Wintermission Buffalo Funder
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation CAF America
Partner Children & Nature Network National League of Cities City of Buffalo, led by the Division of Citizen Services GObike Buffalo Wellness Institute of Greater Buffalo and Western New York
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public pop-ups, focus groups, and workshops
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Pilot projects Buffalo, New York proudly self-identifies as an “all season” city. Severe winter storms have been fundamental to the story of Buffalo’s collective resilience, including one recent event that culminated in nearly eight feet of snow and required the dispatch of the National Guard. Both city staff and nonprofit institutions are committed to serving Buffalo’s historically marginalized and vulnerable populations and reducing social isolation through the colder months by bolstering Buffalo’s well-deserved reputation as an engaged and connected “City of Good Neighbors.”
of free weekend parties in small local parks city-wide; 3) a plan to distribute hundreds of free weatherization kits and socialization supports directly to community members who need them; and 4) a free winter resources guide aimed at people who are new to winter. In 2020, the results of these pilot projects will help inform a Winter City Strategy for Buffalo that can also be a resource for other mid-size American cities.
Wintermission Buffalo began in spring 2019 with a city wide conversation about winter. We facilitated a neighbourhood party, pop-up engagement events, focus groups, workshops, and surveys, and responded to resident priorities with four winter pilot projects: 1) a new microgrant program to fund neighbourhood block clubs that commit to creating community inclusivity, intergenerational volunteerism, and sidewalk accessibility; 2) a series 29
