Date: Saturday, June 16^th 2012

When: 8:30-5:00 PM

Where: YWCA of WNY   1005 Grant Street (bet. Amherst and Military)

Cost – $15

Partnership for Public Good, YWCA of WNY, New York Civic, City & State newspaper, and New York Policy Forum will present a Candidate College on June 16, 2012. The Candidate College is non-partisan and has no ideological litmus test to participate. It is meant to provide those interested in running for public office, or those interested in participating in a campaign in other ways, the knowledge they need to run. Men and women are welcome to participate. The goal is simple: increase the number of strong, well-prepared candidates running for elected office at every level. 

Topics will include nuts-and-bolts issues like fundraising, advertising, and canvassing, as well as important considerations such as the effect of campaigning (and winning) on a candidate’s spouse and family. To get more information or to register call YWCA of WNY at 716.852.6120 ext. 0 or email info@ywca-wny.org.

The YWCA of WNY candidate school (Institute for Public Leadership, or IPL) has a long history with over 500 graduates in WNY, including many women in elected office in Western New York and many, many staff members. Among the program’s graduates are Congresswoman Kathy Hochul, Judge Barbara Howe, Judge Lisa Bloch Rodwin, County Leg Lynn Marinelli, Barbara Miller Williams, and many others.

Tuesday, May 22, at 1pm, tune into WUFO AM 1080 or www.wufoam.com to hear Judith Anderson, executive director of the Environmental Justice Action Group, on fresh food and environmental justice for Buffalo’s East Side.

Read PPG’s testimony here: Western New York Will Gain from a Higher Minimum Wage

Monday, May 21

12:00-1:30pm

237 Main Street, Suite 1200

• Maria Whyte, Erie County Commissioner of Environment and Planning
• Laurie Dean Torrell, Greater Buffalo Cultural Alliance
• Cynnie Gasch, Executive Director, Young Audiences of WNY
• Rahwa Ghirmatzion, Executive Director, Ujima Theatre
• Tod Kniazuk,  Executive Director, Arts Services Initiative of WNY

Free and open to the public.  Feel free to bring a brown bag lunch. 

To guarantee a seat, please email megan@ppgbuffalo.org three days before the event.

Tuesday, May 15

5:30pm to 7:00pm

At Canal Side

Meet at the Naval and Military Park

In front of the Museum

Canal Side is one of the largest and most exciting developments occurring in Buffalo.  What opportunities are there to make it a showcase for green design and operations?  Come visit the site for an open-air discussion with four experts on sustainability and the chair of the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation.

• Sam Hoyt, Senior Vice-President for Regional Economic Development, Empire State Development; and Chair, Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation
• Justin Booth, Executive Director, GO Bike Buffalo
• Creighton Randall, Executive Director, Buffalo Car Share
• Kevin Connors, Architect, eco_logic STUDIO
• Lynda Schneekloth, Chair, Sierra Club Niagara Group

Free and open to the public.  To reserve a spot, contact Megan Connelly, megan@ppgbuffalo.org, 852-4191, ext. 110

The City of Buffalo has dramatically increased its residential recycling rates with its new totes.  PPG and its allies want to build on that success with a Buffalo Recycling Alliance that will work to increase recycling and reduce waste at businesses, multi-family residences, schools, and events through education, collaboration, and advocacy. 

If you’d like to help create the Buffalo Recycling Alliance, email or call Sam Magavern, sam@ppgbuffalo.org, 852-4191, ext. 117. 

Join us for a press conference launching the Alliance on Thursday, May 10 at 10:00am at the Olmsted Center for Sight, 1170 Main Street  Buffalo, 14209. Speakers will include representatives from each of the founding organizations: Buffalo First!, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Partnership for the Public Good, Olmsted Center for Sight, and the Sierra Club of Niagara.

Find out more about the Alliance and other resources for recycling here.

New Publications

Multi-Family Residences and Recycling

Businesses and Recycling

Lessons from Other Cities

You can find the PPG policy brief on Buffalo recycling here.

Recycling on the Radio

PPG  has a radio show, the Public Good, each Tuesday from 1:00 to 1:30 pm on WUFO AM 1080.  Each week we feature a PPG Partner or other person working toward the public good and discuss some of the region’s hottest issues.

On Tuesday, May 1, our guest is Katie Duggan-Haas of Modern Recycling. Listen on your radio or at www.wufoam.com.

The third installation of this series on May 9th will look at vacant housing, a problem plaguing our city. “Boarding Up Our Burdens: How Vacant Houses are Draining Our Neighborhoods” will explore the cost of vacant houses on our city and creative solutions for combating the blight. The information provided can be used in your own neighborhood and those you work in, to ensure a better quality of life for all.

PPG’s own Sam Magavern will be presenting on “Innovative Ways to Take Back Our Neighborhoods.”

Breakfast starts at 8:30am and the lecture begins at 9:00am. The event is being held at Temple Beth Zion, 805 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, 14209.

The program is free and open to the public.

Preregistration is encouraged for this event to ensure your participation.
Register by clicking here or visiting the HOCN Facebook “Event Registration” page.

The event starts at 10:00am at the Loretto Ministry Center, 301 14th Street, Buffalo, 14213. This event is free and open to the public.

Find more information about speaker and workshops here. 

Organizers of the Fair were also guests on PPG’s radio show, the Public Good. Listen here to the show.

Free and open to the public.  To reserve a seat, contact Megan Connelly, megan@ppgbuffalo.org, 852-4191, ext. 110. 

You can find PPG’s summary of Buffalo poverty data here.