Say Yes Buffalo

06/08/2026

Announcing three dates over the summer when the mobile clinic will be pulling up to Say Yes summer camps! And no, your child does not need to be attending a summer camp to be seen, this is open to all for pediatric visits.

06/03/2026

Monthly Cohort Meetings are a chance for apprentices from our Modern Youth Apprenticeship program to participate in professional development opportunities and learn from seasoned facilitators. But it is also an opportunity for us to hear their perspectives and learn from them. During a recent Cohort Meeting, we asked apprentices: What are some reasons employers should work with young professionals? Scroll through the slides to see their answers.

If you are an employer interested in working with young professionals ages 18-24, email Emily Vargas, Business Development Supervisor at [email protected]

06/02/2026

Scholar Spotlight Series: Meet Jonvier Whittington

At Say Yes Buffalo, we know that every student has a story worth telling. In the latest episode of The Future Starts Here Podcast, we're shining a light on one of our incredible scholars, Jonvier Whittington. Madeline Little sits down with Jonvier and talks about her journey toward success.

Discover how the Say Yes Buffalo scholarship helped launch Jonvier ...

05/28/2026

We're continuing with our Say Yes Alumni Spotlight Series on our podcast, The Future Starts Here.

On this episode, discover how the Say Yes Buffalo scholarship helped launch Jonvier Whittington’s impactful career in nursing and education. In this alumni spotlight, she sits down with Madeline Little and shares her journey from student to educator, and her passion for advocacy in healthcare.

05/28/2026

📣 Thrilled to announce that we are once again able to distribute FREE LAPTOPS to those graduating Buffalo public and charter seniors who attend the kickoff AND complete their financial aid applications! 🎉 Sign up for the College Kickoff today!

05/27/2026

Say Yes Buffalo is celebrating the academic achievements of 4 apprentices from the Modern Youth Apprenticeship (MYA) program who recently graduated with certificates or associate’s degrees from SUNY Erie. MYA is a 2-3 year earn-and-learn model where apprentices work part-time while attending school part-time to earn industry certificates or associate’s degrees.

We applaud the accomplishments of the following apprentices:

-Teah Stevens, Cohort 2 Culinarian Apprentice, Culinary Arts Associate’s Degree. Teah has successfully completed her apprenticeship.
-Jaden Brown, Cohort 3 Culinary Apprentice, Culinary Arts Associate’s Degree. Jaden Is completing his apprenticeship at Delaware North.
-Tearrie Reid Scott, Cohort 3 Bakery Manager Apprentice, Culinary Arts Associate’s Degree. Tearrie is completing her apprenticeship at Tops Friendly Market.
-Ariannah Tisdale, Cohort 3 Culinary Apprentice, Bakery and Pastry Arts Certificate. Ariannah is completing her apprenticeship with Delaware North.

Way to go, apprentices! We are excited for the next chapter in your MYA journey!

05/27/2026

We're back with a new season of The Future Starts Here Podcast. In this upcoming season, we'll be sitting down with Say Yes Buffalo team members, community partners and alumni to hear directly about the impact of Say Yes in the Western New York community.

We're excited to kick things off with our Alumni Spotlight series. In this episode, Madeline Little sits down with Say Yes Buffalo Community Schools Navigator Deoniss Jackson. Check out the episode and leave a comment with your thoughts.

Meet Deoniss Jackson, Hutch Tech and SUNY Fredonia alum, in the fi...

05/21/2026

😆

05/20/2026

Thank you to everyone who attended Say Yes Buffalo’s Employer Think Tank speaker series event Creating Space for Young Women in Tech. The panel discussion, which was moderated by Rachel Eastlack (Tech Buffalo), included esteemed voices of Mary Kate Patnode (Technology Manager at M&T Bank), Kristen Smigielski, PhD (Research Project Manager at the Center for Early Literacy and Responsible AI), and Natalia Rice (Director of Research and Design at Clementine Gold Group). The panel which represented education, career pathways, and technology leadership explored themes of access, workplace and industry belonging, creating visibility through advocacy and allyship, and creating flexible spaces for inclusive practices. The conversation was guided by questions submitted by registrants and was followed by a Q&A session.

We extend a special thank you to Buffalo Prep for graciously providing our venue and supporting the event.

Our next ETT event will take place in early October and will focus on themes of belonging for young professionals of color entering the workforce with guest speaker, Michaela Leslie-Rule, Senior Program Officer, Narrative Change at the Gates Foundation.

Email Amy Cappelli at [email protected] to be added to our distribution list to receive our newsletter and stay up to date on our events.

05/11/2026

Did you know we've been running this one-day event for over a decade to help equip our high school graduates for the real world of higher education that is waiting? Sign up today!