 I have been honored to have been presented with so many amazing opportunities to effect change in my community, and beyond, this past year. As I reflect on the many challenges we are facing as a society, I am -- as I always have been -- compelled to explore how I can help right here at home. My beloved Buffalo has had a rough time recently. A horrific racist attack at a local grocery store left our community reeling and wondering “what’s next?” Months later, we endured a blizzard that took the lives of more than 50 of our neighbors, friends, and loved ones. Monday morning we were awakened by a small earthquake. I have been particularly frustrated at the lack of preparation and compassion. The response to these crises has been to deflect, victim blame, and defend the ineptitude of our local leadership. The fact of the matter is that the conditions that created and support concentrated poverty, inadequate housing, and food insecurity are a result of policy decisions (and the lack of). Many of us are left with more questions than answers, but what I do know is that as a community we must hold accountable the people who are charged with making decisions to the benefit of ALL Buffalonians. No person should feel comfortable with the way things are. We can change that by educating ourselves and being actively engaged civically. Roots Action Civic Engagement, or RACE Buffalo, is a non-partisan program of RootsAction Education Fund that seeks to build civic capacity in Buffalo by informing residents about how our municipal government functions, registering voters, and providing support to neighborhood groups that desire to organize their community to get necessary resources for an improved quality of life. |
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