EOC signs Buffalo Opportunity Pledge

UB’s Educational Opportunity Center has signed the City of Buffalo Opportunity Pledge, an initiative that encourages businesses, organizations and residents to commit to building a culture of inclusion and equity in Buffalo.

To date, 3,417 individuals and 146 businesses and organizations have signed the pledge, representing more than 33,772 employees and members.

“As economic growth and opportunity continues in Buffalo, it’s important that all residents and business owners benefit from the city’s rising prosperity,” said Mayor Byron Brown. “Our young men and women need opportunities, educational programs and services that help them reach their full potential. I thank the University at Buffalo Educational Opportunity Center for signing the Buffalo Opportunity Pledge, a reflection of its continued commitment to helping us build a culture of diversity, inclusion and equity in Buffalo that further improves economic opportunity for all city residents.”

The EOC serves about 1,900 students ages 17 and older annually. It offers tuition-free programs in literacy training, English as a second language education, high school equivalency, allied health and vocational programming, and college preparation, as well as career training in health care, information technology and the service industry. It also provides programs, such as tax preparation and assessment testing, to roughly 3,000 community members each year.

EOC Executive Director Julius Gregg Adams noted that the EOC “is dedicated to providing an educational environment that addresses the needs of an increasingly diverse student population. In pursuit of that environment, we felt it was important to support Mayor Brown’s City of Buffalo Opportunity Pledge initiative.”