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Mission

Buffalo Co-Lab advances an equitable economy and democratic community, collaboratively integrating scholarly and practical understanding to strengthen civic action.

Vision

Through actionable research, internships, workshops and forums, curriculum development, translational knowledge services, consultation, and public policy formation, Buffalo Co-Lab works on the edge of the new economy. We fuse Cornell ILR tradition with strategic innovation, applying education as a tool to create genuinely reciprocal opportunities in Western New York. The Co-Lab is a place of engaged local impact for academic scholars, teaching faculty, students, extension professionals, community leaders, public officials, and practitioners in the world of work.

History

Cornell ILR’s extension history begins with Buffalo. Since 1946, ILR has played a vital role in the region, working in partnership with businesses, unions, government, education and community organizations to build an economy that works for all. The bold pragmatic new initiatives of Buffalo Co-Lab follow a long line of innovations over decades of economic change. Always aligned with high road principles, ILR consistently promotes radical collaborations in pursuit of the common good.

Our Team

Cathy Creighton

  • Director of Cornell University ILR Buffalo Co-Lab

Kristin Ksiazek

  • Collaboration and Research Specialist

Rusty Weaver

  • Director of Research, ILR Buffalo Co-Lab

Veronica Moore

  • Program Administrative Assistant

Nellie J. Brown, MS, CIH

  • Director of Workplace Health & Safety Programs Lead Programs Manager

Arthur C. Wheaton

  • Director, The Worker Institute at Cornell

Sam Magavern

  • ILR Visiting Activist Scholar
  • Senior Policy Fellow at the Partnership for the Public Good

Aaron Bartley

  • ILR Visiting Activist Scholar
  • Co-Founder of People United for Sustainable Housing (PUSH Buffalo)

Ron Applegate

  • Faculty Advisor
  • Lecturer in Labor Relations, Law, and History