The Buffalo Black Caucus Is Engaging and Empowering Our Youth
by Betty Jean Grant
Betty Jean Grant
I had a few moments to myself last Saturday, so as this lady caught herself driving around the city looking for an event to take my mind off how high the price of gasoline was climbing, I found myself on Jefferson Ave. near Canisius University. I wondered why the streets around the University were so crowded with cars and people until I remembered that Masten District Councilmember Zenetta Everhart was hosting an event she founded called Buffalo Black Caucus.
I parked my car and went into the University for two reasons. First, I had pre-registered a few days earlier, just in case I woke up Saturday morning and decided I felt like attending the caucus. Second, I wanted to compare this Black Caucus to the political Black Caucus that former Councilmember- At-Large, Charley H. Fisher organized and ran in the early 2000s, when he was a sitting elected official.
There really was no comparison because whereas Charley’s group seemed to have focused a lot on empowerment and community engagement from a political point of view,, Ms. Everhart’s mission with her group seems to be wanting to improve and uplift the total person and all aspects of his social, emotional, economic and yes, political environment.
One could attend one or several of the workshops and find out valuable information on how to become a homeowner, or where to best invest one’s money or whether it is better to rent or buy and when is the best time, if one decides to purchase? I went to several of the breakout groups and they all were received well by the attendees. Also, food and music were on the menu and DJ M’uata did not disappoint. The young people there were polite and upbeat, and I hope the good council members make this a semi-or quarters annual event. Our youth need a lot more of this kind of community’s love and intervention.
This writer left the university, the home of this year’s Buffalo Black Caucus optimistic and well satisfied. Five stars!