Say Yes Buffalo

Happy first day of school to all of our BPS students! Does your family need internet at home?

We love seeing all these photos of our kiddos heading back to school and hitting the books! Here's to a fantastic 2026-27 school year 💚💙

Say Yes Buffalo’s Modern Youth Apprenticeship (MYA) program, a partnership with CareerWise, connects employers to emerging talent (seniors graduating from Buffalo public or charter schools) and connects eligible students to the opportunity to earn a college certificate while also receiving on-the-job training with local employers in high-demand positions in Advanced Manufacturing, Business Operations, Culinary, Financial Services, Healthcare, IT, and more. We welcomed our 5th cohort this summer. We will be introducing each apprentice over the coming weeks.

Ki’Niyah Brown is a graduate of The Buffalo School of Culinary Arts and Hospitality. She is a Culinary Apprentice with Delaware North and is attending SUNY Erie where she is pursuing a Culinary Arts AOS. Ki’Niyah is eager to grow and expand her skills. She would love to be a personal chef for a family one day. We are excited to be a part of her journey!

Interested in offering a paid apprenticeship? Email Emily Vargas, Business Development Supervisor, at [email protected] for more information.

The future of Buffalo’s young people starts with what we do today.

Join us for the State of Say Yes Community Meeting on Friday, October 16, at 8:15 a.m. at Seneca One. We’ll reflect on the progress we’ve made, share the impact of our work, and look ahead to the next chapter of expanding opportunity for Buffalo students and families.

During the event, we will also honor New York State Assembly Majority Leader Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes, NYS Assemblywoman for her instrumental leadership, steadfast advocacy, and longstanding commitment to Say Yes Buffalo and the young people of our community.

Together, we’re building a community where every student has the support, resources, and opportunity to succeed.

Click the link below to RSVP.

REGISTER HERE ⤵️
https://sayyesbuffalo.wufoo.com/forms/x6mf7ov13vns5g/

Congratulations to our latest cohort of Leadership 201 graduates: Shara Armprester, Jamil Crews, Levi Galbreath, Keira Grant, Andrea Guzman, Sarah Hanley, Ericka Heary, Michael Palazza, and Icheiry Rivera. We are a better and stronger organization with your experience and leadership!

Yesterday, our School-based Services team hosted a day of fun and community at Johnnie B. Wiley stadium for the families we serve and support. We had a great turnout as we offered free haircuts, hair care, manicures, and gave out hundreds of Pancho's Packs (back-to-school supplies) courtesy of The Teacher's Desk.

Now Enrolling!

Is your child three or turning three? Do you live in the City of Buffalo and have an active daycare subsidy?

Say Yes Little Scholars is now enrolling for the 2026–2027 school year! Our free three-year-old Pre-K readiness program helps prepare your little scholar for a successful start to school.

Fill out the screener today to see if your child is eligible!

We're excited to announce that Gannon University in Erie, PA has joined the Say Yes compact, meaning that they will offer full tuition scholarships to an unlimited number of students with a household income under $75,000! We welcome Gannon to the compact of over 200 participating public and private institutions offering support to Say Yes students from Buffalo, Syracuse, and Cleveland!

Outtakes from a glorious Saturday celebrating Puerto Rican and Hispanic Heritage in Buffalo 🇵🇷🇲🇽🇻🇪🇨🇴🇩🇴