Community Engagement Fair Creates Buzz, Partnerships

By Dirk Hoffman

Thirty impactful non-profit community organizations devoted to providing a wide array of services to the city of Buffalo and the Western New York region were represented at the event organized by the Office of Inclusion and Cultural Enhancement.

The fair was free and open the public and also featured free food samples from local and minority-owned restaurants.

“Our goal with this fair is to continue to foster the Jacobs School’s relationship with community organizations, create opportunities for collaborations and engagement,” says Anyango Kamina, PhD, interim unit diversity officer and assistant dean for student development and academic enhancement at the Jacobs School.

“We hope that attendees will consider the Jacobs School as a hub for community partners and for our learners, faculty and staff to get to know the work that is being done in our community and to get involved either as volunteers or partners,” she adds.

Kamina says the Jacobs School is “honored to host and create space for engagement and community building.”

“It is the most rewarding event of the year because you experience a genuine spirit of what community is about: gather, talk, engage, work together, support each other … all in a learning institution that fosters participation, collaboration and inclusiveness,” says Maria L. Wilson, inclusive excellence workforce specialist at the Jacobs School.

Second-year medical student Marisa Warren says she was interested in learning more about New York StateWide Senior Action Council, an entity that works to empower and educate senior citizens regarding Medicare and other health care issues.

“They do a lot in terms of trying to do legislative and health care action and advocacy. I think that is something I am interested in,” she says. “I don’t know what field yet, but I do know I want to be involved in advocacy in populations hoping to get their voices amplified.”

Her twin sister, Camryn, says she is looking forward to learning more about UB’s Clinical and Translational Science Institute because of her interest in conducting research.

Grassroots Gardens, a dedicated group of community gardeners and activists that supports over 100 gardens in neighborhoods throughout Buffalo and Niagara Falls, had a table at the fair.

The organization’s mission is to share knowledge, power and resources to grow healthy food, heal systemic harm and strengthen neighborhood connections through community gardens, says volunteer Nina Coscia.

“Students can volunteer by going to our website and looking at our different gardening events. Gardening with us is free and open to all, regardless of experience,” she says. “We also do educational events such as workshops on seed starting, composting and food preservation.”

The Grassroots Gardens message really resonated with first-year medical student Triniti Fitts.

“One of my biggest interests is food insecurity in the downtown Buffalo area and the East Side, so it was nice to see that Grassroots Gardens was here,” she says. “It was nice to learn about that and know I can get involved as an M1 student. I don’t have to wait until after graduating to really get involved in that work, as I hope to do research in that area.”

Fellow first-year medical student Ladaysia Jackson-Antrum says she found the Community Engagement Fair to be helpful to orienting her to the Buffalo community.

“I really enjoyed the diversity of the different organizations,” she says. “I also think it is really important because I am not from here. I am from Brooklyn, so it’s really nice to become more familiarized with the organizations in the area.”

Sarah Boladale Johnson, another first-year medical student, agreed.

“I was pleasantly surprised by the diversity of the organizations represented. I think I learned some crucial information that I can happily apply to my life,” she says. “Overall, a 10 out of 10. And the food is also great!”