The Public Good

While New York State implemented mental health, drug, and opioid courts to handle modern crises, the implementation of these options has remained patchy and ineffective. Members of the Treatment Not Jail (TNJ) Coalition detail the real experience of people suffering from addiction in our legal system. The system as is does not address the root causes of addiction nor consider the best approaches for rehabilitation from substance abuse. This results in years spent toiling through a system with pending charges and little hope.This week on The Public Good, Tom Culkin and Laura Robinson of the TNJ Coalition join us to provide updates and insight on the Treatment Court Expansion Act for New York State. Tune in to learn about the statewide advocacy to ensure humane, safe, and fair legal processes for people in New York. 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!

For decades, election cycles have come down to a two-party "lesser of two evils" dynamic of candidate options. The struggle to produce unifying or politically diverse candidates has many feeling unrepresented and ultimately disillusioned with the state of the current voting system. However, some states and municipalities have decided to implement a new form of voting, Ranked Choice Voting (RCV). RCV allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference, which encourages productive political discourse, and requires candidates to win genuine policy support from voters. This week on The Public Good, Lori Robinson of the League of Women Voters, David Green of Unite NY, and Connor Whitney from the UB Civic Engagement Team join us on behalf of the WNY Ranked Choice Voting Coalition to discuss an alternative voting system. Tune into the discussion to learn more about implementing Ranked Choice Voting in Buffalo and Erie County.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 current instability and rapid changes in the United States federal government have raised unprecedented threats and concerns for nonprofits and community groups in Buffalo Niagara. Policy shifts, funding instability, and legal uncertainty place immense strain on organizations and government agencies that serve people most in need of protection and benefits—workers, BIPOC folks, LGBTQ+ individuals, immigrants, and low-income communities. Hard-won progress toward racial equity and justice is now under attack, with decades of progress being rolled back. This April, Partnership for the Public Good is launching our 1st annual day-long summit, Advocacy in Action and a virtual workshop series Protecting Our People, Communities, and Organizations: Local Action in a Time of National Crisis. These opportunities offer local residents, aspiring community advocates and organizations a chance to take convene and learn how to fight back and protect necessary services and infrastructure for our communities.Listen to learn about advocacy and how YOU can get activated in your own community to protect democracy and public services.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!

As of February 2024 around 42% of New Yorkers across the state are enrolled in a Medicaid or Essential Plan. While some funding is state tax dollars, impending threats of an $880 billion cut to federal Medicaid spending over 10 years by the current administration will create a significant hole in NYS resources to serve the community. With federal cuts and the risk of eliminating entire public health systems, Jasmine Westbrook of the Healthcare Education Project/1199 SEIU joins us to discuss their fight to save lives.Tune in to learn about the statewide federal advocacy led by the Healthcare Education Project to protect medicaid and public health in New York.Get Involved:Tell Congress to Fight for MedicaidShare your Healthcare StorySign Up for "Hands Off Medicaid" Lawn SignsThe New York Alliance for Healthcare Justice is fighting to end the Medicaid funding crisis in New York. Continuing to underfund Medicaid not only means severe cuts in mental health services while children and seniors on Medicaid experience difficulty accessing needed health care service.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!

With unending sudden changes in federal mandates, immigration has been a central point of tension in our current political sphere. Recent changes include rescinding the "Sensitive Location Policy" which maintains certain spaces as safe spaces, such as schools and places of worship, from immigration enforcement. Due to a targeting of perceived "others," the community is left to fear for their safety. On this episode of The Public Good, Anna Porter with the New York Immigration Coalition joins us to educate on knowing your rights with immigration enforcement. There are many federal changes happening on a weekly basis creating unease and fear in communities. Tune into the discussion to learn about what you can do and how to keep each other safe. 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!

More and more children need help with developmental benchmarks between the ages of 0-5 years old, while doctors, therapists, and providers are unable to meet the current need and have waitlists from 6-months up to a year. White children are 5x more likely to receive early intervention screenings and services up to 24 months than Black and Brown children. Early childhood intervention providers rates of service were last adjusted and set by New York State in 1994, over 30 years ago. These statistics are the reason Liftoff WNY is fighting for more support from New York State for early childhood intervention systems to service our communities.On this episode of The Public Good, Megan Battista of Liftoff WNY joins us to discuss the current state of early childhood intervention systems in New York State. Tune into learn about the statewide advocacy to support our early childhood intervention system and create better outcomes for children in New York.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!

What does it mean to be in a ever-present state of crisis? Many across the political spectrum denote this point in history as a confluence of crises points. On this episode of The Public Good, Dr. Rinaldo Walcott, Chair of the Department of Africana and American Studies at the University at Buffalo joins us to discuss the role of Black Studies and the history of Black people as a critical tool in confronting crisis and organizing for a better collective future.Dr. Walcott leads UB's Humanities Institute Annual Conference 2025: Black Studies and the Crises of Our Times, this week on March 12th-14th, free and open to the public. "Black Studies and the Crises of Our Times responds broadly to the impact of the field since its formal establishment over 50 years ago. This multi-day conference, organized by the Department of Africana and American Studies in conjunction with the Humanities Institute, will articulate why we need Black Studies more than ever for both its national critique and its global articulations of political community." Tune in to the podcast to hear a preview of discussions from the conference and register and join! 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!

Cities like Albany and Syracuse have opted into Good Cause Eviction, a tenants' rights and protections law. Why has Buffalo hesitated? On this episode of The Public Good, PUSH Buffalo and Buffalo DSA join us to debunk Good Cause Eviction and demand Buffalo opt-in to this current New York State legislation. Good Cause Eviction was passed in New York State in April 2024 to protect tenants in unregulated rental housing units in New York City, cities in upstate jurisdictions could opt in to this law by choice. The law protects renters from price gouging, rent hikes, retaliatory evictions, and more. The law maintains “good causes” as grounds for legal evictions.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 2025 Community Agenda is here! On this episode of the Public Good, Our Executive Director, Andrea Ó Súilleabháin details the origins of the community agenda with a core of true democratic people-centered advocacy.Each year, Partnership for the Public Good invites our 370+ partner organizations to propose local and state policy changes that advance equality, sustainability, and cultural vibrancy in Buffalo Niagara. The partners take a vote, and the top ten proposals become the Community Agenda – PPG's focus for the coming year. The 2025 Community Agenda reaches across integral socioeconomic impact areas such as highway removal, community benefits for economic development subsidies, ending unfair punitive practices in educational settings, funding the arts, and more!The 2025 Community Agenda of the top TEN policy change priorities are:1. Fully Restore Olmsted's Humboldt Parkway and Delaware Park by Removing the Kensington and Scajaquada Expressways2. Pilot a Community Responder Team in Erie County3. Public Good for Public Dollars: Pass a Community Benefits Agreement Law for Erie County4. End Unfair Suspensions in Buffalo Public Schools5. Adopt Ranked Choice Voting in the City of Buffalo6. Pass Good Cause Eviction Protections to Ensure Housing Stability for Buffalo Renters7. Treatment Not Jail: Expand Access to and Modernize Treatment Courts in Buffalo8. Fully Implement Proactive Rental Inspections in the City of Buffalo9. Fulfill the City of Buffalo's Annual Commitment to Fund the Arts10. Pass the Working Families Tax Credit to Help Families Thrive in New York StateTo 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!

We continue to examine the criminal justice system this week through the lens of sentencing reform. Currently, Communities Not Cages seeks to right the wrongs of the lingering effects of the War on Drugs and crack down on crime in the late 80s and through the 90s by offering incarcerated people a chance at restoration and freedom. The Marvin Mayfield Act, the Earned Time Act and the Second Look Act remove the incentive for judges to hand down lengthy sentences, create opportunity to have a resentencing hearing while facing endless time in prison and reward rehabilitation and provide personal growth opportunities for those thrown into the system. On this episode of The Public Good, we are joined by Thomas Gant, Felicia Cruz, and Lamar Scott of Communities Not Cages as they advocate for these three integral bills to change the lives of hundreds of incarcerated people across New York State.

Through the decades our society has faced crisis after crisis: The Crack Epidemic, 2008 Financial Crisis, the Opioid Crisis, COVID-19 and innumerable events have directly impact the economic, social and emotional health of everyday people.  The criminal justice system in New York State sought to create a pathway in the court system to address mental health and substance abuse issues proliferating case after case, through the creation of Treatment Courts. However, the implementation of these court systems have not been uniform across municipalities. As a result, people are forced into unfair plea agreements and unsustainable treatment programs. On this episode of The Public Good, Sophie Feal of Legal Aid Bureau of Western New York of the Holistic Representation Unit, discusses advocacy efforts to standardized harm reduction principles and create wider accessibility of treatment courts in New York State. Tune in to join the 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!

Crypto currency and AI have emerged as harbingers of a new age, but, at what cost? The term 'data center' has yet to rise in the same notability as its popular end products but has begun to make waves as use of AI and crypto has gained more traction in every day society. The impact of these data centers, filled with computers running endless code for AI and crypto programs, are unregulated energy production, back-door deals for abandoned or defunct power facilities and metric tons of waste water. On this episode of The Public Good, Bridge Rauch of the Clean Air Coaliton comes to debunk the mysticism of crypto and AI and reveal the tangible harms and threats they pose to our world. Tune in and join the 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!

In the last decade, communities across America are demanding a reckoning for the destruction of neighborhoods through the inception of the suburb and the construction of highways to serve newly fled populations to city centers. While some sought escape from urban living and disinvestment in communities of color, others were left with the devastating effects of loss of parks and third spaces, economic downfall of neighborhood businesses and detrimental health effects from pollution. On this episode of The Public Good, The Eastside Parkways Coalition discusses the history of the Humboldt Parkway and its reflection of a story known across the country. The Eastside Parkways Coalition is calling for the removal of the Scajaquada and 33 Expressways to restore this notable corridor and neighborhood to its rightful glory. Tune in and join the 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!

Throughout history we have heard about the crisis of "immigration" threatening borders and sovereignty, but, what is the true human experience behind the controversy? This week on The Public Good, Hagar Hafez, Manager of Organizing & Strategy for WNY with the New York Immigration Coalition discusses the misconceptions and common ground behind migration. Humans have moved space and time across lands for thousands of years, so why are we reaching crisis points of histeria across the world? How have we collectively aided the cause of displacement across different geographies? Most importantly, where do we go from here to join in collective visioning for solutions? Tune in and join the 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!

This week on the Public Good we are joined by Dr. Schuyler Lawson, Lead of Research and Evaluation Team with No Menthol Buffalo to discuss the present dangers of menthol tobacco in our communities. 45,000 African Americns die each year due to preventable tobacco related illness. No Menthol Buffalo seeks to ban the use of menthol tobacco products to inhibit the proliferation and addictive qualities to youth and adults within communities across the nation. Learn how you can aid in their public health efforts and the tricks of the tobacco industry that cause us harm. 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, PPG's own Senior Community Researcher Colleen Kristich & Charis Humphrey, Youth Engagement Coordinator with ECRJC, discuss a newly released report that calls for Buffalo and Erie County to invest in community responders.  Community responders are a new type of first responder who responds to nonviolent calls without the police. Over 100 American cities now utilize community responder teams to address low-level health and social needs, which saves police and ambulances time and allows them to respond faster to higher-priority calls. In Buffalo today, over 80% of 911 calls to Buffalo Police do not involve crime or violence, and yet police are almost always sent – an approach that is dangerous, unnecessary, costly, and ineffective. Instead, community responder teams composed of health professionals and peers can be safely deployed without the police to many of these calls and prevent situations from escalating into crises. An initial $100,000 in state funding has been secured by Senator Sean Ryan to begin community outreach, training, and data collection for a pilot community responder program in Buffalo. The press conference was hosted by The Community Responders for Erie County Coalition comprised the Erie County Restorative Justice Coalition, Partnership for the Public Good, Little People's Victory, VOICE Buffalo, and Evergreen Health. 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 of The Public Good, Leighton Jones of Our City Buffalo joins us to overview what is on your ballot in Buffalo ahead of the November 5th, 2024 election. As changes occur on federal, state, county and city level, Buffalo has a large influence on changing our political landscape into 2025. We discuss Proposition 1 a proposed amendment that would "expand that protection based on several new categories: ethnicity, disability, age, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy or pregnancy outcomes and reproductive health care and autonomy." Additionally, Our City Buffalo provides a coprehensive profile of Buffalo School Board Member At-Large candidates for you to make the best decision on who governs the city's $1 Billion budget for our youth. Want to learn more about what's at stake in our elections? Listen now! 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!

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. On this episode of The Public Good, we're spotlighting the founders of BBRIDGE: Building Black Relationships by Initiating Development, Growth, and Empowerment. Listen in as Regine Ndanga and Caitlin Crowell join students and professors—Jennifer Elliott, Vanity Jones, Ogechi Kalu, and Joyce A. Jekayinoluwa—to dive into their groundbreaking work on domestic and intimate partner violence in Black communities. Learn how they're using their research to connect the university with the public, listen to their podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and don't miss their upcoming panel Heal and Safe: Centering Black Voices on October 25th! 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 week on The Public Good, our guest is Keiah Shauku, Director of Community Engagement at the ⁠Buffalo AKG Art Museum. ⁠ Over the last six months, AKG has hosted "⁠Before and After Again,"⁠ an artwork, pose, and poetry exhibition featuring Buffalo-based artists and cultural producers Julia Bottoms, Jillian Hanesworth, and Tiffany Gaines. In dialogue with the community, their work responds to the 5/14 tragedy. To mark the exhibition's closing, on October 11, performer Drea D'Nur will present ⁠"A Requiem for Our Suffering,"⁠ a testament to remembrance, grief, and healing, in an event free and open to the public. Keiah discusses the exhibit, this upcoming event, the role of museums in gatekeeping and community-building, and how we can use art and science to point the way to a more humane future. To learn more about our work, visit our website a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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!

In this episode, we talk to Richard Steinberg and Sara Schultz of Sierra Club Niagara about their proposal to electrify the City of Buffalo's vehicles. Electrifying our municipal vehicles will save the city money, improve residents' health, and will help reduce the greenhouse gasses that contribute to climate change. To learn more about our work, visit our website a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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, Hagar Hafez from the New York Immigration Coalition and Hy Carrel from Community Canvases discuss The Home Within, a multilingual poetry and arts event at the Buffalo History Museum on Thursday, October 10, 6-9 p.m., to celebrate Buffalo's rich language tapestry and language justice. The event culminates a series of writing and poetry workshops that brought together immigrant writers, artists, and community members to explore the connections between language and home and find common threads in their stories, self-expression, and community and political advocacy. To learn more about our work, visit our website a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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!

Samantha Hidalgo from the Buffalo Center for Health Equity and Chantazia "Shay" Bronson from the UB Community Health Equity Research Institute joined us on The Public Good to talk about their upcoming Igniting Hope conference. On September 21, this free annual conference on health equity will focus on Building an Environmentally Just Community, bringing together local residents, advocates, and health and medical researchers for keynote talks and breakout sessions on community issues. 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!

How are we engaging and creating safe third spaces for youth? What is true youth leadership? Join us on this epsiode where RealTalk discusses their upcoming Teen Block Party Empowerment Fest on September 1st from 3PM-8PM at Johnnie B Wiley Stadium. Learn more about the work RealTalk and thenatural_hustle #TEENSWHOCARE are doing to activate and empower young people 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. 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 special episode of The Public Good, we introduce Whitman, Buffalo a celebration of poetry and community. Partnership for the Public Good (PPG) and the Calamus Project worked with filmmaker Steve Rosenthal to film representatives from 20 PPG partner organizations doing three things: describing themselves and their work; talking about PPG's 20 principles (eight assets and twelve challenges facing Buffalo); and reciting a passage from Walt Whitman's “Song of Myself.” “Song of Myself” is one of the world's greatest poems. In an earthy, open style, Whitman celebrates democracy, love, and radical inclusion. Since its first publication in 1855, “Song of Myself” has moved people all over the world with its radiant vision and “barbaric yawp.” Whitman, Buffalo was inspired by Whitman, Alabama: a project of filmmaker Jennifer Crandall, who will be visiting Buffalo this fall as part of the exhibition “Embracing Earth: Burchfield & Whitman” at the Burchfield Penney Art Center. 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 of The Public Good, we speak to our Summer 2024 PPG interns on "Next Gen Leaders." Every summer and throughout the year PPG welcomes interns from universities, community or grassroots movements to experience public policy, research and advocacy in a new way. We strive to include younger generations into creative approaches for shifting historically flattened and sanitized governance. Through this lens, our interns speak on the lessons they have learned working with PPG throughout the summer, how their experience impacts their worldview and how they will continue their own paths of leadership in the 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!

What does it mean to truly hear the voices of our communities? Who gets to shape the narratives in our society, and who is left unheard? In this episode, guests Hagar Hafez and Anna Porter from the New York Immigration Coalition dive into the critical issue of language access in Western New York and across the nation. We explore how the absence of language resources has silenced millions and discuss NYIC's efforts to amplify these voices through creative arts and community initiatives. 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!

How are the creative outlets of theater and the arts a direct pathway to healing and justice for subjugated populations?  On this summer High Road series episode, our guests, Gabriella McKinley and High Road Fellow Daniela Gloster from Ujima Company Inc., will discuss the salient and creative work Ujima is producing around injustice and carceral systems.  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!

With the election looming, maintaining labor rights is a top priority for WNY Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO. On this summer High Road series episode, our guests Austin Morgan and High Road Fellow Matthew Dye from the WNY Labor Federation discuss the current state of labor unions and the work to maintain over a century's worth of organizing and wins on behalf of the working class.  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 summer High Road series episode, Chris Murawski and High Road Fellow Sia Gu from the Clean Air Coalition of WNY to discuss the work of grassroots leadership development and the intersections of environmental justice with racial, economic, and social justice. "The Clean Air Coalition builds power by developing grassroots leaders who organize their communities to run and win environmental justice and public health campaigns in Western New York." They also envision "a world where our environment promotes health and equity and where systems place communities at the forefront of decision-making." 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 week, we welcome Felicia Stanley, Luanne Brown, and Program Mom Dora from the Buffalo Prenatal Perinatal Network (BPPN). We'll delve into critical discussions about Black Maternal Awareness and health disparities. Did you know that 1 in 5 new mothers faces a maternal mental health condition? The statistics are even more alarming for Black women, with 40% experiencing these symptoms—almost double the rate of all women. Despite this, only 20% of women are screened, and up to half may not receive the necessary support or treatment. Black women are also three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes compared to their white counterparts. Join us to hear how BPPN is working to address and combat these disparities and discover what steps are being taken to improve outcomes and provide better support for Black mothers.

Next week, PPG and the Cornell ILR Buffalo Co-Lab is hosting Uniting on the High Road, a conference bringing together leaders, advocates, researchers, and organizers from broad movements for racial and economic justice and authentic democracy. Free and open to the public, register to take part in interactive workshops, field experiences in Buffalo neighborhoods, art performances, and collective art making as we learn from each other and imagine future collaboration within and across series.  On this episode, Andrea Ó Súilleabháin, executive director of PPG, will provide an overview of what to expect at the conference - from the organizations represented, panelists, types of presentations, and more.  Register - for free- by this Friday, June 14th.  The conference will take place Thursday June 20th through June 22nd. Visit the website to see the full program and register.

This Foster Care Awareness Week, we're thrilled to highlight Dr. Leah Angel Daniel, Founder and Executive Director of Fostering Greatness Inc. and Executive Director of the African American Cultural Center.  As a foster care alumna herself, Dr. Daniel is dedicated to uplifting the foster care community, especially focusing on youth of color. Through her organization, she's transforming lives from survival mode to thriving, providing crucial support in mental health, housing, and more.  Join us in honoring and learning more about her incredible work and how you can get involved. And check out PPG's 2024 Community Agenda Item #5 - Support a Forgotten Population: Reimagine Local Systems of Care for Foster Youth and Young Adults in Erie County - to learn more about current advocacy work. 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!

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.