The Near East and West Side Task Force (NEWS TF) meets the second Tuesday of each month, from 8:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. For additional information and meeting location please call (716) 859-8045 or email us.
NEWS TF, through its diverse makeup, broadly represents the minority communities on the east and west sides of Buffalo. By partnering with community agencies, the task force is focusing on short and long term goals derived from a logic model process, to understand the needs in each community that it serves.
Education Committee
The Education Committee is working with the Buffalo Public Schools to increase high school graduation rates and student attendance within the target area determined by the NEWS TF. We currently work with Buffalo Public Schools, Say Yes Buffalo, University at Buffalo, Educational Opportunity Center, & D’Youville College
The committee also performs outreach to the community, meets with community members and presents reports, including high school drop-out rates, to the Board of Education administration.
The Education Committee is working to achieve an 85% graduation rate in seven to 10 years. The committee will continue to work with community representatives to plan initiatives to effect this change.
Health Committee
The Health Committee works in collaboration with numerous health and wellness organizations in the City of Buffalo, including Kaleida Health, Catholic Health, ECMC, D’Youville College, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Western New York, Buffalo Prenatal-Perinatal Network, Inc., University at Buffalo Educational Opportunity Center, Buffalo Public Schools, School Wellness Program, Erie County Cancer Services Program, Alzheimer’s Association, Community Health Center of Buffalo, Cancer Care Western New York, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Univera Healthcare, YourCare Health Plan, WellCare, Erie County Department of Health, NAACP Buffalo Branch, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, Counseling Services of Upstate New York, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Primary Care Research Institute, and FamilyWorks Buffalo.
In early years, NEWS TF worked with FLARE (Fillmore Leroy Area Residents, Inc.) on the east side and The Belle Center on the west side of Buffalo, Independent Health Foundation and Promise Neighborhood. The goal of the Promise Neighborhood was to train over 100 neighbors in 2011-2012 and encourage those neighbors to participate in city-wide quarterly in-service trainings. This allows community members to assist in promoting health and engaging the neighborhood to be healthier and more committed to prevention and wellness.
The Health Committee remains committed to working and collaborating with local organizations to increase access to health care at the appropriate level of care, decrease disparities in healthcare delivery, and decrease the risk factors resulting from health disparities.
