What’s Next?

How can communities create more opportunities for residents, and what motivates people to participate in our democracy? Denise Harris discusses her leadership at the Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology, including free career training in health care and technology, student support services, and efforts to connect graduates with employers. Then, John Torrey examines Black voter participation, you...

Buffalo voters face decisions about the city’s future and the policies that affect working families. Larry Rubin, chair of Buffalo’s Charter Revision Commission, explains 11 proposed charter changes, including measures involving council vacancies, civilian police oversight, and public input. Then, Cori Marquis of the Working Families Party discusses candidate endorsements, year-round community org...

What does it take to build stronger communities and create opportunities for the next generation? Raúl Russi reflects on his Buffalo roots, his pioneering career with the Buffalo Police Department, and his leadership of the Acacia Network, highlighting the importance of culturally competent healthcare and civic engagement. Then, we visit Providence Farm Collective with Kristen Weltman-Weiss and Ha...

How can Buffalo prevent gun violence and create safer opportunities for young people? Dina Thompson, Max Anderson, and Megan McNally discuss Project RISE, a state-funded initiative that brings together 17 organizations to address the conditions contributing to violence. From mentoring and restorative practices to mental health services, workforce development, and youth programming, the conversatio...

How can small businesses access major contracting opportunities, and how can children learn to overcome challenges? Talia Johnson-Huff discusses the Training Day Conference and how minority-, women-, and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses can prepare for contracts, build partnerships, and grow. Then, author Duncan Kirkwood explores grit and resilience through his book, A Kids’ Book About Gr...

How can families help people rebuild their lives after incarceration? Jon Monsalve joins Jay Moran to discuss the Osborne Association’s Kinship Reentry Housing Program in Buffalo, which provides financial assistance and support services to eligible families. Then, Dior Lindsay-Virgil discusses Osborne Buffalo’s efforts to keep families connected during incarceration through video visits, transport...

Henri Muhammad discusses his lifelong commitment to music education, the impact he has made on thousands of students, and his October 16 benefit concert supporting the Muhammad School of Music. Then, Sara Kasen explores Thank You for Thinking of Me, a documentary about Diana Davis, her family, and the lasting consequences of Buffalo’s 2020 protests. Two conversations about the power of the arts, c...

How can Buffalo communities build greater financial stability and create pathways to economic opportunity? On this episode of What’s Next?, Chandra Redfern, CEO of the Buffalo Federation of Neighborhood Centers, discusses the growing financial pressures facing working families, the importance of accessible community services, and the center’s upcoming Building a Way Forward event featuring economi...

What does Buffalo need to help young people succeed at every stage? Kasey Gustaveson discusses the city’s childcare shortage and the need for early childhood education and family support. Then, Jennifer Matarese, Sam Capitano, and Carley Hill explore a new partnership giving Buffalo students hands-on training and pathways into skilled trades careers.

Therapist Wayne Brown of Willow Grove Counseling joins "What’s Next?" to discuss the growing role of artificial intelligence in mental health care and why he believes human connection remains essential to therapy. We also talk about students, teachers, the impact of current events on mental health, and the importance of self-care for therapists.

State Senator April Baskin joins What’s Next? to discuss how decisions made in Albany are affecting communities across Western New York. She discusses funding for food access, health services, and Buffalo’s fiscal stability, as well as efforts to expand opportunities for minority- and women-owned businesses. Baskin also discusses auto insurance reform, India’s Law, and her legislative priorities f...

A new report from Cornell University’s ILR Buffalo CoLab examines the workplace barriers facing Black women in Erie County, including wage disparities, discrimination, and the pressure to code-switch. On What’s Next?, Dr. Karen King, Sara Taylor, and Cathy Creighton discuss the report’s “concrete ceiling” and what employers and policymakers can do to create meaningful change.

What happens when decades of industrial development leave behind environmental contamination that continues to affect communities? On this episode of What’s Next?, Christen Civiletto discusses the toxic history of Niagara Falls, the ongoing concerns surrounding Love Canal and other contaminated sites, and the potential impact on public health. The conversation also explores environmental justice,...

On this episode of What’s Next?, The Belle Center's Executive Director Lucy Candelario discusses how the center has evolved alongside a changing neighborhood, the growing needs she sees in the community, and the partnerships helping the Belle Center connect residents with resources. We’ll also take a tour of the Belle Center to see the space and programs firsthand.

One year after the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill, changes to Medicaid and SNAP are creating new challenges for families, healthcare providers, and communities. Liz Pancotti of the Groundwork Collaborative breaks down the national economic and policy impact. Then, Bridget Bartolone of SNAPCAP, Joanne Hafner of Neighborhood Health Center, and Nora Suric of the Health Foundation of Western an...

Juneteenth has grown from a community celebration into a national holiday, but what happens when culture goes mainstream? This week on Group Chat, we explore the evolution of Juneteenth, from its growing presence in pop culture and corporate America to the deeper conversations about freedom, identity, and community. We also shine a spotlight on Buffalo’s historic 50th Juneteenth Celebration, discu...

What does Juneteenth represent, and why has its significance grown in recent years? On this episode of What’s Next?, Dr. Marcus Watson, Associate Professor of Africana Studies at Buffalo State University, discusses the history of Juneteenth, its significance in the American story, and why understanding this history remains important today. The conversation also explores the cycles of racial progre...

On this episode of What’s Next?, contributor Saladin Allah speaks with Charlynn Rivera of the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center and Danessia Scott-Warren of the Niagara Organizing Alliance for Hope about social justice, community engagement, advocacy, and civic participation.

For many men, conversations about trauma, abuse, and emotional well-being remain difficult due to stigma and societal expectations. On this episode of What’s Next? TaJuan Williams, author of Doscriosta, shares his personal journey as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and discusses the challenges of overcoming addiction, incarceration, and unresolved trauma. The conversation explores men's menta...

A new partnership between Jewish Family Services of Western New York and ECMC is helping individuals with serious mental illness and substance use challenges successfully transition from hospital care back into the community. On this episode of What’s Next?, we explore the Adult Critical Time Intervention (CTI) program and how it works to reduce homelessness, prevent rehospitalization, and connect...

In the final installment of What’s Next?’s three-part anniversary series marking four years since the May 14 Tops mass shooting, the focus shifts from promises to outcomes. The conversation examines whether the investments and commitments made after the tragedy have translated into meaningful change for Buffalo’s East Side. Topics include poverty, homeownership, employment, food access, mental hea...

Part two of What’s Next?’s three-part anniversary series examining the aftermath of the May 14 Tops mass shooting focuses on the distribution and impact of millions of dollars raised to support Buffalo’s East Side. The episode explores questions surrounding transparency, accountability, and long-term community investment while examining how funding was distributed to recovery efforts in the years...

In part one of a three-part anniversary series marking four years since the May 14 Tops mass shooting, What’s Next? examines the nearly 100 million dollars pledged to support Buffalo’s East Side and the families impacted by the tragedy. The episode explores how state and federal funding, corporate donations, and community fundraising efforts were distributed, while also examining the challenges su...

Many people associate hospice care with the final days of life, but healthcare advocates say there are still major misconceptions surrounding both hospice and palliative care. On this episode of What’s Next?, Kelly Clem of Hospice Buffalo and Palliative Care Buffalo explains the differences between the two forms of care and why early intervention can improve quality of life for patients living wit...

Early literacy plays a critical role in a child’s long-term success, and organizations across Western New York are working to strengthen reading skills from an early age. On this episode of What’s Next?, Anne Ryan, Executive Director of Read to Succeed Buffalo, discusses the importance of teaching reading from birth through third grade and the impact of programs like Dolly Parton’s Imagination Lib...