The Buffalo Urban League, located at 15 W. Genesee St., hosted its 2026 Gala on October 30 at The Powerhouse, 143 Lee Street. The well-attended affair embraced the elegance and cultural spirit of the Harlem Renaissance, with guests celebrating in a festive Black-tie atmosphere. This photo shows Matthew Becton Jr., portraying a Buffalo Criterion newspaper carrier; Frank Merriweather III, Public Relations Director of the Buffalo Criterion Newspaper, Western New York’s oldest Black weekly newspaper; and Thomas Beauford, President of the Buffalo Urban League. The three posed for a photograph near a commemorative display honoring the organization’s former presidents, recognizing the leadership and legacy that have helped shape the Urban League’s history.