Steering Committee

By design, the community will play an important role in how the Buffalo Together Community Response Fund identifies and addresses critical issues that have led to historic disinvestment and that have contributed to racial inequities on the East Side.

Two community leaders with deep ties to the community will lead the effort to focus on accelerating the revitalization of the East Side by addressing economic and racial inequities through a community-informed process resulting in a long-term investment plan. A steering committee made up of community members and those with expertise in key areas will begin to determine the next steps and to develop an action plan for the funds that have been raised thus far.

Our Chair

Dr. LaVonne E. Ansari

CEO and Executive Director, Community Health Center of Buffalo, Inc.

Our co-chair

Thomas Beauford, Jr.

President and CEO, Buffalo Urban League

Our Committee

Felicia Beard

Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo

Dr. Uzo Ihenko

Black Chamber of Commerce

Trina Burruss

United Way of Buffalo & Erie County

Oluwole (OJ) McFoy

Buffalo Sewer Authority

Marie A. Cannon, MSW

Erie County Department of Social Services

James Morrell

NFTA

DeAnna Eason

Housing Opportunities Made Equal, Inc.

Chiwuike Owunwanne

KeyBank

Zeneta Everhart

Masten District Council Woman

Garnell Whitfield

City of Buffalo

DeLawndrea Purdue-Grant

Moog