#open buffalo

It began with me ordering my Open Buffalo’s Dismantling Racism Workshop soup. It was full of differing ethnicities with social justice missions and minds hungry to understand RACISM. That’s a lot take in for a first course.

My seasonings were made up of What is racism, how is it internalized, is it fair that it affects a certain group of people, did you know race was created and is systematic, and so on. I wasn’t ready for the appetizer, but then it came.

CHWNB or “The Community Health Worker Network of Buffalo” Youth and Adult Training. It had an eclectic look to it, with an array if people holding differing connections. Some educationally, some community, some medically, and some judicially. We spoke on how gaps between communities and available resources could be bridged through constant collaboration to improve the quality of community lives by including the community in the decisions to be made. Mentally, I was beginning to get full.

Luckily, something a bit lighter came along. It was the salad of ECRJC or Erie County Restorative Justice Coalition…maybe I spoke to soon. However, its many greens spoke to address differing issues. To restore justice in schools, the community, those facing probation/court by bringing people together to discuss the incident to repair the harm.

And just as I was digging in, I had to make room for my main course, VENT; a  multi media company that provides graphic, web, print design and more to local Buffalonians. It also has a publication that focuses on social justice issues affecting the East Side of Buffalo. Poverty, Racism, Unemployment, Violence, Crime, Inadequate Public Transportation, Trauma, Police Brutality, Disinvestment, Failing Public Schools, Gentrification, Bad Neighbors…need I say that my taste buds were not happy?

I called over my waiter to ask why my food was clashing. “Well,” my waiter said. “You ordered our special, The Buffalo Dish. Is it not what you asked for? “That’s a rhetorical question, right?” I said.

But, then my dessert arrived. Cheesecake, my favorite.

I dug my fork into the cheese, right down to the graham cracker crust of curiosity. What the heck is going on in Buffalo? And then I too my first bite out of The Buffalo Billion. This plan is supposed to boost Buffalo’s economy. You’ve seen the medical corridor in the Fruit Belt, right?

There’s been lots of stories on it. The Hightech Manufacturing HUB River bend in south Buffalo (image) has also had much shine. But, now the attention has shifted to the Northland Corridor (image) in the East Side where Mayor Byron Browns’ vision of a business park is being built. I wonder if many people know about this? The Buffalo Billion invested 6.7 million in it through the Buffalo Urban Development Corporation (BUDC). It’s supposed to be finished sometime next year and will be open to employing local Buffalonians. Pridgen, a director on the BUDC Board said, “I’m absolutely thrilled to see this moving in that direction…That we are paying attention to this area will rise the morale of those living in the neighborhood.”

Maybe we’ll be able to start “living like millennial kings” since our comeback city is finally thinking about us.

I took another bite, but this time it was of D.O.P.E., a local upcoming collective focused on Dismantling Oppressive Patterns for Empowerment through sound and more. Its a Do It Yourself (DIY) millennial peer organization WERK-ING on creating a stronger alternative music and art community for People of Color (POC), women, LGBTQIA and disabled individuals of all ages. They’re even having there first event today!

My mouth watered at the fact that this group is focusing on the East Side community with creating events and safe spaces for people here to collaborate, dance, and learn about their mission.

The next bite made me L.O.L at Leaving Our Legacy. Its a local peer led sexual health program focused on educating adolescents on the importance of getting tested, sexuality, having protected sex, and more. They do outreach throughout the Buffalo community in schools by giving presentation and going into the community to pass out condoms and information. They even plan events to bring youth and adults together to have conversations about how to better educate/encourage the youth to take control of their sexual health.

Now, I could go on and on about these happenings, but instead I’d like to invite you to have dinner with me sometime.

Check Please!

~Jamiah Mootry

References:

http://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/news/2015/01/29/northland-corridor-project-to-advance-this-year.html?page=all

http://www.areadevelopment.com/newsitems/9-19-2014/northland-avenue-belt-line-corridor-redevelopment-project-buffalo-new-york278343.shtml

http://buffalobillion.ny.gov/buffalo-hightech-manufacturing-innovation-hub-at-riverbend

http://buffalorising.com/2015/01/northland-corridor-reuse-project-starts-with-acquisition-of-industrial-site/