"If you want to help the city of
Buffalo, here is your chance," said Joe Malczewski, chairman of B-Team
Buffalo.
The B-Team was organized in March 2008 because a few friends came together with an interest in becoming actively involved in making a better Buffalo. In the past year, the B-Team has grown to over 100 members.
"We've come together because we're like-minded and there are a lot of people like us out there. The more you talk to people the more you understand that there are a lot of people like us who want to give back to the city and are just looking for a way to do it. A fun, inventive, young way of doing things that is thinking outside the box," said Malczewski.
An aspect of the group that members are particularly proud of is the level of influence each member can have on the group as a whole. Anyone can suggest and head up a project idea, and projects can range from planting trees to scrabble tournaments, the mission is broad.
Matt Carlucci, the B-Team Buffalo's Vice Chairman said, "Our mission is not narrow, we can work with everybody. That's why I love the idea of this group, because if somebody comes to us and gives us an idea that we don't have, we'll run with it."
"What we're not going to do it let someone come in and propose an idea and then walk away from it. All too often in Buffalo people say 'I have a great idea' and give their opinion but they don't do anything to back it up. We always prescribe to the notion that talk is cheap, we're not going to be a that group that sits around and talks, we're going to be a group that takes action. That's why we consider ourselves an action organization," Malczewski said.
Anyone from the greater Buffalo area is welcome to attend the general member meeting on February 24th at 7 p.m. The meeting is at Lafayette Presbyterian Church at 875 Elmwood.
"We're going to let people propose their own projects. If there is something they have wanted to get done for the longest time and didn't have the man power, or the means financially or physically to do, that is the kind of thing we want to make possible for people," said Carlucci. "They are going to have the opportunity to say 'this is what I think Buffalo needs' and we're going to listen to them."
Malczewski added, " It's important that they know that we're not going to take political stances, we're not going to speak out in favor or against a certain issue. We are in favor of anything that helps the city."
The B-Team has partnered up with Re-Tree WNY, Carvings for a Cause, Literacy Volunteers and several more local organizations. The experiences they've had with each group were positive and have led to lasting relationships between the groups. Their first major solo project was completed in December, titled "City of Light," when the group went into a University District neighborhood and decorated houses.
"It was a freezing cold day and we had 60 volunteers, not including the families, out there hanging lights," said Carlucci.
The instant bond they created with the community made the project well worth it. "We tried to enhance civic engagement in the community that we went into. We had food for everyone, it was more of an experience," added Malczewski. "The most important thing is that we bring our volunteers back because we do these fun projects."
Bringing people back and keeping people inspired is the main goal of the B-Team.
Carlucci said, "We don't want people to just volunteer. We want people to be inspired, we want to make people want to help their city."
"We're a young organization and the reason we're successful is because we've branched out to friends. We've done no recruiting, it's been friend to friend, and people come to us and say, 'Hey, I want to help what can I do?' It sort of caught fire, sponsors come to us and people ask us to sit down at meetings with people. When you have a good idea like this, it's going to catch attention," Malczewski said.
Your chance to learn more about the B-Team is February 24th at 7PM. The meeting is at Lafayette Presbyterian Church at 875 Elmwood.
Visit their website at bteambuffalo.com.
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The B-Team was organized in March 2008 because a few friends came together with an interest in becoming actively involved in making a better Buffalo. In the past year, the B-Team has grown to over 100 members.
"We've come together because we're like-minded and there are a lot of people like us out there. The more you talk to people the more you understand that there are a lot of people like us who want to give back to the city and are just looking for a way to do it. A fun, inventive, young way of doing things that is thinking outside the box," said Malczewski.
An aspect of the group that members are particularly proud of is the level of influence each member can have on the group as a whole. Anyone can suggest and head up a project idea, and projects can range from planting trees to scrabble tournaments, the mission is broad.
Matt Carlucci, the B-Team Buffalo's Vice Chairman said, "Our mission is not narrow, we can work with everybody. That's why I love the idea of this group, because if somebody comes to us and gives us an idea that we don't have, we'll run with it."
"What we're not going to do it let someone come in and propose an idea and then walk away from it. All too often in Buffalo people say 'I have a great idea' and give their opinion but they don't do anything to back it up. We always prescribe to the notion that talk is cheap, we're not going to be a that group that sits around and talks, we're going to be a group that takes action. That's why we consider ourselves an action organization," Malczewski said.
Anyone from the greater Buffalo area is welcome to attend the general member meeting on February 24th at 7 p.m. The meeting is at Lafayette Presbyterian Church at 875 Elmwood.
"We're going to let people propose their own projects. If there is something they have wanted to get done for the longest time and didn't have the man power, or the means financially or physically to do, that is the kind of thing we want to make possible for people," said Carlucci. "They are going to have the opportunity to say 'this is what I think Buffalo needs' and we're going to listen to them."
Malczewski added, " It's important that they know that we're not going to take political stances, we're not going to speak out in favor or against a certain issue. We are in favor of anything that helps the city."
The B-Team has partnered up with Re-Tree WNY, Carvings for a Cause, Literacy Volunteers and several more local organizations. The experiences they've had with each group were positive and have led to lasting relationships between the groups. Their first major solo project was completed in December, titled "City of Light," when the group went into a University District neighborhood and decorated houses.
"It was a freezing cold day and we had 60 volunteers, not including the families, out there hanging lights," said Carlucci.
The instant bond they created with the community made the project well worth it. "We tried to enhance civic engagement in the community that we went into. We had food for everyone, it was more of an experience," added Malczewski. "The most important thing is that we bring our volunteers back because we do these fun projects."
Bringing people back and keeping people inspired is the main goal of the B-Team.
Carlucci said, "We don't want people to just volunteer. We want people to be inspired, we want to make people want to help their city."
"We're a young organization and the reason we're successful is because we've branched out to friends. We've done no recruiting, it's been friend to friend, and people come to us and say, 'Hey, I want to help what can I do?' It sort of caught fire, sponsors come to us and people ask us to sit down at meetings with people. When you have a good idea like this, it's going to catch attention," Malczewski said.
Your chance to learn more about the B-Team is February 24th at 7PM. The meeting is at Lafayette Presbyterian Church at 875 Elmwood.
Visit their website at bteambuffalo.com.
This sounds like an awesome group- impressive how much you have accomplished in less than a year's time.