We heard 17 pitches on everything from banning menthol sales to establishing an Office of Urban Agriculture to ending loan sharking, and partner organizations selected their top ten policy issues for the coming year. This is, indeed, what democracy can look like.

At the vote luncheon, we announced the winners of our second annual PPG advocacy awards.

For her outstanding efforts to make the city, the county, and the schools more welcoming and fair for immigrants, Grace Karambizi won the Rising Advocate award. The executive director of the Buffalo Immigrant Leadership Team, Grace has been instrumental in shaping and passing language access legislation.

Good Food Buffalo won our Outstanding Partner award. They are a beautiful coalition working to get all Buffalo’s residents access to healthy, humane nutrition. Their Good Food New York bill is now on the governor’s desk, awaiting a signature!

The powerhouse team litigating our Proactive Rental Inspection lawsuit took home our Activist Lawyer awards. John Lipsitz, Matt Parham, Steve Halpern, Nan Haynes, Joe Keleman are bringing their sagacity, tenacity, and audacity to bear as PPG takes to the courts to fight for fair, safe housing in Buffalo.

PPG’s Enduring Advocate award honored the tireless work and inspiring vision of Dr. Leah Angel Daniel, founder of Fostering Greatness, Inc., and director of the African American Cultural Center. Because of her critical work, for the first time Erie County is rolling out $400,000 in funding for foster care alumni.

We are ending 2024 celebrating an incredible year of advocacy wins, resilience, and growth among our partnership network. To learn what's ahead, join us for the 2025 Community Agenda Rollout on January 17.