Partners

The Massachusetts Avenue Project is proud to have long-standing partnerships with local community groups that seek to further positive social and economic development on Buffalo's West Side and beyond.  Some of our key partners include:

Professor Semina Raja at the UB School of Planning- Dr. Raja collaborates with the Massachusetts Avenue Project (MAP), to study ways to build and strengthen sustainable food systems in the City of Buffalo . Beginning in September 2005, an initiative to promote ‘Healthy Eating by Design' among youth will introduce fresh produce from local organic farms to a city school cafeteria and simultaneously train school children in organic gardening and environmental education. Significant community partners in the project include the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus (BNMC), MAP, and the Bennett Park Montessori School located on the East Side of Buffalo. The project is funded by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Professor Kevin Connors-UB School of Architecture- Kevin Conners, Affiliate Professor of Architecture at the University of Buffalo collaborates with the Massachusetts Avenue Project (MAP) in the construction of a straw-bale greenhouse, the first of its kind in Buffalo, with graduate and undergraduate architecture students of UB. 

Concerned Ecumenical Ministry (C.E.M.)-Started in 1967, Concerned Ecumenical Ministry (CEM), is a consortium of 16 local religious congregations and the D'Youville College Campus Ministry who have pooled their financial and human resources to reach out to those in need, particularly to families, seniors and youth on Buffalo's West Side.  CEM's mission is to improve the quality of life on the Upper West Side of Buffalo, NY, by meeting basic human needs, encouraging personal growth, effecting social and economic justice, and celebrating our common life.

Native Offerings Farm- A certified Naturally Grown; a certification program only available to farmers that support and supply local markets and have demonstrated a history of environmentally sound farming practices. Native Offerings Farm is ten miles west of Ellicottville, NY, where they grow vegetables and herbs and raise beef and pork on some of the best land in Cattaraugus County.  Deeply committed to ecological farming, and following organic standards, which prohibit the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and fertilizers. Joining them in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), you not only get incredibly fresh and great tasting vegetables full of nutrients and vitality, but a food source you can trust.

Porter Farms- Porter Farms is located in Elba, NY.  Jack Porter founded Porter Farms in 1956; today, it's more than 500 acres, 100 of which are in vegetables, and the whole extended family is involved. You can still find Jack running some of the farm's heavy equipment. Porter Farms is a highly-diversified farm; they grow grain crops for an organic livestock feedmill in Penn Yan, as well as vegetables that we market through our CSA and, are sold at local stores such as Lori's Natural Foods and The Abundance Co-op, in Rochester; The Lexington Coop, and the Feel-Rite stores on Maple Rd and Transit Rd. in Buffalo. This combination of CSA and local stores is a great combination for keeping local, fresh produce in the area.  Porter CSA vegetables are distributed the day after they are picked!!! They also sell storage cabbage and onions to Whole Foods which goes to Boston and Manhattan. Rotating all these different crops is a key ingredient in making them successful with their organic practices.

People United for Sustainable Housing (P.U.S.H.)-  PUSH is a grassroots, non-profit community organization working to rebuild the West Side of Buffalo. PUSH organizes residents to confront institutions that perpetuate poverty on the West Side and to create and implement an action plan for improving the neighborhood.  For more information see www.pushbuffalo.org.

St. John's Grace Episcopal Church- Located on Colonial Circle at Bidwell Parkway and Lafayette, has been a part of the Upper West Side neighborhood since the late 1800's.  It is an imposing English gothic building that also has a large Parish Hall, commercial kitchen, small dining room and parlor.  SJG presently houses the STAR after-school program through Concerned Ecumenical Ministry of the Upper West Side, Food Ventures of the Massachusetts Avenue Project, Joel Jeliff, nationally ranked fencing instructor, Dr. Charles Pierson, who offers meditation sessions, and several 12-Step groups throughout the week, as well as a full schedule of worship services, outreach programs and religious education opportunities.  For more information about St. John's Grace, its activities and its outreach log on to www.stjohngrace.com.

UrbGardens- Addresses healthcare needs of a community at the grassroots level with a focus on the following areas: Education, Environment, Culture and People.    

West Side Community Collaborative- A partnership of over 35 organizations, institutions, block clubs, businesses, and individuals committed to working together for effective solutions to crime and safety, economic development, housing, youth and communication issues on Buffalo’s West Side.