On December 22, 2024, members of the Community Responders Coalition took to the field at the Buffalo Bills game, to accept this grant award from the Buffalo Bills Players' Social Justice Committee. The funding will go directly to a Community Responders pilot program. 

The Community Responders for Erie County Coalition includes Partnership for the Public Good, Buffalo Center for Health Equity, Erie County Restorative Justice Coalition, Little People’s Victory, Black Love Resists In the Rust, Evergreen Health, Social Welfare Action Alliance, and VOICE Buffalo.

From the Buffalo Bills' Social Justice Committee Announcement: 

Community Responders Coalition Pilot Program
Buffalo Bills Social Justice funds will support the Community Responders for Erie County Coalition pilot program. This initiative will provide trained health care workers and peers to respond to non-criminal and non-violent 911 calls. The Community Responders for Erie County Coalition includes Partnership for the Public Good, Buffalo Center for Health Equity, Erie County Restorative Justice Coalition, Little People's Victory, Black Love Resists in the Rust, Evergreen Health, Social Welfare Action Alliance, and VOICE Buffalo.

Community responders are a better way to handle non-violent, non-criminal health and social needs in the community. According to Partnership for the Public Good's research, over 100 American cities now use community responders to address low-level health, social needs, and quality of life concerns. Community responders are first responders who respond independently (without police) to low-risk health and social needs, including (but not limited to) those related to mental health, substance use, homelessness, arguments, non-emergency medical needs, and similar. The team will assess the situation, de-escalate, problem-solve, and provide services on-site and link or transport people to the appropriate community resource.

We were delighted to be on the field with our partners Open Buffalo and United Way, who also received grants. Read the Buffalo Bills Social Justice Committee full announcement here.

Learn more about community responders in PPG's recent policy report.

We are grateful to the Buffalo Bills players on the Social Justice committee for advancing this important work with us. Go Bills!