Wednesday, March 19 at 8 pm on WNED-TV
Sunday, March 23 at 8 pm & Saturday, March 29 at 7 pm
on ThinkBright TV (Time Warner 21/Digital 17.3)

“There is heritage in Buffalo. It’s a very important city.” — Jamal Horne, City Honors H.S.

“Our city is a reflection on us.” — Bruce Wilson, Canisius H. S.

“It’s not the place, it’s the people.” — Jennifer Swain, Cleveland Hill H.S.

“There’s so much great stuff in Buffalo that a lot of people don’t know about.” — Maria Fahs, Mount St. Mary H.S.

As participants in OUR CITY: BUFFALO, a Youth Civic Engagement and Media initiative of WNED’s ThinkBright TV, 26 area high school students discovered that “there’s no place like home.”

Using video as a medium of expression, each student contributed to an hour-long program—OUR CITY: BUFFALO, produced by WNED’s ThinkBright.

The students attended a pre-production workshop, chose a topic of interest, and, with help from adult mentors, captured video footage last October. They took to the streets, the museums, the schools and the parks of Buffalo, exploring where and how people live, worship, play and create. In the process, they learned about their city, its uniqueness in the world and their own feelings about it. The students’ comments and reflections provide the narration for the program.

Viewpoints and Visions
Many students chose a film topic based on their own experiences. Dan Eckert, a foster child, interviewed and highlighted foster families. Nadia Abdallah, an Arab-American student, focused on Buffalo’s Muslim community. Paula Gilbert, who lost five family members to street violence, made her film about Buffalo’s “Peace Begins With Me” Campaign.

As though seeing a familiar place in a whole new light, the project led to new discoveries for several of the budding filmmakers. Maria Fahs walked into the Phoenix Theater for the first time and met some “colorful people.” Liz Bailey visited an architectural gem on Lake Erie, and was struck by its natural beauty. Charnelle Lewis filmed the hiding places of former slaves and “learned what they had to go through.”

Their collective efforts offer an optimistic but realistic portrait of OUR CITY: BUFFALO, with fresh perspectives on some of its greatest assets—and most pressing challenges.

“I believe there is a renaissance happening in Buffalo — these young, intelligent voices are evidence of a segment of the population that cares deeply about this community,” said Senior Producer Lynne Bader-Gregory. “I am proud to have been part of a project that allowed their voices to be heard.

“Funny thing,” she added. “No one covered the Bills, the Sabres, chicken wings or the weather. I actually think that’s pretty cool.”

View video clips and learn more about the student producers. For a free DVD of OUR CITY: BUFFALO (while supplies last), call 845-7000, ext. 345.

Our City: Buffalo was funded by

Lead partner: Erie 1 BOCES/Community Youth Development & Student Support Services Department

Media Sponsor:

(The Buffalo News)

Design/implementation assistance provided by:

The Black MBS Association, Buffalo Chapter
The Buffalo All America City Committee
Youth Leadership Buffalo