Community Health Initiatives
We work with partners to facilitate, implement, and support healthy food access, active living, and well-being initiatives throughout the city of Buffalo.
BNMC Community Connections Day
We were delighted to host our first ever Community Connections Day on Saturday, March 28, 2026
We had amazing discussions, and shared a host of resources available in our community. If you couldn’t join us, we’ve compiled them for you at the link below.
Presented by Community Bank
WORKSHOP
Live Well, Thrive Well
Join Us in 2027 on Your Lifestyle Journey to Wellness
Live Well, Thrive Well will be back in January 2027. This six-month program features remote workshops, demonstrations, and exercise guidance that meets you where you are. You can join any time and work through each session at your own pace. You can see the topics we covered in our 2026 program below.
Click on the button below to register for 2027.
Lifestyle Medicine
A 6-Month guided wellness experience grounded in the science of Lifestyle Medicine in movement, nutrition, stress, sleep, relationships, and toxin reduction.
Monthly Workshops
Each month will feature a Lifestyle Medicine focus theme designed to help you bring about transformative, meaningful change based on your goals.
Start Fresh
Whether you are looking to prevent disease, boost energy, reduce stress, or simply feel better in your body, this journey is your invitation to start fresh.
LIVE WELL, THRIVE WELL
What to Expect
- Free remote monthly workshops and fireside chats with experts who can answer all of your questions. You can attend or share with family and friends to join you on your wellness journey
- Downloadable resources, reflection worksheets, habit trackers, recipes, tip sheets, and wellness toolkits throughout the program
- Challenges to keep you engaged, supported, and successful between sessions
- Peer support via an optional private group for connection and accountability
- Bonus experiences, wellness pop-ups, walk and talk events, expert cooking demonstrations, and more!
- Join any time, and you will get video access to any sessions you may have missed
- Participants should be 18 years or older, and not pregnant
LIVE WELL, THRIVE WELL
2026 Schedule
January – Movement as Medicine
Tuesday, January 27, 6:30pm
Explore how regular, intentional movement supports metabolic health, mobility, balance, and longevity using evidence-based strategies to build strength and resilience at every stage of life. More Info
February – Sleep, The Foundation of Health
Tuesday, February 24, 6:30pm
Learn how restorative sleep regulates everything from metabolism to mood, and apply practical, science-backed strategies to improve sleep quality and recovery.
March – Food as Longevity Medicine
Tuesday, March 31, 5:00pm
Discover how dietary patterns rooted in whole, plant-forward foods and culinary medicine can reduce chronic disease risk, support performance, and promote healthy aging.
April – The Connection Cure
Tuesday, April 28, 6:30pm
Examine the powerful role of social connection in mental, emotional, and physical health, and practice simple ways to strengthen relationships and community through daily movement and shared experiences.
May – Mastering Stress with Science and Self-Compassion
Tuesday, May 26, 6:30pm
Understand how chronic stress affects the nervous system and overall health, and build evidence-based mindfulness and self-compassion practices to restore balance and resilience.
June – Avoiding Toxins
Tuesday, June 30, 6:30pm
Learn how everyday environmental and behavioral exposures influence health and disease risk, and create a personalized, sustainable wellbeing plan to reduce toxic load and support long-term vitality.
What We Do
We believe changing policy, culture, and environment is essential to addressing today’s public health crises. Our population-level initiatives focus on preventing and reducing the burden of obesity, food insecurity, sedentary lifestyles, climate change, and mental health conditions by creating healthier systems and environments.
Live Well, Thrive Well extends this work to the individual level. It is a clinically guided lifestyle medicine program that offers personalized behavior change strategies, empowering individuals to build and sustain habits that reduce chronic disease risk, improve health, and enhance quality of life to thrive.
BNMC is committed to advancing health equity, expanding access to high-quality care, and delivering evidence-based approaches to health and well-being. Priority enrollment in Live Well, Thrive Well will be given to those who live and work on Campus as space is limited.
Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities
BNMC implemented Active Living by Design and Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities as its first community-led initiatives in this area in 2002 and again in 2010. They have had far reach, resulting in five policy briefs leading to implementation of healthy eating and active living policy and environment changes throughout the city. This was part of a national program supporting healthier communities for children and families who are especially at highest risk of obesity and chronic diseases.
Meditation and Mindfulness
BNMC hosts meditation and mindfulness workshops with its partners for the surrounding community to be present, learn best practices, and benefit from social-emotional regeneration.
Healthy Corner Store Initiative (HSCI)
BNMC is a part of the HCSI community coalition of more than a dozen organizations working to increase access to healthy foods in corner stores throughout the city of Buffalo.
Healthy Youth, Positive Energy (HYPE)
BNMC is partner member of HYPE, a local youth group made up of middle-and high-school students in Buffalo dedicated to creating a healthier city.
Creating Healthy Schools and Communities
In 2015 BNMC was awarded a 5-year $400,000 New York State Department of Health grant to create healthier workplaces and increase access to healthy foods in underserved communities in Buffalo.