Building a Beloved Community
Published January 31, 2017
From the Community First Alliance:
January 30, 2017
Dearest Supporter,
The Fruit Belt community is coming together to fight gentrification in an unprecedented way. Fruit Belt residents and allies have been working together to preserve the character of the neighborhood, as well as empower the community to take a stand against displacement. As you probably already know, many folks have lived in the Fruit Belt for generations and are committed to maintaining the spirit of unity that exists there. As a body, we believe that the only people that have a right to determine what happens to the Fruit Belt are those that live there. The Fruit Belt Community Land Trust (FBCLT) would allow them to do that.
Here’s the story: There are currently over 200 City-owned lots in the Fruit Belt neighborhood. Though there has 
been and continues to be a moratorium on their sale through a partnership with Council President Pridgen and the Fruit Belt residents, there is a growing number of developers and investors that are interested in owning the vacant lots for their own benefit.
In order to counter that influence, the Community First Alliance, and other Fruit Belt residents, are coming together to demand community control. This is not only fair, since residents have been maintaining these lots for years, but right.
The first fundraiser for the soon-to-be incorporated Fruit Belt Community Land Trust will be held at the Moot Center, located at 292 High St., Buffalo, NY, from 6-8pm on Friday, February 3rd. There will be a basket raffle to raise additional funds for the FBCLT. We are seeking donations from generous businesses to add to our ongoing support for the people who continue to struggle and fight for their friends, family, and neighborhood every day.
We hope you’ll join us in building the vision of a Beloved Community in the Fruit Belt by making a contribution to the FBCLT.
If you have any questions, or would like to make an ongoing donation to the Fruit Belt Community Land Trust, please contact Zaid Islam at (716) 316-1087, Frank Robinson at (716) 364-5829 or Harper Bishop at (716) 783-0392.
In solidarity,
The Community First Alliance