The John R. Oishei Foundation

In celebration of Black History Month, we hosted Reimagining Black Futures, a pair of panel discussions held on two consecutive Wednesdays in February as a part of our Public Programs series. Through these events, the School convened two groups of local changemakers — the first comprised of individuals in active pursuit of the revitalization of Buffalo’s East Side, and the second a group of successful Black architects and urban planners speaking on their personal experiences working in the field. “It’s really important that we’re doing this event,” Dean Julia Czerniak shared while welcoming the attendees. “These are conversations that we should be having more and more, and certainly not just in the month of February.” Read the full event recap to learn more: https://lnkd.in/erc-xBrQ Thanks to DaMante' Curry (MSRED '26), Professors Henry Taylor and Emmanuel Frimpong Boamah, and student group AASAP for their coordination of this event. And thanks again to our panelists — Reimagining Black Futures I: - Dr. Henry-Louis Taylor, Jr., professor in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, founding director of the UB Center for Urban Studies, and associate director of the UB Community Equity Research Institute - Albert Chao, adjunct instructor in the Department of Architecture and Co-Director of the COLES HOUSE PROJECT - Jin Young Song, AIA, associate professor in the Department of Architecture and founder of DIOINNO Architecture PLLC - Christina Orsi, president of the The John R. Oishei Foundation Reimagining Black Futures II: - Crystal Middleton, director of planning & zoning for the City of Buffalo Office of Strategic Planning - Dale White (BAED '05), managing director of acquisitions for BDP Impact Real Estate - Rishawn Sonubi, AIA, NCARB, NOMA (MArch/MUP '03), partner at Young + Wright Architectural - Arthur Hall, M.U.P. (MUP '04) president of Hallmark Planning & Development #UBuffalo #UBuffaloArchPlan

Webinar: Navigating Change: Evolving DEI Practices & How We Communicate Them in a Shifting Nonprofit Landscape Wednesday, February 26, 2025, 12:00pm-1:00pm The nonprofit sector is at a pivotal moment. With the new administration’s policies reshaping federal funding requirements, organizations must adapt their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts to align with current priorities while maintaining the values and practices that are core to their success. This webinar will help nonprofit leaders and professionals navigate these shifts, ensuring their work remains effective, sustainable, and in agreement with the broader goals of fairness, equal opportunity, and nondiscrimination in the new policy environment. Learning Objectives Participants will explore: • What’s at risk? Understanding which aspects of traditional DEI efforts may no longer align with new federal guidelines. • What remains essential? Identifying core elements of DEI work—eliminating unfair discrimination, fostering equal opportunity, and creating inclusive policies—that align with the priorities of the new administration. • How do we evolve? Adapting both approach and communication strategies to highlight alignment with federal priorities while mitigating risk. • How do we move forward? Identifying the many key aspects of DEI work that strongly align with the goals of the new administration and communicating them in a way that clearly shows the connection. This session is not about a wholesale stepping away from DEI—it’s about evolving it to align with new requirements while still staying true to your organization’s core mission and values. Who is this for? • Nonprofit staff and leaders • Funders (please note this event is not open to consultants) Register here: https://lnkd.in/e9G6iVPq

Thanks to Tracey Drury and Buffalo Business First for the opportunity to have this important discussion.

This week is bittersweet as we say goodbye to Esther Annan whose last day at the Foundation is this Friday, February 14th. Esther has been an invaluable part of our team and we will miss her leadership and insights. We are so grateful for all Esther has contributed to our work, and we're looking forward to seeing the impact she will continue to make in her new role at Villa Maria College. Please join us in thanking Esther for her outstanding work and wishing her all the best in this next chapter! 📷 : Aitina Fareed-Cooke

We're looking forward to being part of the conversation--please join us!

"Access to stable, affordable housing and homeownership is more than just a basic need—it’s a cornerstone of, and a proven inheritance of, financial prosperity." In our latest blog post, we share our journey to understanding the full impact of inequities in housing and homeownership on the East Side. As we begin our systems-change approach to advancing long-term financial prosperity, we invite you to join us, review what we have learned, and share your stories and expertise. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gnM-Qvwb Photo: Kalvin Booker

Today is the deadline to register for Advocacy Institute's 2025 Real State of the State Webinar. Open to policy advocates, organizers, community members, volunteers, and others working toward a more just and equitable New York, this training will help you equip yourself with the tools and knowledge needed to navigate the legislative landscape and strengthen your advocacy efforts in the year ahead. Register here: https://lnkd.in/gJ6jjNBY

We honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose vision of justice and equity reminds us of the ongoing work needed to create a fairer, more inclusive society. Today and every day, we are committed to addressing systemic barriers and fostering lasting change—working toward a Buffalo where opportunity is within reach for all. As Dr. King so powerfully stated, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." 

"But what happens when the root causes of the issues we address remain unchanged? In some cases, we’ve seen conditions stall, or even worsen, despite the best intentions and investment of resources." In our latest blog post, Oishei's Dr. Mark J. Scott reflects on the Foundation's shift to systems change work, and shares thoughts on moving forward together. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gMrhiaUP

“My hope and my goal is that when we look back and see the changes we’ve made–because I know we WILL change things–we’ll agree: we did this together.” In our latest blog post, the Foundation’s Esther Annan, LMSW shares her thoughts on community engagement, centering community voice, and what it looks like to be disciplined in collaboration. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eJFfUxGK