Say Yes Buffalo

10/08/2025

Say Yes Buffalo’s Employer Think Tank (ETT) is a collaboration of non-profit partners committed to creating opportunities for WNY private sector employers to engage in intentional conversations which foster the creation of thriving workplaces for all employees including our young talent.

ETT is hosting Part 2 of its speaker series Navigating DEI Resistance on November 6th from 10:00AM-11:30AM.

Navigating DEI Resistance Part 2: Virtual Q&A features the esteemed voices of Constance McMillan, PHR Talent and Culture Manager Buffalo AKG Art Museum; Stephanie Peete, Senior Director of Workforce Development at Say Yes Buffalo; O. Deborah Pratt M.A. Organizational Development Certified Professional; and Annika Samuels, Director of Diversity and Inclusion, National Fuel. Prior attendance at Navigating DEI Resistance is NOT necessary to partake in the virtual event.

Please use the following link to register and to submit questions for the panelists: https://tinyurl.com/ettvirtualpaneldiscussion

To sign up for the ETT mailing list, contact Amy Cappelli: acappelli@sayyesbuffalo.org. To learn more about how your organization can get involved, reach out to Tiffany Swink: tswink@sayyesbuffalo.org.

10/03/2025

On Thursday, September 25th, Say Yes Buffalo’s Employer Think Tank (ETT) Speaker Series presented Navigating DEI Resistance featuring Janice Gassam Asare Ph.D., author and founder of BWG Business Solutions, an award-winning DEI consultancy designed to help organizations create cultures built on equity. Dr. Asare presented strategies for private sector and non-profit organizations to navigate DEI resistance and push equity forward in their work. Dr. Asare’s presentation was followed by a panel discussion with community leaders on the power of creating inclusive workspaces for emerging talent. The discussion was moderated by Stephanie Peete, Director of Workforce Development at Say Yes Buffalo, and included the esteemed voices of Constance McMillan, PHR Talent and Culture Manager Buffalo AKG Art Museum; O. Deborah Pratt M.A. Organizational Development Certified Professional; and Annika Samuels, Director of Diversity and Inclusion at National Fuel.

Thank you to Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences for providing the event venue.

On November 6th, ETT is hosting a companion event, Navigating DEI Resistance Part 2: Virtual Q&A, from 10:00AM-11:30AM. Register and submit questions for the panelists through this link: https://tinyurl.com/ettvirtualpaneldiscussion

ETT is a collaboration of non-profit partners committed to creating opportunities for WNY private sector employers to engage in intentional conversations which foster the creation of thriving workplaces for all employees. To sign up for the ETT email list, contact Amy Cappelli: acappelli@sayyesbuffalo.org. To learn more about how your organization can get involved, reach out to Tiffany Swink: tswink@sayyesbuffalo.org.

10/01/2025

New FREE arts program for teens!

10/01/2025

Tabling at , Inclusion Connect event this morning at !

09/30/2025

09/30/2025

Say Yes Niagara Falls Launch

09/29/2025

🍂 Fall means… FAFSA!

👋🏻 Hey there Buffalo High School class of 2026, FAFSA is OPEN. It's time to dream big and fill out that FAFSA!

Need help? Get at us!

09/24/2025

Youth voice is a key tenet of our Workforce Development program. Two apprentices from the Modern Youth Apprenticeship program recently joined Stephanie Peete, Director of Workforce Development, at the Buffalo Bills Annual Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) Oversight Committee meeting and testified about their experiences in our program.

They spoke about the support they receive in school and at work, the mentoring that is poured into them, and how our modern youth apprenticeship program gave them access to career pathways that would have otherwise been out of reach.

Diamond (left) is enrolled in business courses at Villa Maria College and works as a retail apprentice with M&T Bank, while Atika is an engineering student at Erie Community College and works as an engineering apprentice at National Fuel Gas Company.

As graduates of Hutchinson Central Technical High School, both young women are excelling in the program and demonstrate the talent coming from our Buffalo Public Schools.

We’re thankful for our partners who have joined us at the table to create talent pipelines that give our city’s graduates opportunities to learn, earn, thrive, and enter the middle class with competitive careers — and without student debt.

09/22/2025

Week 2 of celebrating at Say Yes Buffalo!

We’re displaying a mini art exhibit in our main hallway to celebrate historical Hispanic artists.

Here’s just a few of the pieces we’ve displayed!

09/18/2025

Celebrating Community School Coordinator Appreciation Week!

Community School Navigators act as a bridge between Buffalo Public Community Schools and the surrounding community. Orchestrating resources and partnerships to support students' academic, social, emotional, and health needs, as well as family and community engagement.

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09/18/2025

This week we kicked off Hispanic Heritage Month with a fun and energetic start “Salsa for Lunch”! Every Wednesday from 12–1 PM this month, we’ll be learning salsa dancing (yes, with chips and salsa included!).

Our very own Stephon Ford will be leading each session, and if you missed yesterday’s, don’t worry you can catch the next one! We had such a great time here at Say Yes Buffalo celebrating culture, community, and connection.

Huge shoutout to our REI Outreach Team and HR Team for making this celebration such a success so far. Let’s keep the energy going! 🙌

09/17/2025

Say Yes’ Workforce Development Solutions provides a bridge for Buffalo and Niagara Falls employers to reach emerging and diverse talent (ages 18-24) that is representative of the communities that employers serve and brings fresh ideas and innovation. Say Yes’ Workforce Development Solutions offers three unique pathways, including our signature Modern Youth Apprenticeship program, to meet the hiring needs of employers and provide life-changing opportunities that prepare young professionals in Buffalo and Niagara Falls for careers in advanced manufacturing, business operations, culinary operations, financial services, IT, healthcare, and more.

Learn more about how Say Yes’ Workforce Development Solutions can help you find the right talent for your hiring needs by contacting Emily Vargas, Business Development Supervisor: evargas@sayyesbuffalo.org