2022 High Road Fellows

David Cai

I believe in working for the people and the high road is all about that.

I learned that bringing resources and tools back into your community is the most important part about taking on new opportunities.

The principles of High Road Economic Development insist that public investment should result in equitably distributed economic growth. For this to occur, people must work on the ground and be in direct contact with individual community members.

I learned about economics, collective organizing, and about museum curation.

The most important thing I have learned is that Buffalo is an amazing city full of love and life.

I have a more nuanced understanding of community based change

There were many takeaways from this summer including the importance of consistently showing up for the people you work with. High Road taught me that I want to do more on-the-ground work with people, hearing their stories and working to change the city for the better.

I am leaving Buffalo with new knowledge about what it means not only to know a place and its people, but to work with those people toward sustainable community change.

I leave Buffalo inspired by the community leaders and activists working to leverage people power to fight against systemic injustices. While the challenges to create meaningful change seem insurmountable, they continue to persevere and hope and work to make a difference in their community.

I’m leaving Buffalo with a much better grasp on community organizing. I’ve learned so much about the importance of building genuine relationships and a coalition of allies to support a network of change. I also have a new love for the city itself (and custard).

Buffalo was a good place to explore and made me want to explore more of my own hometown and community.

It's ok to have many passions. Encourage yourself to explore them and view them as "projects" that will lead you to other passions. There is no need to commit to one sole task for the rest of your life.

I took the high road because people need to have their voices heard in their community. So often, policies are created without listening to those in the community that are being affected. People matter and their voices need to be elevated.

The people united will never be defeated.

I learned a sleuth of skills ranging from running a mobile market to the process of grant-writing. I feel grateful being a jack-of-all-trades this summer and exploring my skills and passions with such an impactful organization.

This summer, I learned what it truly meant to take the High Road: serving your citizens and embodying public service. That civic participation and community involvement is imperative for social justice victory

This summer I learned of the importance of developing programs that are person-centered and prioritize long-term sustainability.

This summer, I worked on a directory to help formerly incarcerated people find housing. I researched rental opportunities for Peaceprints’ clients and interviewed landlords to see if they rented to individuals with criminal records. If they did not, I would facilitate dialogue to educate them about Peaceprints’ reentry services.

My most meaningful takeaway is that talking to people in the community, relating to them, and understanding the issues they might face on a deeper level is a very powerful first step to change.

I wanted to gain experience working with public interest organizations, and to see what it is like to be a part of such a great community that is striving for so many different types of change. 

This summer, I was blessed with experiences where I was able to participate in hands-on advocacy and coalition building. I was able to witness the beauty, challenges, and strength of communities and contribute toward real change in the city of Buffalo.