🌱🚌 Public Schools Bus Shortage + Increased Arts Funding + Ukrainian Refugees Awareness

🌅 ☕ 😴 Good morning and happy Monday everyone! I’m Hannah, the new curator for the Buffalo, NY newsletter. I’m a true Buffalonian at heart, growing up in the north part of the city and attending public school at City Honors. I went to SUNY Binghamton to get my degree, and am happy to say I have recently made my official return home to the Queen City. It's Monday in Buffalo and, as someone who is very community-oriented, I feel quite lucky to be in your inbox for the first time. Here it goes, y’all!

Some of what I have for you today includes:

• 🎭 Information about the new “Expanding Access to Arts Funding” Grant Program!
• 🎒 A story about a barbershop invested in the community this back-to-school season (a story that I can’t help but grin at!)
• 🎫 Four amazing events happening today, including two free ones!

And if you like seeing pictures of cute animals when you’re starting your day, we’re going to get along just fine. I have a great dog picture for you today!

⛈️ First, today's weather: Today will be one of the sweaty, dog-days at the end of summer. We can expect thunderstorms in the evening. High: 88 Low: 72.

🗞️ Here are the top stories in Buffalo for today:

1.) The continuing national school bus driver shortage is likely to create delays for Buffalo Public School students both to and from school this fall. At her recent address, superintendent Tonja J. Williams announced plans to deal with the reality of this shortage, including a smartphone app called First View that allows parents to see the location of their child’s school bus in real time, and a system of ordering snacks and drinks for the students that may be waiting after school for an extended period of time. Moving forward, Williams is looking at implementing a plan that would reimburse parents for driving their children to school, making it a more realistic option while also providing incentive. For now, parents and students should continue to expect delays.

To read more specifics, read Ben Tsujimoto’s article at The Buffalo News.

2.) Supported by the Cullen Foundation and New York State Council of the Arts, sixty-five art nonprofits in Western New York are to receive funding via the new “Expanding Access to Arts Funding” Grant Program. The program is hopeful that funding will work to increase wellness in the local area and have long-term benefits, including increasing diversity in the arts fields. One of the benefiting nonprofits, Friends, Inc., will use these grants to offer a “unique arts program to East Buffalo Youth,” says nonprofit Executive Director and fashion-artist Jetaun Jones.

To find out more and see a list of all 65 nonprofits organizations, visit Buffalo Rising.

3.) Our community came together at The Dnipro Ukrainian Cultural Center yesterday to celebrate the 31st anniversary of Ukrainian independence, and spread awareness to some of the needs currently facing relocating families. One of these local organizations, Jewish Family Services, is hoping to find case managers, psycho-social support specialists, and interpreters to help Ukrainian refugees immigrate to Buffalo. In the words of Lauren Maguire of Jewish Family Services, “volunteer led initiatives are really meant to help people coming from Ukraine integrate and settle into our community successfully."

For more information, check out WGRZ.

4.) Alongside many wonderful back-to-school drives happening around the city this past weekend, Tray’s Fade Lounge on Main St. hosted a community day on Saturday, offering free haircuts to local students in addition to handing out school supplies and food. Travonte Jones, owner of the barbershop, says that after the Tops Market Mass shooting, it is important to show that “we can all come together for something positive instead of negative.”

Visit WIVB 4 for more information.

5.) With overdose deaths consistently rising in Erie County since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, a $500,000 federal grant has been provided to the county to fight the opioid crisis. This grant will be used to provide overdose recognition and Narcan training to first responders in the area. When announcing the grant this past Friday, U.S. representative Brian Higgins explained how crucial it is for the community, including first responders, to have access to the resources and education necessary to help people in need. Hopefully this grant will be a step in reversing the upward trend of overdose deaths in our county.

Learn more at WGRZ.

📅 Today in Buffalo, we have some awesome events going on:

• Play Readings and Conversations with the Brainstormers! Maxine and Robert Seller Theatre at Benderson Family Building. August 29th, 1:00 P.M. FREE! Details!
• Microgreen Monday- Learn how to grow your own microgreens at home! Kubed Root. August 29th, 6:00 P.M. FREE!! Plus, you get to take home a plant! Details!
• Doug Stanhope Comedy Show! Helium Comedy Club. August 29th, 7:15 P.M. Details!
• VUE Rooftop Movement and Meditate! Curtiss Hotel. August 29th, 7:30 P.M. Details!

📱 Buffalo Chatter:

• 🐶 City of Buffalo Animal Shelter joins with Be Their Voice Rescue to home two dogs, Manus and Ranger: "Thank you to @Be Their Voice Rescue for taking Magnus and Ranger into their rescue! The Shelter is totally full and we truly appreciate the help from the local rescues!❤️🐾" (City of Buffalo Animal Shelter via Facebook)
• 🏃🏽 Buffalo Marathon registration is now open for the hard-working runners among us: "Register Now: https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/... #buffalomarathon #buffalomarathonweekend" (Buffalo Marathon via Facebook)
• 🎶 Buffalo is a city full of art! Get inspired: "If we can inspire somebody to create something, if we can inspire somebody to get involved with the community, if we can inspire artists to be activated, we did our job." (Visit Buffalo Niagara via Instagram)
• 📸 Interested in photography or videography? JCC is teaching digital media this fall: "NEW THIS FALL! JCC Buffalo School of Digital Media!📸🎥 Explore the city, nature, and more through a camera lens! We’ll begin by teaching you how to operate a professional digital camera, then go over composition and framing, photo editi..." (JCC Buffalo via Facebook)
• 👩‍⚕️ Hospice & Palliative Care is hiring nurses: "We are actively seeking nurses, looking to take the next step in their career. Working alongside our compassionate team, you will help to support, educate, and advocate for those impacted by serious illness." (Hospice & Palliative Care Buffalo via Facebook)

You should be set for today! Thank you for welcoming me into your inbox, I'll be back tomorrow with a new update.