In response to the mass shooting at Tops on the city’s East Side in 2022, UB’s Jacobs School will be opening its doors to the community for an inaugural Community Engagement Fair. The Fair is a way for people to learn about a plethora of community organizations that are dedicated to improving the lives of Buffalonians. In the face of tragedy, the School is determined to demonstrate that there is a united front
The event will take place on Thursday, March 23 at Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. The fair line-up is considered “A veritable who’s who of impactful community organizations.”
On that day, visitors to the free “open to the the public” fair will get a chance to learn more about a wide variety of community organizations that are helping us to rethink the way that we interact with the city. Not only with 20+ organizations be on-hand, there will also be sampling of foods from local, minority-owned businesses including Sunshine Vegan Eats, A Taste of Soul, and La Flor Bakery.
“Our goal is to create a space for our faculty, trainees, staff, health care workers on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus and the general public to learn more about how to get involved and engaged in our Buffalo area community,” said Anyango Kamina, PhD, interim unit diversity officer in the Jacobs School.
The fair is an opportunity for these groups to educate the rest of the community, as well as faculty, students and staff of UB and the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus about their missions and to gain volunteers and support.
“We were talking about addressing the social determinants of health,” explained Tanya Biscardi, director of the Office of Accreditation and Quality Improvement in the Jacobs School. “But there are so many things that are not in our wheelhouse that we are still passionate about and there are so many groups doing the work. So we said, ‘Let’s invite them in and learn.’”
In her invitation to community groups, Allison Brashear, MD, vice president for health sciences at UB and dean of the Jacobs School, wrote, “I am in awe of the strong sense of community in the City of Good Neighbors. The Jacobs School is committed to increasing community engagement, and we are excited to make this happen by strengthening existing partnerships and building new ones with community organizations.”
“It’s important that the community feels supported and gets to know us,” said Maria Wilson, inclusive excellence workforce specialist at the Jacobs School. “The Jacobs School can be a hub for community engagement.”
2023 Inaugural Community Engagement Fair
Thursday, March 23, 2023
2-5 p.m.
Second floor atrium, the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, 955 Main St., Buffalo.
Community and UB organizations that will be present include:
Aspire of WNY
Buffalo City Mission
Say Yes Buffalo
Human Rights Initiative
International Institute of Buffalo
Mental Health Advocates of WNY
Grassroots Gardens WNY
UB Homework Helpers
Lighthouse Free Medical Clinic
Open Buffalo
Crisis Services
UB HEALS
Confident Girl Mentoring Program
Jericho Road Community Health Center
EPIC for Children
Journey’s End Refugee Services
Christian Medical and Dental Associates (CMDA of WNY)
The Salvation Army Buffalo Area Services
Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor
BestSelf Behavioral Health
GEM Community
Harvest House Ministries – Good Neighbors Healthcare
FeedMore WNY
GLYS WNY Inc.
WNY Children’s Environmental Health Center
UB School of Nursing
Hispanic Heritage Council of Western New York
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