A group from northwest Rochester was in Buffalo today, meeting with members of a grassroots organization known for creating change in its neighborhood.
More than 20 community activists, neighbors, and health and human service providers learned about PUSH, which stands for People United for Sustainable Housing.
Representatives of PUSH were in Rochester in June when they spoke at a community forum sponsored by the group Lyell 230.
Rochester City Councilmember Molly Clifford said PUSH has mobilized Buffalo residents in a number of ways.
"They've got a greenhouse program where they're growing vegetables and selling them, so it's a job training program. Now they've branched out into affordable housing,” said Clifford. “I think with each project, they've had more support from the community. They've shown that they've been able to sustain themselves and so government partners have gotten involved because they know they represent the neighborhood and they know what they're doing."
The Rochester group had lunch at the refugee-sponsored Westside Bazaar and toured a former Buffalo school that is now an affordable housing development.
Clifford said they're discussing how to bring some of these successful ideas to Rochester.
