Open Buffalo discusses anti-racism initiatives

The racially motivated shooting at a Tops supermarket on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo on May 14, 2022 sparked a movement for racial justice not only around Buffalo, but across New York State.

An event Monday hosted by the nonprofit Open Buffalo began by remembering the names and lives of the 10 people who were killed.

“Aaron Salter. Andrew McNeil. Celestine Chaney. Geraldine Talley. Heyward Patterson. Catherine Massey. Margus D. Morrison. Pearl Young. Roberta A. Drury. Ruth Whitfield,” said Dr. Kush Bhardwaj, Director of Racial Equity and Justice, Open Buffalo.

Open Buffalo leaders say the 2020 protests led to the growth of Open Buffalo’s anti-racist initiatives, particularly the development of the group’s anti-racist Race, Power and Privilege (RPP) program.

“RPP seeks to make individuals understand exactly how to get there? How did the conditions of 14208 become the blackest zip code in upstate New York? How did this happen?” said Franchelle Parker, founding executive director of Open Buffalo.

Parker says the program addresses the history of racial injustice in the region, and Open Buffalo’s commitment to training deepened after May 14, 2022. Since then, the group has trained more than 1,500 people throughout Western New York.

Leaders of other organizations that aim to improve Buffalo’s East Side, like Every Bottom Covered and Community Services for Every1, also spoke about the importance of equality. Parker says community members are stepping up.

“I believe that aside from how we fund change in institutions, people right here in the community, everyday people who work hard every day are still saying, ‘I still have something else to offer.’ , Parker said.

But Parker would also like to see more discussions about environmental justice.

“I would like to see community collaboration to support real local efforts to address environmental harm in our community,” Parker said.