Jillian Hanesworth is an EMMY nominated spoken word artist, the Poet Laureate Emeritus of Buffalo, New York and a community organizer and activist. Jillian was born and raised on the east side of Buffalo where she developed a vision to use art and advocacy to help her community reimagine justice and work together to create a system where all people can thrive.  Currently, Jillian travels the country performing poetry and speaking on various topics including; art for activism, the impacts of storytelling and the importance of honest and critical social and political conversations. In addition, Jillian oversees “Buffalo Books”, a nationally recognized program which aims to improve access to culturally relevant books for residents of the east side of Buffalo with the hopes of helping to increase literacy rates among Black and brown communities. Learn more by visiting the website. Visit the website: Poet Jillian Hanesworth - The revolution will rhyme.

Dr. Anthony L. White II is a native of Buffalo, N.Y., and a social studies teacher in the Buffalo Public Schools (BPS) district. A lifelong resident of Buffalo, Dr. White was educated in the BPS's Frederick Law Olmsted gifted and talented magnet school program, and matriculated from SUNY at Buffalo with a Bachelor's degree in History and African-American Studies, a Master's degree in Social Studies Education, and a doctorate in Curriculum, Instruction, and the Science of Learning. As migrants during the historic Great Migration, Dr. White's grandparents relocated to Buffalo, N.Y. from the Deep South, settling in the historically Black Hamlin Park district and Fruit Belt neighborhood where his parents would later serve as members of the first cohort of BPS students to participate in the district's desegregation initiatives.

Kathleen “Kathy” Franklin Adams — Why all the names? I used all of my names because each name represents a period in my life that helped shape me into the person I am today. I am paying homage to each. I was born in Buffalo, New York and educated within the Buffalo Public School system from PK – 12, as a 1966 graduate of East High School. I did my own personal bit for integration by attending a small Methodist College, now Mount Union University in Alliance, Ohio. After graduation, I returned home and became an employee of the Buffalo Public Schools from 1971 as a teacher - 1987 Quality Integration Education (QIE) Coordinator - 1989 Asst. Principal - 1992 - 2005 Elementary Principal (with Master of Science and Administrative Certification - Buffalo State College). Though officially retiring in 2005, I am still active in the system as an administrative substitute and consultant for an area charter school. I am a wife, mother of two adult children, three grandchildren, and a great grandson, I am active in my church (Bethel AME), my block club and at Shea's Performing Arts Center as a volunteer. "Each ONE of us can make a DIFFERENCE. TOGETHER we make CHANGE." —Barbara Mikulski. Whatever you are not CHANGING you are CHOOSING.

 Nanette D. Massey is a workshop facilitator and freelance writer living in Buffalo. Massey has writing credits in The Atlanta Journal Constitution, USA Today, The Buffalo News, The Challenger, Buffalo Spree Magazine, and BlackNewsAndViews.com. A product of the Buffalo Public School System, Massey was in the very first fifth grade class riding the bus from East Buffalo to City Honors as a result of the 1976 court case Arthur v. Nyquist that ordered the desegregation of Buffalo schools and brought about the creation of the city's magnet schools.

Massey conducts a workshop called Moving BEYOND "White Fragility" using Dr. Robin DiAngelo's best selling book White Fragility: Why It's So Hard For White People To Talk About Race. Her work caught the attention of the author, and DiAngelo came to Buffalo to co-lead an all day forum with Nanette in 2022 at Canisius College to over 350 grateful attendees.

Massey is working on her first book, a primer on how to navigate conversations about race with confidence, humor, and humility from nothing but an authentic place of desiring to do one's part for a better world.

Donette Ruffin was born and raised in Buffalo New York. She attended Buffalo Public Schools and graduated from East High School in 1964. She graduated from Buffalo State College earning a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Elementary Education. Mrs. Ruffin was also a recipient of New York State Certification in Administration and Supervision. She has been a classroom teacher in various Buffalo Public schools, a program coordinator, and elementary supervisor prior to her appointment as Principal of Community School #53. During her 15-year tenure as principal Mrs. Ruffin received numerous accolades and awards, a special recognition was the Black Achievers Award.

After retirement Mrs. Ruffin served as a consultant in the Understanding Poverty Program and conducted workshops throughout the area teaching the impact of poverty as it relates to student learning. She also had the opportunity to serve as an adjunct professor at the University of Buffalo working with students who expressed an interest in teaching in urban areas. Mrs. Ruffin continues to reside in Buffalo and attends Durham Memorial AME Zion Church where she serves as a Deaconess.

Mario Workman was born in Buffalo, NY, in 1973. He is a graduate of Bennett High School, Cass of '91. Married father of four chidren, he is currently employed as an operator in a local manufacturing company.

Dr. Marcus Watson is an associate professor and coordinator of Africana Studies at Buffalo State University with fourteen years of research and teaching experience focused on illuminating life from Black people’s points of view. Specializing in the areas of African culture and psychology, Dr. Watson uses that experience to bring to the attention of students and scholars the overlooked contributions of Black people to humanity and civilization. At Buffalo State, he offers a wide range of courses that delve deeply into what the world looks and feels like from African perspectives. Examples of courses include: Introduction to Africana Studies, Blacks in Buffalo, a course on international development called “Saving” Africa, and a course on Black psychology called Why Africa Matters. Including the nine years he taught and earned tenure at the University of Wyoming, Dr. Watson has published over a dozen refereed articles, has delivered more than 40 professional presentations, and has secured a book contract with Universal Write Publications for his work on his original African psychology theory of “half-connecting.” See faculty profile.

70 Years ago it was resolved that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal

The scales tipped by the weight of racism were called to be balanced

And yet the people remained divided

A divide that would still exist with the same strength and rigor had some good people in the city of good neighbors not decided to make good trouble

Existing in a world built on a foundation of inequity and exclusion, they demanded fairness in education, knowing that would lead to the freedom to dream

To want for more than survival

To extend arms beyond the clouds, understanding that the worth of little black and brown girls and boys exists within the stars

Taking in what has always been these people said, “No more!”

No more complying with codes that don’t breed fairness

Acknowledging our history of better than, they ripped the blueprint out of the textbook, refusing to let it remain our reality

For they knew that even those living in a city divided by lines deserved to come together, to understand our yesterday in order to shape our tomorrow

Sowing seeds of possibilities, they began un-mantling systems constructed to oppress

And on their shoulders we continue to tear it down

Brick by brick

We continue to demand that our children learn so that they revolutionize

Brick by brick 

We continue to demand honesty and transparency as we observe our starting line

Brick by brick

We rebuild every institution intended to inform

Audaciously questioning everything

Keeping the stars in mind we continue to reach for more,

Honoring those who began reaching way before we gave ourselves permission to reimagine

70 years ago, advocates for the future of our communities stood in front of a judge and made a case for the advancement of our people

What we know as Brown versus Board of Education became the pavement of a new road leading to the promised land flowing with both promise and opportunity

We journey on

For we have come a long way with more to come

May the 70 year voyage continue on until the destination is reached and the battle for equity is won

As difficult as it may be to look to the light when even the North Star has become a raging fire

And each phase of the moon becomes trepidacious and clandestine 

Still we fix our gaze

For each small blaze may be the spark required to burn down what we know and once knew 

Each chapter of the night has the potential to bring the possibility of a new day

And though it be vexing to see yesterday’s disappointments cloud tomorrow’s reality 

May we remember that it can never tarnish tomorrow’s promise