The 2023 Class of Open Buffalo Emerging Leaders, along with Leslie Nickerson (Director of Leadership Development) and Franchelle Parker (Executive Director).
Congratulations to the Emerging Leaders Class of 2023!
Published December 18, 2023
On Saturday, December 16, Open Buffalo celebrated the Graduation of our seventh cohort of Emerging Leaders. We are proud to highlight the achievements of the Class of 2023, which includes:
- Sofia Aletta
- Gina Beeman
- DaMante’ (Divine) Curry
- Darryl Gaines, Jr.
- Gregory Glover
- Phyllis Gunning
- Niasha Hamilton
- Tahirah (Tai) Harbin
- Evan Jackson
- Aiyana Jacy Martin
- Lester McDade
- Yolando Mullen
- AAliyah Roach-Bontzolakes
- Lisa Wilson
These graduates join the ranks of over 150 Emerging Leaders alumni in building a more just, connected, and equitable Western New York.
The ceremony at Hallwalls Contemporary Art Center included presentations by the graduates, outlining the plans they developed throughout the course to build innovative solutions to challenges in their communities. The graduates successfully completed a rigorous training program that included a weekend retreat at Beaver Hollow and five months of workshops to build their leadership skills and knowledge in community organizing, mobilizing people and resources, Buffalo-Niagara socioeconomic history, frameworks for economic and ecological sustainability, historic and contemporary campaigns on racial, economic, and ecological justice issues, and more.
Open Buffalo also recognized the contributions of our 2023 Emerging Leaders Advisory Board comprised of program alumni Melissa Archer (2021), Jimmy Darby (2017), Kenyana David (2018), Donna Latham Edwards (2016), Bianca Gonzalez (2020), Shantelle Patton (2017), Octavio Villegas (2016), and Michael Weidrich (2020). This dedicated board of alumni devoted over a year of their time to updating and enhancing the program curriculum, facilitating workshops and panel discussions during the 2023 course, and helping to ensure that the program continues to fulfill its mission.
The celebration concluded with a buffet catered by Brothers Restaurant and music by the Dale Toliver Band.
The Open Buffalo family is incredibly proud of our newest Emerging Leaders graduates, and we cannot wait to see what they accomplish in the months and years ahead!