Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown and Franchelle Hart, Open Buffalo Executive Director, hold up a newly signed Opportunity Pledge banner, surrounded by Open Buffalo staff and Advisory Board members.
Open Buffalo supports City of Buffalo Opportunity Pledge
Published October 5, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 5, 2015
Contact: Lorey Schultz
(716) 851-5545
OPEN BUFFALO SUPPORTS CITY OF BUFFALO OPPORTUNITY PLEDGE
Mayor Brown thanks the leadership and staff of Open Buffalo for joining individuals and organizations across Buffalo in signing the pledge
Buffalo – As momentum continues to build for the City of Buffalo Opportunity Pledge, Mayor Byron Brown was pleased to welcome support from the leadership of Open Buffalo. Open Buffalo Executive Director Franchelle Hart, Board Members and staff, traveled to Buffalo City Hall to sign the pledge today.
“As economic growth and opportunity continues in Buffalo, it’s important that all residents and business owners benefit from the city’s rising prosperity,” said Mayor Brown. “I thank the Open Buffalo justice collaborative for signing the Buffalo Opportunity Pledge, a reflection of its continued commitment to helping us build a culture of diversity, inclusion and equity in Buffalo.”
“We are seeing a wave of development in our city that we should all be proud of,” said Franchelle Hart, Open Buffalo’s Executive Director. “However, a rising tide doesn't necessarily lift all boats. Our High Road Economic Development initiative is a tool to protect our human capital, to ensure that workers from every part of this city have access to the high-quality jobs that will be coming to Buffalo. It is imperative that we remove roadblocks for ex-offenders, provide language access to ensure our newly arrived brothers and sisters receive necessary skills and training, and put forth a conscious effort to make our workforce reflect this beautiful city.“
"As CEO and President of Try-It Distributing and staunch supporter of inclusive workplaces throughout Western New York, I pledge my support to building one Buffalo which includes opportunity for people of every diverse background," said Paul Vukelic, an Open Buffalo board member.
The Buffalo Opportunity Pledge, part of an initiative that is moving Buffalo toward the goal of shared prosperity for all residents, kicked into high gear last month with the debut of the
newly designed logo for the pledge. To date, nearly 3,200 individuals and 127 organizations have signed the pledge, with additional organizations requesting and scheduling ‘signing events’ with Mayor Brown in the weeks to come.
The pledge initiative continues Mayor Brown’s efforts to break down barriers for minorities and women that includes the hiring of the most diverse workforce in the city’s history, as well as incorporating community benefits into many of the city’s largest economic development projects.
The City of Buffalo Opportunity Pledge encourages businesses, organizations and residents to commit to building a culture of inclusion and equality in Buffalo. View and sign the pledge at: www.city-buffalo.com/BuffaloOpportunityPledge.
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Read Franchelle Hart's full Opportunity Pledge remarks here.
