Say Yes Buffalo

Congratulations to CareerWise Greater Buffalo’s Modern Youth Apprenticeship (MYA) program Cohort 3 apprentices Ronique Johnson (right) and Evelyn Schrimmel (left) for completing the Teller Onboarding and Training with their new employer, Evans Bank. Evelyn and Ronique, both graduates of South Park High School Class of ’24, have now begun their career journey as part-time tellers and have also embarked on their higher education journey at Hilbert College and Villa Maria College respectively. We are excited to watch them grow on the Business Operations pathway!

Visit careerwisegreaterbuffalo.org or email [email protected] for more information on the MYA program.

To become an employer partner, reach out to Emily Melendez, Business Development Supervisor at [email protected]

Rich Products has been a steadfast partner of CareerWise Greater Buffalo’s Modern Youth Apprenticeship (MYA) program, an initiative of Say Yes Buffalo, since the program began in 2022. Rich Products is hosting 5 apprentices across 3 cohorts in Business Operations and Culinary.

Say Yes Buffalo is grateful to partner with Rich Products in providing opportunities for workforce participation and economic mobility for graduates of our Buffalo Public Schools.

Visit careerwisegreaterbuffalo.org for more information.

Congratulations to our 2024 cohort of Leadership 101! Open to our entire team, Leadership 101 is a series of seven half-day sessions that provide emerging leaders and existing supervisors with basic leadership principles and skills for the next steps in their careers.

Left to right are Michael Palazza (School-based Services), Sara Montañez (Extended Learning Time - Summer Camp), Jessica Misiejuk (School-based Services), Andrea Guzman (Say Yes Little Scholars), Kate Klein (School-based Services), Eivory Eison (Say Yes Little Scholars), Rebecca Bass (Development & Grants), Rhonda Saunders (Community Schools), and Joi Patterson (Community Schools.)

Please join Buffalo Public Schools' Superintendent, Dr. Tonja M. Williams Knight as she addresses the Buffalo community regarding the State of the Schools for the 2024-2025 school year. The 2024 State of the Schools will be live on Wednesday, August 28, 2024 starting at 9:30AM via livestream.

Livestream link: https://www.youtube.com/live/iISIk0Qs1Yw?si=Tf7WlPk6pF-IiSpP

CareerWise Greater Buffalo welcomes Brandon Lopez to the Modern Youth Apprenticeship (MYA) program’s Cohort 3. Brandon is a Culinarian Apprentice at Rich Products. When asked what drew him to MYA, a 3 year earn-and-learn model, Brandon replied, “When I first came to Buffalo in high school, I didn’t know what I wanted to do when I graduated. I have always had an interest in culinary arts and when I learned about the Modern Youth Apprenticeship program, I knew this is what I was meant to do.” We are excited to watch Brandon grow on his journey!

Visit careerwisegreaterbuffalo.org to learn more about the Modern Youth Apprenticeship program.

Some highlights from one of our highlights on our annual calendar: the school-based services Family Day! Thanks to our great team, our great families, and our great partners for coming out and enjoying some summery fun. Special thanks to Jeffrey Botteron, Kim Marino, and Daphne Ross who kicked in some items so we could send our families home with gifts of household items (and some toys for the little ones).

M&T Bank has been a champion of CareerWise Greater Buffalo’s Modern Youth Apprenticeship (MYA) program, an initiative of Say Yes Buffalo, since its inception in 2022. M&T is hosting 14 apprentices across 3 cohorts in Business Operations, Financial Services, and Information Technology pathways.

Say Yes Buffalo is grateful to partner with M&T Bank in providing opportunities for workforce participation and economic mobility for graduates of our Buffalo Public Schools.

Visit careerwisegreaterbuffalo.org for more information.

CareerWise Greater Buffalo welcomes Nasip Salim to the Modern Youth Apprenticeship program’s Cohort 3. Nasip is a Business Operations Apprentice at M&T Bank. When asked what most excited him about participating in the apprenticeship, a 3 year earn-and-learn model, Nasip replied, “The thing I am most excited about for this apprenticeship is making professional connections and growing with M&T Bank. My goal is to own my own business one day. And learning about time management, banking, and financial management will help me with that.”

Visit careerwisegreaterbuffalo.org to learn more about CareerWise Greater Buffalo's Modern Youth Apprenticeship program.

🎉Congratulations to Community School Navigator Daytuan Antonetti and the School 30 BPS Community Schools team on winning an Award of Excellence from Multiplying Good/The Jefferson Awards! Thanks for all you do to make School 30 a richer and more joyful place!

We are excited to welcome ProAmpac Buffalo as a new employer partner with CareerWise Greater Buffalo’s Modern Youth Apprenticeship program. ProAmpac is hosting one Advanced Manufacturing, Press Operator Assistant Apprentice. Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, the apprentice will be connected to a full-time position within the organization.

Say Yes Buffalo is grateful to partner with ProAmpac Buffalo in providing opportunities for workforce participation and economic mobility for graduates of our Buffalo Public Schools.

We were selected by the Gates Foundation and Walton Family Foundation as one of only five "intermediary" organizations to be featured in a new report produced by the Education Strategy Group called “Keys to Scale.” The report digs into why certain pathway intermediary organizations are successful and what more might be done to empower their further success in supporting equitable student outcomes.

We often say that "partnership is our secret sauce," well, it's not such a secret any more. 🤝🎉📘

Keys to Scale - Education Strategy Group Regional education-to-career intermediary organizations are playing an increasingly critical role in the national education landscape. Through their leadership, K-12, higher education, youth serving organizations, and employers have joined forces to design career-connected learning opportunities tha...

BPS Community Schools Saturday Academies return October 5th! 🥳🥳🥳

Saturday Academies are a time where buildings open their doors to the entire community, bringing in valuable resources and engaging vendors and activities for all ages.

Plus free breakfast and lunch are provided, while available.

Last year, over 29,000 attendees joined us! 🎉🎉🎉

We encourage you to participate, whether that's as a guest, tabling, or even hosting an activity.

Returning this year are the FREE Farmers Markets presented by BPS Food Service and Cornell University. More details regarding the Markets will be out soon. 🍎🍎🍎

Buffalo Public Schools
BestSelf Behavioral Health
Matt Urban Center
Say Yes Buffalo
The Belle Center

Cohort 3 apprentices from CareerWise Greater Buffalo’s Modern Youth Apprenticeship (MYA) program, a Say Yes Buffalo Initiative, have embarked on their earn-and-learn journey. Abrar Yasir, a graduate of Burgard High School, is on the Advanced Manufacturing pathway in a Press Operator Assistant apprenticeship with ProAmpac Buffalo, a new employer partner with MYA. When asked about what drew him to MYA, Abrar answered, “This apprenticeship gives me the peace of mind of knowing what I am going to do after high school. I knew I wanted to work with my hands instead of trying to find something to study for four years. The Advanced Manufacturing apprenticeship allows me to work with my hands and figure out the next steps for my future.”

Visit careerwisegreaterbuffalo.org for more information about the Modern Youth Apprenticeship program.

We're two years into this project of adding career options for Buffalo high school graduates and poised for a major expansion in the coming two years! 🚂

Say Yes Buffalo lays out major expansion to youth apprenticeship program Buffalo Schools students, via Say Yes, will have new pathways to quickly join the workforce. Those interested in culinary, healthcare, skilled trades and teaching have intriguing opportunities ahead.

Delaware North is entering its second year of partnership with CareerWise Greater Buffalo’s Modern Youth Apprenticeship program, an initiative of Say Yes Buffalo. Delaware North is hosting 3 Culinary Apprentices who will be completing the organization's Culinary and Hospitality Excellence for Future Success (CHEFS) training program. Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, apprentices will be connected to full-time open positions within the organization.

Say Yes Buffalo is grateful to partner with Delaware North in providing opportunities for workforce participation and economic mobility for graduates of our Buffalo Public Schools.

Congratulations to Cohort 3 of CareerWise Greater Buffalo’s Modern Youth Apprenticeship program on their completion of Apprenticeship University (AU). AU is 4 weeks of in-person professional skills building training to prepare for the start of employment and the higher education journey. The 23 thoughtful, curious, innovative, and community-minded apprentices will now begin their journeys with employers at BestSelf Behavioral Health, Crowley Webb, Delaware North, Evans Bank, John R. Oishei Foundation, M&T Bank, National Fuel, ProAmpac, Rich Products, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Tops Markets, and Wegmans.

For more information about the Modern Youth Apprenticeship program, visit: careerwisegreaterbuffalo.org

If you are an employer who is interested in becoming an apprenticeship partner, reach out to Emily Melendez: [email protected]

Apprentices from Cohorts 1&2 of our Modern Youth Apprenticeship program recently participated in Interpersonal Communication, Public Speaking, and Facilitation Training with Thembi Duncan, Teaching Artist and Instructional Designer, and featuring Teaching Artists Ayesis Clay, M.Ed. of Sculpted Clay Productions and Richard Satterwhite. Apprentices learned how to effectively lead and participate in panel discussions, practice elements of storytelling, explore creative thinking, and challenge themselves to think and speak on their feet. The workshops support the elevation of youth voice to help prepare our apprentices lead within their organizations and communities and to continue to tell the story of Modern Youth Apprenticeship.

https://thembiduncan.com/
https://www.richardsatterwhite.com/
https://sculptedclayproductions.com/

Attention Buffalo public and charter class of 2024, still undecided about what comes next? Need $$$ for school this fall? It's not too late! - https://mailchi.mp/936dc43f8c5e/need-for-school

Today, 23 of our class of 2024 Buffalo Public School graduates joined leading companies in our CareerWise Greater Buffalo modern youth apprenticeship program. These outstanding young people will attend college in the fall and work part-time in paid positions at the companies listed below on their way to family-sustaining wages.

M&T Bank
Wegmans
National Fuel
Delaware North
Evans Bank
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
The John R. Oishei Foundation
Crowley Webb and Associates
Rich Products
BestSelf Behavioral Health
Tops Friendly Markets
ProAmpac

We are wrapping up 4 weeks of Apprenticeship University (AU) for CareerWise Greater Buffalo’s Modern Youth Apprenticeship program with Pathway Presentations. For Cohort 3, feedback was incorporated from Cohort 1 and 2 apprentices and employer partners that project-based activities best help to prepare new apprentices to transition into the working world. Apprentices either worked independently or were grouped according to industry to create career development presentations which incorporated research, lessons and skills learned from AU workshops, and an understanding of industry products and standards. The presentations were based upon rubrics and guidelines designed with employers for the following industries: Accounting, Advanced Manufacturing/Production Technician, Advanced Manufacturing/ Engineering, Business Operations, Culinary, Human Resources, Information Technology, and Video Production. Apprentices also sought guidance from their supervisors during Meet Your Supervisor Day and included the feedback in their presentations. Apprentices were also given the opportunity to reflect upon the process and the outcome of their work.

We are excited to watch Cohort 3 continue to put their AU skills into practice in their new roles!

City of Good Neighbors, can you help a neighbor? We are seeking basic items for families and students in need so that they can enjoy things that many of our neighbors do not have like bedding, laundry supplies, and kitchen items so they can prepare food, as well as some entertainment and family activities. Can you pitch in and select an item from our Amazon wishlist? All items will be donated directly to families at our Family Fun day in August. Thank you for considering!

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/38L2JLRW6HMNE/ref=hz_ls_biz_ex

This summer the Neighborhood Health Center's mobile clinic is coming to three different summer camp locations, in effort to improve access to needed immunizations and annual physicals. All three days of appointments are booked solid. Thank you to The City of Buffalo for the support and all our summer camp partners for making this a success!

A huge thank you to our friends from Buffalo Prep for leading a motivating workshop on Teamwork, Problem Solving, and Critical Thinking during Apprenticeship University (AU): Cohort 3. David Johnson and Kenneth Vargas guided the apprentices on principles of problem solving and collaboration which culminated in a timed activity where teams of apprentices competed to build the most stable and impressive structure out of spaghetti sticks, marshmallows and tape. Each team member demonstrated their unique leadership strengths as they planned, communicated, and executed their designs. We are looking forward to watching Cohort 3 put their developing skills to use in their new roles!

We're thrilled to renew this critical partnership with Buffalo Public Schools as well as with the community-based organizations BestSelf Behavioral Health, The Belle Center, Northwest Buffalo Community Center, and the Matt Urban Center on this vital Community Schools program! 🤝

"That support may involve help with math homework, a quick meal and a chance to learn tae kwon do after school on a weekday. It could involve a short yoga session and a foam party with neighborhood family and friends outside a school on a warm Saturday.

“We were able to do more with our community-based partners because we needed it,” [Dr. Tonja] Williams said in the spring, referring to the 2023-24 school year. “Our children are saying that they need that level of support.”

Positive paths: Five nonprofits fuel Buffalo's Community Schools strategy Buffalo Schools' Community Schools strategy reaches students and families across the city through myriad efforts, from after-school activities to Saturday Academies. Say Yes, BestSelf, Matt Urban, Northwest and the Belle Center are the glue to an important mission.

We know that we’re not the only worthy cause to support in the annual Give716 day that occurs every July 16. We truly appreciate your support yesterday, today, and everyday.

As a token of our appreciation, please enjoy this recent photo from the Juneteenth parade. It features Say Yes Buffalo team members, Breaking Barriers Youth Leadership Council members, and community members. It captures some of the joy, camaraderie, and purpose behind what we do every day! (We love this photo!)

So thank you for your support of the Say Yes Buffalo Endowment Fund! If you missed out this year, please know we will be doing the same every year.

Our favorite day of Apprenticeship University ( a 4 week in-person professional skills training for the CareerWise Greater Buffalo Modern Youth Apprenticeship program’s new apprentices) is Supervisor Day. It’s like Christmas in July! For many apprentice/supervisor pairs, this is their first encounter. Through guided ice breaking activities, apprentice/ supervisor teams learn more about their counterpart’s communication, collaboration, listening, leadership, and learning styles while also getting to know more about each other on a personal level. One of the activities was a lighthearted drawing game where one member was given a picture to describe without revealing the picture or the subject to the member who was drawing the picture. During the activity debrief, teams shared that they were able to get a better sense of where they might need to improve their communication skills. Apprentices and supervisors also engage in defining the ‘Why?’ of their participation in the Modern Youth Apprenticeship program. This is a declaration they will refer to in challenging times and to help create goals for development.

We are excited to watch these relationships continue to blossom in the coming months!

# earnandlearn

716 day POWER HOUR alert! Donate to Say Yes Buffalo at specific times and get your gift MATCHED up to $500! Let's go M&T Bank!

Donate link in bio.

Happy 716 day fellow 716ers! Donate to us through our Give716 platform and earn these great incentives! https://give716.org/share/give716/68/charities/say-yes-buffalo-scholarship-inc

Give 716 is NOW! Support the work of Say Yes Buffalo, get a signed Bills jersey! https://give716.org/share/give716/68/charities/say-yes-buffalo-scholarship-inc