BUFFALO, N.Y. — When the Kensington Expressway was built there was little concern about the impact it would have on the people living on the east side of Buffalo, a predominantly African-American neighborhood. Its construction created an equity issue, which on Friday state and local leaders pledged would be righted.
A $1 billion investment was announced to cover a portion of the roadway but when weighing equity in the City of Buffalo, the 33 is far from the only issue.
VOICE Buffalo hosted its first "Justice and Belonging Lab" just a few hours after the Kensington announcement, a program meant to focus on addressing gun violence, poverty, and more. Dozens of people attended the lab at the Greater Royal Worship Center on Clinton Street.
"We see the alarming trend nationwide with gun violence and inequality and injustice so what we want to do is be at the forefront to find solutions," said Jerome Wright, Vice President of VOICE Buffalo.
Wright knows the issues plaguing impoverished areas of Buffalo firsthand. He grew up on the East Side where all too often he said people have been forgotten.
"I think the pandemic showed many of the disparities that we've already lived with but now society knows about," Wright said.
Disparities in access to healthcare and transportation, services, and historically investment when compared to other parts of the city. Wright used South Buffalo, Downtown, and the Waterfront as examples.
In his position as Vice President of VOICE Buffalo, Wright believes solutions to stopping issues like inequality, injustice, and gun violence will come from East Side neighbors.
"We have to speak up, we have to be informed we have to be engaged because if you're not engaged your just letting it continue," said VOICE Buffalo, Lead Community Organizer Tyrell Ford, who planned the "Justice and Belonging Lab."
People from all backgrounds discussed current issues and engaged with each other during the lab. The hope is that through discussion, neighbors will stumble upon or develop solutions to community issues.
"We just have to talk about it and build it into our community to build a better tomorrow because if we don't speak about it today this will continue to happen,” said Tyrell Ford, VOICE Buffalo, Lead Community Organizer.
"There are proven methods that are out there in the community and we want to bring them to buffalo and make sure our community is invested in equally."