The Public Good

Are you interested in learning what Mayor Byron Brown is prioritizing in his proposed budget for 2024-2025? Do you want to know how you can influence the city budget? Check out PPG’s virtual workshop (from May 13, 2024) on the city's proposed $618 million budget.  We discuss where the City gets its revenue, what the City spends its money on, and what's changed since last year.  We also take a deeper look into funding for PPG Community Agenda and partner priorities, such as youth services, rental housing inspections, arts funding, and snow removal. The 2024-2025 proposed budget public hearing will take place on Wednesday, May 15 at 5pm at City Hall Council Chambers. Sign up to speak or leave comments for the public record. Important links: Workshop slides Council Budget Resources Citizens Guide to Understanding the Budget Proposed 2024-2025 budget Full workshop on YouTube To learn more about our work, visit our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ppgbuffalo.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Be sure to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sign up for our newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Share your ideas for improving our community by emailing us at ⁠⁠⁠info@ppgbuffalo.org⁠⁠⁠. Whether it's highlighting community organizations you admire, shedding light on deserving initiatives, or providing feedback on our current episode, we welcome your thoughts. Let us know how you envision positive change in our community!

#2 on PPG’s 2024 Community Agenda is Address Racial and Special Needs Disparities in Buffalo Public School Discipline by Implementing New York State Education Department Recommendations. Tune into this episode of The Public Good where we’re joined by Sam White from Western New York Law Center and Quinn Carroll from New York Civil Liberties Union.  Sam and Quinn share their expertise and experiences in suspension advocacy. Learn about the challenges students face, the systemic issues at play, and the resources available through the WNYLC’s School Discipline Project to support families navigating the suspension process.  To learn more about our work, visit our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ppgbuffalo.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Be sure to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sign up for our newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Share your ideas for improving our community by emailing us at ⁠⁠⁠info@ppgbuffalo.org⁠⁠⁠. Whether it's highlighting community organizations you admire, shedding light on deserving initiatives, or providing feedback on our current episode, we welcome your thoughts. Let us know how you envision positive change in our community!

 #7 on PPG’s 2024 Community Agenda is Reform Parole to Reunite Families Across New York State. Tune into this episode of The Public Good for an insightful conversation with Donna Robinson, Buffalo’s Community Organizer with the Release Aging People from Prison Campaign.  Donna shares her personal experiences and advocacy for parole reform, highlighting the need to address the long-term effects of mass incarceration. Discover more about bills like Elder Parole and Fair and Timely Parole at https://rappcampaign.com.  To learn more about our work, visit our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ppgbuffalo.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Be sure to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sign up for our newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Share your ideas for improving our community by emailing us at ⁠⁠⁠info@ppgbuffalo.org⁠⁠⁠. Whether it's highlighting community organizations you admire, shedding light on deserving initiatives, or providing feedback on our current episode, we welcome your thoughts. Let us know how you envision positive change in our community!

 #9 on PPG’s 2024 Community Agenda is Increase Funding for Youth Services in the City of Buffalo Budget. This week’s guest is Alia Williams, the Voices Influencing Building Equity (VIBE) Organizer at VOICE Buffalo and a lead on this agenda item. Alia shares insights with Dejia James about the vital role of community engagement and activism. Explore how Alia’s upbringing and passion for Black liberation drive her commitment to change. From reflecting on past experiences to envisioning a brighter future for Buffalo’s youth, this episode offers perspectives on empowering the next generation and advancing youth initiatives for a stronger, more inclusive community. To learn more about our work, visit our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ppgbuffalo.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Be sure to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sign up for our newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Share your ideas for improving our community by emailing us at ⁠⁠⁠info@ppgbuffalo.org⁠⁠⁠. Whether it's highlighting community organizations you admire, shedding light on deserving initiatives, or providing feedback on our current episode, we welcome your thoughts. Let us know how you envision positive change in our community!

Our guest this week is Evelyn Kessler, a self-described banker by day and social entrepreneur by night. She is the founder and Executive Director of International Child Advancement (ICA), a nonprofit with a mission to empower orphans and underprivileged children to become self-sufficient through education, vocational training, and mentoring.  Listen to Evelyn share her journey as a second-generation immigrant to the United States and her time growing up in both the Democratic Republic of the Congo and France, and how that inspired her to found ICA.  Learn about the work ICA does, including pairing orphans and underserved children with educational sponsors, and providing them with access to education, vocational training, and essential support.  And, tune in to hear what ICA does to build collaborations between Buffalo and the DRC through education, the Art Gala, and more - and how you can get involved.  To learn more about our work, visit our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ppgbuffalo.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Be sure to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sign up for our newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Share your ideas for improving our community by emailing us at ⁠⁠⁠info@ppgbuffalo.org⁠⁠⁠. Whether it's highlighting community organizations you admire, shedding light on deserving initiatives, or providing feedback on our current episode, we welcome your thoughts. Let us know how you envision positive change in our community!

Welcome to The Public Good’s second episode of a special Black History Month series. This week, Dejia James speaks with two Black men dedicated to uplifting their community: Sherman Webbs-Middlebrooks (Men’s Health Project Manager at the Buffalo Center for Health Equity) and Jimmy Darby (community organizer, Board President for Voice Buffalo, volunteer with the Buffalo Peacemakers, and founder of Just for Us).   Sherman and Jimmy discuss their work creating spaces for men’s wellness and mentorship, emphasizing the importance of intergenerational conversations. This episode features Sherman and Jimmy's personal experiences and insights, focusing on the need for community engagement and support. They envision a future where community efforts are unified, creating a stronger, more connected Buffalo.  Learn more about the Buffalo Center for Health Equity’s Men’s Empowerment Evenings, Mondays from 5pm-7:30pm at the Tri-Main Center (2495 Main St). To learn more about our work, visit our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ppgbuffalo.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Be sure to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sign up for our newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Share your ideas for improving our community by emailing us at ⁠⁠⁠info@ppgbuffalo.org⁠⁠⁠. Whether it's highlighting community organizations you admire, shedding light on deserving initiatives, or providing feedback on our current episode, we welcome your thoughts. Let us know how you envision positive change in our community!

Welcome to The Public Good’s first episode of a special Black History Month series. On Thursday 2/15 from 9am-11am, Say Yes Buffalo will present the next installment in their Employer Think Tank Series - White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Nation’s Divide. This panel discussion will focus on the organized resistance to Black progress through education and workforce development.  Our guests this week are panelists Ekua Mends-Aidoo (Clementine Gold Group), Stephanie Peete (Say Yes Buffalo, Second Chapter Bookstore), and Wil Green (University at Buffalo, Tremani Solutions). Navigating through the complexities of racial equity, our discussion explores personal motivations for engaging in this work, stressing the importance of comprehending historical contexts and systemic challenges, along with the significance of perseverance, intergenerational collaboration, and the transformative power of education in driving meaningful change.  You won’t want to miss this episode and the White Rage panel discussion. To learn more about our work, visit our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ppgbuffalo.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Be sure to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sign up for our newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Share your ideas for improving our community by emailing us at ⁠⁠⁠info@ppgbuffalo.org⁠⁠⁠. Whether it's highlighting community organizations you admire, shedding light on deserving initiatives, or providing feedback on our current episode, we welcome your thoughts. Let us know how you envision positive change in our community!

The Open Buffalo Ecology Center is a holistic solution to tackle the complex and interconnected systemic challenges faced by Buffalo residents, in particular the approximately 93,000 residents of the East Side of Buffalo. In January, The Public Good host Dejia James sat down with Francelle Parker and Max Anderson, Executive and Deputy Directors of Open Buffalo, respectively.  In this episode, Franchelle and Max discuss Open Buffalo’s plans for the Ecology Center, envisioning it as a focal point for ecological justice and economic empowerment.  The conversation touches on the importance of multi-generational collaboration, grassroots engagement, and reimagining traditional economic models.  To learn more about our work, visit our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ppgbuffalo.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Be sure to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sign up for our newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Share your ideas for improving our community by emailing us at ⁠⁠⁠info@ppgbuffalo.org⁠⁠⁠. Whether it's highlighting community organizations you admire, shedding light on deserving initiatives, or providing feedback on our current episode, we welcome your thoughts. Let us know how you envision positive change in our community!

On Friday, January 12th, PPG and partners were joined by elected officials and community members to reveal our 2024 Community Agenda! This year's Community Agenda has 11 items ranging from piloting a community responder team in Erie County to reimagining local systems of care for foster youth and young adults to fully fund and implement the City of Buffalo's Proactive Rental Inspection program. In this episode, partners detail agenda items #2-10, where you'll learn more about each agenda item's issue area, its goal, and the impact it will have on our community. To learn more about our work, visit our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ppgbuffalo.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Be sure to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sign up for our newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Share your ideas for improving our community by emailing us at ⁠⁠⁠info@ppgbuffalo.org⁠⁠⁠. Whether it's highlighting community organizations you admire, shedding light on deserving initiatives, or providing feedback on our current episode, we welcome your thoughts. Let us know how you envision positive change in our community!

This year, planning will continue for the Riverline, a project through the Western New York Land Conservancy (WNYLC) that repurposes old infrastructure to create a Greenway and nature trail along Buffalo Creek. To achieve program goals, the WNYLC has partnered with the Buffalo Center School for Arts and Technology (BCAT) to host a Landscape Maintenance Technician Program. The program, for adults residing in the City of Buffalo, includes 30 paid hours of instruction, 30 hours of field training, and a paid internship.  Our guests Jeff Lebsack, Director of the Riverline at WNYLC, and Krista Berry, Executive Assistant/Grants Coordinator at BCAT. Together they’ll discuss the Riverline, the Landscape Maintenance Technician Program, and how BCAT’s adult education programs empower Buffalo residents to learn new skills and establish themselves in new careers.  Those interested should apply by January 29, 2024. The program starts on February 5th. Classes take place Monday through Wednesday, 5:30-8:30, with a synchronous live learning option. To learn more about our work, visit our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ppgbuffalo.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Be sure to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sign up for our newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Share your ideas for improving our community by emailing us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠info@ppgbuffalo.org⁠⁠⁠⁠. Whether it's highlighting community organizations you admire, shedding light on deserving initiatives, or providing feedback on our current episode, we welcome your thoughts. Let us know how you envision positive change in our community!

Did you know that menthol cigarettes have been strategically marketed to Black communities for decades, contributing to health disparities? This week on The Public Good, Stan "the Man" Martin from Stan Martin Consulting discusses the push to ban menthol cigarettes, highlighting the intersection of public health and social justice. Tune in for insights into tobacco control and the urgent need for change. To learn more about our work, visit our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ppgbuffalo.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Be sure to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sign up for our newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Share your ideas for improving our community by emailing us at ⁠⁠⁠info@ppgbuffalo.org⁠⁠⁠. Whether it's highlighting community organizations you admire, shedding light on deserving initiatives, or providing feedback on our current episode, we welcome your thoughts. Let us know how you envision positive change in our community!

This year, the Erie County Legislature is considering passing the Language Access Act following years of advocacy by the New York Immigration Coalition and other immigrant and refugee advocacy organizations. The Language Access Act will require all key government documents issued to the public by the county be translated into key languages. Statewide efforts to pass Language Access are also in the works.  This week, our guest is Hagar Hafez from the New York Immigration Coalition, discussing language access challenges in Erie County and New York State. Touching on personal experiences as an immigrant, Hagar emphasizes the need for empathy and explores the long-term impact on children navigating complex systems. The conversation highlights ongoing efforts for language justice, focusing on local and state advocacy to ensure equitable services for diverse communities. To learn more about our work, visit our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ppgbuffalo.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Be sure to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sign up for our newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Share your ideas for improving our community by emailing us at ⁠⁠info@ppgbuffalo.org⁠⁠. Whether it's highlighting community organizations you admire, shedding light on deserving initiatives, or providing feedback on our current episode, we welcome your thoughts. Let us know how you envision positive change in our community!

This Saturday marks the fifth annual Anti-Displacement Summit organized by nonprofit Our City Buffalo and hosted by a variety of nonprofit and community organizations including PPG. Free and open to the public, the summit, taking place Saturday, December 9 from 10am-3pm at Trinity Episcopal Church (371 Delaware Ave) aims to address issues affecting the community through educational workshops. Following the workshops, there will be a public memorial for the victims of the 2022 blizzard. Tune in to learn more about the event, the types of sessions you might be interested in attending, and more! To learn more about our work, visit our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ppgbuffalo.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Be sure to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sign up for our newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Share your ideas for improving our community by emailing us at ⁠info@ppgbuffalo.org⁠. Whether it's highlighting community organizations you admire, shedding light on deserving initiatives, or providing feedback on our current episode, we welcome your thoughts. Let us know how you envision positive change in our community!

On this episode, Dejia James sits down with Andrea Ó Súilleabháin, Executive Director of Partnership for the Public Good. They explore the unique and democratic approach where over 340 community organizations contribute policy ideas to build a more just, sustainable, and culturally vibrant Buffalo through PPG's Community Agenda process. They discuss the evolution of PPG's mission and principles, commitment to community-based change, and the upcoming Community Agenda vote and public reveal of our refreshed principles. Join us for insights into grassroots activism and PPG and partner work shaping Buffalo's future. To learn more about our work, visit our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ppgbuffalo.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Be sure to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sign up for our newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Share your ideas for improving our community by emailing us at info@ppgbuffalo.org. Whether it's highlighting community organizations you admire, shedding light on deserving initiatives, or providing feedback on our current episode, we welcome your thoughts. Let us know how you envision positive change in our community!

Erie Niagara Area Health Education Center, or AHEC, is dedicated to creating a diverse healthcare workforce and well-informed community. By joining forces with health professionals, high schools, universities, and students, they aim to expand the pipeline of student-to-professional networks within the Buffalo Niagara Region. This week's guests are Kaila McCray and Madeline Ackley, program specialists for AHEC's Birth Equity Project, which aims to reduce Black and brown infant mortality and morbidity rates. They discuss a pilot program that connects Medicaid-eligible moms in Erie County with doulas who support moms during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. Listen to learn more about AHEC, the Birth Equity Project, how doulas have benefited moms in Erie County, doula recruitment, and the future of the pilot program. To learn more about our work, visit our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ppgbuffalo.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Be sure to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sign up for our newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Walt Whitman's most famous poem, "Song of Myself," is a "barbaric yawp" that celebrates freedom, inclusion, and democracy. Working with this iconic piece, Compagnia de' Colombari has created seven short films with actors and musicians around the globe, bringing Whitman's words to life in startling and beautiful new ways. On November 16, 2023, at 7 pm, the films will be screened at the Burchfield Penney Art Center for a Whitman on Walls (WoW!) event. After each film, a local performance poet will offer an original work written in response to the film – conversing with, talking back to, and wrestling with Walt Whitman. The event is free and open to the public. This week's episode features guests from the Calamus Project - Sam Magavern, co-founder of Calamus and Senior Policy Fellow at PPG; Brandon Williamson, poet, founder of Pure Ink Poetry, president of Ujima Theatre; as well as Dr. Steve Peraza, poet and Senior Researcher and Policy Associate at Cornell ILR Buffalo Co-Lab. Together, they'll discuss the project, explore the beauty of and draw to Whitman's poetry, and offer a sample ahead of Thursday night's event. To learn more about our work, visit our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ppgbuffalo.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Be sure to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sign up for our newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Families Aimed Toward Excellence (FATE) is an organization that provides educational resources for students and parents to help them excel both in school and in their community. Our guest this week is Simone Ragland, LMSW and Founder and CEO of FATE. She speaks with Dejia James on the program's focus on digital equity - and lack thereof - especially in inner-city communities and communities of color. Simone shares her journey, emphasizing the importance of mentorship, representation, and exposure to STEM fields for young students. To learn more about our work, visit our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ppgbuffalo.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Be sure to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sign up for our newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

This Friday, November 3rd at 6 pm at the Buffalo AKG, Squeaky Wheel, a local nonprofit with a mission to continue a legacy of innovation in media arts through access, education, and exhibition, will host its 20th Animation Fest! On this week's episode of The Public Good, Dejia James is joined by Meg Specksgoor, Communication and Development Manager at Squeaky Wheel, for a discussion centering the Animation Fest, free and open to the public, which features a diverse selection of animated shorts from local and international artists, showcasing a variety of styles and techniques, including hand-drawn, generative A.I., cartoon, and stop-motion animations. Learn more about Meg's background and experience and what you can expect from this accessible community event. To learn more about our work, visit our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ppgbuffalo.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Be sure to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sign up for our newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Did you know that under New York State law, landlords are allowed to charge only first month's rent and a security deposit not to exceed first month's rent and can only charge up to $20 for an application fee and background check? And - landlords must give you a copy of the background check they conduct, which you can use when applying for other rental units. Learn about this and more with our guests this week from Housing Opportunities Made Equal - or HOME, as the organization celebrates 60 years of fighting for fair housing rights in Western New York. We're joined by Steven Haagsma, Education Manager, and Cierra Fields, Content and Education Specialist. They'll give an overview of fair housing rights and housing discrimination - and how you can report it to HOME. Learn about how HOME investigates housing discrimination to hold landlords accountable, along with different avenues of legal advice and representation referrals HOME provides. Steven and Cierra also dive into the free landlord and tenant trainings HOME offers. To learn more about our work, visit our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ppgbuffalo.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Be sure to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sign up for our newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

This week, Dejia James dives in with Juweria Dahir, sharing her journey as an immigrant in Switzerland to becoming the Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at ⁠Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus⁠. She highlights the challenges immigrants face in Buffalo and the significance of support programs. The conversation delves into ⁠H.E.A.L. International⁠, detailing their services and recent community-focused initiatives, offering a closer look at their impactful work in Buffalo. To learn more about our work, visit our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ppgbuffalo.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Be sure to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sign up for our newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.