Category: Community

Diversity and Inclusion Drives Innovation

by BNMCin BNMC Team, Collaboration, Community, Diversity & Inclusion, Innovation

BNMC’s Community Program Manager, Kyria Stephens, recently attended the National Diversity and Leadership conference in Dallas, TX. Check out his thoughts on the meaning of diversity and inclusion, and how it creates an innovative, collaborative community.

Diversity and Inclusion Drives Innovation

When you hear the words diversity and inclusion, what do you think? How do you define it? My answer sounded like, “creating environments and pathways for women and minority groups to thrive in the workplace?” But after attending National Diversity and Leadership conference in Dallas, Texas, I realize that answer is only the tip of the iceberg.

Yes, diversity and inclusion are about creating an emotionally safe work environment in which a person doesn’t have to check their ethnicity at the door to fit in with the dominate culture. Yes, D&I is about making sure that the workplace reflects what the world really looks like at every level. Yes, it is about equal pay for people who do the same job. Yes! Its about doing the right thing for all people… But as I sat and reflected on amazing workshops and poured over the notes I took from keynote speakers, Colin Powell, America Ferrera and President Barak Obama, I realized that diversity and inclusion at its core is about filling blind spots and gap with people with unique vantagepoints.

One of the phrases that echoed throughout the conference is that diversity is a fact, but inclusion is a choice. This world doesn’t have a problem with diversity! Just look around and you will see diversity because it hwp-contentens naturally when all people have access to a space. The problem we have is inclusion. The reason we have inclusion problems is most often because people naturally gravitate to people who look like, think and view the world the same as themselves. But, when that hwp-contentens our perspective becomes narrowed. A person’s ethnicity, culture, gender, education, past experiences and personality creates a unique lens that produces a different perspective. Diverse perspectives allow for a greater vision, a greater vision and creativity go hand in hand and where there is creativity there is innovation.

So, without D&I we are limiting growth, slowing advancement and hindering innovation!

Grand Opening of New Indoor Bike Parking and Bike to Work Celebration this Friday on Medical Campus

by BNMCin Biking, BNMC Team, Campus-wide, Community, Commuting, GO BNMC, Healthy Communities, Homepage, News

BNMC Inc. and partners highlight improvements that support biking and commuting options across the Medical Campus, promoting health, environmental responsibility, and pedestrian-friendly streets.

BUFFALO, NY – The BNMC Inc. will officially open its new secure indoor bike parking at a breakfast gathering on Friday, May 17th at the culmination of National Bike to Work Week as they celebrate those who commute to work by bike and help to build a bike-friendly culture on the Medical Campus.

The BNMC Inc. has more than doubled the indoor bike parking available to employees who work on the Medical Campus with the opening of the new bike parking with lockers in the parking garage at 854 Ellicott, adjacent to Oishei Children’s Hospital, Buffalo General Medical Center, and the Gates Vascular Institute. In addition to lockers for the cyclists use, there is a bike vending machine stocked with bike-related amenities, such as tubes, patch kits, and lights, to aid commuters.

This adds to the secure bike parking in the renovated shipping container and bike fix-it station at the corner of Ellicott & Virginia Street that the BNMC Inc. installed in 2013. GObike Buffalo will manage the indoor parking as part of its longtime partnership with the BNMC.

The Medical Campus already has the densest bicycle parking in the City of Buffalo with 333 spaces (an increase of 100 spaces over last year) and secure bike parking, two Reddy Bikeshare stations with a total of 12 racks with bikes available for short term use, and free parking zone anywhere on the Medical Campus to allow users to park closer to their destination on any public rack or infrastructure without a fee.

WHEN:                                 Friday, May 17th  7:00 AM – 10 AM

Brief remarks begin at 9:00 AM from:

  • Mayor Byron Brown (invited)
  • Matt Enstice, President & CEO, BNMC
  • Allegra Jaros, President, John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital
  • Justin Booth, Executive Director, GObike Buffalo
  • Jennifer White, Communications Director, Reddy Bikeshare

LOCATION:         854 Ellicott Street (corner of Ellicott & Goodrich) on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus

WHO:                   BNMC Inc. is hosting the event in partnership with GObike Buffalo and Reddy Bikeshare to celebrate bike commuters and those using active commuting options to get to work.

                                There will be a bike train beginning at City Hall for anyone looking to ride as a group to the event on the Medical Campus.

Collaborating partners in transportation planning will be on hand to share information about transportation options, programs and amenities on the Medical Campus that encourage employees to try biking, walking, transit, and carpooling.  Partners include GObike Buffalo, GO Buffalo Niagara, Reddy Bikeshare, NFTA, and others.

Free breakfast and coffee provided by Ashker’s and lloyd taco truck.  

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BNMC Awards Micro-Grants to 12 Local Organizations

by BNMCin Community, Healthy Communities, Innovation, Neighbors

BNMC Awards Micro-Grants to 12 Local Organizations

The BNMC is excited to announce that we have selected 12 organizations out 37 wp-contentlicants to receive a total of $39,000 in our 2nd annual Spark micro-grant program!

Local community members and organizations were invited to wp-contently for grant funding for projects and programs that help to showcase the neighborhoods adjacent to the Medical Campus as active, vibrant places. Some of this year’s funded projects include a technology upgrade for the Salvation Army’s Youth Drop-in Center, DSLR cameras for Locust Street Art’s photography classes, and nutrition education and job readiness training for Groundwork Buffalo’s Fresh Food Fellows. Other projects include community gardens, restoration projects, music and art programs, and more.

View 2019 Spark Awardees

Explore Our Neighborhoods this Spring!

by BNMCin Allentown, Community, Employees, Neighborhood Engagement

Explore Our Neighborhoods this Spring!

With the weather getting (slightly) warmer, now is the perfect time to re-discover all of the amazing amenities our neighborhoods have to offer. Dozens of shops and restaurants are just a quick walk away. Don’t forget – the businesses along Allen Street are open during construction! Check out our list of explorer businesses here that offer discounts to every BNMC Neighborhood Explorer.

Not a neighborhood explorer yet? Find out how to become one today. This free amenity is available to everyone who works on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.

BNMC Highlighted as Smart Management Model

by BNMCin BNMC Team, Campus-wide, Collaboration, Community, Innovation, Member Institution(s)

BNMC Highlighted as Smart Management Model

The BNMC was featured in national pub Governing this week in a piece entitled “The Teamwork that Drives a Great Civic Project.” Our founders, former Mayor Tony Masiello, Tom Beecher, Matt Enstice and Rick Reinhard, shared the importance of making smart tactical choices, strategic planning, and putting the right pieces together to achieve collaborative success. Read the piece here.

BNMC Featured in “The City Fix” Blog

by BNMCin Campus-wide, Collaboration, Community, Innovation, Social Design

BNMC Featured in “The City Fix” Blog

The BNMC was recently featured in “The CityFix”, a blog highlighting urban sustainability and development, as an example of how social design is changing the way we build and conceive of cities. Written by longtime partner Cheryl Heller, “Social design offers a more collaborative vision of urban development” highlights how innovation comes from collaboration and paying attention to the power of relationships.

Heller is the director of design integration at Arizona State University and founder of the first MFA program in social design at the School of Visual Arts in New York City, and author of the “Intergalactic Design Guide: Harnessing the Creative Potential of Social Design.”

Register Today for BNMC’s 5th Annual Student Open House on Saturday, April 13

by BNMCin Buffalo, Campus-wide, Community, Education, Students, Technology


Register Today for BNMC’s 5th Annual Student Open House on Saturday, April 13

Explore Career Opportunities on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus!

Students in 7th-12th grade, accompanied by an adult, are invited to tour our state-of-the-art Campus facilities, participate in hands-on STEM activities, and hear from experts at Hauptman-Woodward Institute, the Jacobs Institute, Oishei Children’s Hospital, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, UB Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, UB’s NYS Center of Excellence in Materials Informatics, UBMD Physicians’ Group, and Unyts.

This event is free! Space is limited and registration is required by April 3, 2019.

Register

WHEN

Saturday, April 13
9am-12pm

WHERE

Start your exploration of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus by registering and picking up your program in the Innovation Center lobby, 640 Ellicott St. Free parking across the street and two blocks from Allen/Medical Campus NFTA Station

ACTIVITIES

  • Scrub into laparoscopic surgery using the LapSim Virtual Training system
  • Observe the process of preparing a kidney for transplant
  • See an active research laboratory
  • Meet physicians and ask questions about their career paths and medical school journey
  • Work alongside a lab technician and medical residents on laparospic trainers, orthopedic FAS simulators, and suturing
  • Watch a pre-recorded surgery
  • Learn about crystals and how they are formed and used to study diseases
  • Try your skills at bio-art
  • And much more!

Register Today for BNMC’s 5th Annual Student Open House on Saturday, April 13

by BNMCin Buffalo, Campus-wide, Community, Education, Students, Technology


Register Today for BNMC’s 5th Annual Student Open House on Saturday, April 13

Explore Career Opportunities on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus!

Students in 7th-12th grade, accompanied by an adult, are invited to tour our state-of-the-art Campus facilities, participate in hands-on STEM activities, and hear from experts at Hauptman-Woodward Institute, the Jacobs Institute, Oishei Children’s Hospital, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, UB Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, UB’s NYS Center of Excellence in Materials Informatics, UBMD Physicians’ Group, and Unyts.

This event is free! Space is limited and registration is required by April 3, 2019.

Register

WHEN

Saturday, April 13
9am-12pm

WHERE

Start your exploration of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus by registering and picking up your program in the Innovation Center lobby, 640 Ellicott St. Free parking across the street and two blocks from Allen/Medical Campus NFTA Station

ACTIVITIES

  • Scrub into laparoscopic surgery using the LapSim Virtual Training system
  • Observe the process of preparing a kidney for transplant
  • See an active research laboratory
  • Meet physicians and ask questions about their career paths and medical school journey
  • Work alongside a lab technician and medical residents on laparospic trainers, orthopedic FAS simulators, and suturing
  • Watch a pre-recorded surgery
  • Learn about crystals and how they are formed and used to study diseases
  • Try your skills at bio-art
  • And much more!

Sparking a Culture of Health on the BNMC

by BNMCin BNMC Team, Buffalo, Collaboration, Community, Health care, Healthy Communities, Innovation, Member Institution(s), Neighbors, Sustainability, Technology, Wellness

Sparking a Culture of Health on the BNMC

BNMC’s healthy communities team has been busy catalyzing wellness initiatives across Campus and our surrounding neighborhoods! From Spark micro-grants to workplace wellbeing and federal grants, we’re proud to be at the forefront of building a healthier city.

Our wp-contentroach includes:

Piloting new technologies:

We installed Byte in the lobby of the Innovation Center earlier in 2018 in partnership with Farmers & Artisans. They keep it stocked with fresh, wholesome, local food options available 24/7. We were able to purchse this through our Creating Healthy Schools and Communities grant from the NYS Department of Health.  We have purchased two other machines, are rebranding them as FRESHTAKES, and will be installing them at the Jacobs Institute in the Gates Vascular Institute and the UBMD offices at Conventus.

Growing fresh produce when possible:

Through this same grant, we were able to get several Grow Towers to allow local organizations to grow their own fresh produce. Our Grow Tower in the Innovation Center has produced a variety of greens – gourmet lettuces, dinosaur kale, bok choy, and herbs like basil and parsley. We had a building get-together and made soup for everyone, and on harvest days have salad parties. We provided a tower to Hospice Buffalo, where they have been growing fresh produce to use in their cafeteria and patient menus. We also provided a Grow Tower to Erie Community College Downtown Campus for their culinary program, which supports healthier ingredients on their menu for staff, students, and the general public.

Providing Spark funding:

Through the BNMC Spark microgrant program, we provided funding for 17 different local projects, several of which involved increasing access to fresh food for our local neighborhoods. The Moot Center, a longtime partner of the BNMC, was able to build a pergola to finish off its raised garden beds that our team helped them build in 2017, allowing seniors to garden in the shade, and  providing covered space for their weekly farmer’s market and events. We also supported Fresh Fix, a local CSA that has a buy one, give one wp-contentroach.

Promoting healthy eating options on and around Campus:

We debuted our Food Map this year and quickly ran out! This guide showcases places within a few minute walk from institutions on the BNMC and encourages employees to get out and get moving on their breaks. We are currently updating and reprinting, so please let us know if you see something missing.

Seeking grant funding to support projects:

We recently launched a three-year, $351K project with support from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Local Food Promotion Program to create a model for health care institutions to integrate technology and cultivate a culture of healthy food practices to increase local food procurement. We will be moving into the public phase of this effort in 2019, so stay tuned for more! This implementation grant was a follow-on to a $25,000 planning grant we received two years ago through the same program to increase healthy food in health care.

Collaborating to eliminate disparities in food access:

Under the lead of the Mobile Safety-Net Team, we are part of a collaborative coalition of local organizations, store owners, and community members to address urban food deserts. The Healthy Corner Store Initiative aims to bring fresh fruits and vegetables, taste tests, and nutrition education, to convenience stores throughout the city to engage residents in a healthy lifestyle.

This is just a brief snapshot at some of the work the BNMC team is doing to create a culture of health and wellbeing in our community. Learn more at bnmc-old.local/health.

BNMC Awards Grants to Catalyze Neighborhood Ideas

by BNMCin Buffalo, Community, Neighbors

Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, Inc. (BNMC) Awards Grants to Catalyze Neighborhood Ideas

Community members and organizations invited to wp-contently for the BNMC Spark micro-grant funding for community projects for 2019

The BNMC is kicking off its second year of BNMC Spark by inviting local community members and organizations to wp-contently for grant funding for projects that help strengthen the community in neighborhoods adjacent to the Medical Campus. Through BNMC Spark, a micro-grant pilot program, the BNMC will award a total of $40,000 in 2019 with maximum grants to individual organizations for $3,500 for project grants. The BNMC awarded $37,000 to 17 organizations in 2018 through BNMC Spark.

Community members and organizations are invited to submit proposals to receive funding for initiatives that advance the goals of BNMC and the local community. The BNMC’s key goals include: cultivating a safe, accessible, active and inclusive district that fosters health and wellbeing and is supported by smart, sustainable infrastructure; driving innovation, job growth, and economic development; strengthening our community with economic opportunities benefiting local youth, residents, businesses, and neighborhoods. Preference will be given to proposals that demonstrate strong community support, have strong community engagement plans, and that contribute to advancing an inclusive, vibrant community. We will give priority to projects that take place within one mile of the Medical Campus.

BNMC Spark grants are designed to help organizations address funding needs or gaps for programs or projects that can be completed in 2019. Applicants are asked to submit proposals that can be completed with the total amount awarded or for projects that have a funding gap that the grant would help complete.

According to Kyria Stephens, Community Program Manager for the BNMC, “We are thrilled to be launching our second year of BNMC Spark. We supported 17 community projects in 2018, ranging from art installations to wellness programs, preservation efforts and skills development initiatives. Our team is looking forward to another round of excellent projects that will be a catalyst to help create and grow our surrounding neighborhoods as active, vibrant places.”

Applications for BNMC Spark funding can be found at www.bnmc-old.local/spark; deadline is February 28, 2019.  If the initial written proposal is chosen, wp-contentlicants will then have an opportunity to present their ideas to a BNMC advisory group and demonstrate how it will contribute to making the neighborhood into an active, vibrant place for final consideration.  Winners will be notified by March 28, 2019.

 

BNMC Seeks Projects to Fund That Catalyze Neighborhood Ideas

by BNMCin Buffalo, Community, Neighbors

Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, Inc. (BNMC) Seeks Projects to Fund That  Catalyze Neighborhood Ideas

Community members and organizations invited to wp-contently for the BNMC Spark micro-grant funding for community projects for 2019

The BNMC is kicking off its second year of BNMC Spark by inviting local community members and organizations to wp-contently for grant funding for projects that help strengthen the community in neighborhoods adjacent to the Medical Campus. Through BNMC Spark, a micro-grant pilot program, the BNMC will award a total of $40,000 in 2019 with maximum grants to individual organizations for $3,500 for project grants. The BNMC awarded $37,000 to 17 organizations in 2018 through BNMC Spark.

Community members and organizations are invited to submit proposals to receive funding for initiatives that advance the goals of BNMC and the local community. The BNMC’s key goals include: cultivating a safe, accessible, active and inclusive district that fosters health and wellbeing and is supported by smart, sustainable infrastructure; driving innovation, job growth, and economic development; strengthening our community with economic opportunities benefiting local youth, residents, businesses, and neighborhoods. Preference will be given to proposals that demonstrate strong community support, have strong community engagement plans, and that contribute to advancing an inclusive, vibrant community. We will give priority to projects that take place within one mile of the Medical Campus.

BNMC Spark grants are designed to help organizations address funding needs or gaps for programs or projects that can be completed in 2019. Applicants are asked to submit proposals that can be completed with the total amount awarded or for projects that have a funding gap that the grant would help complete.

According to Kyria Stephens, Community Program Manager for the BNMC, “We are thrilled to be launching our second year of BNMC Spark. We supported 17 community projects in 2018, ranging from art installations to wellness programs, preservation efforts and skills development initiatives. Our team is looking forward to another round of excellent projects that will be a catalyst to help create and grow our surrounding neighborhoods as active, vibrant places.”

Applications for BNMC Spark funding can be found at www.bnmc-old.local/spark; deadline is February 28, 2019.  If the initial written proposal is chosen, wp-contentlicants will then have an opportunity to present their ideas to a BNMC advisory group and demonstrate how it will contribute to making the neighborhood into an active, vibrant place for final consideration.  Winners will be notified by March 28, 2019.

 

MWBE Pitch & Roundtable Event

by BNMCin Community, Employees, Member Institution(s), MWBE, Networking, Workforce and Procurement

MWBE Pitch & Roundtable Event

More than 75 small business owners and buyers from local institutions attended the MWBE Pitch & Roundtable on October 23, presented by the BNMC, ECMC, Kaleida Health, Roswell Park, and the University at Buffalo.  The event included an opportunity for some of the small business owners to pitch their company directly to the purchasers in the room (including the other small businesses), and also a roundtable discussion featuring several MWBE business owners who have formed successful business relationships with the institutions on hand.  This event is part of the BNMC’s ongoing efforts to connect local small businesses with large purchasers to help grow the economy in our community.

Small Business Pitch Presentations 
Aitina Cooke Heather Sidorowicz 
Get Fokus’d Productions Southtown Audio Video
Katie Krawczyk Sabina Ramsey
19 IDEAS Insight International
Joseph W. Call Luanne DiBernardo
Call Associates Inc. Coolture
Amanda Coniglio Lena Levine
Calvary Safety & Security Lena Levine Studio
Eva Lana Jazslyn Leon
Wellacopia Executive Sweeps LLC
Esteban Guerrero  Jennifer E. Cooper
In His Hands Electric Cooper Sign Company
Tracy Jordan-Cardwell Terrence Gidney
TJC PR Affordable Scrubs
Nichole Perry
Med-Scribe, Inc.

Small Businesses Invited to Connect with Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus Institutions and Partners

by BNMCin Campus-wide, Community, Employees, MWBE, Procurement, Small Businesses

Small Businesses Invited to Connect with Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus Institutions and Partners

Minority, women and veteran-owned businesses a focus for event that includes pitches, networking, presentations on how to do business on the Medical Campus

Small, local businesses, particularly those that are minority, women or veteran-owned, are invited to participate in an upcoming BNMC pitch, roundtable discussion, and networking session designed to connect business owners with those that make purchasing decisions for the institutions on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus and partner institutions. The event is free and open to all local small businesses and buyers who make purchasing decisions.

The event will be held on Tuesday, October 23 from 1:00 pm  – 4:00 pm (registration begins at 12:30 pm) at the University at Buffalo’s (UB) Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) at 555 Ellicott Street. The event will include brief (three minutes or less) pitch presentations by 15 local, minority and women-owned businesses, followed by a chance to informally network with representatives from the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus institutions and other participating businesses. The last session will be a roundtable discussion with representatives from UB, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Kaleida Health, and Erie County Medical Center on how to do business with each institution, as well as a chance to hear from Rodriquez Construction Group, Golden Cup, and CARA Medical about how they have been successful working with these large institutions. Interested participants can register at pitchbnmc.eventbrite.com.

The event is designed for any local and women, minority and veteran business owners who want to learn how to do business with large institutions.  Area employers are also encouraged to participate in the event.

This event is sponsored by the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, Inc. (BNMC), and UB’s Educational Opportunity Center, in partnership with UB, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Kaleida Health and Erie County Medical Center.

BNMC & UB Celebrate Computer Science & Engineering Month at AI & Machine Learning Summit

by BNMCin BNMC Team, Collaboration, Community, Education, Innovation, Technology

BNMC & UB Celebrate Computer Science & Engineering Month at AI & Machine Learning Summit

October is Computer Science & Engineering Month, and the BNMC celebrated on Friday, October 5th by hosting an AI & Machine Learning Summit with the University at Buffalo! More than 200 students, faculty, and industry professionals attended the event, which was held at UB Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences on the Medical Campus. BNMC’s CEO, Matt Enstice, welcomed the crowd and addressed the future of health care and medicine with the disruption of technology, followed by a keynote from Dr. Sargur Srihari, SUNY Distinguished Professor in the UB Dept. of Computer Science & Engineering.

The evening then led into a technical roundtable, comprised of Dr. David Doermann, SUNY Empire Innovation Professor & Program Manager for DARPA, Robert Ruocco, CIO for BlueCross BlueShield of WNY, and George Small, CTO at Moog, Inc. BNMC’s CIO, Sam Marrazzo, moderated the discussion, which focused on how AI and machine learning is currently affecting their organizations and visions for the future, as well as how they’re preparing for the next wave of technology. BNMC is proud to have hosted this event with our partners, and we look forward to continue building and supporting a culture of technology in Buffalo.

 

BNMC Receives USDA Grant to Enhance Local Food Procurement Efforts in Health Care

by BNMCin BNMC Team, Buffalo, Community, Healthy Communities, Homepage, Member Institution(s)

BNMC Receives USDA Grant to Enhance Local Food Procurement Efforts in Health Care

Three-Year, $351K Grant Prioritizes Local Agriculture from New York State

Buffalo, NY – October 1, 2018 – The Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, Inc. (BNMC) has received a $260,325 grant to create a model for health care institutions to integrate technology and cultivate a culture of healthy food practices to increase local food procurement. The grant includes a local match of $91,063 bringing the project total to $351,388. The BNMC is one of 44 organizations around the country, and one of only 4 organizations to receive funding in New York State,  through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP) during this grant cycle.

“Increasing access to local foods, especially in a place with such robust agriculture and other locally-sourced food, is good for the health of our people and good for the health of our economy,” said Jonathan McNeice, project director for the grant and director of healthy communities efforts for the BNMC.  “Supporting local food procurement is part of our overall effort to continue to create a culture of health and wellbeing both on the BNMC and throughout our region.”

This grant builds upon the more than $2M in public and private funding that the BNMC and its community partners have secured over the past fifteen years to support healthy eating, healthy worksites, and active living policies and programs in Western New York.

BNMC’s Farm-to-Hospital Initiative began in 2015 with a $25,000 grant from the USDA Local Food Promotion Program to assess feasibility for sourcing local food on the Medical Campus. The process included identifying champions inside each organization, providing learning opportunities, gathering data, engaging suppliers, partnering with experts in the field, and creating a foundational plan for future implementation. This project will now shift to an implementation phase and seek to work with food service providers, hospital staff, and farmers dedicated to this initiative and partner closely with Health Care Without Harm to implement a local model on the BNMC. Health Care without Harm is an international group dedicated to transforming health care worldwide to reduce its environmental footprint and become a leader in sustainability, environmental health, and justice.

“BNMC Fresh: Farm to Hospital Implementation” will create a model that prioritizes local agriculture from New York State, enabling farms to access new markets (hospitals), and can be replicated across the state. The initiative aims to establish enhanced food chain transparency from farmers to distributors to institutions; as well as implement customized crop plans in both hospitals that merge New York State’s top crops with institutional demand.

This collaborative work is expected to create a culture that embraces local farms through prioritizing local procurement; establishes and expands community supported agriculture (CSA) and farmers’ market programs; establishes food chain transparency; increases awareness and knowledge among consumers of local food procurement efforts; and provides knowledge and skill-building opportunities to agribusiness stakeholders (farmers, distributor, food service teams). This project ultimately aims to make local procurement a regular practice and culture among health care institutions.

“Roswell Park has been thrilled to partner with the BNMC on both the planning grant and the upcoming implementation grant,” said Christina Dibble, director of nutrition and food services at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. “Given the unique needs of cancer patients, we’ve made it a priority to provide seasonal, local foods for our patients, visitors, and employees when available, and we look forward to expanding our local offerings through channels that this grant opens up for us.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $102.7 million to increase opportunities for farmers, ranchers, and other growers across the country through five grant programs. The funding supports a variety of locally-led projects intended to expand markets for local food promotion and specialty crops. Of that total, $13.45 million is directed to 44 projects, including the BNMC’s, to support the development and expansion of local and regional food businesses to increase domestic consumption of, and access to, locally and regionally produced agricultural products, and to develop new market opportunities for farm and ranch operations serving local markets through the Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP).

 About the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus

 The Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, Inc. (BNMC) is a multi-anchor social enterprise focused on driving innovation in partnership with our community. As the non-profit charged with addressing shared issues among our member institutions, the BNMC plays a significant role in driving positive change that builds a vibrant, innovative environment. We focus on improving infrastructure, managing our transportation system, creating a culture of health and wellbeing, driving innovation, and working with our partners to continue to build an innovative district that reflects the best of our community.

Buffalo Chosen as Model City to Host Healthy Community Convening

by BNMCin Community, Healthy Communities, Wellness

Buffalo Chosen as Model City to Host Healthy Community Convening

In 2015, the BNMC received a five-year Creating Healthy Schools and Communities grant from the NYS Department of Health to create healthier workplaces and increases access to healthy affordable foods in underserved communities in the city of Buffalo. This year we are pleased to be hosting the annual conference for our fellow grantees in Buffalo.

Chosen for its many healthy living initiatives, Buffalo, NY will hold the third annual convening of the Creating Healthy Schools and Communities (CHSC) grantees, hosted by the New York Obesity Prevention Center for Excellence (OPCE). For the past three years, 25 CHSC grantees and their partners have been working with schools, businesses, government, and other groups to ensure places throughout New York State provide access to healthy foods and beverages and opportunities for physical activity.

Convening attendees will have the opportunity to experience Buffalo’s bike and car shares, visit an urban farm, learn firsthand about Buffalo Public School’s (BPS) wellness efforts, and go to several healthy workplaces such as the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus (BNMC). As a CHSC partner, BNMC will showcase its demonstration sites for healthy workplaces, including healthy subsidized vending, Farm to Work programs, treadmill and standing desks, and onsite fitness facility equipped with locker rooms and showers.

The BNMC has also been involved in Buffalo’s healthy corner store initiative, a collaborative coalition of representatives from various organizations working to increase healthy food retail throughout the city, as well as the BPS wellness policy and its Farm-to-School efforts

BNMC to Host NYSERDA Electric Vehicle Ride + Drive Event

by BNMCin Campus-wide, Community, Electric Vehicles, Employees, Energy, Healthy Communities, Innovation, Neighbors, Sustainability, Transportation

Curious about what it is like to drive an electric vehicle (EV)?

Come experience the quiet, fast, and smooth ride for yourself!

Join us at the NYSERDA EV Ride & Drive event to test drive a variety of electric vehicles and learn about available savings and incentives! This free event is open to employees who work on the BNMC and members of the community.

Date: Thursday, September 20th

Time: 10:30 AM-2:30 PM

Place: 589 Ellicott St. (parking lot)

The BNMC was the region’s earliest adopter of electric vehicle charging station infrastructure, installing 21 units in 2011. Currently there are 46  stations across the Medical Campus, making it even easier for employees, visitors, and neighbors to “green” their commute using electric vehicles.

BNMC 2nd Annual Summer Block Party

by BNMCin Campus-wide, Community, Employees, Event, Member Institution(s), Neighborhood Engagement, Neighbors, Networking

 

 

On Wednesday, August 8th, the BNMC hosted its 2nd Annual Summer Block Party in partnership with the University at Buffalo and Roswell Park. This fun, festive event was free and open to employees who work on the BNMC and members of the community, featuring a BBQ dinner, live music, community organizations, lawn games and more!

Healthy Victory: Highlighting our Collaborative Partnership with the Foundry, GroundWork Market Garden, African Heritage Food Co-Op, and YouthBuild of the Service Collaborative of WNY

by BNMCin BNMC Team, Collaboration, Community, Healthy Communities, Neighbors, Wellness, Youth And Education

Healthy Victory: Highlighting our Collaborative Partnership with the Foundry, GroundWork Market Garden, African Heritage Food Co-Op, and YouthBuild of the Service Collaborative of WNY

As year three of BNMC’s Creating Healthy Schools and Communities (CHSC) grant from New York State Department of Health comes to a close this September, the Healthy Communities team celebrates this past year’s successes.

Over the past year, our group has collectively worked on a project that not only increases access to healthy affordable foods for residents in East Buffalo, but does so through a community-driven wp-contentroach that builds neighborhood capacity and social capital.

Identifying the Problem

In BNMC’s work as part of the CHSC grant to increase healthy food access in communities throughout the city of Buffalo, it was wp-contentarent both food consumers and producers in East Buffalo face significant challenges. Residents experience a complex environment of societal, social, and health disparities that are especially amplified among people of color, all while residing in neighborhoods largely void of easily accessible grocery stores with affordable fresh foods. These conditions existed in the context of a food environment where some urban farmers struggled to connect with nearby neighbors, establish a farm stand, and find efficient models for transporting their harvests, on top of all the other challenges farmers already face.

Developing a Solution

BNMC identified a collaborative opportunity to merge both consumer and producer needs: The Farm Stand Project. The Farm Stand Project brings together GroundWork Market Garden, African Heritage Food Co-Op, The Foundry, YouthBuild, and BNMC to build mobile farm stands that bring locally grown fresh foods to residents who need it most.

By partnering with The Foundry and YouthBuild, the farm stands for GroundWork Market Garden and African Heritage Food Co-op were designed and built by community members who come from the neighborhoods the stands will serve. Every Friday morning from 9am-12pm from January 2018 through July 2018, the youth met at The Foundry and worked with professional carpenters and welders to build the farm stands. While the stands are currently undergoing finishing touches, the team aims to start using them as soon as possible for the current 2018 growing season.

The BNMC Healthy Communities Team has two more years (until September 2020) to continue its CHSC work supporting healthier communities throughout the city of Buffalo.

About The Foundry

The Foundry is a nonprofit small business incubator in East Buffalo that includes a makerspace, woodshop, metal shop, tech lab, textile lab, and also offers classes to the public. In addition to their daily operation, they also partner with the Service Collaborative of WNY’s YouthBuild program, which provides at-risk or low-income youth the opportunity to complete their education, earn their GED, and learn in-demand job skills while taking part in community revitalization projects.

BNMC to Host 2nd Annual Summer Block Party

by BNMCin Buffalo, Community, Employees, Neighborhood Engagement, Neighbors, Networking

Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, University at Buffalo and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center to Host Block Party for Employees, Neighbors in Fruit Belt, Allentown and Downtown

 

Free family-friendly event to include music, food and fun and a way for employees and neighbors to connect

What

The 2nd Annual BNMC Summer Block Party is a summer evening of fun and friendship (old & new!) for employees who work on the BNMC and neighbors from surrounding neighborhoods including the Fruit Belt, Allentown and Downtown.

The free, family-friendly, alcohol-free event is designed to bring together Medical Campus employees with local residents in a social, fun setting. The Block Party will feature live music from the Unity Band and DJ Sike. Also included are kids’ activities, food, health & wellness information and representation from community organizations that may be of interest to employees and local residents.

When

Wednesday, August 8, 2018 from 4:30 PM – 7:30 PM

Where

Kaminski Park & Gardens on Carlton & Elm Street at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center

Work Hard, Play Hard: The 5 Best Things About Working on the BNMC

by BNMCin Campus-wide, Collaboration, Community, Employees

Work Hard, Play Hard

The 5 Best Things About Working on the BNMC

  1. Places To Eat: There are more locations to grab a delicious bite on Campus than ever before! With options ranging from the Homegrown Kitchen to Joe’s Deli to Twisted Pickle, you’ll never have to worry about packing a lunch again. Unless you want to brown bag it, that’s totally cool. Discover food on the BNMC.
  2. Tons of Events & Activities: The BNMC offers a robust lineup of free activities all year round to stay healthy, active, and involved in the community! We hold monthly, weekly, and special signature events around Campus for both employees and neighbors. From music to fitness to food – there’s something for everyone to enjoy here.
  3. Transportation Perks: The BNMC rewards employees for being environmentally conscious! No matter how you commute, the BNMC offers options to make your ride into work easier. There are 29 EV charging stations on Campus with the ability to charge 40 vehicles, 233 bike parking spaces, a free REDDY Bikeshare membership for employees, and several employers now offer subsidized transit passes – just to name a few transportation amenities! Visit GOBNMC.org to learn more about commuter incentives, including two free parking passes per month and a Guaranteed Ride Home via Lyft.
  4. Neighborhood Explorer Discount Program: 85+ businesses in the Allentown, Downtown, and Fruit Belt neighborhoods offer discounts to the 16,000+ employees and students on the Medical Campus. Discounts are redeemed with the BNMC Neighborhood Explorer Sticker, which employees can adhere to the back of their employer ID badge. For the full list of businesses and/or to sign-up for your sticker, click here.
  5. Beautiful Public Art: New buildings, enthusiastic staff, and exciting innovation are not the only things making the BNMC a beautiful place. Around Campus are vibrant murals, extraordinary sculptures, and brilliant installations that make it even more dynamic! Check out the public art on Campus.

Summer Events on the BNMC

by BNMCin BNMC Team, Campus-wide, Community, Employees, Event, Healthy Communities, Networking, Wellness

Summer Events on the BNMC

Summertime offers a great opportunity to get active and engaged on the BNMC! With a new event or activity every week, there’s no shortage of fun and healthy things to do on Campus. Our schedule boasts many of our longtime signature events like Tunes in the Tent, Walking on Wednesdays, and our Annual BNMC Fit Wellness Fair, plus several NEW offerings, including morning & evening yoga, bike breakfasts for our active commuters, and Medical Campus Monday walking tours.

Whether you’re into the local music scene, an active bike advocate, or a mall-walker looking for a change of pace — we promise, there’s something for everyone to be part of and enjoy!

Check out our schedule below and be sure to register where you see links. 

JUNE

June 6: Tunes in the Tent with Colored Musicians Club | 12-1 p.m. | Ellicott Park, Ellicott & Virginia Sts.
June 11: Medical Campus Monday Walking Tour | 4:30-5:30 p.m. | Meet at the Innovation Center, 640 Ellicott St.
June 13: Morning Yoga | 7:30-8:30 a.m. | Corner of Washington & Carlton Sts.
June 20: Walks on Wednesdays led by Dr. Roseanne Berger, UB Jacobs School of Medicine | 12-1 p.m. | Meet at Main & Allen Sts.
June 27: BNMC Fit Employee Wellness Fair | 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. | Wyndham Garden Buffalo, 125 High St.
Yoga EVERY Tuesday after work | 5:15-6:15 p.m. | Washington & Carlton Streets

JULY

July 9: Medical Campus Monday Walking Tour | 4:30-5:30 p.m. | Meet at the Innovation Center, 640 Ellicott St.
July 11: Morning Yoga | 7:30-8:30 a.m. | Corner of Washington & Carlton Sts.
July 11: Tunes in the Tent with Live DJ | 12-1 p.m. | Ellicott Park, Ellicott & Virginia Sts.
July 18: Walks on Wednesdays led by Shirley Johnson, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center | 12-1 p.m. | Meet at Roswell’s Kaminski Park, Elm & Carlton Sts.
July 25: GO BNMC Bike Breakfast | 8-9:30 a.m. | Ellicott Park, Ellicott & Virginia Sts.
Yoga EVERY Tuesday after work | 5:15-6:15 p.m. | Washington & Carlton Streets

AUGUST

August 1: Tunes in the Tent with Ellen Pieroni Quartet | 12-1 p.m. | Lawn @ Washington & Carlton Streets
August 6: Medical Campus Monday Walking Tour | 4:30-5:30 p.m. | Meet at the Innovation Center, 640 Ellicott St.
August 8: Morning Yoga | 7:30-8:30 a.m. | Corner of Washington & Carlton Sts.
August 8: BNMC Summer Block Party! | 4:30-7:30 p.m. | Roswell’s Kaminski Park & Gardens
August 15: Walks on Wednesdays led by Lisa Schmidt, COO, Buffalo General Medical Center/Gates Vascular Institute/Oishei Children’s Hospital | 12-1 p.m. | Meet at Colby Park, next to MiGO parking garage at 134 High St.
August 22: GO BNMC Bike Breakfast | 8-9:30 a.m. | Ellicott Park, Ellicott & Virginia Sts.
Yoga EVERY Tuesday after work | 5:15-6:15 p.m. | Washington & Carlton Streets

 Nearby Farmers’ Markets

  • Roswell’s Market at the Park, Kaminski Park & Gardens, Elm. & Carlton St. | Wednesdays from 1am-1pm
  • Moot Community Center at 292 High Street | Thursdays from 10am-12pm  (5 minute walk from Buffalo General Medical Center, Oishei Children’s Hospital, Gates Vascular Institute and Roswell Park)
  • Downtown Country Market on Main St. between Court & Church Streets | Tuesdays & Thursdays from 10am-2:30pm
  • Salvation Army at 960 Main St. | Tuesdays from 11am-1pm

 

 

BNMC Research Discovery Day Encourages Collaboration

by BNMCin BNMC Team, Buffalo, Campus-wide, Collaboration, Community, Employees, Event, Innovation, Member Institution(s), Researchers, Scientists, Students, Technology

BNMC Research Discovery Day Encourages Collaboration

BNMC Partners recently hosted the first Annual BNMC Research Discovery Day. More than 250 researchers, scientists, students, and leaders attended this collaborative event designed to promote the services and shared resources of the biomedical companies and institutions on the Medical Campus.

Dr. Johnson Lau, CEO and Board Chairman of Athenex was the luncheon keynote speaker, inspiring local researchers to dream big and take their idea or company global. More than 50 researchers, postdocs, PIs, technicians, companies, and vendors presented posters in an afternoon session designed to raise awareness of the services available right here in Buffalo.

The morning session focused on the power of collaboration and creative brainstorming, led by international creativity expert Dr. Roger Firestein. Partners from Hauptman-Woodward Institute, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, AMRI, Zeptometrix, and the University at Buffalo spoke about their research offerings and attendees were able to identify high-level collaboration opportunities.

This event would not have been possible without the generous support from KeyBank, and the dynamic planning committee led by leaders from Hauptman-Woodward Institute, AMRI, Zeptometrix, and Roswell Park. Many thanks to everyone who participated in this event – we hope to see even more next year!