The Public Good

On Friday, January 12th, PPG and partners were joined by elected officials and community members to reveal our 2024 Community Agenda ! This year's Community Agenda has 11 items ranging from piloting a community responder team in Erie County to reimagining local systems of care for foster youth and young adults to fully fund and implement the City of Buffalo's Proactive Rental Inspection pr...

This year, planning will continue for the Riverline , a project through the Western New York Land Conservancy (WNYLC) that repurposes old infrastructure to create a Greenway and nature trail along Buffalo Creek. To achieve program goals, the WNYLC has partnered with the Buffalo Center School for Arts and Technology (BCAT) to host a Landscape Maintenance Technician Program . The program, for adults...

Did you know that menthol cigarettes have been strategically marketed to Black communities for decades, contributing to health disparities? This week on The Public Good, Stan "the Man" Martin from Stan Martin Consulting discusses the push to ban menthol cigarettes, highlighting the intersection of public health and social justice. Tune in for insights into tobacco control and the urgent...

This year, the Erie County Legislature is considering passing the Language Access Act following years of advocacy by the New York Immigration Coalition and other immigrant and refugee advocacy organizations. The Language Access Act will require all key government documents issued to the public by the county be translated into key languages. Statewide efforts to pass Language Access are also in the...

This Saturday marks the fifth annual Anti-Displacement Summit organized by nonprofit Our City Buffalo and hosted by a variety of nonprofit and community organizations including PPG. Free and open to the public, the summit, taking place Saturday, December 9 from 10am-3pm at Trinity Episcopal Church (371 Delaware Ave) aims to address issues affecting the community through educational workshops. Foll...

On this episode, Dejia James sits down with Andrea Ó Súilleabháin, Executive Director of Partnership for the Public Good. They explore the unique and democratic approach where over 340 community organizations contribute policy ideas to build a more just, sustainable, and culturally vibrant Buffalo through PPG's Community Agenda process. They discuss the evolution of PPG's mission and princ...

Erie Niagara Area Health Education Center , or AHEC, is dedicated to creating a diverse healthcare workforce and well-informed community. By joining forces with health professionals, high schools, universities, and students, they aim to expand the pipeline of student-to-professional networks within the Buffalo Niagara Region. This week's guests are Kaila McCray and Madeline Ackley, program spe...

Walt Whitman's most famous poem, "Song of Myself," is a "barbaric yawp" that celebrates freedom, inclusion, and democracy. Working with this iconic piece, Compagnia de' Colombari has created seven short films with actors and musicians around the globe, bringing Whitman's words to life in startling and beautiful new ways. On November 16, 2023, at 7 pm, the films will...

Families Aimed Toward Excellence (FATE) is an organization that provides educational resources for students and parents to help them excel both in school and in their community. Our guest this week is Simone Ragland, LMSW and Founder and CEO of FATE. She speaks with Dejia James on the program's focus on digital equity - and lack thereof - especially in inner-city communities and communities of...

This Friday, November 3rd at 6 pm at the Buffalo AKG, Squeaky Wheel , a local nonprofit with a mission to continue a legacy of innovation in media arts through access, education, and exhibition, will host its 20th Animation Fest ! On this week's episode of The Public Good, Dejia James is joined by Meg Specksgoor, Communication and Development Manager at Squeaky Wheel, for a discussion centerin...

Did you know that under New York State law, landlords are allowed to charge only first month's rent and a security deposit not to exceed first month's rent and can only charge up to $20 for an application fee and background check? And - landlords must give you a copy of the background check they conduct, which you can use when applying for other rental units. Learn about this and more with...

This week, Dejia James dives in with Juweria Dahir, sharing her journey as an immigrant in Switzerland to becoming the Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at  ⁠Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus⁠ . She highlights the challenges immigrants face in Buffalo and the significance of support programs. The conversation delves into  ⁠H.E.A.L. International⁠ , detailing their services and recent commun...

Welcome to Part II of a special episode of The Public Good in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. Host Dejia James and Dr. Steve Peraza delve into the complexities of Afro-Latinidad and the experiences of being both Black and Latino in America. They explore historical migration patterns, systemic barriers faced by communities of color, and the intersection of identity in various spaces. Dejia and Dr...

This week's guests are Alexandre Burgos and Talia Rodriguez, inspiring young Latinx community leaders! From grassroots activism to empowering educational initiatives, explore their impactful journeys. Learn more about their work in the community, uncover the challenges they've faced, the social change they're driving, and the vibrant culture they're preserving. Join us in celebrati...

Welcome to a special episode in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month! In this episode, our host Dejia James, and guest, Steve Peraza, Senior Research and Policy Associate at the Cornell ILR Buffalo Co-Lab, embark on a captivating journey through their shared identity as Afro-Latinos. As they discuss their unique experiences growing up in communities where their racial and ethnic identities intersect,...

The Service Collaborative of WNY is a local nonprofit dedicated to fostering community engagement. Discover their range of programs tailored to address various community needs, including participation in AmeriCorps initiatives. Our guest this week is Yesenia Canales, the VISTA Program Manager at The Service Collaborative. Tune in to hear Yesenia's journey, from Long Island to her career in the...

Earlier this year, Stephanie Peete and her mother, Lisa Queener-Johnson, launched Second Chapter Bookstore , a Black-owned business with a diverse book selection that highlights Black experiences, history, and anti-racism. Their collaboration was fueled by a shared love of reading, a passion for Black culture, and a mission to create spaces fostering joy, community, and shared learning, centered a...

This weekend (9/3/23) marks the Second Annual Teen Empowerment Block Party, a collaborative event put on by #REALTALKBRIDGES , #TEENSWHOCARE, and The Natural Hustle Entertainment . This event provides a safe, welcoming, and inclusive space for teens and young adults to unwind, relax, refocus, and heal, with fun activities, games, sports, teen/young adult performers and live DJs, restorative circle...

Gardening has been scientifically proven to have a variety of therapeutic benefits including stress reduction, improved mood, social interaction, and the nutritional benefits of eating your own food. Combine that with a commitment to the community, and positive, skill-building programming for youth and you’ve got A Home Beneath Our Feet .  On this episode of The Public Good, Dejia James talks with...

According to a UCLA study, while Black Americans make up 13% of the United States population, they only make up 5.4% of practicing physicians. This disparity has a direct impact on inequities in healthcare impacting communities of color. Black Men in White Coats is a national organization aiming to increase the number of Black men in medicine through exposure, inspiration, and mentoring. The Unive...

In Buffalo, the East Side notably lacks tree coverage, leading to health disparities like higher asthma rates and temperature differences of up to 20 degrees compared to greener neighborhoods. Dr. Monica Miles, co-founder of Mother Earth Literacies unravels the connections between industrialization, limited access to natural resources, and their far-reaching consequences, all converging to the int...

The Just Buffalo Writing Center is a creative space where young writers aged 12-18 are welcomed for free writing workshops, literary events, and individualized assistance with writing projects. In April 2023, they collaborated by Ujima Theater's Dunbar Youth Theatre Arts Program on "The Ground Beneath Our Feet," a digital collection of poems on climate justice by young writers. Guest...

The Boys and Men of Color Initiative Breaking Barriers is a group of young men of color, aged 12-24, creating a unified voice that advocates for racial equity, social justice, and policy change. Our guest Daniel Robertson, Program Director of Breaking Barriers with Say Yes Buffalo , discusses the challenges faced by young men of color and how this initiative addresses them, celebrating success sto...

The Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor is a renowned Buffalo neighborhood, offering a vibrant experience to explore Buffalo's rich African American history through unique structures, shops, restaurants, and historical markers, with a significant impact on local, national, and international history. Our guests this week are Terry Alford, Executive Director at the Michigan Street...

Buffalo Police Athletic League or PAL is a nonprofit that works with the Buffalo Police Department to provide opportunities and programs for youth in Buffalo. This week, our guest is Nekia Kemp, Executive Director of the Buffalo PAL, discusses summer programming available for youth through the organization, as well as their role in community engagement, gun violence prevention, and mentorship for...