Engagement Opportunities Library
There are many ways for students, staff, and faculty from Cornell University and Western New York colleges and universities to participate in engaged learning in Buffalo.
Some of these opportunities include:
- High Road Fellowships Program
- Engaged Cornell/Office of Engagement Initiatives
- Public Research Fellowship
Visit the Be Informed page to find other libraries, tools, and sites where you can find additional WNY-focused research.
Buffalo Commons Knowledge for the Public Good Series
Buffalo Commons offers workshops that share knowledge for the public good on topics ranging from civic engagement and local policy to best practices in community-based research. These workshops provide technical assistance and capacity building for social sector workers and the public in WNY.
For the foreseeable future, all workshops will be happening in a virtual format.
2020 Buffalo Commons Workshops
- Local Land Use, Green Code, and Zoning Thursday, March 5, 12-2pm
- Materials: Jessie's Zoning and Historic Preservation PPT, Art's Land Use and Zoning Outline-ZONING CHALLENGES: OVERCOMING OBSTACLES
- Policy Advocacy 101 Friday, March 13, 2020 @12:30-2:30pm
- Materials: Workshop Recording, Policy Advocacy 101 Outline
- Working with the Media: Get Your Message Heard Postponed, Date: TBD
- Democratizing Data: An Open Forum on the WNY Data Landscape May 6, 2020 @2-4pm
- Materials: Workshop Recording
- Design Thinking for Policy Solutions Wednesday, May 20, 2020 @12:30-2:30pm
- Cultural Competency and Trauma Informed Care Wednesday, May 27, 2020 @ 12-1:30pm
- Materials: Workshop Recording
- Buffalo's Political Landscape: Political Parties and Other Political Organizations Postponed
- Visualizing Data for Advocacy and Impact Tuesday, June 9, 2020 @12:30-2:00pm
- Materials: Workshop Recording, Data Visualization Checklist
- Making Change in Buffalo: Learning from Success June 18, 2020 @10am-12pm
- Buffalo's City Budget 101 June 24, 2020 @12-1:30pm
- Buffalo Police Budget 101 July 8, 2020 @12-1:30pm
- Decolonizing Service Learning July 21, 2020 @12:30-2pm
- Materials: Workshop Recording, Presentation
- Redefining Safety and Exploring Alternatives to Policing July 29, 2020 @12-1:30pm
- Materials: Workshop Recording, Presentation
- Education Priorities for Covid-19 Recovery August 13, 2020 @ 4-5:30pm
Would you like to attend or present at a workshop? Email us at buffalocommons@cornell.edu.
2019 Buffalo Commons Workshops [Archive]
- Writing for the Media: Letters to the Editor, Op-Eds, and Press Releases
- Materials: Working with the Media Outline & visit our Work with the Media page for the rest of the materials
- Research Tools for Organizers, by Public Accountability Initiative
- Materials: Map the Power zine, Power Research Slide Deck
- LGBTQ Cultural Competency Training, by the Pride Center of WNY
- For more information, visit The Pride Center of WNY's Website
- Get the Information Needed: Freedom of Information (FOIL) Request Workshop
- Materials: FOIL Request Template, FOIL Request Example, Brief FOIL Guide
- Working with Census Data: Learning to Ask Questions and Tell Your Story
- Disability and Difference in WNY Competency and Inclusion Training
- The Battle for Land and the Future of the Postindustrial City
- The Art of Social Change: Power and Belonging from Belfast to Buffalo...A Conversation with Pádraig Ó Tuama and Lorna Hill
2018 Buffalo Commons Workshops [Archive]
- Policy Advocacy 101
- Community-University Partnerships Dinner & Breakfast
- Running an Issue-Based Campaign
- Materials: The Democracy Center, The Midwest Academy
- Working with the Media 101: Get Your Message Heard
- 501(c)(3) Advocacy Lab