Sign the Pledge to Spread the Word to End the Word

Sign the Pledge to Spread the Word to End the Word will be held on Wednesday, March 6,  from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Museum of disABILITY History, 3826 Main Street, Buffalo. Spread the Word to End the Word is a national effort to end the use of the R-word to describe people or things which they deem strange or less than. It has been used in a derogatory way socially. During the Spread the Word to End the Word event at the Museum of disABILITY History, attendees will have an opportunity to sign a pledge to personally end the use of the R-word and to politely assist in spreading awareness of this movement.  Free admission to the Museum of disABILITY History will be granted for the day to those who sign the pledge. To confirm attendance, call 716-629-3626.  Established in 1998, the Museum of disABILITY History, a project of People Inc., is the only one of its kind in the United States and is dedicated to advancing the understanding, acceptance and independence of people with disabilities. Located in Buffalo, NY, the Museum’s exhibits, collections, publications, archives and educational programs create awareness and a platform for dialogue and discovery.

Six Appointed to Serve on the People Enterprises Board of Directors

Six area leaders have been appointed to the board of directors of People Enterprises. The new board members are: Robert O’Leary, Denise Bienko, Christopher Jacobs, David Pawlik, Laura Ryan and Timothy Vaeth. People Enterprises is a for profit corporation that was recently formed to ensure People Inc., Western New York’s leading health and human service agency, continues to be a leader and stay ahead of the curve as the system of care for individuals with developmental disabilities converts to a managed care environment. Robert O’Leary, vice president of Parkview Health Services, LLC, has been appointed board president. He has been an active People Inc. Foundation board member for the past 10 years, currently serving as its treasurer and a member of the investment committee. In 2007- 2009, he chaired the Foundation’s Jeremy Project Campaign, a successful initiative that raised more than $100,000 in funds to build a People Inc. specialty home in North Tonawanda for individuals with intensive medical concerns. He has also chaired the People Inc. Foundation’s Drive Fore Disabilities Golf Tournament for the past 14 years, raising a record-breaking $103,000 in 2015. O’Leary is chairman of the boards of Spectrum Human Services and its Foundation. A resident of Buffalo, he also serves on the board of the Community Services Support Foundation. Denise Bienko, vice president at People Inc., has been appointed board secretary. With more than 28 years of experience at People Inc., she is responsible for overseeing the agency’s corporate governance affairs, grants, program development, long-range planning, marketing communications and government and community relations, as well as family advisory functions. She also serves as executive director of the People Inc. Foundation. Active in the community, she serves on the boards of Leadership Buffalo (2003 graduate), Museum of disABILITY History and is a founding board member of the International Policy Governance Association. She serves on the management board of the Western New York Coalition of Pooled Trusts and as an advocate and appointed public official for the New York State Surrogate Decision-Making Panel. She is also on the Susan G. Komen Foundation’s marketing committee, is an ambassador for the Arthritis Foundation and is part of the 2015 Buffalo Niagara Partnership Executive Exchange Program. A resident of Hamburg, she has a bachelor’s degree from Houghton College and a master’s degree from St. Bonaventure University. Chris Jacobs, Erie county clerk, is a strong advocate for expanding economic development. Prior to becoming county clerk, he was a real estate developer who focused on renovating older buildings in Buffalo’s Theater, Cobblestone and Larkin Districts. Active in the community, Jacobs serves on the boards of Buffalo Place, the Freedom Station Coalition and he is a past board member of the Catholic Academy of West Buffalo and the Olmsted Parks Conservancy. A resident of Buffalo, Jacobs has a law degree from SUNY Buffalo, a MBA from the American University in Washington, DC. and a BA from Boston College.  David Pawlik, president of Creative Structures Services, Inc., has more than 25 years of project development and government relations experience. He previously served as vice president of pre-construction/development for Savarino Construction Corporation and as vice president for Clover Management. Prior to these roles, he had a 15-year career with the City of Buffalo, serving as commissioner of housing/community development. Pawlik is acting president of the FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Association and serves on the boards of the Community Services Support Foundation, St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy and Saving Grace Ministry. A resident of Buffalo, he earned a bachelor’s degree from Niagara University. Laura Ryan is president of LAMA Innovation Inc., a facilitation and training firm specializing in creative problem solving and strategic planning. Ryan’s clients include Greatbatch, Hasek’s Heroes, UBMD Pediatrics, Jiffy-Tite, Ashton Potter, the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, ComEd, and PepsiCo. She is also the founder of Creativity-International, which provides creativity training for a worldwide audience including King Saud University, NIPA Korea and Tunghai University in Taiwan. She has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Boston University and an M.S. in Creativity and Innovation from the International Center for Studies in Creativity at SUNY Buffalo State. In addition, Ryan holds certificates in Six Sigma, Lean Practices and FourSight. A resident of Buffalo, Ryan proudly serves on the Foundation Board of The Summit Center and the Family Council of WCHOB. Timothy Vaeth is owner of JTVaeth Development and has more than 23 years of real estate development experience. Prior to forming his own company, Vaeth was president at TM Montante Development where he played a lead role on the disposition and redevelopment of the former Millard Fillmore Gates Hospital. Prior to that, he served as vice president of development at Ciminelli Real Estate Corporation. Vaeth has played an integral role in numerous major development projects for high profile international companies, private institutions and government agencies. Active in the community, Vaeth serves on the boards of the Kaleida Health Foundation and Kevin Guest House. A resident of Clarence Center, he earned a bachelor’s degree from Canisius College and a master’s degree from John Hopkins University.  People Enterprises serves as a platform for identifying and implementing innovative solutions to assist People Inc. in its primary mission to ensure our community’s most vulnerable people, individuals with developmental disabilities and special needs, and senior adults, lead independent and productive lives. Board members will serve one year, renewable terms and will be responsible for reviewing plans and strategies, offering insights and acting as a sounding board for new business development. People Inc. is a not-for-profit health and human services agency providing programs and services to more than 12,000 people with special needs, their families and seniors throughout Western New York. Since 1970, People Inc. has assisted individuals to achieve greater degrees of independence and productivity.

SNAPCAP elects 2013 officers

SNAPCAP (Safety Net Association of Primary Care Affiliated Providers) announced on March 25, 2013 that it has elected its 2013 slate of officers. Frank Azzarelli, associate vice president of the Elmwood Health Center, People, Inc. was elected as chair; Joanne Haefner, executive director of the Neighborhood Health Center, was elected vice chair and Raymond Ganoe, executive vice president of Evergreen Health Services, was elected as treasurer.  SNAPCAP is an organization of community-based primary care health centers in western New York that act to broaden access to health services by addressing concerns at the policy level, offering a forum for sharing information, learning and initiatives, as well as provide mutual support. SNAPCAP’s purpose is to bring stakeholders into the safety net planning process and pursue shared services approaches that reduce costs and improve access to quality health care. The Safety Net Association of Primary Care Affiliated Providers of WNY, SNAPCAP, is an organization of community-based primary care health centers in Western New York that acts to broaden access to health services, addressing concerns at the policy level, offering a forum for sharing information, learning and initiatives, and by providing mutual support. There are currently fifteen (15) member organizations of which People Inc. is a Founding Member. According to Frank Azzarelli, “As Chair, I am committed to leading a transition in the health care delivery model whereby primary care will be a driver of health policy and delivery in Western New York, with providers of primary services to the disenfranchised and underserved adding to the diversity of voices working to ensure that all people are within a well-managed and effective health delivery system.”   There are currently 16 SNAPCAP member organizations. Members include: ·         Aspire of WNY ·         Catholic Health ·         Community Health Center of Buffalo ·         Erie County Medical Center ·         Evergreen Health Services ·         Jericho Road Family Practice  ·         Kaleida Health  ·         Mount St. Mary’s Hospital ·         Neighborhood Health Center ·         Oak Orchard Health Center ·         People, Inc., Elmwood Center  ·         Planned Parenthood of WNY ·         Universal Primary Care ·         The Chautauqua Center  ·         The Resource Center ·         UBMD Family Medicine at Jefferson To learn more about SNAPCAP, email snapcapwny@gmail.com .

Southampton Street Community Cleanup

On Saturday, May 13, People Inc. was proud to take part in a Great American Cleanup alongside Home Beneath Our Feet, a local nonprofit organization founded by People Inc. team member Dwight Lowe. Nearly 30 volunteers worked together to mow lawns, pick up trash and support our community in the Jefferson-Southampton area. Check out the People Inc. Facebook album . The cleanup was the second annual event of its kind, the first being held just hours before the tragedy of May 14, 2022. Many volunteers came together that day from all walks of life to work towards one common goal: bettering the lives of those in our community. For 2023, the motivation was very much the same, with the added goal of showcasing the power of unity in the face of tragedy. The volunteers honored the people effected by the May 2022 event with a moment of silence and a renewed commitment to continuing to support all of our neighbors in meaningful ways. The names of the victims are: Celestine Chaney; Roberta A. Drury; Margus D. Morrison; Andre Mackneil; Katherine Massey; Deacon Heyward Patterson; Aaron Salter; Geraldine Talley; Ruth Whitfield and Pearl Young. Three others were also injured: Christopher Braden; Zaire Goodman and Jennifer Warrington. "We are back here, we are showing we are not going anywhere," Dwight Lowe told WKBW in a recent interview. “People [are] coming from different spaces, different races and coming together with one mission and that is to take care of our community and support in any way we can.”     

Spread Some Cheer: Purchase Holiday Cards for a Cause

This holiday season, purchase cards from the People Inc. Foundation and spread cheer while making a difference.

Spread the Word to End the Word!

Self Advocate Fair About: Spread the Word to End the Word is a campaign to engage schools, organizations and communities by raising the consciousness of society about the dehumanizing and hurtful effects of the word "retard(ed)" and encouraging everyone to stop using the R-word. Date: March 3, 2010 Time: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Location: 3131 Sheridan Drive Door Prizes Information Make New Friends Take the Pledge to Say No to the R-word! For more information, please contact Rick Banner at 817.3817.

Starlight Studio Artists, Executive Director Join Museum of disABILITY History's Person First Forum

Discussion to include art exhibition, screening of two short films The Museum of disABILITY History is pleased to welcome the latest speakers in its Person First Forum series: Carrie Marcotte, director of Starlight Studio and Art Gallery, Teaching Artist Maggie Parks and six participating artists. The event, entitled "Six Minds - Two Ways to Beauty" will take place on Saturday, September 13, 2014 from 1 p.m. to 2:30p.m. at 3826 Main Street in Buffalo. Marcotte, Parks and the artists will host a panel discussion concerning their creative work with local media arts company, Squeaky Wheel. Two short films, which are the result of this partnership, will be screened. An exhibition of student art will also be on display. Supported by a grant from the Arts Service Initiative of Western New York, Starlight Studio and Art Gallery worked alongside Squeaky Wheel Film and Media Center to create two portraits in documentary film. The films, which highlight artists from Starlight Studio, were created through collaborative effort by six Starlight participants. Production included not only filming, but also storyboarding, sound editing and interviewing. The process took them on a journey of self-discovery which resulted in two honest, reflective portraits of their fellow artists.   The Person First Forum is a free event. Regular admission applies to those who wish to tour the Museum of disABILITY History, which is open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. For more information or to register for the event, call 716-629-3626.   Starlight Studios, a vibrant studio and gallery located in downtown Buffalo, supports adults with disabilities in their artistic development. The Starlight Program is funded by the NYS Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OWPDD) with additional support from the John R. Oishei Foundation, the James H. Cummings Foundation and the Castellani Family in memory of Eleanor Castellani.   The Museum of disABILITY History, a project of People Inc., is dedicated to the collection, preservation, and display of artifacts relating to the history of people with disabilities. The mission is to tell the story of the lives, triumphs and struggles of people with disabilities as well as society’s reactions. The Museum of disABILITY History, located at 3826 Main Street in Buffalo, NY, offers educational exhibits, programs and activities that expand community awareness.  

Statement in Support of Asians, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

March 26, 2021: People Inc. continues to be a leader in the area of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Recently, there have been several acts of violence that have impacted the lives of so many. Our thoughts are with those that have lost loved ones or who are impacted by these tragic events. We do not condone violence. We also do not condone any forms of hate-based activity, violent or non-violent. Asians, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have been historically marginalized and have experienced many forms of prejudice. This prejudicial behavior has only gotten worse over the past year. At People Inc., we support and participate in the effort for equality and inclusion for all, within our People Inc. family and throughout our communities. To the members of our organization who are impacted by the unfair treatment of Asians, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in our nation, we support you. We always have and that support will continue. 

Statewide Virtual Rally – Save Our Services December 9

As a proud member of the Developmental Disabilities Alliance of WNY (DDAWNY), People Inc. encourages everyone to help rally against budget cuts for direct support professionals and save our services! On Wednesday, December 9 at 11 a.m., you can get involved through this virtual Zoom event, organized by statewide family groups, including SWAN (Statewide Advocacy Network), NYC DD Councils and Developmental Disabilities Alliance of WNY Family Committee. Contact  info@nycfair.org  with any questions. How to get involved: 1) ATTEND the rally virtually: WE MUST BE SEEN! WE MUST BE HEARD! WE MUST INSIST ON NO MORE CUTS! Join Zoom Meeting at , Meeting ID: 819 8581 4195, Passcode: 477149 or One tap mobile: +19292056099,,81985814195#,,,,,,0#,,477149# US (New York). 2) Help us in advance of the event by sending in your personal story (include a photo!) . If possible, include a photo of your loved one and their DSP holding signs with statements such as "SAVE OUR SERVICES", "NO BUDGET CUTS". A montage will be created and shown during the RALLY and used in future visits and advocacy efforts with the governor and other elected officials. Stories/photos should be sent to nycfair@gmail.com  both before and after the event.