Say Yes Buffalo

We're continuing with our Say Yes Alumni Spotlight Series on our podcast, The Future Starts Here.

On this episode, discover how the Say Yes Buffalo scholarship helped launch Jonvier Whittington’s impactful career in nursing and education. In this alumni spotlight, she sits down with Madeline Little and shares her journey from student to educator, and her passion for advocacy in healthcare.

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📣 Thrilled to announce that we are once again able to distribute FREE LAPTOPS to those graduating Buffalo public and charter seniors who attend the kickoff AND complete their financial aid applications! 🎉 Sign up for the College Kickoff today!

Say Yes Buffalo is celebrating the academic achievements of 4 apprentices from the Modern Youth Apprenticeship (MYA) program who recently graduated with certificates or associate’s degrees from SUNY Erie. MYA is a 2-3 year earn-and-learn model where apprentices work part-time while attending school part-time to earn industry certificates or associate’s degrees.

We applaud the accomplishments of the following apprentices:

-Teah Stevens, Cohort 2 Culinarian Apprentice, Culinary Arts Associate’s Degree. Teah has successfully completed her apprenticeship.
-Jaden Brown, Cohort 3 Culinary Apprentice, Culinary Arts Associate’s Degree. Jaden Is completing his apprenticeship at Delaware North.
-Tearrie Reid Scott, Cohort 3 Bakery Manager Apprentice, Culinary Arts Associate’s Degree. Tearrie is completing her apprenticeship at Tops Friendly Market.
-Ariannah Tisdale, Cohort 3 Culinary Apprentice, Bakery and Pastry Arts Certificate. Ariannah is completing her apprenticeship with Delaware North.

Way to go, apprentices! We are excited for the next chapter in your MYA journey!

We're back with a new season of The Future Starts Here Podcast. In this upcoming season, we'll be sitting down with Say Yes Buffalo team members, community partners and alumni to hear directly about the impact of Say Yes in the Western New York community.

We're excited to kick things off with our Alumni Spotlight series. In this episode, Madeline Little sits down with Say Yes Buffalo Community Schools Navigator Deoniss Jackson. Check out the episode and leave a comment with your thoughts.

Alumni Spotlight - Deoniss Jackson on Building Community and Creating Change at East High Meet Deoniss Jackson, Hutch Tech and SUNY Fredonia alum, in the fi...

Thank you to everyone who attended Say Yes Buffalo’s Employer Think Tank speaker series event Creating Space for Young Women in Tech. The panel discussion, which was moderated by Rachel Eastlack (Tech Buffalo), included esteemed voices of Mary Kate Patnode (Technology Manager at M&T Bank), Kristen Smigielski, PhD (Research Project Manager at the Center for Early Literacy and Responsible AI), and Natalia Rice (Director of Research and Design at Clementine Gold Group). The panel which represented education, career pathways, and technology leadership explored themes of access, workplace and industry belonging, creating visibility through advocacy and allyship, and creating flexible spaces for inclusive practices. The conversation was guided by questions submitted by registrants and was followed by a Q&A session.

We extend a special thank you to Buffalo Prep for graciously providing our venue and supporting the event.

Our next ETT event will take place in early October and will focus on themes of belonging for young professionals of color entering the workforce with guest speaker, Michaela Leslie-Rule, Senior Program Officer, Narrative Change at the Gates Foundation.

Email Amy Cappelli at [email protected] to be added to our distribution list to receive our newsletter and stay up to date on our events.

Did you know we've been running this one-day event for over a decade to help equip our high school graduates for the real world of higher education that is waiting? Sign up today!

Shara Armprester, Say Yes Buffalo's Recruitment Manager, and Charnay Taylor, Say Yes Niagara Falls' Workforce Development Specialist, are dedicated to helping young professionals take their first step into the workforce. Shara and Charnay work closely with emerging talent ages 18-24 who have graduated from Buffalo public or charter schools, or Niagara Falls High School- guiding them toward entry-level opportunities that align with their interests and potential.

With a thoughtful, personalized approach, Shara and Charnay help young professionals explore different career paths, opening doors they may not have known existed. They take the time to understand each job seeker's strengths and aspirations and work to find the right match to allow them to grow and succeed.

From building and refining resumes to providing interview preparation, Shara and Charnay ensure candidates feel confident and ready to present their best selves. They create valuable connections by organizing information sessions and facilitating interviews with employers- turning introductions into opportunities and transforming that first job into the foundation for a meaningful career.

Young professionals who have graduated from Buffalo public or charter schools, connect with Shara today! Email [email protected] or call 716-954-2401

Young professionals who have graduated from Niagara Falls High School, connect with Charnay today! Email [email protected] or call 716-387-6386

If you are interested in joining the conversation to build a memorial facility to honor the loss and lessons of 5/14/22, please join us. Open to the community at our office on Tuesday evening.

The 5/14 Memorial Foundation is hosting a series of focus groups to gather community input for the 5/14 Living Memorial and Healing Center planned for Jefferson Avenue and Best Street.

These sessions are an opportunity to share your personal perspective and help shape the collective vision for a space centered on remembrance, education and healing.

We have scheduled both in person and virtual focus groups to ensure everyone has an opportunity to participate.

REGISTER USING THE LINK IN THE COMMENTS!

Congratulations to Deoniss Jackson, our BPS Community Schools Navigator at East Community High School who was selected as Support Staff of the Year at last night’s 2026 Excellence in Education Awards Buffalo!