Partnered with the Southern Poverty Law Center in my research titled “Working But Not Employed,” which examines workers who are not protected by labor and employment laws, such as incarcerated and workfare workers.
Archives
Buffalo Urban Development Corporation, Board of Directors
I have been a member of the Board of Directors for the Buffalo Urban Development Corporation (BUDC) for over 10 years, during which time I have also served on the Audit and Finance Committee of BUDC. BUDC has completed Buffalo Lakeside Commerce Park, developed Riverbend — which is now being built out as Solar City, initiated downtown projects and begun the Northland project on Buffalo’s east side.
LGBT Domestic Violence Committee of Western New York, Member (Board Service)
Serve as a volunteer member of the LGBT Domestic Violence Committee of Western New York. Mission is to promote community awareness of domestic violence among sexual minorities, identify unique barriers to service access and educate local providers about the unique needs of the LGBT community in order to enhance service provision.
43 North Mentor Program
The 43 North Mentor Program was created to optimize business success and quality of life for the competition’s finalists and their companies.
Buffalo Broadcasters Association, Board Member
This board serves to recognize outstanding broadcasters and to preserve the history of broadcasting in Western New York. It’s a 501(c)(3) founded in 1996. Ongoing goals: to collect and preserve artifacts and the history of broadcasting in Western New York; to recognize and honor people, past and present, who have worked and contributed to radio and television through an annual Hall of Fame celebration; to create a resource center that can display the memorabilia of broadcasting and tell the story; and to mentor the next generations of broadcasters and ensure the preservation of our rich history. In addition to organizational governing duties, board members assist with creating and implementing various projects. They included annual events such as the Hall of Fame celebration; the Buffalo Excellence in Media (BEMA) awards, a 5K walk/run and Media Night Out. We also assisted in other projects such as collecting, organizing and archiving broadcasting artifacts and hosting/running other educational, networking and mentoring events.
Buffalo Public Schools STEM Experience
Buffalo Public Schools STEM Experience is an expansion on BPS STEM Week which occurred in April 2014. SUNY Trustee Eunice Lewin initiated the idea in order to improve the STEM education pipeline between the WNY region’s SUNY schools and Buffalo Public Schools. It also was designed to bring increased awareness of the need for education in STEM fields. In 2014, the program expanded to be more school-year-round. It also includes a speakers bureau as well as a reading component with the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library System joining the effort. STEM Week 2015 took place March 14-20, 2015, beginning with the ISEP (Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Partnership) program’s Science Summit. It included school-based activities and two large events for a few hundred (each event) students from BPS elementary and high schools. Additional locations: Buffalo Public Schools; Buffalo Museum of Science; Roswell Park Cancer Institute Auditorium; Buffalo and Erie County Public Library System
Creative Problem Solving Institute
The Creative Problem Solving Institute (CPSI) is an international conference that celebrated its 60th birthday in 2014. It is sponsored by the Creative Education Foundation (CEF), a nonprofit member organization dedicated to teaching others the creative problem solving process in order to spur innovation in companies and organizations and help build resiliency within students. I have participated in several ways with both CEF and CPSI. This past year, I helped create a program within the 5-day-long conference. I also co-led one of the training components within the conference. My duties have been similar over the past approximately 20 years. The conference attracts anywhere from 250 to 500 participants and leaders from around the world. They come from business/industry as well as educational institutions.
Buffalo Poverty Research Workshop
The Buffalo Poverty Research Workshops offer everyone concerned with Buffalo’s poverty the chance to hear about new and ongoing research, promising strategies and opportunities for collaboration. The workshop is designed for local scholars, social service agencies, advocates, and government leaders and staff, among others, and is always held in downtown Buffalo. The workshops have been held annually beginning in 2010. The co-organizers are UB Civic Engagement and Public Policy, the Homeless Alliance of Western New York, and the Partnership for the Public Good. Other sponsors have been involved in some years: the WNY Service Learning Coalition (2010-2013) and the National Center on Family Homelessness (2011). Community-based research by scholars–and also by community researchers, practitioners and policymakers–has been featured each year. Additional locations: Downtown Buffalo; Buffalo & Erie County Public Library, Central Library; Buffalo & Erie County Public Library, Frank E. Merriweather, Jr. Library; Olmsted Center for Sight; St. Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church Social Center