Councilwoman Zeneta B. Everhart to Announce New Zeneta & Zaire’s Book Club Reading Nook at Villa Maria College
Councilwoman Zeneta B. Everhart
Buffalo, N.Y. - Councilwoman Zeneta B. Everhart and Villa Maria College will announce on Monday the unveiling of Zeneta & Zaire’s Book Club Reading Nook, made possible thanks to $50,000 in Urban Initiative Funding secured by Erie County Legislator Lawrence Dupre as well as $25,000 secured by Legislature Chair Tim Meyers.
Councilwoman Everhart and her son, Zaire Goodman, formed Zeneta & Zaire’s Book Club in 2022 after Zaire was injured by gunfire in the May 14, 2022 racist mass shooting at Tops Market on Jefferson Avenue, in which the gunman killed 10 individuals, all Black, and wounded two others. They formed the club to promote the education of young people on issues related to racism, diversity, and Black history, hoping to foster acceptance and understanding among the next generation. Since then, Councilwoman Everhart and Zaire have collected tens of thousands of books and distributed them to members of the community, as well as held public readings, essay contests, and other events to promote education on these issues.
Villa Maria College agreed to host the Book Club Reading Nook in the new Scott Bieler Center for Academic Excellence, which officially opened April 2, 2025, in order to further the institution’s values of inclusivity and acceptance.
Date: Monday, May 12
Time: 11:30AM
Location: Scott Bieler Center for Academic Excellence, Villa Maria College,
240 Pine Ridge Road, Buffalo, NY 14225
Press Conference attendees:
Councilwoman Zeneta B. Everhart
Villa Maria College President Dr. Matthew Giordano
Congressman Tim Kennedy
Deputy Elections Commissioner Howard Johnson
Legislator Lawrence Dupre
Legislator Tim Meyers
Legislator Taisha St. Jean Tard
Councilman David Rivera
For media requests or information on this and all Common Council topics, please contact Buffalo Common Council Senior Legislative Assistant Tim Fenster at 716-866-3290.