AmeriCorps VISTA

If you or someone you know is at risk for #eviction on August 31st, 2021, visit standupbuffalo.com or call 211 to receive up to 12 months of rent and utility #assistance! Please SHARE.

Clean Sweep is an initiative by the City of Buffalo, Division of Citizens Services to address blight and crime at the neighborhood level. Every Wednesday our AmeriCorps VISTAs (+ Mike our Clean Sweep Coordinator ) are out in the field building relationships with community members and having a blast while doing it. Take a load of all this fun!

Our AmeriCorps VISTAs be STUNIN’ out in the streets at #CleanSweep this week! Helping the community and making it look good.

What a good looking cohort (+ some staff at the City of Buffalo, Division of Citizens Services)! Last week at our AmeriCorps VISTA soirée to celebrate the hard work of our members in the city of #Buffalo. P.S. Mayor Byron W. Brown himself showed up!

Always had a dream of owning a business? Here is a great opportunity to network with local business owners and showcase your idea. Dates are July 28th, August 25th, and September 29th at 640 Ellicott St. In partnership with Love Your Block Buffalo, Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, EforAll Buffalo, Say Yes Buffalo, Community Action Organization of Western New York, The Buffalo Urban League, and KeyBank. Register at eforall.org/by/buffalo

#EntrepreneurshipforAll (EforAll) is actively building inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems across the U.S. that provide entrepreneurs with the resources and su...pport they need to turn their ideas into profitable businesses. To learn more, please join our Executive Director @juweria.dahir tomorrow #Friday #July2 @ 12:00pm virtually during this weeks #CityofBuffalo Community Engagement #VirtualBlockChat, presented by the #DivisionofCitizenServices. She will discuss information related to our #BusinessAccelerator program, #Pitchcompetition #Entreprenuership, #smallbusiness and the role that #EforAll will be playing in the community. Visit our website at https://eforall.org/ny/buffalo/ #MeetingLink: - Join by #Video: https://lnkd.in/dvvC4uK Meeting Number:173 140 8656 - Join by #Phone +1-415-655-0001 US Toll Access code: 173 140 8656 Host PIN: 3083 #community #entrepreneurship #startups #engagement Love Your Block BuffaloCity of Buffalo, Division of Citizens ServicesEntrepreneurship for All - EforAll Buffalo Niagara PartnershipMayor Byron W. Brown Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus

Our AmeriCorps VISTA Pemba works closely with the Law Department and Division of Community Services to role out rental assistance for households impacted by COVID-19. With the eviction moratorium ending August 31st, 2021, many may be faced with eviction due to unpaid rent payments. The City of #Buffalo can provide up to 12 MONTHS of rental and utility assistance to residents impacted by COVID-19! Call 2-1-1 for help. Arabic and Spanish translations available.

ALERT! Having trouble paying your water bill? Impacted by COVID-19? June 30th is the last chance to sign up for our Water Amnesty program! This program clea...rs any debt and penalties on your water bill. Call today at (716) 847-1065, or visit https://buffalowater.org for more info. #LetsGetWaterWise See more

Our AmeriCorps VISTAs joined forces with Home Beneath Our Feet and Buffalo Police Department to restore a neighborhood park on Purdy St in the Masten District. Our members got their hands dirty as they mulched trees and cleaned up overgrown sideways. Thank you #AmeriCorps for your community service!

Our AmeriCorps VISTAs have been so excited to be a part of Clean Sweep 2021, an initiative run by the City of Buffalo, Division of Citizens Services! We have two awesome AmeriCorps volunteers involved in putting together this program former AmeriCorps member Mike (Shoutout as new Program Coordinator!) and current member Colin. They support compiling literature resource bags, networking with community partners, and supporting day-to-day tasks. We thank our community partners for distributing resources to residents. We thank our teams beautifying and restoring our neighborhoods including Forestry team, Mayors Impact Team, Buffalo Sewer Authority, and the Department of Public Works. We thank our inspectors and Buffalo Police Department for keeping our city safe. Go #Buffalo!

This Saturday 6/26 marks another city-sponsored Great American Cleanup event with City of Buffalo, Division of Citizens Services! Our esteemed AmeriCorps VISTA Zulmary has been the lead on this project strengthening community partnerships, coordinating volunteers, and gathering materials. Shoutout to our awesome AmeriCorps! Last week was so fun why don't you come out and join us! #CapacityBuilding #NationalService

We want to give a big welcome to our newest AmeriCorps member Opeoluwa! We are so excited to have such a wonderful and intelligent addition to our #Buffalo team. Opeoluwa says, "Passion and curiosity fueled my ambition to volunteer as a VISTA member after graduation. Being a VISTA allows me to give back to my community and help alleviate poverty. I hope to be persistent and diligent to learn new stuff and explore new challenges during my term". Thank you for your dedication to national service, and we look forward to following your journey as you #GetThingsDone!

Today, June 19th, marks the 156th anniversary of Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day. It marks the day in 1865 when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, and brought news that slavery had been abolished more than two years earlier. Today, we reflect and remember the the history of Juneteenth and its significance. As an organization we are committed to racial equity throughout the year and recognize the impact of slavery each day. As a Nation it’s important that we keep pushing for the reform necessary to truly ensure this country gives dignity and respect to our Black community.

A beautiful day for the Coppertown Community Celebration this past Saturday! At Jesse Clipper Memorial, we began the event by honoring COVID-19 victims. Our c...ommunity partners then chatted with residents about native plantings, distributed plant giveaways, and even held a plant-based cooking demonstration with Eat Off Art! With our stormwater model in tow, Buffalo Sewer Authority discussed the importance of our Rain Check green infrastructure project along William St. Thank you to all our community partners Love Your Block Buffalo, Grassroots Gardens, Buffalo Freedom Gardens, National Wildlife Federation, City of Buffalo, Division of Citizens Services, PUSH Buffalo Blue!

Last week’s community events were a great reminder of how much community engagement is critical when loving your block! From teaming up with community partne...rs at Mayor Byron W. Brown’s Clean Sweep 2.0 last Wednesday to connecting with Coppertown residents at Jesse Clipper square on Saturday, Love Your Block was able to showcase our core value of community connection. A huge thank you to the organizations and partners that made these events possible! Buffalo Freedom Gardens Buffalo Sewer Authority PUSH Blue Grassroots Gardens As a reminder: The Love Your Block Mini-grant application is due Thursday, May 27th We encourage all who are eligible to apply for a chance to receive up to $1500 in neighborhood beautification funds!!

Our AmeriCorps VISTAs love supporting such great initiatives the City of #Buffalo and City of Buffalo, Division of Citizens Services puts on! Thanks AmeriCorps members for your efforts to connect with partners and help making Clean Sweep 2021 successful. Here's to next week

I am sending my warmest wishes to all Muslim communities in Buffalo and around the world, this Eid al-Fitr. I know that this year’s Ramadan has been incredibly ...difficult for Muslim communities and Eid al-Fitr, traditionally a celebration which brings people together, will be no exception. I want to thank the Muslim communities for following the CDC guidelines to protect our community and save lives. I am sure that you will continue to do so, and help keep your families and Buffalo safe during your celebrations. Thank you for the huge contribution you all make to our City, which is particularly valued during these challenging times. I wish you a happy, peaceful and safe Eid. Eid Mubarak. See more

Today I joined Horizon Health Services and the Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology to unveil the Mural of Hope located on Bailey Avenue. The mural stating ...You Are Not Alone was created by eight teenagers and supervising artist Tyshaun Tyson to show support for people living with mental health issues. May is Mental Health Awareness Month and this is a powerful way to raise awareness of the importance of supporting family, friends and community members dealing with mental health issues. This beautiful mural let’s people know that they are not alone. See more

Join us as we welcome our three newest AmeriCorps VISTAs to Project MOVE! This week, we were delighted to onboard our incoming members who bring such a diversity of perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds to the Division of Citizens Services. We gives a special thanks to Citizen Services Nicole Brown and former Program Manager Juweria Dahir who developed the introductory AmeriCorps orientation and lead the week filled with speakers, webinars, and informative context. Excited for our newest members to serve the City of #Buffalo!

We are so delighted to share that Rachel Nicole, one of our incredible AmeriCorps VISTA members is hosting this FREE virtual cooking class, Sunday, May 23 at 4pm, register today at https://www.ourcurlsinc.org/current--upcoming-events.html

The 2021 Let’s Do This! campaign is coming soon. We are partnering with the City’s block clubs to help beautify our neighborhoods. Due to the pandemic, major ...cities across the country have seen significant increases in liter and dumping. Buffalo block clubs will have an opportunity to win prizes by recycling, disposing of waste and developing a creative anti-litter slogan. Let’s Do This! is a call to take action on the problem of littering, which is harmful environmentally and visually. Let’s work together to keep Buffalo clean! See more

#AmeriCorpsVISTA impacts the communities we serve and members who make the commitment to serve. Learn how you can serve your community this summer as a Summer Associate while earning money for school: https://bit.ly/3t29ygr.

Wonderful event supported by our AmeriCorps VISTA Zulmary Community cleanups aren’t just about picking up trash in an area, but it’s about creating spaces for social connection while making our neighborhoods safer, more beautiful, and places of care and pride. Email [email protected] for more information!