Working in nonprofit law is something I would like to do, and the people I worked with were helping in showing me how to get there.

Buffalo is indeed on the up & up. It was wonderful seeing the revitalization of the city and feel the energy and optimism the people of Buffalo are carrying.

I learned that the “Buffalo Renaissance” is a real thing, as opposed to a propaganda tactic.

I learned that Buffalo has determined communities who care deeply about making their city better.

The intimacy of the office invites transparency, which I believe inspired the easy collaboration and great relationships I see between my coworkers.

I absolutely loved working in a classroom each day.

I have learned so much about the city of Buffalo this summer. 

Working at the Buffalo State Community Academic Center (CAC)  has revealed how worldly and interesting Buffalo actually is.

I was not disappointed!

I’m grateful that my High Road Fellowship has given me the opportunity to have meaningful conversations both with my interviewees and the community leaders who speak with us every Friday on subjects as diverse as education policy, workforce training, historical restoration, and economic development.

By working on 43North’s competition operations, I helped find new companies that will make a positive impact in the Buffalo Niagara region through job creation and wealth generation.

This experience of working on the labor project has been instrumental in guiding my career path. 

Listening and engaging with others has showed me that everyone has something to add, it’s just a matter of recognizing that talent.

The passion that these people bring to the table is what empowers our staff to be advocates for Buffalo students, allowing Say Yes to be successful, but also can cause a certain degree of friction between some individuals.

The immersive and intensive educational experience drew me to The High Road program. Buffalo has provided me that and more.

I feel this sense of community not just in my work, but in the city of Buffalo as a whole.

And as someone who hopes to become a medical doctor and work in some capacity towards advancing public health, this has provided valuable food for thought for how, in the long term, I might be able to take my medical expertise and interactions with community members to the table to advance positive community changes.

The most important thing I learned about community organizations and the social sector is the importance of collaboration.

Getting to know these business owners in the Bazaar and getting to see their businesses is the highlight of my summer on the High Road.

Before coming to Buffalo I didn’t even know what the regenerative economy was.