, and deep engagement with diverse communities, grounded in a vision of an Onondaga County where every resident can belong, contribute, and thrive.