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What's Next? | Students, Suspensions, and Solutions: A Buffalo Public Schools Update (WBFO/NPR)
Parents, students call for more communication, fewer suspensions at Buffalo Public Schools (WIVB)
‘A big need': Community advocates decry continued suspension policy in Buffalo Schools (Buffalo News)
November 20, 2024
In this WBFO segment, Jay Moran sits down with Jessica Bauer Walker, a Community Health Worker and a Buffalo Public Schools parent, and Sam White, Supervising Attorney for the School Discipline Project at Western New York Law Center. The three discuss the Buffalo Suspension Coalition and a recent report on suspensions from Buffalo Public Schools. For our second segment, Guest Host Jillian Hanesworth sits down with Jessica and Rehma Kashindi, a Youth Community Health Worker, to discuss suspensions from the perspective of a BPS student.
October 28, 2024
Local advocates sat down with WIVB News 4 on Monday to call for solutions rather than suspensions as they say Buffalo Public Schools has one of the highest suspension rates in New York State.
Co-chair of the BPS Community Health Worker Parent and Student Association Jessica Bauer Walker says parents and students alike have called on the schools to lower the suspension rates and shift from a punitive system to a restorative system. Fellow co-chair and student Rehma Kashindi says there is miscommunication between teachers and students. Instead of being able to grow, students are just sent home, she said.
October 28, 2024
Representatives from the New York Civil Liberties Union, CoNECT, the WNY Law Center, the Community Action Organization’s WNY Educational Equity Task Force, district Parent Congress leaders, University at Buffalo School of Law and others briefly discussed where they believe Buffalo Schools is falling short in its punitive discipline model and urged further growth in restorative practices.
What's Next? | Addressing Key Issues in Buffalo Public Schools: A Roundtable on Opportunity, Mental Health, and Safety (WBFO/NPR)
Families, advocates meet with Buffalo Public Schools about improving food (WKBW)
Pleas for better food, wellness grow louder as Buffalo Schools commissary project stalls
September 16, 2024
Thomas O’Neil-White hosted a Buffalo Public Schools roundtable discussion, which featured conversations on educational opportunity gaps, student mental health, and safety across all campuses. This show features parent leaders and Community Health Workers Jessica Bauer Walker, Danielle Grzymala, and Ed Speidel, as well as student Community Health Workers Shannon Morgan and Rehma Kashindi.
September 12, 2024
Hutch Tech Senior Rehma Kashindi said, "This isn't something that's talked about in the classroom but it directly impacts students and says it's important that they know too."
Kashindi said, "We've been having a lot of discourse in the Buffalo Public Schools commissary issue, and this is mainly just to get more information so that we can have accurate information so that we're spreading to our communities."
June 24, 2024
Parent and student Community Health Workers urge district to prioritize the commissary project and address pressing need for improved school food. They also emphasize why access to nutritious food is so important for student wellness.
'Enough is enough': Buffalo Schools, City of Buffalo criticized for commissary project
June 23, 2024
Parent leaders emphasize the need for improved collaboration, oversight, and communication from the Buffalo Public School district and the City of Buffalo as stalled plans for new commissary face further delays.
September 25, 2023
Buffalo Public Schools have been back in session for a couple of weeks now, but days before the start of this new school year, Lorenzo Rodriguez and Thomas O’Neil-White sat down with a group of students and some active parents from the district to discuss some of their concerns.
What’s Next: Back-To-School Panel with BPS Students and Parents
Anti-suspension advocates introduce new hotline for families
The kids are not alright: Solutions not suspensions
Local groups educating BPS students, and parents about their rights with suspensions
BPS, ECDOH, and community-based groups partner to get more folks vaccinated
January 15, 2022
BPS, and ECDOH partner with parents and students to keep families safe during the omicron surge.
The Community Health Worker Network of Buffalo hosted its first of many vaccine clinics at local schools in the City of Buffalo.
Community Health Worker Network to host free vaccine clinic today
November 20, 2021
The Community Health Worker Network of Buffalo is working with Erie County and Buffalo Public Schools to host a free vaccine clinic today at International Prep High School, at 110 14th Street in Buffalo.
The Legacy of Lead in Buffalo
November 16, 2021
This episode is hosted by Justice Gatson, a Kansas City based organizer, who organizes intersectional movements that uplift the voices of the most marginalized groups.
The second segment, hosted by Andrea Ó Súilleabháin of the Partnership for the Public Good, discusses strategies for racial justice and health equity in the fight against lead poisoning in Buffalo homes and neighborhoods with Rahwa Ghirmatzion from PUSH Buffalo, Jessica Bauer Walker of Community Health Worker Network of Buffalo, and Maria Ta of Ujima Company.
Pop-up clinic brings vaccines to Bennett High School football game
June 8, 2023
To provide a resource for suspended students, a coalition comprising of CoNECT, the WNY Law Center, UB School of Law, Erie County Restorative Justice Coalition, the regional NYCLU and others debuted a Suspension Intake Hotline, at 716-220-7081.
June 5, 2023
CoNECT members address the disproportionate rate of out-of-school suspensions in the Buffalo school system and the “Solutions not Suspensions” bill and what their group is doing to better tackle our students’ needs.
April 15, 2023
BPS Community Health Worker Parent & Student Association educate BPS students, and parents about their rights with suspensions
October 9, 2021
The Erie County Department of Health teamed up with the Community Health Worker Network of Western New York to host “Cheer On Your Team and Get a Vaccine" at Bennett High School, in an effort to help raise vaccination rates in different neighborhoods.
Community Health Worker Network Supporting Healthy Communities, and Training Frontline Workers for Health Equity
October 20, 2022
The Community Health Worker Network of Buffalo strives to train health care workers on issues of health equity.
January 8, 2023
CoNECT, PUSH Buffalo, Buffalo Urban League, Native American Community Services, Erie County Restorative Justice Coalition and 211 WNY partner to reactivate ANCHOR in response to the blizzard.
December 20, 2022
The Community Health Network of Buffalo along with local students and parents work to find solutions to suspension rates in Buffalo Public Schools.
ANCHOR response to the Christmas Blizzard of 2022
Speaking out against suspensions in Buffalo Public Schools
Solutions Not Suspensions: Speaking Out Against Suspensions in the Buffalo Public Schools
Students, parents sound alarm on suspension system in BPS
Community Care During a Blizzard, and Challenging an Incumbent for Buffalo City Council
February 14, 2023
Members of the Community Health Worker Network, parent leaders, and students advocate for ending school suspensions.
January 26, 2023
BPS students call on the district to adopt recommendations from the Solutions Not Suspensions Act during a press conference.
January 19, 2023
Jessica Bauer Walker looks at what the community can do -- and what government should do to help vulnerable populations during crises like a blizzard, the COVID-19 pandemic or even the Tops shooting.