For
some, it’s lower taxes. For others, it’s a commitment to a green economy or
sustainable city. Many simply need good-paying jobs. Still others want to see a
revitalized waterfront.
The
Great Lakes Urban Exchange (GLUE), a coalition of young leaders, wants to know
what it will take to make their friends “stick” in Buffalo. And they
want to take that message to the region’s elected officials.
The
public is invited to join members of GLUE in completing the sentence: “I Will
Stay If…” The event will take place at 5:30 on Thursday, December 3rd in the Century Grill at 320 Pearl Street in downtown Buffalo. Representatives from Buffalo 2032, The
B Team, Buffalo Niagara 360 and other community organizations will be present.
Sponsors of the event include Century Grill, Flying Bison Brewery and Douglas
Levere Photography.
The
Great Lakes Urban Exchange, which was founded to catalyze conversations across
Rust Belt cities on topics of mutual concern, including the loss of population
and sustainable economic activity, sees this as a unique opportunity to collect
information from the source. The “I Will Stay If…” campaign is an attempt to
involve a diverse crowd of people to participate in a vital conversation about
the future of our cities. The campaign collects visually powerful data about
what residents want most from their cities. Similar events have taken place in
Pittsburgh, Detroit, and Cleveland and are being planned in other Great Lakes
cities.
“We
know what a great community we have in Buffalo and Western New York and we want
to be part of the solution in making it even stronger,” said Sara Emhof, one of
the event organizers. “Our elected leaders in Washington, Albany and locally
need to make informed decisions about Western New York’s future. The concerns
and ideas of their constituents need to be considered.”
Those
attending the “I Will Stay If…” event at Century Grill will be asked to lend
their thoughts on the reasons they want to stay in – or come back to – Western
New York. The answers given throughout the night will be captured in a
photographic exhibit that will be shared with policymakers.
“By
organizing this event, we not only want to celebrate everything we love about
our hometown, but also to capture the conversation we have all had so many
times about staying committed to Buffalo and the great future we all want to
see here.,” said Phil Pantano, another organizer of the local “I Will Stay If…”
event.
Food
and refreshments will be served and a nominal donation to support GLUE is
requested, but not required. For more information regarding the “I Will Stay
If…” event, contact Amy Maxwell at 716.316.4264, or visit www.GLUEspace.org.