Building on a strong legacy, the new Cornell in Buffalo expands the university’s founding commitment to “knowledge with a public purpose” with renewed investment in Greater Buffalo and expanded collaboration within land-grant extension and public service.
The educational and consulting activities of ILR’s Worker Institute in Buffalo include workforce development training for disadvantaged workers, programs to promote workplace safety and health, environmental sustainability, and labor-management cooperation.
Environmental issues link Cornell with innovative local initiatives, including close ties between ILR labor programs and the Western New York Environmental Alliance. ILR’s occupational safety and health program also provides technical expertise to the Western New York Council on Occupational Safety and Health and Erie County Medical Center’s Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
High Road Fellowships offer students the chance to have a life-changing engaged learning experience while contributing directly to Buffalo’s revival. Since 2009, over 100 students have spent the summer working on grassroots economic development projects with more than 40 community organizations affiliated with the Partnership for the Public Good (PPG).
PPG is a richly networked community-based think tank providing applied research, policy development, advocacy, and communications support to over 200 community partners.
High Road students are at the forefront of innovative policies and practices, from community benefit agreements to re-entry employment of ex-offenders, from livable wage campaigns to youth arts initiatives.
This university-community partnership has earned the support of Engaged Cornell, making Buffalo’s High Road Fellowships a real-world laboratory for ILR’s new initiative in social sector studies.
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County (CCE Erie) puts knowledge to work to build stronger communities. CCE Erie has been in operation for over 100 years and provides educational programs in agriculture, 4-H youth development, nutrition, and consumer horticulture.
Over 20 staff work throughout the county on projects as diverse as an agricultural workforce development project in partnership with Journey’s End Refugee Services, an urban career and civic engagement program with at-risk youth, gardening workshops for county residents, a farm-to-school project in partnership with the Buffalo Public School District and assisting with Buffalo’s Healthy Corner Store Initiative.
