About Nicole
Nicole Watts is a dedicated champion for people and communities, seeking to represent District 9 in the Onondaga County Legislature. As the Founder and CEO of Hopeprint, a respected nonprofit based in Syracuse’s Northside, Nicole has spent nearly two decades leading grassroots efforts that empower fellow residents to thrive and lead.
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Her work has focused on tackling systemic barriers—from housing inequities to mobility access—by investing in neighborhood revitalization, family support, and leadership development. Nicole’s deep relationships across District 9, her proven record of coalition-building, and her commitment to equitable development make her a bold, community-rooted candidate ready to bring transformative leadership to the county legislature.
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Nicole lives in the heart of the Northside and is committed to a vision where every neighbor can prosper in place.
NEIGHBORHOOD CO-DESIGNING
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From 2019 to 2023, Nicole Watts was a driving force in a community engagement and neighborhood co-designing process to speak to the quesiton: As money is invested in this community, how do you want to see it spent to better the lives of you, your family, and your neighbors?
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This process, carried out under the oversight of a local neighborhood vision council with subject area expert advisory support, resulted in the West Pond Microneighborhood Reinvestment Proposal, starting with a portion of District 9, and partnering with other stakeholders to expand it into the coming years.
THE NEXT GENERATION
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For nearly two decades, Nicole and her colleagues have made the next generation a central focus of their work. From her early days living on Lilac Street—hosting “water parties” on the front porch where she listened to children share their dreams, fears about bullying, and hopes for a safe space to belong—Nicole has been a relentless advocate for youth. What began as simple, heartfelt conversations grew into comprehensive youth programs in local parks and community spaces. Throughout, she has remained a catalyst and champion for investing in today’s children as tomorrow’s leaders.
CULTURAL CELEBRATION, ARTS AND OUR SHARED PUBLIC SPACE
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Nicole believes that one of the greatest assets we have had on the Northside for generations is our history of welcoming newcomers and the opportunity this ever-growing, every changing community has to learn from and celebrate one another. She has partnered with others to bring such celebration and co-learning to our shared public spaces, including but not limited to a role in:
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​The Street Mural on N McBride, designed by the Hopeprint Her Village women
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The Christmas Tree lighting and gift giveaway at Amos Park
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Eight years of Culture Galas, cultivating one of the most diverse and representative events in Central New York
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Annual live arts performances in outdoor spaces, including live ballet, music, and more
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Neighborhood block parties and the Lodi Triangle Event Series
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Joining and assisting in community events such as World Refugee Day, Northside Festival, ethnic cultural celebrations, etc
FOOD ACCESS
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Nicole has been an advocate for food access on the Northside since the closure of Wegmans, a turning point that left many residents without a nearby grocery store. She played an active role in the community’s response by producing a YouTube video featuring interviews with neighbors—an effort that helped galvanize public support and contributed to the successful campaign that brought Tops to Pond Street.
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In addition, Nicole has collaborated with neighborhood residents and partners to sustain a community garden, which now thrives under the leadership of a dedicated team. She also championed the creation of a local farmers market, which is now entering its second season as a growing hub for fresh, affordable produce and community connection.
MUTUAL MENTORSHIP
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At the heart of Nicole’s work is a deep commitment to mutual mentorship. She often reflects on the profound wisdom she has gained from her neighbors on the Northside and is passionate about the transformative power of learning from one another. This commitment led her, alongside talented colleagues, to launch the Global Citizens Cohort—an initiative that guided multiple graduating classes of youth through leadership development, national learning trips, community service projects, and more. In recent years, this work has evolved through a partnership with CNY Works, offering local youth opportunities to invest in the next generation while engaging in neighborhood meetings, public arts initiatives, and career pathway exploration.
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Years of hosting roundtables with leaders from diverse ethnic communities, supporting emerging changemakers in launching new programs and organizations, and coordinating impactful events helped lay the foundation for one of Nicole’s most recent initiatives: an incubator for emerging leaders. This mentorship program supports individuals with passion projects, helping them move from vision to implementation. To date, over a dozen participants have completed this co-learning experience, securing grants and beginning to bring their projects to life within the community.
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
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Since 2017, Nicole has hosted the Meet the Candidates event—creating an accessible, meaningful space for local residents and stakeholders to connect directly with those seeking to represent them. From city council and county legislature to state and federal races, these gatherings have become a trusted forum for civic engagement on the Northside.
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What began as a house party with over 100 neighbors meeting Syracuse’s mayoral candidates has grown into a major community event, with last year’s gathering held in a public park drawing more than 400 attendees. These events consistently highlight the importance of candidates and elected officials showing up for the communities they seek to serve—and the shared responsibility of residents to engage in the democratic process.
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Now, as Nicole steps into the role of candidate herself, she brings with her the lessons learned from years of listening, organizing, and witnessing democracy in action. Her commitment remains clear: to ensure that the voices of everyday people are heard, respected, and reflected in decisions that shape their daily lives.
FOR THE NORTHSIDE, WITH THE NORTHSIDE
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In addition to her direct community work, Nicole has served in numerous leadership and advocacy roles on behalf of Syracuse’s Northside residents:
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Chair of the Refugee Alliance of Central New York for over three years, guiding regional collaboration on refugee resettlement and support.
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Facilitator of the Community Integration Coalition, advancing post-resettlement support systems for refugees and New Americans.
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Long-standing member of the Northside Urban Partnership Steering Committee, where she collaborated for over five years with area nonprofits to drive inclusive neighborhood development.
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Builder of strategic networks championing equitable community development in housing, public space, and resource access—advocating among alongside key stakeholders such as Centro, SMTC, the City of Syracuse, Onondaga County Health Department, SUNY-ESF, Syracuse University, Greater Syracuse Land Bank, Home HeadQuarters, Cooperative Federal Credit Union, Tiny Homes for Good, and others.
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Northside representative on the Community Grid Cooperative, voicing community priorities amid I-81 construction planning and its anticipated impacts.
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Member of the Moving People Steering Committee, promoting accessible public transit, bikeability, and walkability across the city and county.
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Champion of the emerging Northside Cultural Heritage District initiative, which aims to install public art, mental health-focused pocket gardens, and historic markers that honor the neighborhood’s rich, layered history.