Open Buffalo

We had a great time yesterday talking to folks about the #ForthePeopleAct! We are calling on Senator Chuck Schumer D-NY to bring the For the People Act up for a Senate vote during the month of June! Our democracy and our future are under attack; fear mongering about election fraud are leading to new laws being enacted all around the nation that undermine one’s ability to vote, especially in poor communities and communities of color. True democracy is supposed to be rooted in ..."one person, one vote," however, when corporations and the wealthy are allowed to flood our elections, their priorities drown out the needs of everyday people. During 2021, Open Buffalo is working in coalition with dozens of other statewide organizations to protect voting rights and save our democracy through passage of the "For the People Act" (HR1/S1) in Congress. Not only do we need to protect existing provisions, we must expand opportunities to vote in poor and communities of color. The poverty rate in Buffalo is more than twice the national U.S. average at 28.8%. Because of this alarming and disheartening statistic, it is clear that we must find new and innovative ways to ensure more Buffalonians have access to the ballot box, not less. Learn more here: https://openbuffalo.org/advoc/issue:the-for-the-people-act/

It's time to end perpetual punishment for formerly incarcerated individuals in New York State. Our policy should back up our talk: if we want folks who have served a prison term to have the opportunity to reintegrate into society, then we need to remove the barriers that prevent them from accessing housing, employment, and education. Learn more at https://www.cleanslateny.org/facts #EndPerpetualPunishment

TODAY's the day - join us from 12 - 3 pm outside our office at Utica & Jefferson for free food and a popup photo booth! Eat lunch, take photos, and learn more about the transformative impacts of Clean Slate and equitable tax legislation for communities! #CleanSlate #TaxtheRich #PopUp

Join us tomorrow at our pop-up outside the office at Utica & Jefferson for free lunch, photo booth, and conversation on the importance of Clean Slate and Equitable Taxation Legislation! #expungerecords #TaxTheRich #passcleanslate #endperpetualpunishment

Calling for applications for Open Buffalo's Freedom Summer Fellowship Program!! Apply today or share with others who you think would be awesome candidates! https://forms.gle/YNRDyjJSJMuGSvcr9 The Open Buffalo Freedom Summer Fellowship is an intensive leadership development program designed to: empower residents in Western New York with knowledge of the history of the original Freedom Summer; register and engage with voters; and work on winning the For the People Act on the na...tional level. The Freedom Summer Fellow will be responsible for leading the Open Buffalo civic engagement work during the summer of 2021. The ideal candidate will be a passionate leader with in-depth knowledge of systemic issues that impact underserved and under-resourced communities. The Fellow will need to utilize technology to implement the project, such as mass text messaging platforms, social media, phone banking software and others, as needed. This person will be energetic, people-oriented, confident, assertive and creative. They will have significant experience in engaging communities and community organizing. The Open Buffalo Freedom Summer Fellowship Program pays homage to the ancestors, organizers, freedom fighters and organizations who created the first freedom summer in 1964. Because of their passion, brilliance, and resilience, we are able to do the work we are doing today.

Discrimination based on conviction history has real life consequences for entire families, especially Black and Brown families like Shakera's. We have the power to change that this legislative session w/ Clean Slate Legislation! Join us tonight online to learn more, 6:00 - 7:30!

Our friends at New York Immigration Coalition speak to the need for federal immigration policy that protects immigrant communities and creates pathways for #AllofUs

We are so pumped to co-sponsor this event next week with Citizen Action and the NY Working Families Party! We want you to be in on this townhall, featuring incredible speakers like Jumaane Williams, Da’Von McCune, Alexander Wright, and Phylicia Dove. It’s time that our NY state representatives make good on their promises to invest in Black businesses and communities! RSVP Here: https://cit.ac/blackeconomyRSVP Thursday, 2/04 | 6:00 - 8:30 pm | FB Live

In Buffalo and across New York State, so many families are caught in a downward spiral of poverty that impacts everything from health and housing to education and employment. Meanwhile, state policies prioritize corporations and the super-rich at the expense of average citizens. What is your view on a wealth tax on top 1% to refund our communities? Comment below with your thoughts!

LAST CALL for applications to our OB Youth Organizer position! Get them in to [email protected] before noon TODAY! https://bit.ly/3qDIS3S

Get your applications in today or tomorrow by noon! If you are ready to tackle a role full of passion for our youth as change-makers and a vision of justice in our city, apply to be our OB Youth Organizer! https://bit.ly/3bZdAAd <-- See full job description here.

https://bit.ly/3o9z2Vz to apply to the OB Youth Organizer! Join our team and focus on creating opportunities for young people to reconnect with education, employment, national service, mentors, internships, leadership development, and civic engagement. Get your applications in (cover letter + resume) by Monday, January 25th at noon. We are excited to receive them and see why you will be a great fit for our team!