Governance
Collective Impact Leadership
Working collectively with Buffalo based institutions is perhaps the most crucial element of the Say Yes approach. Our partners from the Buffalo Public Schools, City of Buffalo, Erie County, New York State, unions, parents, students, philanthropy, institutes of higher education, businesses, and the larger religious community share our vision of more high school graduates, post-secondary graduates, economic mobility, and fulfilling professional employment for graduates of Buffalo public and charter schools.
The Say Yes Buffalo Partnership recognizes that the only way to dramatically expand access to opportunity for Buffalo’s young people is by working together towards this common goal.
Community Leadership Council
Composed of more than 60 elected officials, business leaders, educators, parents, District officials, community leaders and faith leaders, the Community Leadership Council is charged with monitoring and facilitating the progress of Say Yes Buffalo. The Council meets 3 times per year, and all meetings are open to the public.
Dr. Kathy Evans-Brown
President, Buffalo Board of Education
Hon. Christopher P. Scanlon
Mayor, City of Buffalo
Dr. Catherine Collins
Member, 8th Judicial District, New York State Board of Regents
William Gisel
Chair, Say Yes Buffalo Scholarship Board
Hon. Tim Kennedy
U.S. Congressman for New York District 26
Hon. Crystal Peoples-Stokes
New York State Assemblymember for District 141
Lisa Chimera
Deputy Erie County Executive
Operating Committee
The Say Yes Buffalo Operating Committee meets monthly to review progress, challenges and opportunities related to Say Yes Buffalo and its work.
Dr. Kathy Evans-Brown
President, Buffalo Board of Education
Mark Boyd
Chief of Staff, Office of NY Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes
LeVar Burke
Buffalo State University
Roberta Cates
Buffalo Parent Teacher Organization
Dr. Catherine Collins
New York State Board of Regents
Jody Covington
President Buffalo Council of School Supervisors and Administrators
Dr. Nathan Daun-Barnett
Education Leadership & Police Department Chair, University at Buffalo
Dr. Matthew Giordano
President, Villa Maria College
Danielle Grzymala
Buffalo Parent Teacher Organization
Dr. Will Keresztes
Buffalo Public Schools
Marc Mueller
Erie County Department of Social Services
Erikson Neilans
SUNY Erie
Richard Nigro
Buffalo Teachers Federation
Christina Orsi
The John R. Oishei Foundation
David Rust
Say Yes Buffalo
Ed Speidel
President, District Parent Coordinating Council
Dr. Adiam Tsegai
SUNY Erie
Maria Whyte
Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo
Board of Directors
Funding for Say Yes Buffalo Scholarships is provided by private individuals, families, businesses and organizations who live in or care about Western New York. The Say Yes Buffalo Board of Directors determines eligibility for Say Yes Buffalo scholarships and advocates on behalf of the program.
Directors:
Umesh Barbaria
Kendra Brim
Chantele Campbell
Matt Connors
Betsy Constantine
Temara Cross
Yamil Cruz
Brigid Doherty
Michelle-Marie Gant
Gretchen Geitter
William Gisel, Jr.
Kenya H. Hobbs
Thomas Hunt
Alice Jacobs
Dr. Yvonne Minor Ragan
Katie Schneider
Marsha Sullivan
Jack Walsh
Emmanuel Wright
Board Members Emeritus:
Melissa Baumgart
Nancy Davis
Clotilde Perez-Bode Dedecker
Dr. Danis J. Gehl
Roger Hungerford
Jeremy Jacobs, III
William Joyce
Daniel Lewis
Gary Quenneville
Rev. Rachelle Robinson
Hugh Russ, III
Nick Sinatra
Steve Swift
Alphonso O’Neil-White
In Loving Memory:
Hon. Hugh Scott