Buffalo, What’s Next?: Recent Episodes
WBFO
Buffalo, What’s Next? unapologetically confronts the reasons why the May 14 mass shooting occurred in Buffalo. Each hour-long episode is hosted by WBFO News Director Dave Debo, WBFO Managing Editor Brigid Jaipaul-Valenza, and WBFO Morning Edition Host Jay Moran, and will amplify voices that have traditionally been marginalized. The show provides a forum for open, honest, and candid conversations about what happened, what’s next, and what role each of us can play in solving the problems that caused it.The show is broadcast live on air from 10am to 11am Monday through Friday, and airs again at 9pm on WBFO. It is also available digitally through WBFO’s website, apps and as a podcast.Listeners can participate by using the "Talk to Us" feature in the WBFO mobile app, available on Apple and Android devices. Open the app and scroll to the bottom bar where the "Talk to Us" button allows listeners to send audio recordings straight to the newsroom.
On today’s episode, we focus on the mental health stigma surrounding Black men. We welcome back Cheney Brockington, licensed master social worker and an Erie County Restorative Justice Coalition board member, and Deja Middlebrook, co-owner of Walking Through Solutions LLC.
Southern Fried is one of the largest spoken word and performance poetry competitions in the world. Founded in 1993, it’s rooted in storytelling, soul, and Southern hospitality.
On today’s show we bring in another voice from this year’s Buffalo mayoral election. We welcome Anthony Tyson Thompson, a Buffalo native leader and one of the five candidates on the Buffalo Democratic primary ballot.
On today’s show, we’re joined by conductor and educator Jaman Dunn-Danger, a Black, queer artist leading Joshua’s Boots, a work by acclaimed composer Adolphus Hailstork this weekend at First Shiloh Baptist Church.
On today’s show, we explore the upcoming Remembrance Conference 2025, a two-day joint event hosted by the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo, and the College of Human Medicine at Michigan State University.
On today’s episode, we welcome three members of Buffalo’s Solutions Not Suspensions Coalition, which aims to shed light on the long-standing problems with the suspension system affecting Buffalo Public Schools students and families.
On today’s edition of Producer’s Picks of the Week, we bring you two segments from episodes that aired this week.
On today’s edition of Producer’s Picks, we bring you segments from three standout previous episodes.
On today’s episode, we welcome back India Walton, and we take a look at Buffalo State’s Post-Production Diversity Initiative, which aims to increase representation in the post-production media field.
On today’s show we welcome back two familiar voices from Niagara Pride: President and Co-Founder Ronald Piaseczny, and Programming Chair Sherry Fossett. Niagara Pride is a nonprofit dedicated to uplifting the LGBTQIA2S+ community across Niagara County and Western New York.
This week, we are proud to bring you special programming on remembering the May 14th Tops Massacre. In our final installment, we bring you a conversation on the future of social justice by listening to both the voices of elder advocates, and younger ones beginning to take up the mantle of taking on issues.
This week, we are proud to bring you special programming on remembering the May 14th Tops Massacre. In today’s installment, we take a deep dive into policy, advocacy, and systemic change through two conversations.
This week, we are proud to bring you special programming throughout the week on remembering the May 14th Tops Massacre. In today’s installment, we break down economic empowerment on the East Side of Buffalo and food injustice throughout the region.
This week, we are proud to bring you special programming throughout the week on remembering the May 14 Tops mass shooting. In today’s installment, we analyze mental health and healing from the tragedy, as well as processing trauma and building resilience.
This week, we are proud to bring you special programming throughout the week on remembering the May 14th Tops Massacre. In today’s installment, we focus on remembering the lives lost and reflecting on the East Side Community.
On this edition of Producer’s Picks of the Week, we revisit two standout conversations: one with Hamadi Ali, Markets Manager at Providence Farm Collective, and Executive Director Kristin Heltman-Weiss, and another with Emmanuel Kulu, an African Historian and Author.
On today’s episode, we bring you two new conversations. First, we welcome John Masiulionis, the author of “Walking Each Other Home”. Next, we welcome back Deja Middlebrook and LaShawn Davis of Walking Through Solutions LLC.
On today’s episode, we discuss the importance of African history and the gaps seen in education on the topic. We welcome Emmanuel Kulu, an African historian and author.
On today’s episode, we speak with Providence Farm Collective; the only nonprofit in Western New York that directly supports communities with access to rural farmland, farming and business education, technical assistance, markets, and the opportunity to farm for income.
On this edition of Producer's Pick of the Week, we revisit three previous conversations.
On today’s episode, we attend the Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart's annual Day of Sharing. The event this year focused on refugees. The two interview attendees of the event, and dive deep into the workshops that were featured. Next, we discuss an exciting initiative between the two groups that is set to take place in May 2026.
On today’s show, we dive into the 6th Annual Excellence in Education Awards. The event, which is hosted by Friends for a Better Buffalo, honors educators for their contributions and recognizes their efforts beyond the classroom.
On today’s show, we bring you a special conversation on poetry in Buffalo. We welcome Aitina Fareed-Cooke, and Jillian Hanesworth, the Poet-Laurate and Poet-Laurate Emeritus of Buffalo.
On this edition of Producer’s Picks of the Week, we revisit three conversations: one with Geraldine Pointer, Terrance Pointer, and James Coughlin, another with Jennifer Rizzo-Choi, and finally Karen King, Cathy Creighton, and Rusty Weaver.
Today, we explore the "Black Buffalo Speaks" event, a student-curated Africana Studies conference at Buffalo State University that aims to foster community, conversation, and action, with a diverse lineup of speakers representing various aspects of black culture and history.
Today, we take a look at a report that breaks down the gender pay gap in Erie County as we welcome Karen King, Executive Director of the Erie County Commission on the Status of Women, and two members of Cornell University's Industrial and Labor Relations Buffalo Co-Lab.
Today, we welcome back Jennifer Rizzo-Choi, the Executive Director of the International Institute of Buffalo, and analyze how recent immigration policy changes at the federal level have impacted the region.
In 1967, Geraldine Pointer and Martin Sostre were arrested after being accused of selling drugs and weapons out of the bookstore they operated on Jefferson Avenue. 57 years later, there is still an ongoing movement to exonerate the two of the charges.
O this edition of Producer's Picks of the Week, we feature three previous conversations: Dr. Jennifer Roberts and Catherine Shick, Jillian Penkin, and Eileen Kineke.
On today's show, we bring you two new conversations. First, we dive into the topic of Black maternal health. We welcome Eileen Kinecke, the Director of Prenatal and Infant Community Health at the P3 Center at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center. She sits down with Jay Moran to discuss the upcoming fourth annual uplifting Black Maternal Health event. Next, Maria Ta sits down with Pat Cray, a Buffalo-based photographer who documents the city's diverse neighborhoods and cultures. The two discuss the importance of preserving local history through visual storytelling and the value of representation in the arts and media.
We welcome Nicole Clifton, a local financial crimes expert of 20 years, and Dr. Cynthia Stewart, a Program Manager for the UB Center of Information Integrity and Executive Director for the Deception Awareness and Resilience Tools (DART) platform.
We welcome Dr. Jennifer Roberts, Associate Professor at the University of Maryland, Catherine Shick, Public Relations Manager for FeedMore WNY, and Jillian Penkin, Founder of Penkin Consulting and the Northeast Regional Director of the National Association for Women in Construction.
Today we welcome Victory Ross, a Community Coordinator for the Western New York Peace Center, Win Min Thant, Director of the Crossroads Coalition, and Mike Hogan, a Business Manager for the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades. to discuss the motivation behind the Buffalo United March.
Today, we welcome Dr. Bonita Durand, who is currently serving as the interim president of Buffalo State University, to discuss the institution's unique approach to education, the importance of balancing liberal arts with professional training, and how Buffalo State plans to navigate potential changes in federal education funding.
We welcome back Dr. Jason Knight, an Associate Professor in Buffalo State’s College of Government, Planning, and Philosophy. He recently published a report called "Developing Opportunity: Aligning Zoning with Affordable Housing Needs".
Today, we take a closer look at Catholic Charities of Buffalo—a cornerstone of support for the WNY region, serving over 147,000 individuals and families in eight counties annually. We welcome Deacon Steve Schumer and Molly Ann Oliver, the CEO and COO of Catholic Charities of Buffalo.
On today’s show, we bring you the panel discussion that was held after a screening of the film “100 Years from Mississippi”. Moderated by Executive Producer of What’s Next, Charles Gilbert, the panel features Tarabu Kirkland, Aitina Fareed-Cooke, and Dr. Janice Ferguson.
We analyze the East Side Neighborhood Transformation Project. Led by Dr. Henry Louis-Taylor Jr., the project aims to address issues surrounding the Broadway-Fillmore Neighborhood through community land trusts, cooperative housing, and a multi-sector approach to neighborhood development.
Recently, WBFO Disability reporter Emyle Watkins went on the road to cover a group of advocates as they made their way from Buffalo to Albany to challenge topics such as involuntary treatment, Kendra’s Law, and more.
On this week’s edition of Producer’s Picks of the Week, we highlight two standout segments from the previous week: one on how the COVID-19 Pandemic altered downtown Buffalo, and a conversation with Mary Kate Loftus and Lauren Schellinger from Impressia Bank.
The women’s economy is expanding at twice the rate of other businesses, yet traditional banks and fintech institutions are still falling short in addressing the needs of the rapidly growing sheconomy. Why is that?
On today’s episode, we dive into the transformation and the challenges facing downtown Buffalo with Bob Shibley, the former dean of UB's School of Architecture and Planning, and Jake Schneider, an entrepreneur and developer of multiple downtown projects.
On this week's edition of Producer’s Picks of the Week, we revisit conversations with Glenn Aronow, Bukola Morgan, Susan McCartney, Dr. Marcus Watson, and Thomas Beauford.
Today, we key in on the recent work of the Buffalo Urban League and welcome Thomas Beauford Jr., the President and CEO of the Buffalo Urban League, to discuss the unique challenges faced by different Urban League affiliates.
Today we focus on the importance and challenges of Africana Studies in the current political climate as we welcome back Dr. Marcus Watson, an Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of Africana Studies at Buffalo State.
We examine workforce and small business development initiatives in Western New York, as well as the need for collaboration and support to help individuals and businesses thrive.
On this week's edition of Producer’s Picks of the Week, we revisit conversations with Ekua Mends-Aidoo, Dr. Barbara Seals-Nevergold, Lauren Kausner, & Tala Harden, Mark Baetzhold & Marthe Limage, and Justin Hawkins.
We welcome Justin Hawkins, a financial literacy educator who teaches credit strategies, and Keia Clarke, the CEO of the WNBA’s New York Liberty. Clarke is a 2003 alumnus of Canisius University and will be the keynote speaker in the upcoming Women’s Leadership Summit.
We discuss the topic of homelessness in Niagara Falls by diving into the work of Heart, Love and Soul, a non-profit community-based organization that has provided services to the area since 1983.
On today’s episode, we discuss “A Shot Rang Out”, a documentary that dives into the historical context of the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921.
We dive into the realm of artistic creativity, cultural representation, and youth education. We welcome Jalen Law, Buffalo-based artist and educator, who recently finished his mural "The Future is Our Canvas" for the NFTA Black History Month contest.
In our final installment,, of our sit-down series with the major candidates, we hear from the person currently leading City Hall. We welcome Chris Scanlon, the Acting Mayor of the City of Buffalo.
We welcome three people integral to the planning of the Harriet Tubman Byway, a proposed 550-mile cultural heritage tourism route in New York State, crossing over 22 counties with aim to connect sites related to Harriett Tubman and the Underground Railroad.
We continue to sit down with the candidates for the upcoming Buffalo mayoral election. Today, we welcome Michael Gainer, Founder of Buffalo ReUse, and a member of the East Side Parkways Coalition.
On this week’s edition of Producer’s Picks of the Week, we bring you three highlighted segments from the previous week: Dr. Kenyani Davis, Rachel Laster, and Jay Carrier.
On this episode, we welcome Rachel Laster, a dietitian, nutritionist and the owner of Real-Life Dietetics and Consulting, and artist Jay Carrier to talk about his powerful exhibition, “Niagara, It’s Great to Be Here”.
Dr. Kenyani Davis, the Chief Medical Officer at the Community Health Centers of Buffalo, discusses the impact of federal budget cuts on healthcare equity and the broader implications of federal policies on healthcare access and outcomes.
We bring you the highlights of three conversations: Cindy Voelker, the CEO of Spectrum Health, Celebrity Chef Bobby Anderson, and Albert Chao, an architect looking to revitalize the site of the late Robert Traynham Coles’ historic studio
Albert Chao, an architect currently working out of the late Robert Traynham Coles’ historic studio, to discuss the Cole’s House Project, an initiative meant to restore the house, engage the community, and highlight its role in resisting harmful infrastructure.
We bring you a special conversation with Celebrity Chef Bobby Anderson, the founder of F-Bites, a culinary program designed to improve the employment rates and opportunities of young people in Niagara Falls through the development of workforce skills in a culinary setting.
WBFO Disability Reporter Emyle Watkins sits down with Dr. Sami Schalk, a disability scholar, professor of Gender and Women’s Studies, and author of “Black Disability Politics”, then, we welcome Cindy Voelker, the CEO of Spectrum Health.
First, we revisit our conversation with Shantelle Patton, the founder of That Brown Bag. Next, we revisit our discussion with Magdalena Nichols and Anna Mongo, the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Program Officer of Jericho Road Community Health Center.
Magdalena Nichols & Anna Mongo, Chief Operating Officer & Chief Program Officer of Jericho Road Community Health Center, discuss health disparities in the refugee population & the positive impact that refugee resettlement & community investments can have on WNY.
We welcome back Shantelle Patton, the Founder of That Brown Bag, an annual directory that highlights Black-owned businesses, to discuss how to create better access to the directory portal and how to empower minority business owners to their potential.
We revisit two standout episodes: Jay Moran’s conversation with Dr. Annette Wysocki, the Dean of the School of Nursing at the University at Buffalo, and Jillian Hanesworth’s conversation with Alex Burgos and Talia Rodrigeuz.
Today we are joined by returning guests Alex Burgos and Talia Rodriguez to discuss in great length the Hispanic vote in Western New York and beyond, along with their thoughts on the state of the country.
First, Morgan Williams-Bryant, CEO of Leadership Buffalo, discusses some of the initiatives the group has been up to. Next, Eann Robinson and Kiman Baldon of Ear Quality LLC discuss how Ear Quality empowers and educates rising musicians.
We welcome Dr. Annette Wysocki, the Dean of the University at Buffalo’s School of Nursing, discusses how to better support nurses, who she views as one of the most needed yet least supported professions.
The What’s Next crew takes a trip to Jamestown to catch up with Kaycee Colburn, the Founder of KayCo, and Reverend Luke Fodor, Momina Di Blasio, and Sam Qadri. The three are members of the New Neighbors Coalition, a group dedicated to assisting new refugees.
WBFO brings you a special edition of What’s Next? as we break down Hochul's recent State of the State address, dividing it into six key topics: Education, Housing, Affordability, The Environment, Mental Health, and Public Safety.
Jamie Anderson, the COO of F-BITES, discusses why the skills they teach are impactful to WNY’s youth. Next, Faustenia Morrow and Pastor Paul Thomas, the organizers for the 5th Annual MLK Day of Service event at Bethel AME Church to discuss the event and the impact of MLK’s legacy.
The UB School of Social Work received a $3.59 million grant to develop the Buffalo Mental Health Service Professional Fellowship program. Dr. Katie Stalker and Dr. Annahita Ball discuss the programs funded by the grant, and how to address adolescent mental health in Western New York.
The Ujima Theater did not end up getting any of the ARP money originally allocated to them by the Buffalo Common Council. They recently received $49,000 from the $2.3 million pool of New York State Council on the Arts funds, which was imperative to the survival of the institution.
Michelle Sawyers, the recently appointed CEO of the YWCA of Western New York, sits down with Ekua Mends-Aidoo to discuss the YWCA’s impactful work that serves local women and families and her vision for the future of the YWCA.
PATH is a non-profit faith-based organization dedicated to ending human trafficking through education, prevention, and restoration. Julie Palmer discusses what PATH has been up to, and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.
The International Institute of Buffalo has been integral in bringing refugees to the area with an official Refugee Status Determination from the United Nations. We welcome back Jennifer Rizzo-Choi, the Executive Director of the Institute.
We continue our series with the candidates for the upcoming Buffalo mayoral election. This edition, we welcome Judge James McLeod, a retired Buffalo City Court Judge.
We revisit conversations with Pastor Charles McCarley of the Tabernacle of Praise about the role that religious leaders play in the community, and with Jasmine Westbrook, a local healthcare advocate.
The “No New Jail” movement aims to fight Erie County’s decision to build a brand new $200 Million jail and focuses on advocating for better conditions in existing jails and how funds can be better allocated to community resources.
Rasheed Wyatt shares why he chose to run for mayor, the change he wants to see from City Hall, and how his background in finance can help the City of Buffalo navigate its problems.
Kelly Diane Galloway and Saladin Allah sit down with Jay Moran to discuss the FreeTHEM Gala and a trip they took to Tanzania/Zanzibar, where they led 21 people on a cultural excursion.
Sean Ryan discusses his plans for the city of Buffalo, including his timeline to fix key issues such as housing, small business ownership, and the revitalization of Downtown Buffalo.
Eann Robinson and Kiman Baldon, co-founders of Ear Quality LLC, share their mission to empower musicians. Henri Muhammad previews the Muhammad School of Music’s 25th-anniversary concert celebration.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Erie, Niagara, and the Southern Tier create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships between volunteer mentors and children ages 6 through young adulthood in Western New York.
Over 80% of 911 calls to Buffalo Police do not involve crime or violence, yet the police are always sent. Recently, the Partnership for the Public Good and its partners helped launch the Erie County Community Responders Program.
Jay Moran speaks with Jasmine Westbrook about healthcare advocacy and Dr. Monica Miles on sustainability efforts with Mother Earth Literacies, enhancing health and equity in WNY communities.
On today’s episode, we welcome a panel of key members of the AI initiative to the show. The five discuss the future of integrating AI and healthcare.
Former Buffalo Fire Commissioner Garnell Whitfield announced his candidacy for Buffalo Mayor. He recently became a voice on the national level for gun violence prevention and fighting white supremacy.
The Urban Think Tank released a report calling on the Buffalo Common Council to reevaluate its Bus Patrol Program, highlighting its concerns over the disproportionate impact the program has on economically disadvantaged residents.
Kelly Wolfe & Stephanie Pepper from the SPCA and Racheal Tarapacki from the resource council of WNY discuss an incubator grant awarded to the SPCA. Next, Dr. Karen Kwandrans and Rhonda Bivins-Talley discuss the work of the Levesque Institute.
We revisit two previous standout conversations: Thomas O’Neil-White and Sheri Scavone, CEO of the WNY Women’s Foundation, and Jay Moran's discussion with Tim Chen, Executive Director of Grassroots Garden WNY.
We celebrate Native American Heritage Month & discuss a recent Haudenosaunee flag raising in Buffalo, Native American boarding schools, and how Native people are represented throughout history and media.
We discuss suspensions in Buffalo Public Schools and the Buffalo Suspension Coalition from three different perspectives.
Dr. Meng Wang and Samantha Hidalgo discuss two new studies conducted to better understand the state of air quality in specific areas of Buffalo, as well as the state of Buffalo’s East Side’s Air Quality.
The Turtle Building in Niagara Falls is an important cultural landmark to the Western New York indigenous community. Today, the building stands vacant.
Today's conversations include the latest edition of Goodskills Career Builder and the recent lawsuit regarding the Kensington Expressway.
Buffalo PAL is dedicated to enriching young lives year-round with sports, educational, cultural, & enrichment programs. Nekia Kemp shares the full lineup of fall programs for Buffalo youth.
Pastor Charles McCarley discusses the role that religious leaders play in the community, & members of the YMCA Buffalo Niagara discuss the upcoming projects the YMCA is bringing to the East and West sides of Buffalo.
Recently, Niagara University partnered with various local housing agencies and the City of Niagara Falls to develop a housing and community assessment of the Mid-City District.
“Resetting The Table” is a national effort to prevent political violence through collaborative discussion. Recently, various local religious and civic leaders joined the initiative.
We revisit a conversation with the Deputy Commissioner of the Erie County Board of Elections. Next, we go back to an installment of our Project 2025 series with guests from the Clementine Gold Group.
On today’s episode, we welcome back Morgan Williams-Bryant, the CEO of Leadership Buffalo, and environmental artist Chantal Calato, whose work has been featured at various exhibits.
What's Next? welcomes the newly appointed 13th President of SUNY Erie, Dr. Adiam Tsegai. Her appointment marks both the first African American and Woman President of SUNY Erie.
We sit with the owners of black-owned Black Rock bakery Radah Baked Goods to discuss their business & community efforts. Then, we welcome Howard Johnson to discuss the importance of voting.
Jay Moran, Thomas O'Neil-White, and Dr. Michael Niman discuss the overall goals of the project, the historical significance of the movement, and the impact the project could have through the lens of media.
On today's episode, we welcome back Duncan Kirkwood, a renowned national resilience trainer and the visionary behind the “Unleash Your Greatness” program, an initiative designed to empower students in Buffalo Public Schools. He’s joined by Katie Schuta, Principal of the Buffalo School of Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management, where this transformative program is being piloted. Together with host Jay Moran, they delve into the profound impact of resilience training on young minds, the unique challenges facing Buffalo schools, and the broader potential of fostering resilience as a core skill in education.
Today, we say farewell to our friend and host Thomas O’Neil-White. For his final interview he sits with Jay Moran to discuss his time as host of What’s Next? his career as a black journalist, and his best moments from his time at WBFO.
On today’s show, we feature two conversations. To start, Jay Moran sits down with Beth Machnica, the Director of Health and Well-Being at Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. The two discuss the upcoming 4th annual “Food as Medicine” symposium, which aims to empower organizations and communities to promote wellness and close the disproportionate health gap in communities of color. For our second conversation, we go back to August when the “What’s Next?” crew attended the Black Business Block Party at the Exchange at Beverly Gray. The team collected interviews with various organizations in attendance and got their insight on the importance of the event.
We revisit two standout conversations. First Thomas O’Neil-White conversation with Buffalo’s first female historian Lindsey Lauren Visser. The two discuss the anniversary of the 19 amendment which gave women the right to vote, and the significant role Buffalo played in the suffragist movement. Then Jay Moran conversation with Licensed Master Social Worker Cheney Brockington. The two discuss generational patterns of trauma in Buffalo, along with the systemic barriers to education that results from them.
We continue our Project 2025 series as Jay Moran is joined by Ekua Mends-Aidoo and Kim LaVare from Clementine Gold Group. Together, they dive into a compelling discussion on the future of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the context of Project 2025. From fostering inclusive leadership to dismantling systemic barriers, the three sheds light on the role of DEI in shaping a more equitable and forward-thinking future.
On today’s show, we welcome Jessica Forgette, an English teacher at Niagara Falls High School. Jessica recently started the Native American Youth Club, a program meant to connect students at Niagara Falls High School to their Indigenous backgrounds by fostering an environment of education and cultural understanding. Alex Simone sat down with her to discuss the club’s mission, her journey with her own Indigenous roots, as well as dive into the world of Native American education in Western New York.
Today, on What’s Next? we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. First, Jay Moran speaks with Dinorah Baines from the Hispanic Heritage Council of WNY Inc. about the rich heritage of Hispanic culture in Western New York and the various celebrations happening throughout the month. Later, Jay Moran is joined by Valerie Cruz and Mykia Gibson from the Buffalo Prenatal Perinatal Network to discuss the critical work of the organization and its impact on the Hispanic community.
For today’s episode, we feature two conversations. To start, Jay Moran sits down with Liv Duke, the Programs & Services Coordinator at Arts Services Inc., and Tracy Synder, the Executive Director of The Theatre of Youth. The three discuss the Arts Access Initiative, a program designed to create wider access to arts and cultural events through transportation, language, and financial assistance. For our second segment, we welcome three members of the UB Center for Information Integrity. Jay Moran is joined by David Castillo, the Co-Director of the Center, along with E. Bruce Pitman and Jasmina Tacheva, who are two speakers for the center's upcoming film screening of “Coded Bias”, a film that discusses the pitfalls of generative AI.
For today’s episode, we feature two conversations. To start us off, we begin with the first episode of our Project 2025 series. The series aims to go in-depth as to what the impact of the Project would look like if implemented. For the first episode of the series, Thomas O’Neil-White is joined by returning guest Wil Green, the Assistant Dean of Outreach and Community Engagement at the Graduate School of Education at UB. The two discuss the potential impact of Project 2025 on education. For our second conversation, we welcome David Castillo, E. Bruce Pitman, and Jasmina Tacheva of the UB Center for Information Integrity. Jay Moran joins the three in a conversation about how misinformation and generative AI can affect access to reputable information on elections, as well as an upcoming film screening of “Coded Bias”, a film that discusses how certain facial recognition programs are not programmed to analyze dark-skinned faces accurately.
Today, we speak with two influential voices in the fight against Parkinson's disease. Nancy Nealon, Director of Education and Outreach for the Northeast Region of the National Parkinson’s Foundation, and Dr. Peggy Brooks-Bertram, President of the Uncrowned Queens Institute and National Parkinson’s Foundation volunteer. They discuss with Jay Moran the critical challenges facing African American communities. And they also discuss the historical exclusion from healthcare and research, and how it affects our understanding of Parkinson’s within these communities.
For today’s episode, we feature two conversations. To start us off, Thomas O’Neil-White is joined by Kelly Wolfe and Stephanie Pepper of the SCPA serving Erie County, as well as Racheal Tarapacki of the Resource Council of WNY. The four discuss a $100,000 incubator grant awarded to the SPCA, and how both groups plan on creating better access to veterinary resources in the East Side of Buffalo. For our second segment, Thomas O’Neil-White sits down with Sheri Scavone, the CEO of the Western New York Women’s Foundation. The two analyze a report from the foundation that details some of the issues that women in WNY are facing through data-driven metrics.
The 6th Annual Refugee Film Festival is more than just a series of screenings—it's a powerful platform that highlights the voices, stories, and resilience of refugees from across the globe. Running from this month through April 2025, the festival brings the lived experiences of displaced people into focus, sparking conversation and understanding. On today’s show, host Jay Moran sits down with two incredible guests: Theresa DeLuca, Chief Advancement Officer at Journey’s End Refugee Services, and Andy Cammarata, Director of Outreach and Volunteers at the organization. Together, they discuss the impact of the festival, and the mission behind their work.
The second annual FIG Fashion Festival is this Saturday at the iconic Seneca One Tower. The event looks to build off the promising launch of the event last year. On today’s show, we welcome back Dame Powell owner of DAME, a luxury leather goods brand in Buffalo. His mission “To empower & inspire our community by creating timeless pieces that blend urban edge with sophisticated elegance. We strive to bring a touch of luxury to the everyday, and to be a beacon of pride for our city and our culture. He sits with Jay Moran to discuss his thoughts his involvement in the first show and his return to for the second event.
People Against Trafficking Humans (PATH) is a faith-based nonprofit organization dedicated to ending human trafficking through education, prevention, and restoration. On today’s show, we’re joined by Julie Palmer, the Executive Director of PATH. Under her leadership, the organization has built a dedicated staff, established a survivor support fund, and increased public awareness of trafficking issues. Julie sits down with Jay Moran to discuss PATH’s work and the Enrichment Center, a safe space where survivors receive therapeutic support services, fostering healing and hope.
Recently, the Lackwanna School District implemented a cell phone ban for all its students. The ban aims to create fewer distractions and improve academic performance. On today’s show, we welcome Dr. Katheryne Leigh-Osroosh, an assistant professor of counseling, school and educational psychology at the University at Buffalo. She joins Jay Moran to talk about the pros and cons of the ban, including the psychological and social impact of the ban, particularly for students who rely on their phones or social media as key aspects of their identity.
Transportation inequality restricts access to jobs and key services for community members. Go Bike and the Coalition of Economic Justice are two groups that aim to change the system through their transit initiatives and legislative recommendations. On today’s show, we welcome Justin Booth, the executive director of Go Bike, Kevin Heffernan, the communications director of Go Bike, and Jamal Davis, a transit rider organizer for the Coalition of Economic Justice. The three sit down with Thomas O-Neil-White to discuss what better transportation safety looks like, and how better access to transportation can be achieved.
The Neighborhood Health Center is a vital healthcare provider in Buffalo dedicated to ensuring that every community member has access to quality medical services, regardless of their financial situation. Today we welcome Merlyn Hammer, the Senior Director of Public Health at Neighborhood Health Center. She sits down with Jay Moran to discuss the state of health equity in Buffalo, the challenges some residents face, and the solutions Neighborhood Health Center has developed to make healthcare accessible to all.
It’s back-to-school season! Recently, Thomas O’Neil-White hosted a Buffalo Public Schools roundtable discussion, which featured conversations on educational opportunity gaps, student mental health, and safety across all campuses. On today’s show, we welcome Jessica Bauer Walker, President of Buffalo Public Schools Community Health Worker Parent and Student Association, Danielle Grzymala, co-chair of the Buffalo Parent Teacher Organization, and Ed Speidel, the president of the District Parent Coordinating Council. All three are members of the BPS Parent Congress. We also welcome two BPS students, to get their insight on the issues they face, and the communication between them, their parents, and the district.
On today’s show, we speak with Tim Chen, Executive Director of Grassroots Garden WNY. Grassroots Garden is a dedicated group of community gardeners and activists in Western New York. Their mission is to address systemic harm and enhance neighborhood ties through their community garden project. Chen sits with Jay Moran to discuss the organization’s recent Soil Health Symposium, which is meant to educate the local community on soil screening and safety. They also explore the organization’s dedication to community development and environmental equity.
Today we welcome representatives of Niagara University Dr. Karen Kwandrans, Associate Vice President, and Rhonda Bivins-Talley, the Executive Director of the Levesque Institute. The Levesque Institute is an organization at the University that aims to generate civic engagement and make an impact in the revitalization of Niagara Falls. The two sit with Jay Moran to discuss how the Levesque Institute leverages its resources and influence to foster positive, sustainable change. They also explore the innovative programs and initiatives they've developed and their vision for the future of Niagara Falls.
Today welcome Mark Laurrie, the Superintendent of Niagara Falls Schools, and Dave Rust, the CEO of Say Yes Buffalo. The two join Jay Moran to discuss Say Yes’s recent expansion to Niagara Falls, and how the program will give hundreds of Niagara Falls students the chance to pursue higher education. The Niagara Falls Say Yes expansion is slated to start during the 2025 academic year, and the necessary endowment funding for the project sits at $18 Million.
On today's show, we welcome Cheney Brockington. Cheney is a licensed master social worker and an Erie County Restorative Justice Coalition board member. She sits down with Jay Moran to discuss generational patterns of trauma in Buffalo, along with the systemic barriers to education that results from them. They also dive into the work of ECMC's Buffalo Rising Against Violence Program, Buffalo's only hospital-based violence intervention program.
Recently, the What’s Next? team traveled to Jamestown, New York, to meet with members of the Sukanya Burman Dance Company. The group is a key force behind the upcoming Jamestown Dance Festival, set to take place from September 7th through the 8th. The festival promises a diverse lineup of nationally renowned dance performances, workshops, and panel discussions. Today, we welcome Sukanya Burman, the Artistic Director, and Daryl Simons, the Executive Director of Sukanya Burman Dance, along with two board members, Amanda Gesing and Ellen Shadle. They join Jay Moran in the Sukanya Burman Dance studios to discuss the significance of hosting the event in Jamestown, the importance of nurturing the local dance scene, and the rich history of the dance.
We revisit a standout conversation and follow up with a new discussion with the City of Buffalo Historian and Executive Director of the Niagara Aerospace Museum Lindsey Lauren Visser. First, we revisit the first time Lindsey Lauren Visser joined the show back in March. Thomas O’Neil-White sat down with her to discuss her newly appointed role, what we can expect from the position and some of Buffalo's local connections to national history. For our second conversation, the two spoke recently on the 104th anniversary of the passing of the 19th Amendment which gave women the right to vote. They discuss the Suffragist movement, and how Buffalo helped contribute to its success.
Today, we speak with Karen King, the Commissioner of Public Advocacy and also serves as the Executive Director of the Commission on the Status of Women. The Commission will celebrate and commemorate the placement of the “Trailblazing Women Monuments” in front of Old County Hall at 92 Franklin St. in downtown Buffalo. Karen joins Jay Moran to discuss the significance of these monuments and the vital roles women play in government, politics, and beyond.
The 8th Annual Beau Fleuve Music and Arts Celebration kicks off today and runs through Sunday, August 25, at the historic Buffalo Central Terminal. With the motto "Culturally Activated & Community Engaged," this event promises a vibrant showcase of art and music. On today’s show, we’re joined by Lindsey Taylor, the founder of Beau Fleuve, to discuss the multifaceted nature of the organization, and the recent announcement concerning Gibson Development.
This Sunday on WNED PBS, the powerful documentary Sold Next Door will air, sharing the stories of two women who have been victimized by human trafficking in Western New York. On today’s show, we speak with Kelly Diane Galloway, the founding director and president of Project Mona’s House. She sits down with Jay Moran to discuss the documentary and the vital work the organization is doing in the fight against human trafficking.
We revisit two standout conversations. First, Jay Moran sits down with Marie Patton, the vice president of the National Association of Women in Construction’s Buffalo Niagara chapter. They discuss how the construction workforce population still has a very small portion of women, and how the organizations she’s a part of are looking to fix that. Then, we rewind to a conversation Jay Moran had with Bob James of Western New York Vets and Carolyn Damon of Spectrum CARES. The three speak about mental health first responders and the importance of having them as a resource.
We revisit two standout conversations. First, Thomas O’Neil White sits down with Alex Burgos, a public health policy and public relations professional. They discuss how to fill the gaps in youth and sport programs on Buffalo’s West Side, and how to develop policies to increase accessibility to programs. Then, we go back to a conversation Jay Moran had with Dr. Henry Louis Taylor Jr, the director of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at the University at Buffalo. The two take a deep dive into two reports that Dr. Taylor previously worked on, “How we Change the Black East Side” and “The Harder We Run: The State of Buffalo in 1990 and the Present”, and how the community can benefit from the changes presented in them.
We revisit two standout conversations. Starting with Jay Moran’s talk with Marcus Watson, an Associate Professor of African Studies and Individualized Studies at Buffalo State University. They discuss his intro to Africana Studies courses, as well as his work in the Peace Corps while in South Africa, shortly after Apartheid. Then, Thomas O’Neil-White sits down with Rashawn Smalls, the program manager for Tobacco-Free Erie and Niagara through CAI Global. The two talk about what it means to advance tobacco-free communities, including eliminating secondhand smoke and creating overall healthy environments.
We revisit two standout conversations. Starting with a Jay Moran talk with Deja Middlebrook and LaShawn Davis of Walking Through Solutions LLC. The three discuss the group’s four-week couple’s bootcamps, and how they are designed to strengthen relationships and navigate issues. Then, Jay Moran speaks with Andre Stokes, the Director of Specialty Substance Use Disorder Services at BestSelf Behavioral Health. They dive into what the stigma of men’s mental health looks like, and how it correlates to substance abuse.
We revisit two standout conversations. Starting with a Thomas O’Neil-White discussion with Seamus Gallivan, founder of "Reconnector" about the initiative and how the “social connection space” aims to prevent social unrest. Then, Thomas O’Neil-White sits down with the City of Buffalo's Historian Lindsey Lauren Visser, the first female to serve in the role to talk about her appointment and the importance of the position.
We revisit Thomas O'Neil-White conversation with University at Buffalo's Associate Professor and Director of the Center for K through 12 Black History and Racial Literacy Dr. LaGarrett King. We then follow up with LaGarrett with Jay Moran as this Friday is the start of seventh Teaching Black History Conference with this year's theme being “Black to the Future: Afro-futurism as Black History”.
We revisit two stand out conversations. First Jay Moran’s conversation with Community and Public Relations Director for Evans Bank, Kathleen Rizzo Young, and the President and CEO of United Way of Buffalo, Trina Burruss. Then, Executive Director of Buffalo Educational Opportunity Center at the University at Buffalo Ben Hilligas.
Cooperation Buffalo is an organization that engages its community in training and education in cooperative economics, works to grow economic democracy, and creates an ecosystem of cooperatively owned enterprises in Buffalo. Today, we welcome Executive Director Andrew Delmonte to the show. They sit down with Jay Moran to give us a history of the organization, its mission, and why cooperative businesses are important for community economic development. The two also discuss Cooperative Changemakers: A Community Power Fellowship program and their end of Summer Bash called “Co-Op Fest”.
The Buffalo Federation of Neighborhood Centers is an organization that provides comprehensive family-focused services for adults and youth living in low-income and disadvantaged neighborhoods throughout WNY. Today we welcome Chief Executive Officer Chandra Redfern to the show. She sits with Jay Moran to discuss the organization's recent Mental Health Learning Series and their new program, 'Mommie Matters' along with other services it provides. The two also dive into Chandra's leadership and how the agency serves the community.
We revisit a stand out conversation with Thomas O'Neil-White speaking with public health advocate and founder of Stan Martin Consulting Stan Martin alongside the Director of Training, Content, and Development at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center Sara Pearson-Collins. Then Thomas follows up with Stan Martin for an update on what progress has happened since his last appearance.
We revisit a stand out conversation with Holly Kirkpatrick speaking with Buffalo's Poet Laureate Aitina Fareed-Cooke. And we have a special interview with Jay Moran sitting with Morgan Williams-Bryant CEO of Leadership Buffalo and founder and CEO of MWB Ignites. Morgan speaks with us about her Champion Made Empowerment Summit taking place Saturday June 29.
Eat Off Art is a collaboration of Artists, Educators, and Entrepreneurs working to build a more empathetic community. Their mission is to inspire others through their crafts, passions, and endeavors to believe that there is a way to be successful, sustainable, and profitable as artists. On today’s show, we speak with the founders of Eat Off Art Alexa and Edreys Wajed. The dynamic married couple discusses with Jay Moran how Eat Off Art is striving to change the narrative for artists and build them up to become successful entrepreneurs, while pushing their message of building a more empathetic community.
The Niagara Pride is a nonprofit organization serving LGBTQ+ individuals and families in Niagara County and Western New York. Their mission is to promote the visibility of the LGBTQ+ community throughout Niagara County of New York State and create safe and welcoming events and meetings for LGBTQ+ individuals, families, and allies. Today, we speak with the President of Niagara Pride Ronald Piaseczny, and the program chair Sherry Fossett. The two sit with Jay Moran to discuss the events that they have been doing in celebrating PRIDE month in Niagara County and the impact it has on local communities. From the WNY Pride 5K Run to Rainbow Pride taking place on June 29 and other events but more importantly, the three discuss the impact the organization has on the youth.
Today, Jay Moran and Dallas Taylor return to Olean to take a tour with the founder of the African American Center for Cultural Development, Della Moore. Then Jay Moran sits with Marquis Burton, the poet known "Ten Thousand." The two discuss about his career, the dynamics of the East Side and Juneteenth in Buffalo.
Today, the What’s Next? team takes us on a tour at the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center with the Director of Community Engagement Saladin Allah. Allah is the third-great grandson of underground railroad Freedom Seeker Josiah Henson whom Harriet Beecher Stowe used as the primary narrative for her famous 19th Century novel “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” He takes Thomas O’Neil-White and Jay Moran around the center and provides insight into the center and more.
Today, special host Bentley from WBFO’s Group Chat sits with professor of theater and Africana studies at Buffalo State University Naila Ansari to discuss the highly anticipated Netflix documentary “Black Barbie: A Documentary”. We also, revisit WBFO reporter Holly Kirkpatrick’s piece on a local exhibit that displayed black dolls during Black History Month.
Today, we speak with the founder and creator of Our Mommie Village Shyana Broughton. Broughton, a doula speaks with Thomas O’Neil-White about the importance of doulas during and after pregnancy and how her organization is living up to the mantra “It takes a village”. Then Thomas speaks with LaGarrett King, a professor at the University of Buffalo to discuss all things Juneteenth, from the significance of the holiday to how we can continue to honor the holiday.
We revisit two stand out conversations. First Jay Moran with Laurie Matson (Associate Vice President of Southern Tier Services) and Jessica Schanne (Associate Vice President of Facilities and Emergency Management) for Evergreen Health System. Then Thomas O'Neil-White conversation with author and sickle cell disease activist Juanita McClain and Dr. Steven Ambrusko.
Today, we speak with community advocate Alex Burgos and the CEO, President, and chairman of Upstate New York Black and Latino Pride Teja Jenkins-Jones. June is National PRIDE month, and the two speak with Thomas O’Neil-White about the historical significance of the month, the recent Vogue outdoor night whose theme was “Gag City” and what progress looks like in the LGBTQ+ community. Then Jay Moran sits with a member of the local slam poet team Pure Ink Poetry Dallas Taylor. Dallas will travel with the team to Florida for the Southern Fried Poetry Slam. We may hear a poem of two from Dallas as well.
Today, we speak with returning guests Deja Middlebrook and LaShawn Davis from Walking Through Solutions, LLC. Deja and LaShawn update us on what Walking Through Solutions has been up since their last appearance on the show. The two have a four-week couples boot camp that they go into great detail about with Jay Moran and how it helps couples solve issues within their relationship and build a stronger foundation.
We revisit two stand-out conversations with Hagar Hafez from the New York Immigration Coalition and Olean City School District Superintendent Dr. Genelle Morris.
As June is Men’s Mental Health Awareness month; Andre Stokes Director of Specialty Substance Use Disorder Services at BestSelf Behavioral Health sits with Jay Moran to discuss the importance of men speaking out on the stigma surrounding mental health. The two also discuss his recent speaking engagement at the Institute for Disaster Mental Health conference presented “Responder Resiliency & Buffalo’s 5/14”.
Today, we speak with award-winning violinist, conductor, and teacher Henri Muhammad. Muhammad appeared on What’s Next? 5/14 Special, however before that appearance, he sat with Jay Moran to discuss his upbringing, expertise, and experience as well as the celebration of the Muhammad School of Music's 25th anniversary.
Who polices the police? On today's episode we look for answers as Thomas O'Neil-White speaks with Executive Director of Partnership for the Public Good Andrea Ó Súilleabháin and attorney Nick Ramirez from the Western New York Law Center. The three discuss challenges, and potential community-based alternatives in fostering safer and more equitable societies.
Today, we speak with members from Blues: A 5/14 Memorial Project. The project is a collaborative community art making response to 5/14. Thomas O’Neil-White speaks with the members about the project and the impact it has had on the community. Then, Jay Moran speaks with Bob James from Western New York Vets and Carolyn Damon from Spectrum CARES about mental health first responders and the importance of the responders.
Today, we speak with Jamestown artist Kaycee Colburn, who recently was featured in a story you can hear on our website about the arts and culture center KayCo. Through an award from Creatives Rebuild New York, Colburn was placed as an artist-in-residence on the campus of Jamestown Community College. She sits with Jay Moran for an in-depth conversation about her upbringing and how her heritage fueled her work and words.
Today, we speak with the community and public relations director for Evans Banks, Kathleen Rizzo Young, and the president and CEO of United Way of Buffalo, Trina Burruss. They discuss with Jay Moran Work/Life Solutions, a program dedicated to improving workplace productivity, retention, attendance, financial stability, and the well-being of employees, which was made possible by Evans Banks.
Today, we welcome back Buffalo's Poet Laureate Aitina Fareed-Cooke. As we reflect on the anniversary of the 5/14 attack, Jay Moran gets Aitina's thoughts on the anniversary, the community, and her hope for change within Buffalo's East Side.
Today, we welcome yoga instructor, author, and founder of Mind Body Solutions Matthew Sanford to the show. Sanford, back in April hosted an adaptive yoga class at the University of Buffalo. Before the event, he sat with WBFO's Disability Beat reporter Emyle Watkins to have an in-depth conversation on how his practice reconnects not only body to mind but also builds resilience.
Today, we welcome back some familiar voices to the show. Bob James from Western New York Vets and Carolyn Damon of Spectrum Health C.A.R.E.S. join the show to discuss the upcoming concert to honor mental health outreach workers who respond to crises. Then Jay Moran speaks with returning guest Wil Green, director of outreach and community management at the University of Buffalo. The two discuss the 5/14 anniversary and Wil’s thoughts on the state of the community two years later.
Today, we continue our conversation with University at Buffalo Professor of Urban and Regional Planning Dr. Henry Louis Taylor Jr. from our 5/14 Special Reflection on Change: Progress, Challenges, Resilience, Reform, and Joy. Followed by WBFO reporter Alex Simone conversation with Buffalo Native and School of Public Health at the University of Maryland, Professor Jennifer Roberts who gives history on expressways and the concerns with the new Kensington Expressway project.
On today's episode, to conclude our special coverage we discuss Black Joy with Violinist Henri Muhammad.
On today's episode, to conclude our special coverage we discuss Black Joy with David Jonathan & Inner City Bedlam.
On today's episode, we have an in-depth conversation about reform with the Erie County Commission of Statue Women: Living Trailblazing Women.
On today's episode, Thomas O'Neil-White discusses the resiliency of that has been shown in the two years since the tragedy with former Poet Laureate Jillian Hanesworth and Executive Director of Western New York Peace Center Deidra EmEl.
On today's episode, Jay Moran discusses challenges that are still faced on Buffalo's East Side with Dr. Henry Louis Taylor Jr. Then, Thomas O'Neil-White speaks with DEI consultant and Executive Vice President of the National Urban League Young Professionals Kendra Brim.
On today's episode, Thomas O'Neil-White discusses progress or lack thereof in two separate interviews with author and executive director of Agents of Advocacy Mark Talley and political activist India Walton.
Today, we take a trip to The Foundry on Buffalo’s East Side where Thomas O’Neil-White speaks with Megan McNally, Executive Director, and Tamara Zantell, Business Development Director. The three have an in-depth discussion about the organization’s start and impact on the community.
The Tool Library is a volunteer-powered nonprofit tool-lending library located in the center of Buffalo’s Main Street. Set up to lend tools out to the community to help them maintain and fix up their homes and gardens. On today’s show, we take a tour of the Tool Library with Jay Moran and Darren Cotton, the Executive Director of the library. Then, Thomas O’Neil-White speaks with returning guest Alex Burgos public health policy and public relations professional. The two discuss filling the gaps in youth and sports programs on Buffalo’s West Side.
Today, we welcome returning guest Ben Hilligas, Executive Director of Buffalo Educational Opportunity Center at the University at Buffalo. Ben sits down with Jay Moran to discuss what he and the EOC have done in his first year. His vision, strategies, and passion for educational empowerment alongside the activities and programs that will be taking place in the next year.
We revisit two stand-out conversations with Daniel Robertson, Director of the Boys and Men of Color Initiative at Say Yes, Buffalo, to discuss Daniel’s plans for his new role and the positive examples of leadership that helped him step up. And Kelly Dumas of Healing Hub of NY, Inc. and Amanda Paul of Say Yes Buffalo for a discussion about a new program that empowers mental-health clinicians of color.
We revisit two stand-out conversations with Dontaya Davis and Alia Williams, community organizers for Voice Buffalo. The two are working locally to boost the Ebony Alert system. Then Bree Gilliam is a visual artist whose portrait and mural work, in her own words, incorporates bold color and expressive brushwork to provoke emotion from her audience.
We revisit two stand-out conversations with Mia Ayers-Goss, executive director of MVP, Most Valuable Parents an advocacy group that combats crime and violence through diversion programs like a new basketball league. Followed by Donna Robinson, Buffalo’s community organizer for Release Aging People in Prison, or RAPP.
Seamus Gallivan’s latest endeavor is Reconnecter, a “social connection space” that aims to bring people together in person and online “by illuminating the ties that bind us.” That means music showcases, variety shows, and media elements — all to help provide a need that he believes can help prevent social unrest. Gallivan sits down with Thomas O’Neil-White to speak about the power of reconnection and his plans for the new project.
Lindsey Lauren Visser was recently appointed to the role of historian for the City of Buffalo. She is the first female historian to serve in the role, and she joins Thomas O’Neil-White to discuss her appointment and some notable upcoming milestones, including the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal in 2025. Then, producer Patrick Hosken speaks with Gittel Evangelist, the communications coordinator for Rural and Migrant Ministry, about a recent court ruling with implications for rural and farmworkers in New York State.
The YWCA Jamestown's mission states that it is “dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.” What’s Next? travels to the organization’s historic building on Main Street in Chautauqua County’s largest city to meet the team making that mission happen: Indo Quiñones, Mission Impact Director; Alizé Scott-Nowell, Social Justice and Race Equity Director; Jacqui Cook, Young Women Choosing Action and Women to Women Director; Nanci Okerlund, Transitions Director; and Amanda Gesing, Executive Director.
Jamestown Community College recently partnered with Collins Correctional Facility for a joint prison education program, headed up by Reid Helford. He’s made it his life’s work to teach incarcerated students, and he’s learned a lot about identity, perception, and value from those lessons. Helford joins Jay Moran on campus in Jamestown for a conversation tackling his experiences, how academic expression can allow for growth opportunities, and more.
Smoking rates are declining, but efforts to curb tobacco use keep ramping up. Rashawn Smalls, the program manager for Tobacco-Free Erie and Niagara through CAI Global, joins What’s Next? to talk about what it means to advance tobacco-free communities, including eliminating secondhand smoke and creating overall healthy environments. Then, we revisit a conversation with expert Dr. Gary Giovino about how tobacco use interacts with other factors like diet and income.
In light of a recent conference presented by the Western New York Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, What’s Next? features a conversation about Black caregiving. We welcome Robin Hodges, board member of the Alzheimer’s Association; Andrea Koch, the organization’s Director of Education and Training; and Dr. Carleara Weiss, Research Assistant Professor in the Office of Nursing Research at the University at Buffalo. The three join Jay Moran to discuss caregiving in communities of color and offer some context for the ongoing challenges to meet those needs.
Today on What’s Next?, we welcome Marie Patton, the vice president of the National Association of Women in Construction’s Buffalo Niagara chapter. Patton is also the director of operations and safety at Active Workforce, a job placement and training organization that helps workers in construction connect with contractors looking to hire. She sits down with Jay Moran to discussion how women still only make up a small fraction of total construction jobs – and how her organizations work to help change that through networking and resources.
What’s Next? welcomes returning guest Aitina Fareed-Cooke, a multi-disciplined artist who was recently named Buffalo’s second-ever poet laureate. Fareed-Cooke is deeply invested in the creative arts, as well as education through her work with the media company Get Fokus’d Productions. She joins host Holly Kirkpatrick for a conversation about plans for her new role and the importance of service, and she also reads an excerpt of her poem “Forever Serve.”
The Buffalo Courier-Express called him the “Jackie Robinson of Buffalo broadcasting,” and throughout his career on the air locally, the city’s first Black DJ Jimmy Lyons spoke with leading figures like Sammy Davis Jr. and Sam Cooke. What’s Next? travels to the home where he raised his family on Northland Avenue to speak with Gail, his daughter. She shares stories about Jimmy’s life, including his time as a performer, and makes a case for why Jimmy Lyons belongs in the Buffalo Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
Today’s What’s Next? features two conversations devoted to the state of New York’s legal cannabis marketplace. First, Thomas O’Neil-White sits down with Sheldon Anderson, the CEO and one of the co-owners of Public Flower, the first Black - and woman-owned licensed dispensary in the city of Buffalo. Then, producer Patrick Hosken speaks with Paula Collins, an attorney specializing in cannabis law and tax preparation, who is also running for New York's 21st congressional district this year.
Bree Gilliam is a visual artist whose portrait and mural work, in her own words, incorporates bold color and expressive brushwork to provoke emotion from her audience. Tiffany Gaines is the curatorial and digital content associate at the Burchfield Penney working on a project called “From the City: Exploring the Continuum of Buffalo’s Black Arts Scene.” Both join What’s Next? producer Patrick Hosken for separate conversations about creative expression and what that looks like locally, as well as upcoming work to look out for.
Today’s What’s Next? features a conversation with Marcus Watson, associate professor of Africana Studies and Individualized Studies at Buffalo State University. His research focuses on the Black freedom struggle globally as well as social activism in South Africa, Ghana, and the U.S. Watson sits down with Jay Moran for a conversation about his studies, his Peace Corps work in South Africa shortly after apartheid, what students find most resonant about Africana studies, and more.
Today on What’s Next?, Jay Moran sits down with Dr. Lori Quigley, professor and coordinator of the Ph.D. in Leadership in Policy program at Niagara University. Quigley’s academic research and her work as an education consultant has put social justice about Native issues at the forefront. This month, she will be a visiting professor at St. Bonaventure University, where she will speak about the relationship between Indigenous peoples and the U.S. today. Here, she previews those talks.
What’s Next? welcomes CJ Banks, the Special Assistant to the President at Villa Maria College. Banks heads up community outreach and workforce development at the school, including through the recently announced Hip-Hop Creative Alliance. He’s also the founder and president of the KORP Foundation, which focuses on professional advancement and skills training. Originally from The Bronx and after some time spent in the music industry, Banks came to Buffalo 20 years ago. Since then, he’s kept busy in various entrepreneurial roles. He joins Jay Moran to discuss the latest of these, and future plans for workforce development in the community.
Today on What’s Next?, two guests from Jewish Family Services speak about their work in refugee resettlement, specifically the role of mental health in that process. Bijoux Bahati is the manager of the TST-R program, and Danielle Bernas is the director of the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Healing. Both have extensive experience working with immigrants and new arrivals as they navigate the challenges of resettlement, including mental health and cultural issues, and the places where those intersect. Bahati and Bernas sit down with Jay Moran to share their work, as well as give background on cultural brokers, the rich and growing diversity in Buffalo neighborhoods, and the challenges of identity.
What’s Next? welcome Dee Johnson and Deb Erwin, the co-founders of Witness CARES LLC, an outgrowth of the National Witness Project, which aims increase cancer screening among underserved African American women. The duo’s work has seen them navigate community issues of medical mistrust as well as transportation challenges, all in service of a flourishing program that covers the gaps in the health care industry. Johnson and Erwin join Jay Moran for a conversation about fixing health care disparities here in Buffalo and beyond, as well as future plans for screenings of other types of cancers in larger populations.
We revisit a stand-out conversation with Stephanie Peete, Wil Green, and Rob Leteste, who all appeared on a recent panel themed around Carol Anderson’s book White Rage presented by Say Yes Buffalo. The event was moderated by Green, the director of outreach and community engagement at the University at Buffalo’s graduate school. Peete is Say Yes Buffalo’s workforce development director, and Leteste is the business intelligence and workforce manager at Invest Buffalo Niagara. The latter appeared as panelists, along with professionals in law, mental health, and other fields. A portion of that panel discussion can be heard in the second half of the episode.
On today’s episode, we welcome three guests whose work in veteran services and outreach has culminated in a new study concentrated on Buffalo’s East Side. Bob James, team leader for WNY Vets, and former service members Edwin Gadson and Marlene Roll join Jay Moran to discuss the findings of the East Buffalo Veterans Study, a years-long campaign designed to highlight the needs of Buffalo veterans who may not know about the services available to them, or how to find them.
Today’s What’s Next? welcomes guests associated with National Federation for Just Communities of Western New York: Mara Koven-Gelman, the senior director of Buffalo Jewish Community Relations Council; Rev. Dr. Todd Leach, the senior pastor at Westminster Presbyterian Church; Tim Sember, Trocaire College’s vice president of mission and advancement; and Rene Petties-Jones, the president of NFJC of WNY, Inc. They’ll discuss their experiences with a grassroots organization called ROOTS, a self-described “network of local Palestinians and Israelis” who hold a series of dialogues and speaking engagements aimed at challenging the assumptions the communities hold about each other and build trust. The members speak with host Jay Moran about their work with ROOTS and share insights from these dialogues.
On a special episode of What’s Next?, hosts Thomas O’Neil-White and Jay Moran sit down with Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, acclaimed author, professor, historian, and the founder and director of the Center for Antiracist Research at Boston University. Dr. Kendi recently adapted Zora Neale Hurston’s tale of the Atlantic slave trade, Barracoon, into a children’s book, and he speaks about the necessity of bringing that story to young readers. He also offers his take on the continued spread of white supremacy and what Buffalo can keep in mind as the city continues its healing journey.
Today on What’s Next?, host Thomas O’Neil-White has two conversations about ongoing issues in the city of Buffalo. First, he sits down with Kelly Dumas of Healing Hub of NY, Inc. and Amanda Paul of Say Yes Buffalo for a discussion about a new program that empowers mental-health clinicians of color. Then, a conversation about anti-lead poisoning efforts with Janayia Capers, an organizer for housing justice at PUSH Buffalo, and Breana Hargrave, a program coordinator at LEAD716. Plus, more from our recent tour of the African American Center for Cultural Development in Olean.
What’s Next? returns to Olean for a conversation with Della Moore, the founder and executive director of the African American Center for Cultural Development. She first came to Olean 52 years ago and has since become a fixture of the community. Her center is full of artifacts from the local black history of the Southern Tier, including items from her own personal collection. Moore joins host Jay Moran and producer Patrick Hosken for a tour of the center and a discussion about its mission and history, and what she’s learned from a half-century in Olean.
Today’s What’s Next? welcomes two people from the Buffalo Latino Village, a local publication that bills itself as “the progressive voice of the Latino community.” Alberto Cappas is the publisher, and Solomon Joseph is the editor. Together with columnists who cover arts, economic development, local advocacy and more, the two organize and distribute the monthly publication primarily on Buffalo’s West Side. Cappas and Joseph sit down with Jay Moran for a conversation about the vibrancy and diversity of the Latino community, the affiliated Buffalo Online Latino Art Gallery, redevelopment on the West Side, and more.
Our guest on What’s Next? today is Hagar Hafez from the New York Immigration Coalition, where she is the Manager of Organizing and Strategy in Western New York. The coalition represents over 200 immigrant and refugee rights groups throughout the state. Hagar’s advocacy involves language access, and she has also worked as a translator and has navigated resettlement herself. She joins Jay Moran to discuss this work, as well as lobbying for policy change in Albany, the future of immigrant communities in Buffalo, and more.
Today’s What’s Next? is devoted to discussing a proposed state bill that would equip teachers with a guide and resources for incorporating climate education into their classrooms. Joining Jay Moran for this conversation are Dr. Alexandra Schindel, Associate Professor of Learning and Instruction at the University at Buffalo; Dr. Don Haas, Director of Teacher Programming at the Paleontological Research Institution in Ithaca; Tendaji Ya’Ukuu, Ecological Justice Coordinator at a Buffalo non-profit and a UB student in the Environmental Design B.A. program; and Valerie Juang, Climate Justice Student Assistant at UB Sustainability.
What’s Next? ventures down to Olean to speak with Dr. Genelle Morris, superintendent for the Olean City School District. Before assuming that role in 2022, she spent years in the Rochester and Buffalo schools in a variety of roles, including working in accountability. Her education work has balanced both the data and the people it represents. Dr. Morris joins Jay Moran in her office at Olean High School for a conversation about the state of education in the Southern Tier, how important the data is for making effective changes, COVID’s impact on the classroom, and more.
An upcoming arts event is the focus of today’s episode of What’s Next? Chad Williams and Cain McDermott, two co-founders of Buffalo Fashion Runway, join Jay Moran to discuss their upcoming Black Carpet event and how it blends local fashion and design with Black culture and history, as well as Buffalo’s emerging creative economy.
Today’s What’s Next? welcomes Donna Robinson, a Buffalo community organizer for the advocacy campaign Releasing Aging People in Prison, or RAPP. Robinson joined the group in 2017 but has been advancing the rights of incarcerated people since long before. Her approach to the work is wide-ranging, and she knows firsthand what the carceral system can do to families across generations. She speaks with Jay Moran about parole reform, clemency, what it looks like for people who are still behind bars after decades, and what changes might be coming.
Today’s Producer’s Pick episode of What’s Next? revisits standout conversations from recent episodes. First, Thomas O’Neil-White speaks with Northland Workforce Training Center President and CEO Stephen Tucker about the center’s recent development grants and new clean technology lab in addition to returning Buffalo to its place as a major manufacturing area. Then, Jay Moran sits down with Thomas Beauford Jr. and Darnell Haywood Jr. from the Buffalo Urban League to examine trends impacting people of color, including assaults on democracy, book-banning, the erosion of voting access, and suppressing history.
Carol Anderson’s 2016 book White Rage is the inspiration for an upcoming panel discussion sponsored by Say Yes Buffalo. Ahead of that event, What’s Next? welcomes two of its panelists: Stephanie Peete, Director of Workforce Development at Say Yes Buffalo and panel organizer; and Rob Lesteste, Business Intelligence and Workforce Manager at Invest Buffalo Niagara. Moderator Wil Green, Director of Outreach and Community Engagement at the University at Buffalo Graduate School of Education, joins the two for a conversation with Jay Moran about how systemic inequality impacts education, professional development, and labor and workforce needs here in Buffalo.
Today on What’s Next?, Thomas O’Neil-White speaks with Juanita McClain, an author and sickle cell disease activist, and Dr. Steven Ambrusko, the director of the Sickle Cell & Hemoglobinopathy Center of Western New York. The three discuss recent promising breakthroughs in treating sickle cell disease and what roadblocks still remain. Then, Jay Moran sits down with former Congressman Brian Higgins in Washington, D.C. at the tail end of his time in office. Higgins looks back at his 19 years serving New York’s 26th congressional district ahead of his future as President and CEO of Shea's Performing Arts Center.
In January, organizers from Saving Black Lives held a “menthol funeral” in Washington, D.C. to push the Biden administration to ban menthol tobacco products. On today’s What’s Next?, Thomas O’Neil-White discusses the reasons behind the idea of a ban, as well as quitting tobacco solutions, with two anti-tobacco campaigners: consultant and public health advocate Stan Martin and Sarah Pearson-Collins, Director of Training, Content, and Development at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. Then, producer Patrick Hosken gets more history on Big Tobacco’s targeted advertising toward communities of color from Dr. Gary Giovino, of the University at Buffalo’s Department of Community Health and Health Behavior.
On today’s Producer’s Pick episode of What’s Next?, we revisit two conversations from recent episodes. First, Thomas O’Neil-White sits down with Najja Bouldin, whose company Phoenix Innovation Group LLC, helps individuals and achieve their goals through performance coaching, speaking, consulting, and facilitating creativity. And we close with Jay Moran speaking with the director of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at the University at Buffalo, Dr. Henry Louis Taylor, Jr., about the latter’s 2023 report titled, “How We Change the Black East Side,” which acts as a neighborhood planning and development framework for Buffalo’s East Side communities.
With Tops shooter Payton Gendron due back in court on February 2, today’s episode of What’s Next? features producer Patrick Hosken having conversations with legal experts around the issue of capital punishment. First, Megan Byrne, a staff attorney at the ACLU’s Capital Punishment Project, explains what to expect from the federal case against Gendron, and discusses the implications of race in relation to the death penalty. And William Easton, a partner at the law firm Easton Thompson Kasperek Shiffrin and former supervising attorney at the Capital Defender Office, traces the history of the death penalty in New York State and his experience defending against it.
On today’s What’s Next?, we welcome guests whose work in the health care field is concentrated in Chautauqua County. First, producer Patrick Hosken speaks with Lacey Keefer Wilson, the county’s newly appointed public health director, about the most pressing health issues in her communities and her plans to tackle them in 2024. Then, Jay Moran sits down with two leaders from the Evergreen Health system: Laurie Matson, the associate vice president of Southern Tier services, and Jessica Schanne, the associate vice president of facilities and emergency management. Both discuss the opening of a new Evergreen facility in Jamestown and the future of health care in the Southern Tier.
Today on What’s Next?, two conversations about programs based around giving children the best chance at a promising future. First, Jay Moran talks to Holly Fogle, co-founder and president of The Bridge Project, which provides new mothers with consistent, unconditional cash during the beginning of their child’s life. The program began in New York City and comes to Buffalo this year, with the first payments beginning in February. Then, Thomas O’Neil-White sits down with Mia Ayers-Goss, the executive director of MVP, Most Valuable Parents, an advocacy group founded to combat crime and violence through diversion programs like a new basketball league.
On today’s What’s Next?, we welcome four people involved with a landscape maintenance technician training program co-sponsored by three local organizations. Gina Burkhardt, the president and CEO of the Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology, and Jeff Lebsack, the director of The Riverline, speak about the origins of the program as well as its ideals. Two workers who have completed the training join to speak about their experiences: Patrick McIntyre, the golf superintendent for Cazenovia, Delaware and South Park Golf Courses; and Rickey Kearney Jr., a supervisor for operations at Delaware Park. All four speak with hosts Thomas O’Neil-White and Jay Moran about what those who complete the training can expect in the job market.
On this Producer's Pick episode of What's Next?, Jay Moran talks with Dean Seneca, public health expert and CEO of Seneca Scientific Solutions, who has spent years working with and supporting Tribal communities in their efforts to improve health and combat addiction through education and research. The two discuss how understanding history and intergenerational trauma is key to grappling with modern addiction issues within those communities.
Today’s on What’s Next?, we revisit past conversation for a Producer’s Pick episode. First up, Jay Moran speaks with La Shawn Davis and Deja Middlebrook, who founded the relatively new mental-health practice Walking Through Solutions, about their approach to care and the growing need to address mental health issues in the community. Then, Thomas O’Neil-White sits down with author, activist, and martial artist Dorian Withrow Jr. about his books “Conversations You Need” and “Wisdom 45 Advice” and navigating hardship with philosophy.
Today’s Producer’s Pick episode of What’s Next? features Jay Moran in conversation with the Near East and West Side Task Force executive director Francesca Mesiah and member Dior Lindsey. The three discuss the history and future of the task force, which began in 2006 to promote the well-being and self-sufficiency of racial and ethnic communities in Buffalo. And Angelea Preston joins Kissena Frazier to talk about the college access coaching company she founded, Akcess Granted, to help underrepresented and marginalized communities through the college enrollment process.
Today’s What’s Next? Producer’s Pick episode revisits two conversations from past episodes. First, Jay Moran is joined by the CEO of Better Living Interest LLC, Paul Perez, and the co-founder and local board president of the Erie Niagara Board of REALTIST, Andrew Scott, who is known within the Buffalo real estate world as the “House Plug.” Then, Thomas O’Neil-White sits down with Wil Green, the director of outreach and community engagement at the University at Buffalo’s Graduate School of Education.
Today on What’s Next?, our guest is Andre Stokes, the senior director of specialty substance use disorder services at Best Self Behavioral Health. Stokes has spent years working as a substance abuse and mental health counselor, and his efforts focus on the families of those in recovery because, as he says, the effects of one member’s addiction can ripple throughout the entire household, and beyond. Stokes joins Jay Moran to offer his perspective on doing that work for families and the importance of counselors who reflect those in the communities they serve.
Today on What’s Next?, Jay Moran has two conversations around one central topic: the Erie County Language Access Act. The bill passed by the county legislature in late 2023 aims to make vital government documents available in the top six languages used by community members in Erie County. The hope is to broaden interpretation and translation services especially as it pertains to emergency announcements. The local refugee and immigrant populations weighed in to help develop the bill. Our first guest, International Institute of Buffalo executive director, Jennifer Rizzo-Choi, speaks about why that matters. After, David Wantuck, who heads up People Inc’s Deaf Access Services program, gives his take on the importance of including American Sign Language in the new bill, and what lies ahead.
This episode of What’s Next? finds Jay Moran joined by Dr. Henry Louis Taylor, Jr., the director of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at the University at Buffalo. Dr. Taylor was the lead author of a new report released in late 2023 titled, “How We Change the Black East Side,” which acts as a neighborhood planning and development framework for Buffalo’s East Side communities. The report follows a similar one from 2021 called “The Harder We Run: The State of Buffalo in 1990 and the Present,” which Dr. Taylor also co-authored, which focused on the history of Black Buffalo. “How We Change the Black East Side,” meanwhile, looks ahead to a bold new future. Dr. Taylor joins Jay Moran to discuss what those changes could actually look like, and the community benefits of implementing them.
On today’s What’s Next?, we’re joined by Mark Talley, author and community advocate, whose book 5:14: The Day the Devil Came to Buffalo, recounts the racist shooting attack at a Tops store on May 14, 2022 in which his mother Geraldine Talley was a victim. Prosecutors told Talley and other families of victims last week that the United States Department of Justice will seek the death penalty if the Tops shooter is convicted of federal charges. Talley sits down with Jay Moran to discuss his reaction to the Department of Justice’s decision, as well as what’s next for his own advocacy work.
On today’s special episode of What’s Next?, Thomas O’Neil-White joins two community leaders ahead of Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service on January 15. Faustenia Morrow is the founder of Monarch of Infinite Possibilities LLC consulting firm, and Reverend Michael D. Bell is the pastor at Durham Memorial AME Zion Church. Both discuss their efforts advancing this year’s day of service programs, where the goal is to have 500 volunteers at 25 sites cleaning, painting, gardening, and more. Plus, we feature audio from Dr. King’s talk at Kleinhans Music Hall on November 9, 1967.
On this episode of What’s Next?, we have two conversations with different takes on the opioid epidemic. Alex Simone speaks to Erie County District Attorney John Flynn about the county’s efforts to combat addiction-impacted crime trends with alternate methods like the Opioid Intervention Court, and what’s still needed in the fight. Then, Jay Moran and public health expert Dean Seneca discuss how understanding history is key to grappling with modern addiction issues within tribal communities.
Today on What’s Next?, we bring you two conversations. First, Thomas O’Neil-White sits down with Dontaya Davis and Alia Williams, community organizers for Voice Buffalo. The two are working locally to boost the Ebony Alert system, a new initiative to prioritize missing and exploited Black youth, who are disproportionately represented in missing children reports. And Jay Moran speaks with New York State Assembly member Jon Rivera, who represents the 149th district, about two key pieces of legislation, as well as economic development on Buffalo’s West Side.
Today’s What’s Next? features a conversation with Wayne Brown, a mental health therapist at Willow Grove Counseling, about self-care in the new year and how that relates to his approach with his clients. Brown has years of experience working with those in recovery, and he discusses with Jay Moran how he prioritizes building trust as the first step in an often long process.
Today, our guest is Buffalo’s first poet laureate, Jillian Hanesworth, who reflects on the end of her term in the role she helped establish in 2021. Hanesworth sits with Jay Moran to talk about the origin of the role and share some of her work, as well as to offer a look ahead at what her own next chapter might be.
On today’s What’s Next?, Jodi Gerhard, the senior program director at Horizon Health Services, joins Jay Moran for a conversation about her efforts in the field of mental health and addiction services and how that work can take a toll on the counselors who provide it. Gerhard has seen the challenges of the job evolve due to the opioid epidemic and other stressors. But she says being present and approaching the work with intentionality can make a difference.
Today, we feature two conversations with community leaders and advocates. First, Thomas O’Neil-White sits down with Daniel Robertson, Director of the Boys and Men of Color Initiative at Say Yes, Buffalo, to discuss Daniel’s plans for his new role and the positive examples of leadership that helped him step up. And Jay Moran talks with public health expert and CEO of Seneca Scientific Solutions Dean Seneca about how addiction among Native American and Indigenous populations can be traced back to intergenerational trauma — and what can be done to help stem the tide.
Today we speak with the founder and CEO of Western New York Mobile Overdose Prevention Services, Rashone Scott Williams. The initiative is centered around harm reduction as well as reproductive health outreach, and its goal is to make the overdose reversal drug Narcan available in every neighborhood across the region. Rashone sits with Jay Moran to discuss the mission of Mobile OPS, striving to combat the worsening opioid epidemic, how she approaches the work, and more.
Today we speak with Dina Thompson, Executive Director of the Erie County Restorative Justice Coalition; and Janelle Finn, Cheektowaga-Sloan District Assistant Superintendent. Restorative justice has yielded restorative practices, and new concepts for building healthy communities – in education, this looks like daily check-ins, peer-to-peer responses, and an overall atmosphere of equity. Both Thompson and Finn discuss with Thomas O’Neil-White how restorative practices have been successfully implemented in schools and their hopes for the concept to gain widespread momentum.
On today’s Producer’s Picks, we revisit two conversations. First, we hear from David Rust, Chief Executive Officer of Say Yes, Buffalo. And then we close out with artist and Buffalo native Valentino Dixon.
Today we speak with the President and CEO of the Northland Workforce Training Center Stephen Tucker. As New York State’s signature workforce initiative under the Buffalo Billion initiative, the training center focuses on closing the skills gap of the local labor pool and creating economic on-ramps to training, co-ops, internships, apprenticeships, and permanent employment for Western New Yorkers. Stephen sits with Thomas O'Neil-White to discuss the center's recent development grants and new clean technology lab in addition to returning Buffalo to its place as a major manufacturing area.
Today our two guests are affiliated with the Buffalo Urban League. Darnell Haywood Jr. is president of the Young Professionals and Thomas Beauford Jr. is the President and CEO of the Buffalo Urban League. Each year, the National Urban League produces its "State of Black America," a look at trends that are impacting people of color, including the assaults on Democracy; book-banning; the erosion of voting access; and the suppression of the history of America's Black and brown people. Those subjects and more with Thomas Beauford Jr. and Darnell Haywood Jr. of the Buffalo Urban League on this episode of What's Next?.
Today we speak with Buffalo native director, writer, and producer TaNisha Fordham; her play “12 Mo’ Angry Men” is playing now at Ujima Theater until December 17. Inspired by Reginald Rose classic play and film “12 Angry Men” the work adds a twist to the original. TaNisha sits with Jay Moran to discuss the work, her upbringing, the importance of this play, and what has been the response from local audiences.
On today’s What’s Next, we focus on mental health with two partners who have formed “Walking Through Solutions”. A relatively new practice, La Shawn Davis and Deja Middlebrook speak with Jay Moran about their practice, their approach, and the growing need to address mental health issues in the community.
On this week’s Producer’s Picks, we revisit two stand-out conversations from previous episodes. We hear from LaGarrett King and Dawnavyn James with Thomas O’Neil White. We end the show with Jay Moran’s conversation with Buffalo Black Achievers Honoree and Chief Operating Officer of the Buffalo Urban League Melissa Archer.
On today's episode, our guest is Najja Bouldin, founder of Phoenix Innovation Group, LLC. A company that assists individuals and organizations in unlocking their imagination, enhancing creativity, overall resilience, and igniting fiery grit fit for achieving goals. Thomas O’Neil White speaks with the founder about the many services that the group provides to individuals and organizations including performance coaching, speaking, consulting, and facilitating creativity.
On today's episode of "What's Next," WBFO Holly Kirkpatrick who recently released her story “Driving While Black in Buffalo” shares more of her findings and we'll hear from several people who provided context for her reporting, including a city resident who has been stopped more than once by Buffalo police, a local activist calling for change in how city police conduct their work and a national attorney who argues the practice is in violation of state and federal law.
On today’s Producer’s Picks, we are highlighting the “State of Black Journalism” episode with Thomas O’Neil-White and Angelea Preston interviewing I’Jaz Ja’ciel President of the National Association of Black Journalists. The three have an in-depth conversation about the state of black journalism in WNY, Buffalo Media, and the obstacles black journalists face in WNY and beyond. Following the interview Jay Moran speaks with both Thomas O’Neil-White and Angelea Preston to give their thoughts of the interview.
On today's episode, Kissena Frazier founded Akcess Granted, a college access coaching company that helps underrepresented and marginalized communities through the college enrollment process. As a first-generation college student and graduate, Fraizer speaks on her experience as a young mother navigating college. Last year, Mayor Byron Brown made November 8 "First Generation Day", in honor of Frazier. Frazier speaks about Akcess, HBCU's, the ban of critical race theory, limitations of African American studies in Florida, and more.
On today’s episode, Dr. Keith Burich returns to discuss his book “The Thomas Indian School and the Irredeemable Children of New York. A school that history needs to be heard. Dr. Burich shares his knowledge about what he discovered while writing the book, and the impact that the school left on Native Americans in Western New York.
On today’s episode, a conversation with Stephanie Peete, Director of Workforce Development at Say Yes and Co-Owner of Second Chapter Bookstore. Celebrating black stories and culture while writing their own narratives. Stephanie speaks on what inspired her and her mother to open the bookstore. As Director of Workforce Development at Say Yes, Buffalo she gives her insight on how the youth is changing the workforce.
On today's episode, a wide-ranging conversation with Jennifer Rizzo-Choi, Executive Director of the International Institute of Buffalo. A trained immigration attorney, she now leads the Institute in assisting new people to the region and communicating the realities of life as a refugee. Jennifer Rizzo-Choi dispels the myths and perceptions regarding refugees and asylum seekers and discusses the extensive work conducted by the International Institute of Buffalo.
Today on What’s Next? Thomas O’Neil-White is joined by returning guest Advocate/Consultant/Educator Wil Green. The two catch up since his last appearance as he is now the Director of Outreach and Community Engagement at the University of Buffalo Graduate School of Education. They also discuss Tremani Solutions, LLC an Educational Consulting Company that focuses on building Cultural and Racial Literacy and addressing Cultural and Racial conflicts that happen in schools.
Today on What’s Next?, Jay Moran sits with the Executive Director of the “Near East and West Side Task Force” Francesca Mesiah and Task Force member Dior Lindsey. Formed in 2006, the Task Force's mission is to be a collaborative group of community partners, who through advocacy, promote the well-being and self-sufficiency of racial and ethnic communities in Buffalo. The three will discuss the history of the task force, the impact it’s had, and what the future looks like for these communities.
On What’s Next? we are joined by Native American Support Title VI Coordinator Stacey Purpera, Jordan Cooke, and Dr. Berner-Wallen from Lakeshore High School to discuss with Jay Moran, Native American Heritage Month, the importance of the Indigenous community, honoring the diverse cultures, traditions and histories.
Today, on What’s Next? we examine Buffalo Toronto Public Media's documentary The Niagara Movement: the Early Battle for Civil Rights.
On this week’s Producers' Picks, we revisit three stand-out conversations from the last few episodes of What’s Next? First off, we hear from Executive Director at Literacy NY Tara Schafer and Interim Executive Director at Erie Niagara Area Health Education Center Brittany Tranello. Then we continue with a tour around Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve with Environmental Educator Marcus Rosten and another tour in the new Buffalo AKG Art Museum with the Director Janne Siren.
On today’s “What’s Next?” Thomas O’Neil-White discusses black nerds with returning guest LaGarrett King who brings with him Black History Educator, Researcher and author of the newly released Beyond February Dawnavyn James to discuss everything Black History.
On today’s “What’s Next” we are joined by Wayne Brown. A clinical social worker and advocate who is focused on patients facing complex challenges, including addiction, positive parenting and curbing corporal punishment in parents, and the issues of self-harm and suicide.
Thomas O’Neil-White is joined by Dorian Withrow Jr. The two discuss his books “Conversations You Need” and “Wisdom 45 Advice” and navigating hardship with philosophy.
On today’s What’s Next? We are joined by one of the 2023 Buffalo Black Achievers Buffalo Urban League Chief Operating Officer Melissa Archer.
On this episode Thomas O’Neil-White is joined by the President of Jes Breathe Block Club Association Gina Davis and Humboldt Parkway resident Terrence Robinson. The three discuss the community’s concerns with the proposed construction project, health concerns, the feeling of not being heard by the state, and is this project actually reconnecting neighborhoods or is it further gentrifying the neighborhood?
Jay Moran is joined by CEO of Better Living Interest, LLC Paul Perez, and Co-Founder and Local Board President of the Erie Niagara Board of Realtist Andrew Scott who is known within the Real Estate world as the “House Plug”. The three discuss the recent announcement of the Local Chapter of “The Premier Network of Black Real Estate Professionals” to Erie and Niagara County and the challenges of home and land ownership within the cities of Buffalo and Niagara Falls.
After being wrongfully convicted and spending 27 years in prison, Angelea Preston talks with artist and Buffalo native Valentino Dixon. The two talk about how he was able to reconcile feelings of despair while incarcerated by listening to advice from his uncle, to use his passion for art to reclaim his life. His artwork has caught the attention of Golf Digest as well as First Lady Michelle Obama, who gifted his artwork to former President Barack Obama.
On today’s episode of What’s Next? We are joined by CEO and founding Executive Director of Say Yes, Buffalo David Rust. Jay Moran and David talk about a variety of topics ranging from access to postsecondary pathways and what it means for the future of Buffalo students and families, to CareerWise Greater Buffalo to the recent announcement of the Say Yes Buffalo Apprenticeship Program.
Franklin H. Williams was a civil rights leader, lawyer, diplomat, and chair of the first judicial commission dedicated to racial fairness. His legacy will be featured in the award-winning PBS documentary, “A Bridge to Justice: The Life of Franklin H. Williams.” which will be airing on WNED PBS. Today we speak with the executive director of the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission Mary Lynn Nicolas-Brewster, Esq. To discuss the documentary, the legacy of Franklin H. Williams, the weeklong services that will take place this week, and much more.
On this week’s Producers’ Picks, we revisit two stand-out conversations from the last few episodes of What’s Next? First, Jay Moran speaks with Pastor George Nicholas, leading up to Igniting Hope 2023 in September; the two discuss health disparities in the African American community amongst women in Western New York and the importance of Igniting Hope. Then we hear from local artist and leather craftsman Dame Powell, who stopped by leading up to the FIG Fashion Show in late September to discuss his inspirations and how he discovered his passion.
The Taíno people were one of the influential indigenous groups that populated the Caribbean – settling in places such as Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica. On this episode of What’s Next? we hear from Beatriz Flores and Jose Flores, two Puerto Ricans in Western New York who are keeping Indigenous and Afro-Caribbean culture – specifically Bomba – alive in the Hispanic community of Buffalo. They’re also joined by Miguel Sague Jr., a Cuban Taíno that holds the position of Beike (similar to a shaman) in the community.
On today’s episode of What’s Next? we speak with Bangladeshi immigrant artist Muhammad Zaman whose art exhibit is currently open to the public. We discuss his art and the influence behind it. Then we sit down with a group of students from the social impact fellow program at the University of Buffalo to discuss the resource database they have created for immigrants and refugees new to WNY.
On today’s episode of What’s Next? we speak with Bangladeshi immigrant artist Muhammad Zaman whose art exhibit is currently open to the public. We discuss his art and the influence behind it. Then we sit down with a group of students from the social impact fellow program at the University of Buffalo to discuss the resource database they have created for immigrants and refugees new to WNY.
On today’s episode of What’s Next? Thomas O’Neil White and Angelea Preston sit down with the new President of the National Association of Black Journalist I’Jaz Ja’ciel. The three have an in-depth conversation about the state of black journalism in WNY, Buffalo Media, and the obstacles black journalists face in WNY and beyond.
On this week’s Producers’ Picks, we revisit two stand-out conversations from the last few episodes from What’s Next? First off, we hear from Shara Armprester the creator of Natural Beauty Cuties, the two discuss her mission to promote self-care and the unique beauty that comes with being a black and brown girl. Then, we revisit Jay Moran’s conversation with Mia Kai Simonne Moody. The two have an in-depth conversation about the lessons she has learned and the skills she honed to land a dream job on one of television’s longest-running animated shows – “Family Guy.”
October is National Health Literacy month, highlighting the importance of making health information easy to understand and the health care system easier to navigate. On today’s episode of What’s Next? Thomas O’Neil-White speaks with Tara Schafer Executive Director at Literacy New York Buffalo-Niagara and Brittany Tranello the Interim Executive Director at Erie Niagara Area Health Education Center about the population that lacks literacy and how it affects their everyday lives.
On today's episode, a tour of the new Buffalo AKG Art Museum with Director Janne Siren. This summer, the museum reopened after spending over $200 million to refurbish the institution and add another wing, the Gundlach Building. Siren shows off the new look, how the museum has repurposed its permanent collection, and discusses how the institution works to impact all parts of the community.
211WNY has been a resource for many years for people needing to connect to services throughout Western New York. Now, they’re starting a new initiative specifically tailored for our military veterans. We speak with Bob James, the team leader for 211Vets, and we’ll hear from former military members Marlene Roll and Edwin Gadson who have been helped by many of the resources that the service pairs up veterans with. Afterward, Christie Cleaver and Christian Holdridge of Peaceprints of WNY are helping raise awareness of the case of Jamele Prichett. Much like the other clients that Peaceprints works with, Jamele went through the justice system and was hoping to enroll at a nearby university. He was accepted and then seemingly denied once he revealed his legal past.
On this week’s Producers Picks, we revisit some stand-out conversations from the last few episodes of What’s Next? First off, we hear from Dr. Andrew Hyland, the Director of the New York State Smokers’ Quitline, and Herman, one of the participants in the program who eventually quit his smoking habit. Afterward, Jay Moran visits The Exchange at Beverly Gray – a business incubator for BIPOC and underrepresented entrepreneurs in Buffalo. The center’s Executive Director Derrick Parson tells us about the work they’re doing to help business startups on the East Side of Buffalo.
Back in September we aired an episode that was taped on location at the Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve near Depew. Our tour guide was the very knowledgeable Marcus Rosten. Marcus is a self-proclaimed black birder and an environmental educator. Our trip was originally 3 hours long and after our first hour of highlights, we felt we had to hear more from that immersive and informative experience.
Filmmaker Rocco Anastasio joins the show to discuss his documentary, “Boricua Soy Yo”. The film is a comprehensive look at what it means to be of Puerto Rican descent as well as the issues that the island has faced throughout its history as the world’s oldest colony. Rocco and Lorenzo Rodriguez discuss the debate around Puerto Rican statehood as well as the concept of identifying as a member of a particular nationality from outside the country’s borders.
In this episode of What's Next?, Lorenzo Rodriguez takes us on an educational tour around the East Side of Buffalo to learn about some of the work that the Clean Mobility Neighborhood Leadership Group is doing to raise awareness about the need for clean transportation options as well as the environmental injustices the area has faced throughout the years. We'll also hear from David Hahn Baker, a long-time environmental activist in Western New York, and Tendaji Ya'Ukuu, one of the lead educators training the group of 25 Neighborhood Leaders. Later in the episode, we talk about the upcoming Children's Garden Festival put together by Samantha White and Gardens Buffalo Niagara.
On this episode of What’s Next? we hear from the President of Buffalo Black Nurses, Tiffany Anderson. Tiffany discusses the importance of diverse representation within the medical field and the toll that the last few years have taken on nurses and medical practitioners. Afterward, Britney Upshaw is the founder of Get Out and About. This nonprofit organization is attempting to provide underserved students and schools a better opportunity to leave the confines of the classroom and experience field trips.
For this edition of What’s Next?: Producers’ Picks, we revisit one of the first episodes in this new iteration of our program. We hear the story of “Alberto” – a Nicaraguan asylum seeker who left his daughters back in his home country and fled oppression at the hands of the Sandinista government. We’ll hear his story of how he arrived in this country and in Western New York. Catherine Grange, the Director of Advocacy at Jericho Road retells some of the experiences she had with the immigrants she helped settle in the area. We’ll also get an update on the continuing immigration crisis affecting our state.
On this episode of What’s Next? We speak with the Director of the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, John Spears. As Banned Books Week (Oct. 1-7) approaches, we discuss the ongoing challenges that our librarians and educators are facing as the censorship rhetoric and the number of book bans rises. We also reconnect with Madge Whiskey, close friend of Pearl Young – one of the victims of the May 14th Shooting in Buffalo. Madge speaks about her beloved friend and the upcoming winter gear drive in her name.
Lázara Martínez used her given musical talents to travel the world. She was born and grew up in Havana, Cuba and picked up the violin at age 8 and never looked back. She was classically trained at the Amadeo Roldan Music Conservatory and later joined various touring bands and national orchestras that helped her see the world. Eventually, she left Cuba and ended up in Western New York where she established Pausa Art Space – an award-winning venue that helps foster Jazz and other live music acts. We speak to Lázara about her life under communist rule and the new life she found thanks to gift of music.
On October 4th, 1951, Henrietta Lacks, an African-American woman ceased to be after losing her battle with cervical cancer. But the legacy and story of Henrietta Lacks is one that still remains far after her time here on Earth. Henrietta is the source of what’s called HeLa cells – “immortal cells” that have been the basis for some of the most pivotal medical breakthroughs of our time. How those cells were cultured is another story. Pastor George Nicholas joins us to discuss the lasting impact of Henrietta Lacks – the subject of this year’s Igniting Hope conference at UB’s Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.
Buffalo Public Schools have been back in session for a couple of weeks now, but days before the start of this new school year, Lorenzo Rodriguez and Thomas O’Neil White sat down with a group of students and some active parents from the district to discuss some of their concerns. The various BPS students included Innocent, Freebirth, and Sangam. The group of parents included Edward Speidel - the President of the District Parent Coordinating Council and Co-Chair of the Special Education Parents Advisory Committee, Danielle Grzymala, Co-Chair of the Buffalo Parent-Teacher Organization, and Jessica Bauer Walker, Executive Director of Community Health Worker Network of Buffalo. Transportation, school suspensions, and bullying are among the topics brought up in this back-to-school special episode of What’s Next?
On this week’s Producers Picks, we revisit some stand out conversations from the last few episodes from our show’s prior iteration - Buffalo, What’s Next? We hear conversations from: Yanhong Baranski - Asian-American and former President of the Chinese Club of Western New York, Ryan Howze - Founder of Conscious Environment Creation and Say Whaaat? Podcast, and Nicholas Ramirez - Civil Rights attorney with the Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo.
On this episode of What’s Next?, we hear how one Buffalonian took her passion for storytelling and animation and turned it into a Hollywood career. Mia Kai Simonne Moody joins Jay Moran to detail the lessons she learned and skills she honed to land a dream job working on one of television’s longest-running animated shows – “Family Guy”.
Today on What’s Next? our Disability Reporter Emyle Watkins talks to paratransit activist, Stephanie Speaker, about the need to revamp some of the regulations around NFTA Metro Bus Paratransit Access Line service. The service provides origin-to-destination transportation to individuals eligible for it under the American with Disabilities Act. Afterwards, Lorenzo Rodriguez speaks with Shara Armprester an author and the creator of Natural Beauty Cuties. Shara’s mission is to promote self-care and the unique beauty that comes with being a black and brown girl. We also discuss the growing concerns with Period Poverty – the lack of access to sanitary products, education, and hygiene facilities for the part of our population that menstruates.
On this episode of What’s Next?, we focus on The Exchange at Beverly Gray. For some time now, the Exchange has been serving as an incubator for BIPOC entrepreneurs and business owners in the Buffalo area. Jay Moran heads down to the center to speak with The Exchange’s Executive Director, Derrick Parson, to discuss the services and resources they’re providing business owners trying to get their business ventures off and running. Afterwards, Lorenzo Rodriguez talks with a number of vendors and entrepreneurs at the Black Business Month Block Party hosted by The Exchange.
Tucked away in the suburbs of Depew, NY is the 292-acre ecological gem that is the Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve. On this episode of What’s Next?, Lorenzo Rodriguez takes a tour of the preserve with Marcus Rosten - an Environmental Educator with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Marcus describes the many sights there are to see at Reinstein Woods as well as throughout the Western New York area. They also discuss the Black Birders movement that has helped to highlight and inspire a whole new group of avid avian admirers.
On this week’s Producers Picks, we revisit some stand out conversations from the last few episodes from our show’s prior iteration - Buffalo, What’s Next? We hear conversations from Todd Vaarwerk, the Chief Policy Officer for Western New York Independent Living, Ben Hilligas, the Executive Director for Buffalo Educational Opportunity Center, and Christine Carr-Barmasse, Executive director of Mission: Ignite.
The Buffalo fashion scene takes center stage later this month on September 30th at the inaugural fig Fashion Show. On this episode of What’s Next?, we put artist and leather craftsman, Dame Powell, on display. Born and raised in Buffalo, we discuss his inspirations, how he discovered his passion, and his hopes for the City of Good Neighbors to someday become a city of high fashion.
On today’s episode of What’s Next?, we tackle one of the leading causes of death in this country – tobacco use. Lorenzo Rodriguez speaks with the Director of The New York State Smokers’ Quitline, Dr. Andrew Hyland, as well as one of the program’s participants, Herman. They discuss the unique ways the Quitline is aiding tobacco users in kicking the habit and how it successfully helped Herman. They also discuss the tactics employed by tobacco companies to target black communities.
Dr. Keith Burich, history professor emeritus at Canisius College and author of “We Remain: Race, Racism and the Story of the American Indian”, joins Jay Moran to discuss the many indigenous groups of the United States and their collective history. Dr. Burich shares his extensive knowledge about their struggle to attain equality and the unjust set of rules that Native Americans have been made to follow in this country.
On this first episode of the newly-named What’s Next? we bring you a story that has been a part of the regional news landscape for months. A discussion that has been ongoing in this country for decades: what to do with our immigrant population? Producer Lorenzo Rodriguez had the opportunity to speak to one of the immigrants who were bussed to Western New York from New York City back in June of this year. This is the story of “Alberto”, a Nicaraguan national who immigrated to the United States with his wife. They left their home and daughters behind in order to flee persecution from the Sandinista National Liberation Front and the oppressive government of Daniel Ortega.
Jay Moran talks to artist and entrepreneur Aitina Fareed-Cooke from February 22 of this year. The two have an in-depth conversation on her upbringing and her media arts company Get Fokus’d Production. Then we continue with Brigid Jaipaul Valenza speaking with Ekuaa Mends-Aidoo from August 26 of last year. The two discuss DEI, tokenism, equity and ensuring everyone has a seat at the table. And we finish the show with Jay Moran speaking with Buffalo-based artist Julia Bottoms from January 25 of this year.
Jay Moran speaks with the director of Buffalo City Ballet Marvin Askew from November 28 of last year. Then we continue with Jay Moran as he speaks with Clinical Assistant Professor in the department of Indigenous Studies at UB Dr. Jason Corwin from November 30 of last year. The two talk about various issues including the launch of a full Indigenous Studies department at the University.
Jay Moran speaks with the director of the Buffalo Federation of Neighborhood Centers’ Hope program Daysi Ball. The two discuss her work with seniors from November 10 of last year. Then we continue with Jay Moran as he speaks to the founder of the East Side ministry Tesha Parker from October 25 of last year. They discuss the ministry outreach to the homeless and others in need.
Thomas O’Neil-White speaks with one of the curators of the Buffalo and Western New York African American History Group on Facebook, historian Michelle Ragland from October 19 of last year. Then from November 15 of last year, Jay Moran talks to Tiffany Lewis of the Confident Girl Mentoring Program. The two talk about the scarcity of mentoring programs for young women.
Jay Moran talks transportation, equity and the East Side trail plan with Stephanie Simeon Executive Director of Heart of the City Neighborhoods and Ashley Smith Deputy Director of GO Bike Buffalo from December 6 of last year. We continue with Jay Moran as he speaks with Teresa Watson and Sarah Frasier from Push Buffalo to discuss reforms that would change the housing climates across all of Buffalo, from December 14 of last year.
Thomas O’Neil White speaks with Buffalo Fatherhood Initiative program manager Antoine Johnson from February 8 of this year. The two talk about ways to help fathers and families in Buffalo. We continue with Thomas as he speaks with Northwest Bank’s Jonathan Graves and Rick Hamister on some new home ownership and financial literacy programs on Buffalo’s East Side from February 6 of this year. Then Angelea Preston speaks with Yanava Hawkins and Rayna Moncreiff from Gang Girl Entertainment from April 19 of this year.
Jay Moran speaks with journalist and former WKBW reporter Madison Carter from June 14 of last year. We continue with Jay Moran speaking with Harper Bishop formally apart of PUSH Buffalo to talk about the power of a united community’s voice in the fight for social and racial justice, from June 16 of last year. And we end the show with excerpts from “Making Spaces” panel discussion at Buffalo Arts Studio from December 15 of last year, where they discuss art, urban planning and economic justice.
Jay Moran and Thomas O’Neil White speak to the Executive Director at Western New York Peace Center Deidra EmEl. The three discuss the health of the East Side and its future from August 18 of last year. Then Jay Moran talks to parent advocate and writer Tarja Parssinen about the science of reading and poor literacy rates in Buffalo and throughout NY, from June 29 of last year.
Jay Moran sits with Jeremy Besch, a DEI consultant who walks through an exercise that examine one’s own identity and privilege in order to be a good ally, from June 10 of last year. Then Brigid Jaipaul Valenza talks with Wil Green, Regional Office Director of NYS Network for Youth Success. The two discuss racism, youth and education, from June 23 of last year.
Thomas O’Neil White speaks with Fruit belt activists Dennice Barr and Kelly Camacho as they pull back the curtain on tenant troubles at McCarley Gardens from February 28 of this year. Then we take a trip with Jay Moran to Niagara Falls where he speaks with Eric Boerdner about the SNUG anti-violence program from January 12 of this year.
Jay Moran welcomes John Washington to talk through housing inequity and more. Also, Jacqueline Cherry, Assistant Director of Dance at the African American Cultural Center will talk about critical race theory, how the arts can help healing, and more with Brigid Jaipaul Valenza. And we end the show with Jay Moran speaking with Dennice Barr, part of Fruit Belt Leadership, to discuss healthy food access on the East Side.
Brigid Jaipaul Valenza speaks with Drea D'Nur to talk about serving the Halal community before, and since, the racially motivated shooting at Tops Friendly Markets on Jefferson Avenue. Then Jay Moran chats with Shantelle Patton, founder of That Brown Bag Minority Business Directory on some of her banking and financial education programs. And we end the show with Thomas O’Neil White speaking with Dorian Withrow Jr as he shares perspectives on what work needs to be done for our youth.
Thomas O’Neil White sits down with Key Bank branch manager Rob Cornelius, the two talk about business and community needs on Buffalo’s East Side from October 11 of last year. Then Thomas speaks improving the community through land and home ownership with Buffalo Information and Sharing cooperative funder Ahmad Nieves from September 20 of last year.
Today we look back at three previous segments from June 15, 30 and October 4 of last year. First, we back at a segment from June 15, 2022, Brigid Jaipaul-Valenza sits down with the founder of Project Mona’s House to talk about her organization and modern-day slavery in the form of human trafficking in Buffalo. Then we revisited Jay Moran’s conversation with Tenelle Jones from Charleston, SC about the parallels between Charleston and Buffalo from October 4. And we end the show with Brigid speaking with Maria Ta from Ujima Theatre about how theatre and the arts address racial and social in justice from June 30.
Today we look back at three previous segments from September 1, 21 and November 9, 2022. First Jay Moran speaks with Stan Martin from CAI and Ebony White from Buffalo Health Equity Center. Then Thomas O’Neil White speaks with Canna House president and founder Reggie White from November 9, 2022 and we end the show with Jay Moran speaking with filmmaker Terry Jones from September 1, 2022.
First Thomas O’Neil-White talks about using public land for public benefit, police oversight activist and former Medaille professor Orlando Dickson. Then Jay Moran sits with attorney Jason Daniels to discuss being Black in the corporate world and how do Black people navigate positions typically held by white people.
Today we feature several interviews with the cast and production team of “Once on This Island” the first local production to be done at 710 Shea’s. Angelea Preston chats with director Naila Ansari, and twin 16-year-old actresses Shylah Douglas and Samyah Douglas. Then Brigid Jaipaul Valenza brings in actors Zhanna Reed and Marcus Paige to talk more about the play, before all the performers gather to sing a moment from the show.
Buffalo, What's Next? is on summer break and will return with new content shortly. As we take this break we are revisiting previous conversations with our summer time producer’s pick with: retired professor Gary Earl Ross (August 1, 2022), Cliff Bell (August 2, 2022) and Andrea Ó Súilleabháin (August 8, 2022).
On this week’s Producers’ Picks highlights episode we revisit our previous conversations with: One of Buffalo Juneteenth’s founding members Judson Price, mental health counselor Andre Stokes Jr., and Barbara Cole from Just Buffalo Literary Center and Sydney Clifton.
We continue to discuss the fallout of the pivotal Supreme Court decisions that affect our college student population with the President of the Association of American Universities & Colleges, Dr. Lynn Pasquerella. Also, we’ll hear from the CEO of Journey’s End, Karen Andolina Scott. The refugee resettlement group has been hard at work helping a large group of recent immigrants get situated in the Western New York area after arriving here by bus from New York City.
We welcome the co-chairs of the East Side Garden Walk, Renata Toney and Samantha White. Afterwards, we continue speaking with Samantha about the Western New York Law Center’s School Discipline Project.
On this episode we meet Nicholas Ramirez, a Civil Rights attorney with the Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo. Nicholas specializes in criminal law but aids the public by advocating for and educating individuals in all things pertaining to social justice.
On this week’s Producers’ Picks highlights episode we revisit our previous conversations with: Na’Kya McCann from the Buffalo All-Star Extreme dance and cheer team, Dan White and Asman Ndayisabwa from Healing Grounds Coffee and Sanctuary, and the barbers and customers of Signature Cutz Barbershop.
We sit down with Christine Carr-Barmasse, Executive Director of Mission: Ignite, a group dedicated to promoting computer literacy. Discover her inspiring efforts to bridge the digital divide and empower students, teens, and adults with essential digital skills. Don't miss this enlightening conversation on the future of digital literacy and its role in shaping Buffalo's progress.
Ben Hilligas, the recently appointed Executive Director for the Buffalo Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) at the University at Buffalo, is bringing his background in social work to the position and hoping to expand the opportunities and capabilities of the long-running learning institution. Afterwards, with Pride month coming to a close, the President of Niagara Pride, Ronald Piaseczny talks to us about how this year’s celebration was more important than those prior.
After his child’s Western New York school omitted Black History Month and DEI initiatives from their teaching plans, Ryan Howze set off to create a curriculum and supplemental history podcast to address this need. Ryan joins Lorenzo Rodriguez to discuss his curriculum program as well as some of the conversations that are currently consuming the public education landscape on a national scale.
Emyle Watkins spoke with Todd Vaarwerk, the Chief Policy Officer for Western New York Independent Living. Together they discussed the independent living movement and how New York State's 2023-2024 budget may impact residents with disabilities who rely on essential state services to live in their own homes as well as inpatient and outpatient mental health care. This episode was recorded shortly after the budget passed in May.
On this week’s Producers’ Picks highlights episode we revisit our previous conversations with: Adrienne Garr and La’Tryse Anderson from Buffalo S.N.U.G. (6/1), Charles Brandy and Melvin Watkins of the Afro-American Historical Association of the Niagara Frontier (6/6), and Gi Swords and Faith Winship from GLYS of Western New York (6/7).
On today’s episode of Buffalo, What’s Next? Lorenzo Rodriguez has a conversation with Yanhong Baranski, an Asian-American member of the Buffalo community who served as the President of the Chinese Club of Western New York. Afterwards, Central Library is set to unveil a new statue in honor of one of Buffalo’s most noteworthy poets – the late Lucille Clifton. Barbara Cole, from Just Buffalo Literary Center, and Lucille’s daughter, Sidney Clifton, join Jay Moran to discuss this new development and the legacy of Lucille’s work.
Lorenzo Rodriguez sits down to discuss this year’s Toronto Caribbean Carnival with the festival’s CEO, Mischka Crichton. Afterwards, we hear from community leader, Marilyn Young, founder of W.A.V.E. – Women Against Violence Everywhere. She’s also an avid roller skater who’s been an integral part of the 716 Rollers, a local skate group that tasks itself with being a positive force in the East Side Buffalo community.
In observance of Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, Charles Gilbert hosts an open and honest discussion regarding the mounting psychological issues that plague the male population – specifically, men of color.
Thomas O’Neil-White takes us back to the first Buffalo Juneteenth along with one of the festival’s founding members, Judson Price. Afterwards, Jay Moran sits down with Buffalo NAACP President Mark Blue and his wife and Branch Executive Committee member Angela Blue to discuss the upcoming 55th annual Medgar Evers Awards Dinner.
On this week’s Producers’ Picks highlights episode we revisit our previous conversations with: Gretchen Gonzalez and Maria Valeri from the Volunteer Lawyers Project, newly appointed Buffalo Police Department Wellness Coordinator Matt Cross, and Scott Behrand and Peter Johnson from Road Less Traveled Productions.
As we approach this year’s Juneteenth celebration, we get a chance to chat with a Buffalonian who has become a renowned national children’s author – Alliah L. Agostini. We went into detail about the creation of her book, The Juneteenth Story, the national wave of book bans, as well as her strong ties to Buffalo’s Juneteenth movement.And with the weekend quickly approaching, the Buffalo, What’s Next? crew heads off to get a fresh haircut at their preferred neighborhood barbershop – Signature Cutz. Jay Moran takes us around the minority-owned and operated shop to hear from its staff and clientele.
After her brother died while detained at the Erie County Holding Center, Monica Lynch decided to take prison reform in Erie County. Jay Moran discusses current conditions for inmates and the No New Jail movement that Monica is advocating for. Afterwards, Dan White and Asman Ndayisabwa join Thomas O’Neil-White to talk about the community space they’re creating in the West Side of Buffalo all centered around a warm cup o’ joe.
One of Western New York’s most prominent drag personalities, Vanna Deux, sits down with Angelea Preston to discuss her experiences within the world of drag. Afterwards, Jay Moran chats with local artist/poet/filmmaker Kaitlyn Lowe.
NPR’s podcast series, Embedded, recently chose to center a number of their episodes around the Buffalo All-Star Extreme cheerleading and dance team. One of the B.A.S.E.’s senior members and now coach, Na’Kya McCann, was tapped to host the podcast series and joins Buffalo, What’s Next? Na’Kya discusses the process of creating the NPR podcast as well as the eventful year the B.A.S.E. family endured.
On this week’s Producers’ Picks highlights episode we revisit our previous conversations with: Buffalo poet laureate Jillian Hanesworth, director of Agents for Advocacy and author Mark Talley, and mental health advocate Karl Shallowhorn.
On today’s three-part episode we first speak with the slam poet team of Pure Ink Poetry. Next, Sara Taylor of Eleversity joins the show to promote her organization’s Women of Color Summit which begins this week Friday and continues throughout the Summer. And finally, with Spring in the air, the Sanskriti Bengali Cultural Group of Western New York will be celebrating Basanta Utsav this weekend and their member Shuhartho Ghose comes on to break down the traditions and meanings around the festive celebration of renewal.
With the month of June being Pride Month and with the seemingly growing concern of Anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric permeating through our governmental bodies nationwide, we speak with Gi Swords and Faith Winship of GLYS of Western New York to help all of us understand the issues and needs of gender and sexual minority youth. The team from GLYS provide a number of peer interaction and educational outreach services, but today we’ll get a version of their Safe Space Training that normally helps educators create a safe space for LGBTQ+ students.
Since 1977 The Afro-American Historical Association of the Niagara Frontier has been publishing the Afro-Americans in New York Life and History: An Interdisciplinary Journal. Charles Brandy, the President of the Afro-American Historical Association of the Niagara Frontier, and Melvin Watkins, one of the group’s founding members, speak with Jay Moran about noteworthy moments from the Journal’s past as well as their continuing pursuit of scholarly research and African-American issues.
On today’s program we speak with CoNECT's founder and director Jessica Bauer Walker about the growing need to address the disproportionate rate of out-of-school suspensions in the Buffalo school system. Jessica is joined by her daughter, Serea, and fellow CoNECT staff member, Khadijah Hussein, to talk about the “Solutions not Suspensions” bill and what their group is doing to better tackle our students’ needs.
On this week’s Producers’ Picks highlights episode we revisit our previous conversations with: the Director of the Vive refugee shelter – Matt Tice, a mental health specialist with Best Self Behavioral Health – Cambria Daniels, and the organizers of a recent Buffalo Freedom Seder - Rabbi Brent Gutmann, Senior Rabbi at Temple Beth Zion, and Reverend Jonathan Staples, Senior Pastor of First Shiloh Baptist Church.
On this episode of Buffalo, What’s Next?, Angelea Preston converses with representatives from Buffalo S.N.U.G. (Should Never Use Guns). Adrienne Garr, a social worker, and La’Tryse Anderson, an outreach worker supervisor, are helping S.N.U.G. fulfill their goal of reducing gun violence in Buffalo.
Today on Buffalo, What’s Next? we speak with Gretchen Gonzalez and Maria Valeri from the Volunteer Lawyers Project. For 40 years, the group of pro bono attorneys has been helping members of our Western New York community by providing free civil law services to low income people and small not-for-profit groups.
One real estate development company, Barrett & Benitez Development, is attempting to construct much-needed residential and commercial properties on the East Side and they plan to do it with the backing of residents that will be directly benefiting from the projects. Afterwards, Lorenzo Rodriguez sits down with the recently named wellness coordinator for the Buffalo Police Department, Officer Matthew Cross.
We observe the one-year anniversary of our program’s inception by asking the show’s contributing members to share some of the more noteworthy interviews they’ve been a part of within the past eventful year.
We’re first joined by Terri Parks from the League of Women Voters Buffalo Niagara to discuss a candidate’s forum for those running for Buffalo Common Council. We’re also joined by Scott Behrand and Peter Johnson – two of the leading members of Road Less Traveled Productions.
Jay Moran is joined by Erie County Legislature Chairwoman April Baskin. We speak to Chairwoman Baskin about recent County initiatives.
First, we hear from Bishop Glenwood H. Young from Good Samaritan Church of God in Christ. Afterwards, the race for the Ellicott District Common Council seat is highly contested this year.
On today’s episode, we’re looking at the two major funds that formed after the May 14th racist shooting at Tops.
For this episode of Buffalo, What’s Next?: Producers’ Picks, we have an important panel discussion that was hosted at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. “Beyond Hate: A Panel Discussion” was moderated by the host of NPR’s The Takeaway, Melissa Harris-Perry, and the distinguished speakers on the panel included Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, President of Spelman College Dr. Helene Gayle, the Chancellor of the State University of New York Dr. John B. King Jr., and the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church the Most Reverend Michael Curry.
Karl Shallowhorn is a mental health advocate and educator who has been talking about mental wellbeing in the Western New York area for years. Lorenzo Rodriguez sits down with Karl to discuss what the Buffalo community’s psyche might look like a year removed from the May 14th Tops shooting.
On today’s episode of “Buffalo, What’s Next?” we speak with Mark Talley - the son and surviving family member of Geraldine Talley, one of the lives taken in the May 14th racist attack at Tops. Mark talks to us about the book he authored 5/14: The Day the Devil Came to Buffalo and explains how the process of writing the book has helped him grieve the loss of his mother and cope with the tragedy of that day. We also hear from Mark about his Agents for Advocacy organization and the work he’s doing within the East Side of Buffalo.
If you’ve walked around Downtown Buffalo recently, you’ve probably spotted the bright yellow billboards and bus ads calling out City Hall. Jay Moran sits down with Harper Bishop and Ariel Aberg-Riger who are two of the organizers of the political action group Our City Action Buffalo. Afterwards, we’re joined by educator, scholar, and author Dr. Silvia Lloyd. Along with the challenges today’s school-aged children face, we speak to Silvia about her new book of spoken word poetry dealing with the Tops May 14th racist attack.
As we mark a year since the racist attacks at the Jefferson Avenue Tops Supermarket, Jay Moran sits down with the Poet Laureate of the City of Buffalo, Jillian Hanesworth, to help summarize our collective feelings and continue to heal.
Jay Moran sits down with “Buffalo, What’s Next?” Associate Producer, Charles Gilbert, to discuss his main takeaways and lingering thoughts from his journey down to Charleston, SC. We have one last stop on our Lost Stories of Black Charleston with Damon Fordham and it deals with a notable figure in the city’s complicated past – Denmark Vesey. And finally, Thomas O’Neil White shares a conversation with inspirational speaker and former baseball player Chris Singleton whose mother was killed in the racist attacks at the Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston.
WBFO multimedia reporter Holly Kirkpatrick is in Charleston, SC speaking with Reverend Jeremy Rutledge, Senior Minister at Circular Congregational Church in Charleston. Reverend Rutledge shares his experiences of the Charleston Area Justice Ministry, a coalition of congregations that has been campaigning against racial discrimination in police practices in the Charleston area. We also get more stops from our week-long audible tour of Charleston courtesy of Damon Fordham.
Thomas O’Neil-White chats with Victoria Hansen, a reporter with South Carolina Public Radio, to discuss how the local media covered the Mother Emanuel AME shooting.
WBFO reporter Holly Kirkpatrick is in Charleston, SC, speaking with Reverend Joseph Darby, who has been ministering at AME churches in South Carolina for over 40 years.
We begin our week of special episodes centered around the parallels between the racially-motivated shooting at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina and the Tops shooting last year in Buffalo. Thomas O’Neil-White has an in-depth conversation with North Charleston pastor and community activist Thomas Dixon. We also hear from Damon Fordham as he gives his Lost Histories of Black Charleston Tour, which offers notable stories from around Charleston.
As we prepare to showcase a week of special episodes centered around the parallels between the racially-motivated shooting at Brother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina and the Tops shooting last year in Buffalo, we hold a roundtable discussion with the WBFO members that embarked on this project. Tom Berich, Charles Gilbert, Holly Kirkpatrick, and Thomas O’Neil-White sit down to have an open discussion about the lessons they learned by engaging with the people of Charleston nearly 8 years after their tragic event.
The program welcomes local community activist and leader, Ellen Harris-Harvey, to discuss her involvement within the Masten district in which she resides. As a heavily involved member of her neighborhood block and as head of her own outreach ministry, Ellen is aware of the needs and initiatives that are important to the area.
As we begin the month of May, Mental Health Awareness month, and in an effort to have a better understanding of the bereavement process, we speak with Gwen Mysiak, Executive Director at P.U.N.T. Pediatric Cancer Collaborative. She’s joined by WBFO’s Mark Wozniak, who has been involved with P.U.N.T. after having experienced his own personal loss, to highlight the important, compassionate work that the organization is doing for some of the most emotionally hurt members of our community.
According to the governor’s office, New York state schools saw over 50 falsified reports of a serious emergency or an active shooter in the month of March. Cambria Daniels, a mental health specialist and program director at Best Self Behavioral Health, joins the show to help us understand the mental trauma surrounding this issue. Later in the program we speak to Steven Haagsma from Housing Opportunities Made Equal to discuss fair housing practices and how his organization is helping new buyers, renters, and landlords alike.
We speak to Matt Tice who is the Director of Vive, a shelter for refugees and asylum seekers in Western New York. Afterwards, Angelea Preston and Emyle Watkins sit down to talk with Kasha Davis. Kasha is a drag artist in the Western New York area that engages in drag-themed reading hours.
On this week’s edition of Producers’ Picks, we’re showcasing two interviews from recent shows: Ann Breidenstein, a harm reduction counselor and clinical trainer, speaks about a new development that might make it easier for caregivers to help people suffering from an opioid overdose. After that, we’ll revisit our powerful conversation with Holocaust survivor, Grigory Shershnevsky.
On today’s program we’re focusing on the inspiring work of some of the participants of the Peaceprints of Western New York’s Project Blue in collaboration with Locust Street Art. This particular division of the program helps enrich the lives of men and women in the criminal justice system find purpose through art. Speaking from the Erie County Correctional Facility, Kahlil Peoples, Damon Coleman, and Marquis Shaw join Jay Moran to share their experiences, inspirations, and how the program has affected their lives.
Today's guests are Rabbi Brent Gutmann, Senior Rabbi at Temple Beth Zion, and Reverend Jonathan Staples, Senior Pastor of First Shiloh Baptist Church. Their respective congregations recently gathered for a Freedom Seder. They discuss the motivation behind the event, the lessons learned and offer broader perspectives on social justice and how to improve Buffalo.
Lorenzo Rodriguez speaks with founder and President Emeritus of the Hispanic Heritage Council of Western New York, Casimiro Rodriguez. Afterwards, Tayrin Tapia details the work she’s doing empowering Latinas and helping to prepare entrepreneurs in the community to face the challenges of starting up businesses in the current and future landscapes.
Lorenzo sits down with Faustenia Morrow, the founder of The Monarch of Infinite Possibilities. A tireless environmental activist, Faustenia specializes in bringing BIPOC groups, corporate executives, and community leaders together in the name of conservation and global sustainability. On the heels of Earth Day 2023, we delve into the initiatives that the Monarch has helped spearhead and how the people of Western New York can come together to aid our planet.
On this week’s edition of Producers’ Picks, we’re showcasing three interviews from recent shows. Jay Moran speaks with Dr. Joe Stahlman, a research assistant professor of Archeology and member of the Seneca Nation, to discuss the recently repudiated Doctrine of Discovery. Filmmaker and storyteller Annette Daniels-Taylor retells an interesting story from early 20th century Buffalo that inspired one of her theater productions. Pearl Young's son Damon Young, and her close friend, Madge Whiskey, share their memories about Pearl’s unwavering commitment to charity and why that is driving them to create a soup kitchen and food pantry in her name.
With Ramadan coming to an end this week, Lorenzo Rodriguez sits down with Yemeni-American, Shareefa Albanna, to learn about the customs and traditions around the observance of Ramadan. We speak to Shareefa about the large concentration of Yemeni people in Western New York as well as the ongoing humanitarian crisis that is occurring in the country of Yemen.
Long-time friends turned entrepreneurs, Yanava Hawkins and Rayna Moncreiffe, sit down with Angelea Preston to discuss their Girl Gang Entertainment venture. The two turned their passion for event planning and putting together a good party into a company that’s promoting safe sexual health awareness in Buffalo’s black community. Afterwards, Jay Moran speaks to a notable name in the Western New York hip hop scene – he talks to Chris Simmons, also known as C-Saint, about his come up in the rap and freestyle battle rap scene.
In honor of Yom HaShoah, the Jewish Holocaust Remembrance Day, we are privileged to hear the account of survivor Grigory Shershnevsky. Grigory is joined by Lauren Bloomberg of the Holocaust Resource Center of Buffalo and together they tell the story of how a courageous woman named Aleksandra Drezvetska helped protect him from persecution during one of the darkest times in human history.
As the scourge of substance abuse continues to ravage our communities, a new development might make it easier for caregivers to help people suffering from opioid addiction. Jay Moran sits down with Ann Breidenstein, a harm reduction counselor and clinical trainer, who has worked with that part of the population that’s so often maligned. She speaks about her experiences and the knowledge acquired through her career as well as the FDA’s ruling to allow Narcan, a valuable overdose reversal medication, to be sold over the counter.
In this weekly “Producers’ Picks” episode - where we highlight past standout interview segments - we feature: Local Hispanic community activist, Alex Burgos; we revisit our sit-down with some participants of the 4-H after-school youth program through Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County; and finally, we go back to VillaCon with our tour guide from the Wakanda Alliance, Anthony Pierce.
Angelea Preston speaks with some of the loved ones that knew Pearl Young best. Damon Young, Pearl’s son, and fellow parishioner, Sister Madge Whiskey, talk about Pearl, one of the lives taken in the May 14 Tops Shooting, and contagious energy that she radiated. Her son and good friend have taken up her cause of championing goodwill in their community and are establishing a food pantry and soup kitchen in her name. Afterward, Lorenzo Rodriguez speaks with army veteran, John Sanabria, to honor the memory of the US military’s only all-Puerto-Rican infantry, the Borinqueneers.
Jay Moran speaks with Dr. Joe Stahlman, a research assistant professor of Archeology and member of the Seneca Nation, to discuss the recently repudiated Doctrine of Discovery. Afterwards, Angelea Preston sits down with the founder of the Topsy Curvy Movement, Julia Stevens.
Members of Erie County's Office of Health Equity talk about the efforts taken to address the spread of diseases and health conditions prevalent in the minority and disadvantaged communities of WNY. Next, Jay speaks with Buffalo-born filmmaker, Addison Henderson, about his journey to Hollywood and how his upbringing fueled his career.
On today’s Buffalo What’s Next, we speak with author and actor Annette Daniels-Taylor. She shares her experience in Buffalo theater and the local historical research that informed her writing. And Villa Maria College President Dr. Matt Giordano talks about his school’s position at the most racially-diverse private education institution in the region.
In our weekly “Producers’ Picks” episode we bring you highlights of recent important interviews with: Dietitian and consultant Jessica Wilson, Black Boys Read Too co-founders Jelicia Jimenez and Ruqayyah Simmons and local Buffalo artist and entrepreneur Aitina Fareed-Cooke.
This Buffalo, What's Next? features two candidates in this year's Common Council races. Thomas O'Neill-White speaks with Kathryn Franco, the social worker and public health advocate who is challenging for the seat in the University District. And we'll also hear from Matt Dearing, the former state Assembly staffer who is seeking the seat in the Ellicott District where Council President Darius Pridgen is not seeking re-election.
From city-owned vacant lots to an emerging housing crisis to neighborhood gentrification, a variety issues need addressing by Buffalo leaders. Dr. Jason Knight, Associate Professor of Geography and Planning at Buffalo State, offers his critique of current policies and approaches.
A visit to VillaCon with the Afro-futurist group, the Wakanda Alliance. And, live in studio will be Alexandre Burgos, a Hispanic Community leader and member of the Buffalo Democratic Committee.
A visit to the weekly after-school program put together by the 4-H program through Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County and the Erie County Restorative Justice Coalition. Young people of Buffalo will share their thoughts on race, their city and their futures. And we'll be joined live by India Walton, candidate for the Masten District Common Council seat.
On today’s episode of Buffalo, What’s Next? we highlight two segments from two different episodes (January 12 and 26 of this year) with Cariol Horne and Eric Boerdner.
In our weekly “Producers’ Picks” episode we bring you highlights of recent important interviews with: three vendors from the Broadway Market’s Buy Black Buffalo initiative (Alisa Officer of Unapologetic Coffee, Lynette Elliot of E-Scent-ials Body Care and Shawn Thurmond from Glamorous Embellishments, NAACP President Mark Blue, and artist Julia Bottoms.
Thank you for listening to Buffalo, What's Next? on WBFO. Buffalo, What's Next? will be taking a short break and will return with new content shortly. As we take this break, please continue to tune in to WBFO Monday through Friday at 10am and 9pm for encore presentations of some of our favorite episodes of Buffalo, What's Next?
Steve Stoute is with us for the entire hour's program to elaborate on urban engagement and how the school can rise to the occasion.
As part of Women's History Month, we talk with Buffalo-based attorney and activist Nadia Shahram. Then hear from Johanna Dominguez, owner of Put a Plant On It in Buffalo about increasing New York State's minimum wage.
Dawn Wells-Clyburn talks about the city's housing needs, environmental justice, climate change and gas heating in homes. Then a look back at caring for the community during a blizzard with barber Craig Elston, owner of C&C Cuts.
University at Buffalo Law student Glenaida Garlock is a student attorney and activist working on behalf of and with Black, Latino, Native American/Indigenous and LGBTQ student groups. She talks about identity, empathy and growing up in mostly white rural Erie County. Then Raziya Hill, the founder of Every Bottom Covered talks about community service and her work to distribute diapers to needy moms. She also tells of the snow shoveling brigades she organized during the Christmas blizzard.
In today's Producers' Picks we bring you highlights from interviews with internationally-known artist LeRoi Johnson and award-winning documentary filmmaker Tarabu Kirkland.
Attorney Kristen Elmore-Garcia talks of her recent trip to Washington for a session of the U.S Supreme Court, where justices heard arguments that could have an effect on any local lawsuits brought by family members who wish to hold social media accountable for the Tops shootings. Then James Accurso from the U.S. Small Business Administration details eligibility and application guidelines for low-interest loans available as a result of Winter Storm Elliott.
Bloody Sunday happened 57 years ago in Selma, Alabama. Buffalonian Harvey Miles's father was 15 years old that day and one of seven relatives of his arrested on that bridge. He shares their story.
Kareem Weaver, an Oakland California NAACP activist, believes literacy is our most important civil right. With a focus on Black and brown children, Kareem demands to bring science-based reading instruction to Oakland schools and has garnered national interest by taking on the publishing industries. Between a series of meetings with Buffalo-area educators recently, he stopped to have this important conversation with WBFO's Jay Moran.
Activist Nate Boyd updates his campaign on behalf of Tops workers and survivors who were not necessarily in the store at the time of the shooting but are still impacted by it. Then, a team from the University at Buffalo Law School has started to look at freedom from debt as a civil right. The School of Law’s Civil Rights and Transparency Clinic Supervising Attorney Paulette Campbell, and student attorney Glenaida Garlock talk of the concept — and the free advice clinics they offer.
Once again today, instead of our usual selection of highlights from a variety of previous interviews, we are bringing you excerpts of a single episode from an outstanding guest: Rev. Kwame Pitts. Pitts runs the Community of Good Neighbors mobile food truck in Buffalo, and works with the Oasis Community of spiritual people who aren't necessarily religious. She's outspoken on racial equity and is a scholar and practitioner of various rituals.
WBFO’s Thomas O'Neil-White talks with Jelicia Jimenez and Ruqayyah Simmons, co-founders of Black Boys Read Too about ways to address the large disparities in literacy achievement by getting books in children’s hands in Erie and Niagara Counties. Also today, entrepreneur, musical artist, publisher, and producer Robert Grant. He wants to educate more people of color through his payment processing expertise.
Inside Buffalo’s food desert, Rita Hubbard-Robinson takes Dave Debo on a tour of the East Side site where she hopes to develop a food hub, with hydroponics, a farmer’s market and a health education center. Then on a day when SNAP (food stamp) benefits drop back to pre-pandemic levels, Trina Burris, CEO of the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County looks at what that sudden $200 cut means for under-resourced people and the working poor.
Fruit belt activists Dennice Barr and Kelly Camacho pull back the curtain on tenant troubles at McCarley Gardens. Then, Black history storyteller, Karima Amin shares some of her work.
LaShelle Roberson of TOLL (To Our Legacy and Legends) talks of her work with children who have lost their parents to homicide. Then Mark Overall from the Urban League Young Professionals stops by.
Today's Producers' Picks program features highlights of only one interview. Instead of our usual segments, we spend the entire hour bringing you an early February interview with Rev. Darius Pridgen - taped shortly after he announced he would not run again for Buffalo city council. In a wide-ranging chat, he discusses why, looks back on his terms as President of the Buffalo Common Council, and talks about race, education and economic development.
Today a look at Black history in Buffalo and the influence Marcus Garvey had on the region in the early 1900s. Malik "Lion" Blyden, president of Buffalo's branch of Garvey's United Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League talks about the historic sites in Buffalo, how Garvey's ideas on self-reliance can resonate today, and why he feels many of those ideas have been ignored in favor of a more traditional telling of Black history.
Aitina Fareed-Cooke talks with Jay Moran. She is an artist and entrepreneur who was born and raised in Buffalo. In early life, she lived in a foster home and speaks freely about how that experience--and the labels of low expectations attached to it--drove her to find herself through art and creativity. Her Get Fokus'd Production is a media arts company that works, in part, to highlight emerging local artists.
Author and lecturer Emmanuel Kulu talks at length about his work with Buffalo Public Schools and elsewhere, infusing African history - from Egypt and the entire continent of Africa - into the teaching of Black history.
A chat with Dr. Peggy Brooks-Bertram, an author and longtime advocate for the teaching of black history, she is one of the founders of the “Uncrowned Community Builders” database of prominent African-American men and women in Western New York and is the author or co-author of several books, including one that gathered letters to First Lady Michelle Obama, and another similarly for Vice President Kamala Harris.
This week's Producers' Picks program is a complete summary of Wednesday's victim impact statements and sentencing of Payton Gendron for the racist massacre at Tops on May 14.
One day after the Tops shooter was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, we hear the bold remarks from Judge Susan Eagan, humanizing those he killed, and outlining the scope of systemic racism. Then, we go in depth with Erie County District Attorney John Flynn.
Hear a complete recap of Wednesday's court proceedings, including family members talking of those Gendron killed in the Tops Massacre on May 14. Also legal analysis, and blunt commentary from Judge Susan Eagan as she sent him to jail for life without parole.
Deidra EmEl is the Executive Director of the WNY Peace Center. She joins Jay Moran for a preview of their Women's March 2023, their Embracing Buffalo: Frank Conversations series in May, and a range of other initiatives promoting social justice and equity.
Fresh off her recent Black History Month speech at Buffalo State University, author Jessica Wilson talks with Jay Moran. She is a clinical dietitian and consultant, whose experiences navigating the dietetic fields as a Black, queer dietitian have led her to write "It's Always Been Ours: Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies." Then a visit with Penny Beckham, the volunteer director of The Plate of Love Soup Kitchen on Glenwood Ave. to chat about the scope of community needs in Buffalo.
Instead of a typical Producers' Picks program that includes highlights of previous interviews, today our producers have picked three intense interviews on opioid addiction and treatment. Jay Moran talks with Nick Gazzoli, Senior Program Director at Horizon Village, "Karl" a 27-year old in the residential treatment program at Horizon Village, and Horizon Health's Parent and Family Support Coordinator Colleen Babcock. Today's program is in conjunction with a statewide public media overdose epidemic initiative. The effort also includes the premier of “Love in the Time of Fentanyl” on WNED PBS’s INDEPENDENT LENS Monday, February 13, at 10:00 p.m. A special screening of the documentary, including a NARCAN demonstration and various overdose prevention resources, will be held at our studios on February 16 starting at 5:30.
Jay Moran talks with three vendors from the Broadway Market’s Buy Black Buffalo initiative. Hear from Alisa Officer of Unapologetic Coffee, Lynette Elliott of E-Scent-ials Body Care and Shawn Thurmond from Glamorous Embellishments. Then hear a conversation with Jodi Lynn Maracle, an artist in Buffalo working to bring a greater awareness of Indigenous culture, legacies and lived experiences to the public space.
SUNY Buffalo State University Professor Steve Peraza talks about his work documenting Buffalo's civil rights history, contrasting it to the more traditional narrative that is put forth about racism in the South. Then Sherman Webb-Middlebrooks and Antoine Johnson explore the fatherhood initiative at the Buffalo Prenatal Perinatal Network talking about ways to help support fathers and families in Buffalo.
Today as part of Black History Month, we tell the story of LeRoi Johnson. He shares his journey from the Perry Projects in Buffalo to being a student activist at Canisius College in the late 60s, and his role as manager for his brother Rick James, the MaryJane Girls and other acts in the 80s. A prominent attorney, he is an internationally known artist with the exhibition "LeRoi: Living in Color" underway at the Burchfield-Penney Art Center. With earlier shows in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Canada, his work is global, and incorporates African, Caribbean, and South American cultural influences depicting dreams, visions, and African ancestry.
Hear a Black History Month talk with Dr. LaGarrett King, director of the University at Buffalo's Center for K-12 Black History and Racial Literacy Education. Also Northwest Bank's Jonathan Graves and Rick Hamister on some new home ownership and financial literacy programs on Buffalo's East Side.
In our weekly “Producers’ Picks” episode we bring you highlights of recent interviews with: —Rev. Kinzer Pointer on training UB Med students on poverty and empathy--Charley Fisher III, BUILD Inc. --UB family sociologist Ashley Barr on how racism effects families and romantic partners--Greg Brown, longtime East side resident and the sports columnist for the Challenger Newspaper
Just after he announces he is leaving his Ellicott district seat on the Buffalo City Council, president Darius Pridgen of True Bethel Baptist Church joins us for the entire hour to talk about his future, what the city needs to progress, and a overview of the changes in education, segregation and related issues over his 12 year tenure.
We start off Black History Month with documentary filmmaker Tarabu Betserai Kirkland and the story of his mother's eyewitness account of civil rights struggles in the south before moving to Buffalo. He's the director of "100 Years From Mississippi" and also tells his own story of fighting for civil rights at Canisius College with Buffalo-based artist LeRoi Johnson. Then NAACP President Mark Blue joins us to discuss plans for a 5/14 Memorial in Buffalo.
For over 40 years, Dr. Henry Louis Taylor at the University of Buffalo's Center for Urban Studies has looked at the challenges that face Buffalo's communities of color. In today's interview with Jay Moran, he turns to the disparities laid bare during the Christmas blizzard.
Today we discuss the release of video in Memphis showing police beating Tyre Nichols. Prof. John Torrey from SUNY Buffalo State is a member of the city of Buffalo's Police reform commission. Then Attorney Miles Gresham, a policy fellow with the Partnership for Public Good, and a longtime advocate for more police accountability weighs in.
In our weekly “Producers’ Picks” episode we bring you a collection of recent interviews around 1 topic: the disproportionate blizzard-related deaths, and discussion about the way poor people and people of color could have been helped more during Winter Storm Elliott. Guests include: Jessica Bauer-Walker, Executive Director of the Community Health Worker Network of Buffalo, Karina Tefft of The National Center for Law and Economic Justice and Jalonda Hill from the Fair Fines and Fees Coalition and Colored Girls Bike Too. Also, Buffalo Poet Laureate Jillian Hanesworth.
Former Buffalo Police officer Cariol Horne gained fame when she was removed from the force after trying to stop another officer from using a chokehold on a handcuffed suspect. But more recently, she was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct, obstruction of justice, and harassment, as police responded to reports of looting during the Winter Storm Elliot. Now she's speaking out about how people were treated during the blizzard. Then Rosalind Burgin, President of the Buffalo Niagara Association of Realtors, talks about the discrimination they have seen at open houses, and a new video series to combat it.
Today we take you to an interesting session convened by the University at Buffalo's Center for K thru 12 Black History and Racial Literacy Education. Every few weeks they convene "Black History Nerds Saturday School" to give teachers a range of ideas and resources on how to teach Black history. This past week's session focused on a collective effort to create "The Buffalo Syllabus"- an archive of resources about Buffalo's racism before and after the mass shooting on May 14th. Then hear from artist Julia Bottoms, a Buffalo-based muralist and artist who helped create Buffalo's Freedom Wall, and has a variety of other paintings that look at race, identity, and representation of people of color.
Today we explore the latest on a community benefits agreement approved by the state agency that will be the Buffalo Bills landlord in their new facility. It includes funds for food insecurity, mental health, anti-gun violence and job training. Then hear from Al and Vivian Robinson from Spirit of Truth Urban Ministry on how their sanctuary on Gold St. became refuge for over 100 people during the recent blizzard - and hear what they have to say about storm management, community needs and more. And listen to a conversation with Sara Sadri, a native of Tehran, Iran who came to the United States when she was 17 to go to college and is an activist fighting locally for Women's rights in Iran.
Charley Fisher from BUILD has an optimistic take on the possibility for business development on Buffalo's East side, and points to a surge in the Broadway-Fillmore area as proof of what might occur elsewhere. Then, University at Buffalo family sociologist Ashley Barr, Assoc. Professor of Sociology at SUNY Buffalo, reveals some of her recent research on how racial discrimination has an effect that spreads among family members and romantic partners, beyond the person facing any individual racist act.
In our weekly “Producers’ Picks” episode we bring you highlights of recent important interviews with: Dr. Lori Quigley, interim president Medaille University, on the Native American residential schools in WNY that stripped hundreds of their families and culture, Activist Alex Burgos on his work and combating the triple threat of racism, homophobia and transphobia, Mike Lee, COO and Liza, a client at Evergreen Health Services on the various community health centers’ effort to save state funding, Bishop Michael Badger of the Bethesda World Harvest International Church and the Urban Think Tank on East side disinvestment.
Jessica Bauer Walker from the Community Health Worker Network of Buffalo looks at what the community can do -- and what government should do to help people of color and the poor during crises like a blizzard, the COVID-19 pandemic or even the Tops shooting. Then Jay Moran begins an occasional series with candidates who are challenging incumbents on the Buffalo City Council this coming year. Up first: Eve Shippens in the North district.
Jay Moran talks with Greg Brown, a longtime East side resident and the sports columnist for the Challenger Newspaper. Then Emyle Watkins talks with Garrett Bush, a sports talk show host in Cleveland who went viral for a video discussing disability benefits in the NFL. He discusses some of the issues and myths about SSDI before taking a look at the financial and physical risks that NFL players without multi-million dollar contracts, such as Damar Hamlin take when they step on the football field.
On the National Day of Racial Healing, we delve into healing rituals in African and African-American culture, with Rev. Kwame Pitts, a scholar and practitioner of various rituals, and the pastor at the Community of Good Neighbors - a mobile food pantry in Buffalo. Pitts is an outspoken activist on racial equity, and also runs the Oasis Community, a growing group of spiritual yet not religious people in greater Buffalo.
On the federal Martin Luther King Jr. Day, hear highlights of this year's 43rd Annual Community Celebration honoring Dr. King, Including remarks from emcee Clifford Bell, Erie County legislature chair April Baskin, storytelling from Sharon Holly and Karima Amin , a series of monologues from students at the Buffalo Academy for the Visual and Performing Arts and a poem from Buffalo Poet Laureate Jillian Hanesworth. Also, Jay Moran has more on Dr. King's time in Buffalo with author, historian, and columnist Eva Doyle
In our weekly “Producers’ Picks” episode we bring you highlights of recent important interviews with: Jerome Wright, NYS HALT Solitary campaign on a NYS study that shows disproportionately harsh discipline of people of color in prisons, Rev. Denise Walden Glenn and Tyrell Ford from VOICE Buffalo on criminal justice and re-entry issues, Teresa Watson and Sarah Frasier from PUSH Buffalo on housing issues in Buffalo and the push for a tenant's Bill of Rights, and Tim Tielman, from The Campaign for Greater Buffalo History, Architecture & Culture looks at the rise and fall of Jefferson Avenue as a business district.
Thank you for listening to Buffalo, What's Next? on WBFO. Buffalo, What's Next? will be taking a short break for the holidays and will return in January, with new content for the New Year. As we take this break for the holidays, please continue to tune in to WBFO Monday through Friday at 10am and 9pm for encore presentations of some of our favorite episodes of Buffalo, What's Next?
In our weekly “Producers’ Picks” episode we bring you highlights of recent important interviews with: Ed Koban, Music Director of the Native American Music Awards and Mental Health Counselor, Hamadi Ali and Dao Kamara from the Providence Farm Collective, and April Baskin, Chair, Erie County Legislature.Thank you for listening to WBFO’s Buffalo, What's Next?. The daily podcast will be taking a short break for the holidays and will return with new episodes on January 9th. While we are taking a break from producing new episodes through January 9, continue to tune to WBFO for encore presentations of some our favorite episode of Buffalo, What's Next?
At least once each year, Pastor Kinzer Pointer from Agape Fellowship Baptist Church on Northland Avenue in Buffalo takes new UB Medical students on a tour of Jefferson Avenue, pointing out the issues that they need to have awareness of and people they should have empathy for. Then Jay Moran brings us excerpts from a recent “Making Spaces” discussion at Buffalo Arts Studio with Artist Matt Kenyon, Fruit Belt activist Dennice Barr, UB professor Henry Louis Taylor Jr. and others on art, urban planning and economic justice.
After a NYS Inspector General report earlier this month found that Black and Hispanic incarcerated individuals were more likely to be disciplined than white incarcerated individuals in New York prisons, we talk with Jerome Wright, (Twitter:@JMrWright316) who spent 30 years in prison and now leads the HALT Solitary Campaign (http://nycaic.org/) and (Twitter:@NYCAIC). Then Teresa Watson, Housing Justice Organizer, with People United for Sustainable Housing/PUSH Buffalo (Twitter:@PUSHBuffalo) discusses reforms that would change the housing climate across the all of Buffalo.
In 1996, a group of community leaders from labor, business and notably churches came together to work on community justice and equity issues, long before the Tops shooting on May 14. Today, Rev. Denise-Walden Glenn, the director of that group, VOICE Buffalo talks of their work and what the community needs. She’s joined by VOICE Buffalo Lead Community Organizer Tyrell Ford. They’ll look at advocacy work on behalf of the disabled, the fight against gun violence, their work with the incarcerated, and criminal justice reform.
Marvin Askew, Executive Director of the Buffalo City Ballet and school shares his personal story, and talks about their holiday performances of "The Nutcracker" in the Box Theater on Leroy Avenue. Then noted preservationist Tim Tielman, Executive Director of the Greater Buffalo Campaign for History, Architecture & Culture shares information from his recent public forum on "Wrecking Jefferson" looking at how a neighborhood of houses, family businesses, and busy sidewalks disappeared into neglect.
In our weekly “Producers’ Picks” episode we bring you highlights of recent important interviews with: Dr. Myron Glick, MD. of Jericho Road Community Health Center, Chandra Redfern, CEO of Buffalo Federation of Neighborhood Centers, Tiffany Lewis, at Confident Girl Mentoring Program, and Jennifer Parker of Jackson Parker Communications.
Mike Lee, COO of Evergreen Health (Twitter: @EvergreenHS) joins Liza, one of their clients to talk about what they feel is a major threat at the state level, (Twitter: @Leave340B) which would reduce funding for community health centers that provide help in underserved communities and populations. Then, activist Alex Burgos (Twitter: @AlexBurgosNY) talks about racism, homophobia and transphobia - and his efforts to combat them in the Hispanic community of Buffalo.
Today, Victoria Perez, the newly appointed interim education and arts engagement director at Shea’s Buffalo - will talk of her role there, and also the Raices Theater Company she founded to spotlight Latinx themes – including “Islena” a one woman show she performed in there this summer. Then Jay Moran visits a recent meeting of the Wakanda Alliance, an Afrofuturist group that works with youth and others in Buffalo.
Michael Badger from Bethesda World Harvest International talks about what the East side needs, and speak about his support for the Grieving Families Act pending before Governor Kathy Hochul. Then Stephanie Simeon of Heart of the City Neighborhoods and Ashley Smith from GO Bike Buffalo talks about transportation, equity and the East Side trail plan.
Erie County Legislator Howard Johnson looks at the lack of development on the East side with Angelea Preston. Then, Jay Moran is joined by Murray Holman from the Buffalo Peacekeepers and the Stop the Violence Coalition to discuss whether there has been any change or progress since the Tops shootings on 5/14.
In our weekly “Producers’ Picks” episode we bring you highlights of recent important interviews with: Reggie Keith, operator of Canna House, Tammy Simon-Baldon, advocate for STEM education, Larry Stitts, chief coffee roaster, owner/operator “The Golden Cup”, and Talia Rodriguez, Associate Director, West Side Promise Neighborhood.
Dr. Lori Quigley, Chairwoman, Seneca Gaming Corporation (Twitter:@The Best8Hours) is a member of the Seneca Nation, and the Wolf Clan. She talks with Jay Moran about the economic impact of gaming in WNY, but also of the efforts to preserve the Seneca language, and the troubled history of Native American residential boarding schools.
Geoff Kelly (Twitter: @ghkelly1969) from Investigative Post (@ipostnews) continues his reporting on Buffalo police, sharing his latest on racist attitudes and use of the N word in the department. Then Jason Corwin, Ph.D. (Onödowa'ga:'), a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Indigenous Studies at UB (Twitter: @UBuffalo) talks with Jay Moran about various issues including the recent launch of a full Indigenous Studies Dept, there.
Today, one day after the Tops shooter pleaded guilty to murder and domestic terror charges, we have the entire hour with Attorney John Elmore, who represents the families of shooting victims Andre Mackneil and Kat Massey. A former prosecutor and state trooper, Elmore has worked on civil rights issues in Buffalo for years and is the author of “Fighting for Your Life: The African American Criminal Justice Survival Guide.”
Jay Moran talks with Marvin Askew, Executive director, Buffalo City Ballet. Then Thomas O’Neil-White with Chae Hawk, a cinema and rap artist in Buffalo working on a history project involving the Buffalo Braves basketball team of the 1970s.
In our weekly “Producers’ Picks” episode we bring you highlights of recent important interviews with: Shondra Brown, author, “The Black Professional’s Guide: How to Navigate White Privilege in the Workplace.”, A talk on DEI for small business with Shia Arnold, Principal, Nurah and Associates, Otillie Woodruff, President; Denise V. Cobbs, Vice-President and Social Justice Chair Pamela Stephens-Jackson from the Buffalo chapter of AKA sorority- on-service.
Organizer Ed Koban talks about the Native American Music Awards, mental health, and more. Then, Hamadi Ali and Dao Kamara from the Providence Farm Collective share their stories of farming, culture, and community- touching on how they give back on the East side, and how they themselves need help to keep the collective growing.
Erie County Legislature Chair April Baskin talks of the community benefit agreement for a Buffalo Bills stadium, touches on educational opportunity and college readiness, and the community needs that linger after the Tops shooting.
In our weekly “Producers’ Picks” episode we bring you highlights of recent important interviews with: Daysi Ball, Director, Hope Center, Buffalo Federation of Neighborhood Centers (BFNC) on senior needs-and leadership development, Terry Alford, Executive Director, Michigan Avenue African American Heritage Corridor reflects on the recent PBS program “Making Black America” and looks at unseen social networks in Buffalo and Tesha Parker, founder, “Rooted in Love” on community needs.
Today a look at hunger and poverty. Catherine Schick from Feed More WNY will talk about the face of local poverty, John Strazzobosco, the author of "Ninety Feet Under: What poverty does to people" will discuss his findings, and courtesy of Marketplace, we will look at one particular Feed More effort on Buffalo's East side.
Jennifer Parker will be with us to talk about entrepreneurship, minority and women owned business, mentorship, business development, and community. And then performer and artist Drea d’Nur -- the founder of Feed Buffalo -- talks about “Reimagining Black Death: A Requiem for Our Suffering” It’s a soundscape experience that begins and lands on love, exploring ancestral modalities of sound, movement and remembrance, that permits us to be present with our grief, our feelings and with one another.
Today Chandra Redfern, executive Director, Buffalo Federation of Neighborhood Centers, looks at human services delivery in WNY, and community needs since 5/14. Then Tiffany Lewis, of Confident Girl Mentoring Program, talking about that program and the dearth of mentoring programs for young women.
Exactly six months since the Tops Market shootings, we pause to look at the lives lost, and the activism they inspired since May 14. First a series of remembrances on each of the ten who were killed in the Tops Shooting, including a look at the loss- but also the activism their deaths inspired. Then, Mark Talley- who lost his mother Geraldine in the shootings - talks with Dave Debo about the journey he has made from grief and mourning to making a change in the community with his wife Roshneke and his organization Agents for Advocacy.
In our weekly “Producers’ Picks” episode we bring you highlights of recent important interviews with: Andrea Ó Súilleabháin from the Partnership for the Public Good, speaking on the need for a broad Community Benefits Agreement related to the new Buffalo Bills stadium and more public discussion of it, Paul Perez from Home Headquarters, Clean Sweep and other activism on financial discipline, activism, youth engagement and more, and Francisco Vasquez, former President/CEO, Child and Family Services Buffalo with an identity story of life in Buffalo, with Mexican roots.
Today we look at two unique service programs. Daysi Ball, director of the Buffalo Federation of Neighborhood Centers' Hope program talks about her work with seniors. Then Dr. Myron Glick MD, CEO Of Jericho Road Community Health Center shares stories of his work and the expanding VIVE La CASA Center housing facility for refugees and immigrants.
SUNY Buffalo State Political Science and Africana Studies Professor Anthony Neal analyzes yesterday's election results with Jay Moran. Then Thomas O'Neil-White chats with Reggie Keith a legacy operator who runs Canna-House, a Buffalo-based private social club centered around cannabis.
Today, Talia Rodriguez talks with Thomas O'Neil-White about her role as associate director of the West Side Promise Neighborhood, a group that works to create a vibrant and healthy West Side, with particular emphasis on getting children to reach their potential “wrapped in the education, health and social support they need, from cradle to career.” She also shares stories of her own life as a Latina in Buffalo. Then, a personal story from Tammy Simon-Baldon. She lost her husband to cancer two years into her marriage and will talk about what grief looks like for Black women. She has also done some work on DEI in Buffalo and Richmond Virginia and talks about the differences in culture and race in those two cities.
Larry Stitts is the owner and operator of The Golden Cup, a coffee roaster and de-facto community center on Jefferson Avenue, expanding into new space. He’s also on the newly appointed city memorial commission studying the Jefferson Avenue Shooting site, and has worked with the city of Buffalo’s schools on minority participation in construction projects. He speaks with WBFO’s Dave Debo during the first half of today’s program. Then, Kevin Horrigan and Bradford Watts from People Inc. talk about community needs and race relations in that neighborhood, where they operate several residential facilities.
In our weekly “Producers’ Picks” episode we bring you highlights of recent important interviews with: Entrepreneur and promoter Rob Cornelius, Shayla Harris, a Buffalo-born director and producer of Dr. Henry Louis Gates’s PBS Series “Making Black America: Through the Grapevine , Caroline Harries from the Food Trust, on innovative ways to deal with food access issues in underserved neighborhoods, Cheryl Jordan, a student at the Community Music School in their new Delavan Ave. location, and Investigative Post reporter Geoff Kelly on the Buffalo Police contract talks, and the likelihood of it not including any reforms.
ECDOH and Literacy Buffalo Niagara are wrapping up Health Literacy Week, but that doesn’t mean their work on promoting health literacy is ending. Literacy Buffalo is joining the health department’s work in health equity and outreach and will talk about it with Jay Moran. And then, nationally known author Robin DiAngelo, author of "White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism" joins Dave Debo to discuss that topic and preview Saturday’s daylong workshop coming up with WNY author and trainer Nannette Massey at Canisius College.
Up first, Angelea Preston talks with Otillie Woodruff, President of the Alpha Kappa Alpha chapter in Buffalo. She’ll be joined by Vice PresidentDenise V. Cobbs and Social Justice Chair Pamela Stephens-Jackson to talk about sisterhood and activism. Then, Thomas O’Neil-White chats with Kendra Brim, the DEI director at Tesla, and an activist that has been pushing for a broad community benefits agreements on the new Buffalo Bills stadium.
Dorian Withrow Jr. is a community activist, mentor, student and music promoter with a unique take on what the community needs. He shares perspectives with Thomas O'Neil-White on what work needs to be done for our youth. Then University at Buffalo history professor Victoria Wolcott, who has written about the civil rights movement and the long struggle that continues, talks with Dave Debo.
Last year, Buffalo area trauma nurse Shondra Brown wrote The Black Professional's Guide: How to Navigate White Privilege in the Workplace" based on real life experiences and observations. One year later she will join Dave Debo to talk more about what has changed, what has stayed the same, and what black and brown employees need to know as they enter a changing workplace.Shai Arnold is the founder of Nurah and Associates, a DEI consultant that works with small businesses and larger corporate partners. How do these companies scale DEI throughout their entire organization?
In our weekly “Producers’ Picks” episode we bring you highlights of recent important interviews with: Kimberly Kadziolka, Executive Director The Parent Network of WNY, and Bradford Watts, Board Chairman - on neighborhood outreach, Nekia Kemp, Executive Director, Police Athletic League of Buffalo – on youth services and police interaction, Chiwuike "Chi-Chi" Owunwanne, KeyBank's corporate responsibility officer and community relations manager for Buffalo and Rochester, Tenelle Jones, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston- on what Buffalo might learn from the Mother Emmanuel AME Church shootings of 2015.
In April of 1960, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. famously described 11 am on Sunday as “the most segregated hour in America”, suggesting that while churches are open to all races, few have true integration. Does the problem still exist? DeMar Dowell is the founder of God’s Dream Inc., a ministry and DEI consultancy in Buffalo that works to bring Black and White people together on specific spiritual projects that he hopes will “build bridges of diversity .. and generate opportunities that change lives.” Then a wide-ranging talk with Jim Anderson, a long time civil rights and peace activist talking about social justice, anti- militarism, housing and the modern protest movement.
Tom Muscarella is a senior public health sanitarian with the Erie County Department of Health’s Division of Environmental Health. He will talk with Jay Moran about older homes on the East side, and lead paint safety. Then, Sara Pearson-Collins and Kezia Pearson talk about their "Pulling The Race Card" exercise and put Dave Debo through a quick demo of the discussion starter before they hold a public session on it Wednesday evening.
Today, as Henry Louis Gates Jr. wraps up his 4-part PBS series “Making Black America”, we talk with Terry Alford from The Michigan Street African American Corridor about some of the sort of spaces Gates delved into- offering refuge from discrimination and social separation. He’ll also chat with Dave Debo about long-term plans for the corridor.Then Jay Moran looks at Rooted in Love, with Tesha Parker, founder of the East side ministry that reaches out to the homeless and others in need.
Today, Jay Moran with Shirley Verrico from the Buffalo Arts Studio about how arts in the community, some of their programs and the emotional connections that art can play in healing. Then Thomas O’Neil-White talks with Malik Stubbs, a youth mentor who works with young men of color in the “Breaking Barriers” program, and is engaged in teaching STEM at the Delavan Grider Community Center.
In our weekly “Producers’ Picks” episode we bring you highlights of recent important interviews with:- Cedric Holloway, The Omega Mentoring Program/Omega Psi Phi Fraternity - Phi Omega chapter on Buffalo’s gangs and at-risk youth - Prof. Orlando Dickson, Medaille College, The Partnership for the Public Good with a discussion on public land use - Actors Zhanna Reed and Marcus J. Paige, recently in Shea's "Once On This Island" on colorblind casting - Warren Galloway, co-chair, African American Veterans' Monument
Today, Talia Rodriguez talks with Jay Moran about her role as associate director of the West Side Promise Neighborhood, a group that works to create a vibrant and healthy West Side, with particular emphasis on getting children to reach their potential “wrapped in the education, health and social support they need, from cradle to career.” She also shares stories of her own life as a Latina in Buffalo. Then Thomas O’Neil-White also takes up a conversation on health equity, with Jessica Bauer Walker, the founder of the Community Health Worker Network of Buffalo. The network strives to train health care workers in issues of health equity.
Today, because of the WNED PBS Henry Louis Gates Jr. special series “Making Black America: Through the Grapevine”, Thomas O’Neil-White speaks with historian Michelle Ragland, one of the curators of the Buffalo and Western New York African American History Group on Facebook. They explore the rich Black history in Buffalo and discuss why it’s important in modern days.Then the long battle over Buffalo’s re-drawn city council districts is heading to court. Attorney Adam Bojak from the Our City Action group talks about their just filed lawsuit putting the maps on hold - amid charges that it could dilute minority representation on Buffalo’s East side.
Paul Perez Jr, CEO of Better Living Interest talks with Jay Moran about Real Estate, credit and the state of Black wealth in the country.Then Francisco Vasquez, the president emeritus of Child and Family Services shares a personal story of growing up as a Latino, facing discrimination on two fronts as he began to work in both Hispanic and White worlds.
Then on the day after a big Bills win, and yet another extension of the timeline to land a community benefits agreement -- Andrea O'Suilleabhain Executive Director at Partnership for the Public Good will talk of what should be in the agreement on a new Buffalo Bills stadium. After her recent trip to Buffalo, author Jacquie Abrams (Twitter:@HushMoney2020) will talk about her book" HUSH MONEY: How One Woman Proved Systemic Racism in her Workplace and Kept her Job.”
In our weekly “Producers’ Picks” episode we bring you highlights of recent important interviews with:-Karima Morris from the Bury The Violence initiative, that works with parents of missing and murdered children-Ayat Nieves, a real estate agent who delivers financial education through the Buffalo Information Sharing Collective-Jasmine Tucker of the National Women’s Law Center on why Black women earn less pay-Attorney Jason Daniels on the rarity of being Black in corporate Buffalo-Mark Overall, Buffalo Urban League Young Professionals
Then Jay Moran takes a visit to the Community Music School of Buffalo, as they move into a new East side facility.Today we look at the state of home ownership on the East side, with MMB Realty Group - the region's first all-female, Black-owned realty group. Mia Mootry, Tamika Collins Murphy and Rosalind Burgin will chat with Dave Debo.
Today we bring you a look at “Making Black America - Through the Grapevine “ a four-part PBS series hosted by Henry Louis Gates, Jr., that chronicles the vast social networks and organizations created by and for Black people—beyond the reach of the “White gaze.” Angelea Preston interviews Shayla Harris, the Buffalo native who produced and directed the series.Then on the day she delivers a keynote address at the national American Food Equity Conference, we’ll hear from Caroline Harries of the Food Trust, a national group that works to fund expanded grocery programs in poor areas.
Up first, Thomas O'Neil-White talks with Rob Cornelius. He's in a unique position to talk about community needs, because of his extensive work on the East side-- with Juneteenth, organizing school supply drives with Conway the Machine and is both the school coordinator at Continental School of Beauty and a KeyBank Branch Manager.Police reform was the mantra of demonstrators and elected officials alike in the summer of 2020. And with a city that wanted change, and a police union that wanted a new contract, it was thought that the competing interests might result in a compromise that brought forth the much talked about changes. But Investigative Post reporter Geoff Kelly has found that a raise was put before an arbitrator, and agreed to without any other changes. He talks about the contract in a rescheduled visit with Dave Debo.We end the show with a preview of Tuesday night's community meeting with the Buffalo History Museum as they start to get a sense of what people near the shooting scene would like to have them do with mementoes, stories and other parts of the history of May 14.
In our weekly Producer’s Picks segment we bring you highlights of recent important interviews including:- Kelly Whitfield the founder and director of HealingHubny.org shares an intimate story of her own struggles and the various community efforts her group undertakes to help people heal.-On the eve of his annual Black Achievers Awards Dinner in Buffalo, Herb Bellamy Jr. talks about entrepreneurship.-Activist Kevin Gaughan gives a preview of his national conference on Food Equity coming to Buffalo on Oct. 12.-Kayla Elliot from the Education Trust looks at what else needs to happen besides student loan forgiveness to jumpstart Black educational attainment.- Prof. Anthony Neal from SUNY Buffalo State talks about Black voting patterns and community needs.
Today on Buffalo, What's Next?, we hear from Akec (A-ketch) Aguer of the Nile Restaurant on Grant Street inside the now burnt and temporarily shut down West Side Bazaar. He fled South Sudan as a refugee before eventually making Buffalo home. Also on the program Caroline Welch executive director of WEDI, the non-profit that runs the bazaar, and works with new Americans to ensure that all residents of Western New York can succeed and thrive in a culturally inclusive community.
Police reform was the mantra of demonstrators and elected officials alike in the City of Buffalo in the summer of 2020. And with a city that wanted change, and a police union that wanted raises in a new contract, it was thought that the competing interests might result in a compromise that moved accountability and other police reform measures forward. But Investigative Post reporter Geoff Kelly has found that a raise was put before an arbitrator, and agreed to without any other changes. He talks about the contract talks with Dave Debo. Then Researcher Anna Blatto from The Partnership for the Public Good reveals some of the things she has started to uncover in a study of the city’s water shut offs, who they effect, and what neighborhoods are dis-proportionally effected.
For three years, after the 2015 murder of 9 people in the historically Black Mother Emmanuel A-M-E church ins Charleston South Carolina, Tenelle Jones was one of the therapists who shared in the faith, hope and healing of that community. She is currently a full-time clinician at the Medical University of South Carolina Resiliency Center and will talk to Jay Moran about parallels to Buffalo and possible lessons we can take away from their experience.Then, Dave Debo speaks with Buffalo Police Athletic League Executive Director Nekia Kemp about several community needs -- on a day when the PAL is ready to announce a new conversation and engagement program for youth and police.
Today we continue our spotlight on the various groups that have stepped up since the shootings on 5/14- with a look at Key Bank and what needs they have noticed on the East side. Chiwuike Owunwanne joins Dave Debo to talk about farmers markets, food deserts, and more. Then Jay Moran looks at how the workload has changed for the Parent Network of WNY, when Kimberly Kadziolka and Bradford Watts talk about serving people with disabilities.
Our Friday “Producer’s Picks” segment this week brings you highlights of recent conversations with historian and former Buffalo School Board President Barbara Seals-Nevergold, the ACLU’s Leah Watson, and takes you along again for Jay Moran's visit to St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy.
Former Buffalo Fire Commissioner Garnell Whitfield lost his mother Ruth in the shootings, and ever since has become an activist-- even on the federal level. He has developed a relationship with Vice President Kamala Harris who has visited with him twice, and earlier this month he was part of the White House "United We Stand" summit. Today, Whitfield will discuss all of this with Thomas O'Neil White, and we will also hear excerpts from that White House summit, including remarks from Harris, President Biden, and from Community Health Center of Buffalo's Executive Director LaVonne Ansari, who spoke at the event.
Today we feature several interviews with the cast and production team of “Once on This Island” on stage now at Shea’s 710 Theater. It is a broadly inclusive production about race, identity and color, in a Caribbean re-telling of Hans Christian Anderson’s “The Little Mermaid”. Angelea Preston chats with director Naila Ansari, and twin 16-year old actresses Shylah Douglas and Samyah Douglas. Then Brigid Jaipaul Valenza brings in actors Zhanna Reed and Marcus Paige to talk more about the play, before all the performers gather to sing a moment from the show.
Cedric Holloway is so active in the community he was recently honored by the Buffalo Bills for his charity work. The son of Johnnie B. Wiley, he is a member of Omega Psi Fraternity, and chats with Jay Moran about what the community – still- needs. Then Leah Daniel from Fostering Greatness talks about the need for foster parents in communities of color.
Activist and Medaille University Criminal Justice Professor Orlando Dickson joins Thomas O’Neil-White to talk about using public Land for public benefit, police oversight and tenant bill of rights on Buffalo, What's Next?. Then Warren Galloway, chairman of the African American Veterans’ Monument committee describes this weekend’s dedication ceremonies and some of the poignant moments when the nation’s only memorial of its kind was unveiled on Buffalo’s waterfront.
Our Friday “Producer Picks” segment this week is an encore of a wide-ranging discussion Jay Moran had earlier with Prof. Michael Niman from SUNY Buffalo State.
Today we have a collection of interviews about business development and an exciting music segment. First, Jay Moran chats with Shantelle Patton, founder of That Brown Bag Minority Business Directory on some of her banking and financial education programs. Jalonda Hill from “Colored Girls Bike Too” and Jerome Wright with the HaltSolitary movement are with Dave Debo to talk about their planning summit that brings community input into the future of the Jefferson Avenue neighborhood. Jay returns to chat with Afro Rhythm Of The Future, a group that works for a more democratic, anti-racist future.
Today is Black Women's National Equal Pay Day and Jasmine Tucker, research director at the National Women's Law Center will share some numbers with Dave Debo, on why such a day is necessary, the extent of the disparities, and what can be done about it. Then Jay Moran has a discussion with Stan Hudson of CAI Global and Ebony White from the Buffalo Health Equity Center
In 2013, Kareema Morris realized that there needs to be more resources spent on finding missing, runaway, exploited & trafficked community members. Her Bury the Violence initiative has since expanded to work on ways to memorialize homicide victims, provide aid to their families and even fund their headstones. On today’s program she talks about this with Dave Debo. Ahmad Nieves jumped in when he saw a similar need: the lack of education on home ownership. His Buffalo Information Sharing Cooperative works on financial literacy programs and grass-roots programs to help reduce the low home ownership rates in Buffalo’s African American and other communities of color. He discusses it with Thomas O’Neil-White.
How do Black people navigate positions typically held by white people? Attorney Jason Daniels will talk with Jay Moran about being Black in the corporate world. Then Mark Overall, President of the Buffalo Urban League’s Young Professionals group will expand on the topic with Dave Debo
In today's "Producer Picks" segment, we revisit an earlier conversation with Catherine Collins, the WNY representative on the NYS Board of Regents. She talks about teaching on race, curriculum, and as always what the community needs are along Jefferson Avenue. Then Leah Watson from the American Civil Liberties Union looks at some districts across the U.S., where increasing censorship is so strong that teachers have not been able to discuss the Tops shootings - or other racial issues- with their students.
Today we look at the communities needs for food and counseling and support, with the director of one of the organizations providing that relief. Dave Debo talks with Candace Moppins from The Delavan Grider Community Center on what she is still seeing the need for despite having passed the 4 month mark since the shootings.Then former Buffalo Police Officer Cariol Horne (removed from the force for intervening to stop violence by another officer against a handcuffed suspect) was recently quoted in a national publication as saying that President Biden is a busy man and she could gladly just take over police policy for him. On a day when the president is hosting a summit on violence including Buffalo victims- Horne is with Thomas O’Neil White to talk about changes that Buffalo needs.
Today we bust the myth that Jefferson Ave. is desolate, without any strong businesses. If there's anyone with insight into what it takes to build a business on Buffalo's East side it's Herb Bellamy Jr. The son of a serial entrepreneur who once owned 20 business mostly along Jefferson, Bellamy is the founder of the Buffalo Black Achievers Museum, a career training center, and two low income or disabled housing facilities with mixed use retail space. He’s also an insurance broker and financial planner. He talks with Dave Debo. Then Thomas O'Neil-White takes it further with Rob Cornelius. He's in a unique position to talk about community needs, because of his extensive work on the East side-- with Juneteenth, organizing school supply drives with Conway the Machine and is both the school coordinator at Continental School of Beauty and a KeyBank Branch Manager.
Kelly Whitfield, Executive Director and Founder Healing Hub of NY, Inc. Whitfield is a leader with Voice Buffalo and knows trauma. She was adopted into an abusive family as a baby, suffered a debilitating car crash (she took college classes in a wheelchair), was in an adult abusive relationship, and suffered the loss of a child, addiction and chronic illness - and will talk with Jay Moran about ways to heal. Then attorney and government reform advocate Kevin Gaughan will talk with Dave Debo about food access in advance of a Food Equity conference he's convening at Seneca One October 12th.
Today we look at access to education for minority populations and whether the federal student loan forgiveness plan has the possibility to change any of that, with Brittani Williams and Kayla Elliott from The Education Trust. Then Prof. Anthony Neal from the Political Science and Africana Studies Departments at SUNY Buffalo State looks at ballot access and issues of importance to the Black voting population. Dr. Neal is the author of The American Political Narrative, a look at the American political system and what is needed to maintain it.
In today’s ”Producers’ Picks” weekly highlights program, we bring you a replay of speaker, trainer and author Duncan Kirkwood talking with Brigid Jaipaul-Valenza about his global resilience advocacy work and how to empower youth, parents and communities.
Our weekly "Producers' Picks " program features highlights of earlier interviews. In our feature interview, Jay Moran and Thomas O’Neil White speak with Fatima Morell, Buffalo Public Schools Associate Superintendent of culturally and linguistically responsive initiatives. Dave Debo is with Antoine Johnson, director of the Fatherhood program at the Buffalo Prenatal Perinatal Network. Thomas also interviews Melodie Baker, National Policy Director at Just Equations, a group that advocates for more equality in math and STEM. And Brigid Jaipaul-Valenza speaks with Buffalo-based author Desiree Williams (and her son Cortland) on her book "Beautiful Brown Babies."
What are the experiences of Indigenous filmmakers in an industry characterized by exclusion? The Haudenosaunee Micro-Short film Program (HMSFP) now in its second year, develops a new model for supporting underrepresented artists through direct collaboration and compensation. Jay Moran talks with Lukia Costello from Spark Filmmaker’s Collaborative and program coordinator Terry Jones. Then, Dave Debo talks about fear of being inside the Tops Market, with Malane White, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with Spectrum Health Services. And Dr. Willie Underwood MD from the Buffalo Health Equity Center broadens our discussions on health disparities by looking beyond the social factors that determine health to discuss health care delivery systems and outcome monitoring.
Activist Le’Candice Durham talks with Thomas O’Neil-White about her Healing Soul Saturday effort to try and make sure food and other community resources for health are available in poor neighborhoods. And, Dave Debo talks about the problems that mothers and fathers face with LuAnne Brown and from the Buffalo Pre-Natal/Perinatal Network, and Antoine Johnson from their fatherhood initiative. The network works on ways to promote the health of babies and combat maternal mortality rates among Black women.
Earlier this year TIME magazine included Buffalo’s Dr. Fatima Morrell PhD in their national list of education innovators and she joins hosts Jay Moran and Thomas O’Neil White on this edition of “Buffalo, What’s Next?” She is the associate superintendent of culturally and linguistically responsive initiatives for Buffalo Public Schools, and has worked on making sure that the city’s classrooms, teachers and parents all resonate properly for students of color. In the wake of the George Floyd killing and the summer of Black Lives Matters rallies, she developed and implemented an “Emancipation Curriculum” to address systemic oppression and she says anti-racism education plays a role in violence prevention, especially after the Tops shootings.
More than three months after the shootings at the Tops Market, there is still fear and grief in the community. Jay Moran talks with Kelly Dumas, LCSW , The chief operating officer of BestSelf Behavioral Health, and Kevin Beckman, BestSelf’s Vice President of Health Home. Kelly is also chair of the will also address why it’s important to be specific in identifying and addressing race equity in your diversity goals and how to be intentional in this work and sustainability. Beckman is a LMHC a mental health counselor and addiction / substance abuse counselor.
Our weekly "Producers' Picks " program features highlights of earlier interviews with award winning art administrator Thembi Duncan, on identity and Black casting in theatre and film. Former elected official Betty Jean Grant looks at economic development, Warren Galloway on the GOP and race after this week's primary election. Also, lecturer Vicki Math on art and social studies education, and Jacqueline Cherry from the African American Cultural Center talks about dance and healing.
Then Desiree Williams, a Buffalo mother and school psychologist who wrote “ Brilliant Brown Babies” a picture book showcasing how special it is to be a child of color will talk with Brigid Jaipaul-Valenza about why such a book is necessary and about education in general. And her young son Cortland might even join in.Melodie Baker, national policy director at Just Equations joins Thomas O’Neil-White to talk about how to re-envision the role of math in ensuring educational equity, teacher development and how students deserve multiple options for developing essential skills.
On the morning after a series of primary elections, we look at the intersection of race and politics. Does the GOP have an inherent problem with Black and Brown voters? Hear from GOP Analyst Warren Galloway, and SUNY Buffalo State Prof. Peter Yaccobucci. Also, Jacqueline Cherry, Assistant Director of Dance at the African American Cultural Center will talk about critical race theory, how the arts can help healing, and more.
Educator Vicki Math will discuss using African-inspired art, music and literature to teach Black history. And we’ll be joined by Eva Doyle, the author and former school teacher who has been chronicling the history of Black life in Buffalo for over 40 years.Host Jay Moran will hear from Ann Ryan of Read To Succeed Buffalo. She’ll offer a look at some of the stark realities of how many children are falling behind in reading skills and what that could mean for their lives. She’ll also provide a glimpse at some successful solutions.
Thembi Duncan is the director of arts engagement and education at Shea’s Performing Arts Center and will speak of Shea’s award winning body language training program for police and other ways to synthesize theatre, American history and social justice.Betty Jean Grant was a close friend of shooting victim Kat Massey and has worked in the community on several projects. She leads the “We are Women Warriors” group. She is also a former member of the Buffalo City Council, The Erie County Legislature, The Buffalo Board of Education and ran for Mayor of the city of Buffalo in the Democratic primary in 2017 on a platform of more attention to and better investment in Buffalo’s East side.
Our weekly "Producers' Picks " program features highlights of earlier interviews with Imam Fajri Ansari, Rev. Mark Blue from the NAACP on applications for the 5/14 Survivor Fund, DEI trainer Ekuaa Mends-Aidoo of Evergreen Health on tokenism, and equity. Also social worker Veronica Golden and artist Bianca McGraw who works through her own trauma by painting with coffee.
Deidra EmEl is the Executive Director of the Western New York Peace Center. As an educator, counselor, Community Health Worker, urban homesteader/farmer, and doula she has much to say about the health of the East Side and it's future. Also, on the program insight into the supermarket situation on the East side from national consultant Phil Lempert of supermarketguru.com. And Doug Ruffin from Buffalo History Works continues the supermarket talk by remembering FIGMOS, the independent Black owned supermarket on Jefferson Ave., circa 1981.
SUNY Buffalo State Professor Micheal Niman has done research into pluralism in America and diversity. He joins Jay Moran to talk of why it’s important in a segregated city such as Buffalo, especially after May 14.
It has been three months since the mass shootings occurred and Imam Fajri Ansari will talk about community healing and what is still needed. NAACP Buffalo President Mark Blue will continue the discussion about community needs, and outline ways that anyone who was at the Tops Market during the shooting or lost an immediate family member there can apply for help from the 5/14 Survivors fund, which begins taking applications today (8/16).
The latest reporting from WBFO’s Tom Dinki on right wing politics, extremism and racism after the weekend’s Re-Awaken America event in Batavia. Also, Jay Moran with Stan Martin of CAI Global, Ebony White from the African American Health Equity Task Force, and Alex Wright of the African Heritage Food Co-Op. , reflecting on some of the health disparity issues- especially food apartheid-- raised at this weekend’s Igniting Hope conference at the University at Buffalo. And Brigid Jaipaul-Valenza talks with Ekuaa Mends-Aidoo from Evergreen Health on DEI, tokenism, equity and ensuring everyone has a seat at the table.
In this week’s “Buffalo, What’s Next” producers’ picks we bring you highlights of recent interviews with educator Duncan Kirkwood on resilience, Dr. Timothy Murphy MD and Rev. Diann Holt on health disparities, and Andrea Ó Súilleabháin, Executive Director of Partnership for the Public Good about their annual community agenda program, to focus on issues facing Buffalo and Western New York.
Children are synonymous with Legos. In this episode of “Buffalo, What’s Next?”, we explore what is needed to support children through trauma with school social worker Veronica Golden and we visit with local artist Bianca McGraw who works through her own trauma by painting with coffee. She also tapped into the Lego building craze as a way to honor the “Black Lives Matter” movement.
What is health equity, how do we measure it, and what can we do to balance the scales? In this episode, Dr. Tim Murphy, Director of the UB Community Health Equity Research Institute which was created in response to race based health disparities, especially among Black people on the East Side, breaks it down for us in a way we can all understand.
In this episode, Speaker, Trainer, and Author Duncan Kirkwood talks about his global resilience advocacy work and empowering young people, parents, and communities.
In this episode, Dave Debo welcomes back Russell Weaver, Ph.D. from Cornell IRL to continue the discussion on redistricting after the Mayor’s public hearing and our extensive discussions last week. Jay Moran talks with Andrea Ó Súilleabháin, Executive Director of Partnership for the Public Good about PPG’s annual effort, through its community agenda program, to focus on issues facing Buffalo and Western New York.
Listen to our first “producers' pick” program with highlights of recent interviews. Today, we feature neighborhood elder Cliff Bell, Professor Ibram X. Kendi, the author of "How to be an Anti-Racist". Sonya Tareke from E for All Buffalo, and former Buffalo Bill Marlon Kerner of Entrepreneurs Forever chat about business mentorship. And we get a short recap of this past week's public hearings about the city of Buffalo's re-districting plan, and hear again from Buffalo-based playwright Gary Earl Ross.
Buffalo, New York is going through the arduous process of redistricting, which requires opportunity for public input on the proposed plan. “Buffalo, What’s Next?” recaps a particularly contentious mayoral hearing which included both supporters of the plan and others who say it will dilute Black voting power in the city.