Compeer School’s Mental Health Mentoring Program Could Be in Jeopardy. Fundraiser Aims to Save It

Catherine Hughes felt stressed going to school, overwhelmed by the environment and the crowds of other students.

Not anymore. She’s entering her fourth year in a program offered by Compeer of Greater Buffalo, where she’s worked closely with her mentor Chris Batty.

The two chat as friends. Batty asks Hughes questions about school, his life outside the classroom, and his plans after graduation.

“It helps me feel less stressed about school,” said Hughes, 16, who will be a senior this fall at Lake Shore High School. “We can just be with our friends and play games and take our minds off things.”

Since 2017, Compeer’s School Mental Health Mentoring Program has supported more than 500 students in several school districts across Western New York. In each district, school counselors and social workers identify students who would benefit from being paired with Compeer mentors, who are college interns often just a few years out of high school. During study halls or lunch breaks a few days a week, mentors and mentees play games, talk about life, and work on goal setting and emotional regulation.

But the future of the program could be in jeopardy in some school districts as budgets tighten and federal COVID-19 relief funds dry up.

Bills says they invested $3.6 million in community initiatives in the CBA’s first year: The Buffalo Bills invested at least $3.6 million in community initiatives in the first year of the community benefits agreement tied to the new stadium, according to an annual report released by the team Monday highlighting activities from March 29, 2023, to March 28, 2024. Read more

I visited three festivals in one day. Here’s what I found and what I ate: This weekend, Buffalo celebrated three different ethnic cultures (Italian, Irish and Polish) that have made Buffalo and Western New York the melting pot it is today. Buffalo News reporter Abigail Lee wrote about her experiences at all three events. Read more

End of an era with the departure of Rev. Jud Weiksnar, leaving Buffalo without Franciscans for the first time in 166 years: It was an emotional scene Sunday at SS. Columba & Brigid Church on Hickory Street. The pews were packed as parishioners gathered to worship and say goodbye to longtime pastor and spiritual leader the Rev. Jud Weiksnar, who is leaving to continue his work of faith in Cincinnati. Weiksnar’s departure caps a 166-year run of Franciscan ministry in Buffalo. Read more

A historic downtown office building that received millions to renovate needs millions more: The Erie County Department of Public Works plans to spend about $3 million to restore the Lincoln Building’s historic windows and other exterior features, starting with $500,000 in design work next year. Read more

Artist seeks many hands to collaborate on AKG’s public mural at Stitch Buffalo: Artist Saira Siddiqui rarely works alone when asked to create a large mural. She won’t be working alone on her latest project either, as she’s partnering with the Buffalo AKG Art Museum’s Public Art Initiative and Stitch Buffalo, a textile arts center on the city’s Lower West Side. Read more

Elizabeth Licata: The author claims that “black gardening” has its own style. And she celebrates it. Is there such a thing as “Black gardening”? These conversations are happening more and more frequently in Buffalo, in part because of the advent, in 2018, of the East Side Garden Walk in Buffalo’s predominantly Black neighborhoods. Read more

A hot start to the week: There will be intervals of clouds and sunshine and a maximum temperature of 88 degrees. Read more

Bills RB James Cook believes the best is yet to come, even after a Pro Bowl season: Buffalo Bills running back James Cook carried the ball 237 times for the Bills last season, surpassing his college total in just one year. In doing so, he proved he can be a versatile running back in the NFL. “Of course, there’s still a lot to do,” Cook said. “Not even for individual goals — team goals. If the team goals happen, then the individual goals will follow.” Read more

Camp Observations: Acclimatization period over, time to go for the Buffalo Bills: After three months of organized team activities, a mandatory minicamp and the first four practices of camp, the Buffalo Bills will begin working with pads on Monday. “The first time you get hit, you almost feel good and you’re like, ‘Football’s back, baby. It’s time to go,’” tight end Dawson Knox said. Read more

Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame: Rick Lancellotti turned a magical summer into a long life in WNY: Rick Lancellotti finished the 1979 Buffalo Bisons season with 41 home runs, tying the Eastern League record he still holds and earning the league’s Most Valuable Player Award. The total remains third all-time on the Bisons’ franchise list since 1877, surpassed only by Ollie Carnegie (45 in 1938) and Bill Kelly (44 in 1926).

Fun at the Buffalo Irish Festival 2024: The Buffalo Irish Festival brought Irish cheer to Outer Harbor on Saturday. Check out Libby March’s gallery here

#EveryDayAPhoto: Check out our photo series each morning to see our favorite image of the day.

See more photo galleries here.

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