Open Buffalo Announces New Eco Campus
During Annual Fundraiser
Written by Ekaete Bailey
Video by Luqman Muhammad (22Reform)
Images by Kalvin Booker (Through His Lens Photography)
Open Buffalo, an organization that advances racial, economic and ecological justice, hosted their annual fundraiser on June 10th. Movement Morning Sustainers Breakfast was held inside The Show at Shea’s on Seneca, a historic, Adamesque style building on Seneca Street in the heart of South Buffalo.
Ornate 1930’s decor greeted a plethora of community members, leaders, advocates, and supporters who were treated to breakfast by Manna, a DJ mixset, and engaging table conversation. Celebrating the impact of the collective work Open Buffalo both spearheaded and organized with and for the Buffalo community, the event hosted several featured speakers throughout the 90 minute program.
Max Anderson, Deputy Director of Open Buffalo, served as the opening speaker and pointed the guests to a short digital storytelling piece produced by Aitina Fareed Cooke and Get Fokus’d productions. The film asked the question “Who is Open Buffalo” leaving the audience with a strong idea of the people behind the organization and their mission.
Anthony Pierce, an Open Buffalo Emerging Leader (Class of 2024) served as the Master of Ceremony acknowledging attendees like Crystal People’s Stokes, and introducing all of the key speakers throughout the event. Pierce provided levity, inviting the crowd to laugh with him and grounding the listeners in the organization’s ethos: to create a just, equitable and thriving Buffalo.
Franchelle Parker, the Director of Open Buffalo, began her speech with a sobering statement. “We are living through a crisis. Today is about joy and resilience…but what we are facing is anything but that.” A powerful presence with a measured voice, Parker officially announced the organization's acquisition of 7 more acres to create the planned 10-acre Open Buffalo Eco Campus in the Broadway Fillmore neighborhood.
“Keeping that legacy alive of building a thriving community, we are going to start doing things immediately,” Parker committed. Phase one of the project will create an outdoor learning Pavillon, and over time, the campus will serve as an East Side oasis for educational opportunities, green space, walking trails, and playgrounds. The goal of Open Buffalo Eco Campus is to create inclusive, safe and accessible areas. “A project by the community, for the community,” Parker said.
Christina Orsi, President of the John J. Oishei Foundation, spoke next, expressing the foundation’s pride in partnering with Franchelle and Open Buffalo. Orsi acknowledged Open Buffalo as a community organization in the trenches, doing the hard work of racial equity long before Oishei made this work a focus.
Latisha Randall, a coach, bestselling author and youth advocate, spoke to the group about Youth Action Levels Up, a part of Open Buffalo’s leadership development programming. Likening the new program to her own leadership journey within Open Buffalo, Randall shared how youth are taught self-reflection, civic engagement, and collective action. “I teach emotional intelligence and emotional regulation to our youth,” she said, reminding the audience that oftentimes adults need to lean into these same skills as well. Disagreement does not have to mean divisiveness. “Feel what you feel, then let's move forward and create a greater Buffalo, together,” Randall said.
Ayanna Gregory, a performance artist, vocalist, dramatist and daughter of the late Dick Gregory, served as both performer and motivational speaker for the fundraising event. From her soulful voice, to her powerful stories of her family’s advocacy work, to her admonishment of all of those present to work together and lead with love; Gregory held each attendee with rapt attention.
Echoing Parker’s sentiments that we have to get back to a society where your neighbor’s wellbeing is just as important as your own, Gregory engaged with the audience, invoking a readiness and a certainty that exploded in the room. Parker had said this same sentiment with great clarity when she said: “it’s go time.”
“Keep showing up with love, keep showing up with light. Keep showing up with power,” Gregory said, ending her presentation with a call and response song. She invited the audience to sing with her: “we are the ones we’ve been waiting for, no more waiting, kick down the door.” The crowd stood to their feet applauding Gregory’s passion and power.
Before ending the event, Parker requested attendance and participation at Open Buffalo’s Strategic plan rollout, happening June 25th at Merriweather Library. She also reminded those in attendance of how their financial support could help build the Open Buffalo Eco Campus. The requested minimum donation is $10 per month. She acknowledged that times are hard financially for many people and that the donation of talent and time is just as important.
Pierce wrapped up the event thanking participants for attending the fundraiser and participating in the group experience. “Every victory we celebrate is made possible by the communities, the partners and people who stand by us in this collective work,” he said.
Ways to take action
Ideation by Aitina Fareed-Cooke
“The Open Buffalo Eco Campus offers more than new green space. It creates an opportunity for neighbors to learn, gather, play, and help shape a community space built around care, safety, and shared possibility.”
For Funders & Institutions
Support the full vision of the Eco Campus by funding not only construction, but also long-term maintenance, programming, staffing, community outreach, and accessibility.
Invest in paid opportunities for East Side residents, young people, and local businesses to help design, build, activate, and care for the campus over time.
Fund community-led green space projects with patience. Relationship-building, planning, and resident input are necessary parts of creating places people will truly use and protect.
For Our Neighbors
Attend the Open Buffalo strategic plan rollout or future community gatherings to learn how the Eco Campus is taking shape and share what would make the space useful for you and your family.
Give what you can. A monthly donation, volunteer shift, shared skill, or word of encouragement can help keep community work moving.
Take a walk through your own neighborhood and make note of one place that could feel safer, greener, more welcoming, or more useful. Share that idea with a local block club, organization, or neighbor.
For Community Leaders & Educators
Use the Eco Campus as a real-world learning opportunity. Invite students to imagine what a healthy neighborhood needs, then create a map, model, photo essay, short video, or presentation based on their ideas.
Plan a field visit, neighborhood walk, or service-learning project that helps young people learn about environmental justice, public space, civic engagement, and community care.
Host a listening activity with students, families, staff, or customers that asks what they would like to see in a safe and welcoming outdoor space. Bring those ideas into your next program, partnership, or community conversation.
Partner with local organizations to create hands-on activities around gardening, wellness, art, youth leadership, and neighborhood history as the campus develops.
For Artists & Storytellers
Document the Eco Campus as it grows through portraits, interviews, photographs, poems, oral histories, or short videos that capture the people helping bring the vision to life.
Create a community prompt that invites neighbors to answer, “What would make you feel more at home in this neighborhood?” Share the responses through an exhibit, zine, mural, performance, or digital story.
Partner with local youth, schools, or community organizations to design creative activities that connect environmental justice with joy, imagination, and neighborhood pride.
Use your platform to uplift local events, volunteer opportunities, and community voices connected to the Eco Campus so more people know how to take part.