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2020 IN FOCUS EXTREME INFLUENCE HOW THE MAKEOVER IN BUFFALO TIPPED HAITI RELIEF YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE EXTREME
HOME
MAKEOVER – PART 2
THE MAN
BEHIND
THE MAKEOVER EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW MARCH/APRIL 2010 $3.95
C
MAR
CONTENTS APR10 REGULARS 4 Letter from
FEATURES 14 2020 in Focus
Winter Fun in Buffalo. By Kyle Patterson
UB President John Simpson talks with THRiVE! about the status of UB 2020.
5 THRiVE! is online
16 The Making
the Editor
Follow THRiVE! online and get the latest scoop on Buffalo.
6 Comments From you, our readers.
8 Partners The organizations that keep THRiVE! alive.
10 Upcoming Three must see events coming up.
Artist Robin Mols is inspired in Eden. By Kyle Patterson
19 Investing In His Own Backyard
12 Picture Page The spirit of the season. By Matt Brown
20 National Day
39 Walking the
Special Preview Section
Ancient Paths
42 Poverty Being Aware. By Stuart Harper
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17 All Things Aesthetic
Mark Croce is at it again with a new hotel in the works. By Robert Cousins
By Robert Stearns
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of a Masterpiece Film maker Kyle Prohaska is standing firm on his dream. By Sandra Arcadipane
of Prayer
22 Help Haiti You can make a difference. By Valerie Nicholas and Kyle Patterson
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43 Extreme
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Makeover: Cosmetic or Transformational? By Matthew L. Brown
EXTREME MAKEOVER SPECIAL SECTION 25 The Man Behind the Makeover David Stapleton up close.
28 Extreme Influence How the Makeover in Buffalo Tipped.
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30 One on One with Designer Michael Moloney Michael talks about EMHE, Buffalo, and his experience in Western New York.
33 Impact Report: An Aerial View.
Falls Tale By Robin Mols
ON THE COVER: David Stapleton, President of David Homes led the community this past November when Extreme Makeover came to town. THRiVE! photo by Matt Brown.
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March / April 2010 THRiVE!
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Winter in Buffalo Winter in Buffalo poses two choices: Complain or enjoy. You can complain about the cold and dream of migrating south, or you can enjoy the natural beauty of what is available right here in Western New York. Here at THRiVE!, we choose the latter. Enjoying the Buffalo winter is something I learned at an early age. Winter to me became all about enjoying cold-weather sports. Recently, my wife and I took our three children cross country skiing for the first time. Though getting everyone dressed in their warm winter gear and loaded in the car may have taken longer than the skiing itself, it’s rewarding being able to pass on the tradition of winter fun to the next generation. Along with the celebration of winter in this edition, we continue our coverage of the aftermath of one of the most remarkable examples of Buffalo’s spirit of giving and volunteerism, the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition that took place in November. This event was simply too big to devote to only one edition! So to continue the celebration, THRiVE! has brought you exclusive content once again, including an up-close look at “The Man Behind the Makeover,” David Stapleton, who opened up his heart to the West Side of Buffalo and gave his time and effort to change the lives of hundreds of people. Even if you can’t build a deserving family a new home, it’s the small things you do on a daily basis that can
change lives. So don’t wait until you can donate a home, start now, start small. Be consistent in the small things and more will be given to you. If you have time, give time. Lend a hand to a neighbor, shovel a driveway, help with a home improvement project. There are so many ways we can give, so go ahead and be inspired, and pass it on while you’re at it. A special thanks to Mr. Stapleton for helping us get started. Now it’s up to you and me to continue this momentum and pay forward what we have been given. May this edition inspire you in 2010 to give and serve our community like never before.
THRiVE! March / April 2010
MAGAZINE Founded in 2007
PUBLISHER/EDITOR: Kyle Patterson VP OF OPERATIONS: Julianna Patterson ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Robert Cousins ASSISTANT EDITOR: Sandra Arcadipane ART DIRECTOR: Marinette Kozlow PHOTOGRAPHY: Matt And Angela Brown Dan Hutchens Caroline Bronckers PHOTO EDITOR: Jennifer Santora CONTRIBUTING: WRITERS: Matthew L. Brown Robert Stearns Stuart Harper Sandra Arcadipane Cathy Lanski Robert Cousins Anne McCune Valerie Nicholas
THRiVE! Magazine is a production of THRiVE! Media Group, a Buffalo, NY based media company. THRiVE! operates through subscriptions, bulk subscriptions, and advertising. Please visit www.thrivebuffalo.org or call 716-668-1072 for more information on how you can receive THRiVE! and help spread THRiVE! across Western New York and beyond! THRiVE! is associated with COVNet under the leadership of Tommy Reid.
?COMMENTS? THRiVE! Editor Kyle Patterson and family enjoying winter in Buffalo
Please E-mail: kyle@thrivebuffalo.org SUBSCRIBE TODAY!
A big thank you to all our partners, advertisers, contributors, artists and photographers who made this edition possible.
Kyle Patterson
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DISTRIBUTE THRiVE! If you are a church, ministry, or business looking to get bulk copies of THRiVE! please contact: Julianna Patterson THRiVE! Magazine Julianna@ThriveBuffalo.Org Visit www.thrivebuffalo.org for news, articles, teachings and video coverage. In addition you can subscribe to our free monthly E-Zine and receive breaking news and teachings in your inbox every month. You can subscribe by going to our website, thrivebuffalo.org or by emailing us at info@thrivebuffalo.org . Advertising opportunities are available for online and print. Contact us today for more info. 716-668-1072
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THRiVE! covers the unveiling of new designs for the Peace Bridge Expansion Project.
Check out our video of the week THRiVE! Magazine provided aerial footage for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Now you can view the full video tour of downtown Buffalo and the construction site at 228 Massachusetts Avenue online, only at www.thrivebuffalo.org.
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THRiVE! Magazine is a values based magazine focusing on local grassroots efforts in service, social justice, giving, arts, business, faith and culture offering relevant solutions to urban issues including injustice, violence, poverty, economic depression, and crime.
Discuss current edition We want to hear from you! Comment and discuss the current edition with other Buffalonians.
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March / April 2010 THRiVE!
COMMENTS
FROM OUR READERS
THRiVE! is such a blessing to have in our community. It’s so great to read that others believe as I do... Good things are happening in Buffalo!!!!! MELISSA FURMANEK
Awesome Photography. DONNA BROWN
We love THRiVE! Magazine, you guys are awesome! MARK MANION
Nice looking graphic design – the standard has been raised! MARK J. WEBER
Wonderful pics! Thanks so much for capturing this fantastic Buffalo event! AMY PRINCESS
Talk about a “Citybration”....Thank you for covering this event as only THRiVE! can do! GEORGIA BRANNAN
The magazine is BEAUTIFUL – I just received it!! A first-rate pub! SUSAN J. SULLIVAN
I find “The Rain in Masailand” article by Mary Beth McCune very insightful for several reasons. First, is the example of how the innocuous action of pouring water down a drain now leads her into a prayer for rain in Africa. This illustrates perfectly the juxtaposition of life in America and tribal life in East Africa. I have been there myself and I agree wholeheartedly that it is the simple but stark disparities and the humbling innocence of their prayers that you remember forever. Lastly, I appreciate the frankness of her revelation that while she went to Africa for answers, she instead came back with questions. When confronted with such heartbreaking need, is the human mind not forced to question? MICHAEL BARAKAT
The article about the Avant project was very inspiring. Not just in an emotional way though. It’s great to hear and see someone who can and has the means to, invest in this city. It’s about time we start seeing positives from this region. Most people have a lot of hype with no substance, but obviously Mr. Montante has a lot of substance too. We are on our way up, out of the trash heap, after the last century of misery. We must not forget that even though we may have thought that we’ve been forgotten, the Lord has given many promises to this region that we in our lives will see! He is just waiting for some vessels in this region that He can use to transform this desolate place into a thriving land of flowing blessings. JOEL ARCADIPANE
If you have a
comment or opinion about one of our articles, we would love to hear from you. You can email us at
info@thrivebuffalo.org
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THRiVE! March / April 2010
You LOVE Buffalo and desire to MAKE a difference. You want to
PARTNERS CLARENCE CENTER UMC Pastors Chuck and Kim Smith 741.2410 www.thewayonline.net
PENTECOSTAL TEMPLE Pastor Matthew L. Brown 716-852-5502, www.pentecostaltemplechurch.com
ZION DOMINION GLOBAL MINISTRIES Pastor Roderick L. Hennings 716-250-7040 www.ziondominion.org
BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH Rev. Kevin L. Wright 688-8668 www.bethel-nab.org
GIVE BACK,
THE CHAPEL AT CROSSPOINT Lead Pastor Jerry Gillis 631-2636 www.thechapel.com
MY FATHER’S HOUSE Pastor Randall Smith 655-1389 www.myfathershouseministry.net
serve your CITY,
THE TABERNACLE Pastor Tommy Reid 716-675-2888 www.thetab.org
EAGLES’ WINGS MINISTRY Robert Stearns 759-1058 www.eagleswings.to
NORTHGATE COMMUNITY CHURCH Pastor Jon Hasselbeck www.northgatebuffalo.com
THE PHILADELPHIA CHURCH Sam O. Pulliam 408-7400 www.tpc2.org
ELIM CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP Bishop Troy Bronner 716-832-7698 www.elim-world.org
NEW LIFE WORLD HARVEST RESTORATION CENTER Pastor Melvin J. Taylor (716) 725-6235 www.newliferestorationcenter.org
ENGAGE the culture, and CONNECT with others who are LIKE MINDED.
GRACE FELLOWSHIP Pastor Richard Giano 716-681-2059 www.gracefic.org TEEN CHALLENGE OF WNY Rev. Walter Thomas 855-0602 www.buffalotc.org LOVEJOY GOSPEL CHURCH Pastor Ron and Judy Burgio (716) 651-0400 www.lovejoy.org
You WANT a resource that REFLECTS YOUR values and EDUCATES your community....
SWORD OF THE SPIRIT Pastors John and Barbara Burkholder 716-832-6791 www.swordofthespiritministries.com TRUE BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH Pastor Darius Pridgen 895-8222 Truebethel.org WESLEYAN CHURCH OF HAMBURG Pastor Greg McClain 716-649-6335 www.wchamburg.org ALL NATIONS HOUSE OF PRAYER Pastor Sean And Pastor Tammi O’Brien 462-6300
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For more information: THRiVE! Media Group
716-668-1072 info@thrivebuffalo.org www.thrivebuffalo.org
UPCOMING
PHOTO BY MATT BROWN
CMS at the Chapel is back in Buffalo May 14-15 featuring an impressive lineup of professional musicians and workshops.
CMS: MAY 14-15 CMS at the Chapel is back in Western New York this year, May 14-15. CMS is a two day conference for musicians, singers, and technicians designed specifically to “improve skill and inspire talent,” through workshops, exhibition halls, and evening concerts. CMS brings together over 90 workshops customized to the needs of the musician including band leaders, vocals, bass, audio, video and lighting, winds, keyboards, song writing, and drums. Featured musicians this year include Rita Springer, Brenton Brown, and Phil Keaggy, who will be teaching and playing at this year’s event. Last year about 700 musicians attended CMS from as far away as Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina. For more information or to register, please see www.christianmusiciansummit.com .
A MUSEUM FOR THE 21ST CENTURY FUNDRAISER: MARCH 19 Habitat for Humanity Buffalo is hosting a fundraiser March 19 for their 2010 Women Build project. Women Build Buffalo is a Habitat for Humanity program that encourages women to have fun and make a difference building homes and communities. The Women Build program brings in new resources to further the home-building mission of Habitat for Humanity. The event will be held at Asbury Hall on Delaware Avenue from 6-10 PM. Tickets are $25 per person presale or $30 at the door. Domenic Cortese of Hammertime on the Home Improvement Hour (WBEN 930 AM) will be the emcee for this event. There will be appetizers, desserts, cash bar, wine tasting, as well as silent and live auctions.
The all new Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site has re-opened after extensive renovations to the Wilcox Mansion and construction of a new addition on the site of the original Wilcox Carriage House. The Site has essentially re-invented itself and now offers a visitor experience that is a far cry from the typical guided tour long associated with historic homes. Visitors will be welcomed by the sights and sounds of Buffalo’s Pan-American Exposition. Using a compelling “storytelling” approach, a guide will then transport visitors back to the drama-filled days of September, 1901. Visitors will feel as though they are following in Theodore Roosevelt’s footsteps on the day that he became president. For further information please visit www.TRSite.org or call 884-0095.
The all new Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site is open for tours after extensive renovations.
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THRiVE! March / April 2010
PAGE
PICTURE
RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR
Carrie Meyer, executive director of Independent Health Foundation, sits with several kids as they take turns reading at First Night Buffalo.
The swings and giant slide were just a couple of the amusement rides at Buffalo‘s biggest drug- and alcohol-free New Year‘s Eve celebration.
Children try out the Glow in the Dark Crazy Ice Skating on the special synthetic ice.
The Theatre of Youth (T.O.Y.) teaches the importance of health and wellness through a fun presentation.
Everyone gathers at the front as the last moments of 2009 are spent in worship and prayer. Sword of the Spirit Ministries holds a special candlelight service including praise, worship, and the word of the Lord for 2010. 12
THRiVE! March / April 2010
THRiVE! MAGAZINE PHOTOS BY MATT BROWN – TO SEE MORE PHOTOS VISIT THRiVEBUFFALO.ORG.
Young children share a fast downhill ride at Glen Park in Williamsville.
Cousins work together as they pull their sled up a hill while visiting Western New York on vacation. A young girl experiences her first time ice skating with some help.
Several groups venture onto the frozen water for ice fishing at the NFTA Boat Harbor.
Dozens of families and individuals gather on New Years Day to skate on Rotary Rink at Fountain Plaza.
Members of the U.S. Coast Guard practice their ice-water rescue skills during an exercise along Lake Erie. 13
March / April 2010 THRiVE!
2020 IN FOCUS
INTERVIEW BY THRiVE!
\ an interview with UB President John Simpson
PHOTO COURTESY OF UB
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THRiVE! March / April 2010
The University of Buffalo has big plans to expand in Western New York. THRiVE! caught up with President John Simpson to discuss UB 2020 and its implications for the community.
UB’s 2020 Vision UB’s 2020 Vision is a comprehensive physical plan to guide UB into becoming a model 21st century university.
We wanted to do this interview because of UB’s great impact on the community, so thank you for taking the time to do this. The first question I want to ask is: What are some of the greatest hindrances in regard to the implementation of the 2020 vision, and are there updates to report in regard to the funding from New York State?
The biggest hindrance, the biggest requirement to getting this done is having the resources to do it, which is really having the money to do it. Having said that, there are also some policy changes that would make how we do our business more effective and more efficient and at a lower cost to the taxpayer. Both of these are wrapped up in a piece of legislation we now have in Albany. This year, I think, may be the year we actually get it done, get it all the way through. I think also it is
“It is very gratifying from my point of view to see the degree of interest and the degree of participation of the community in helping us do this.”
Plans for the South Campus include restoring the historic campus to the vision E.B. Green had for it 80 years ago.
“Building UB,” the university’s comprehensive physical plan, is designed to make the North Campus a warmer, more welcoming and more sustainable environment.
safe to say that we are asking for a change in the culture of how New York and particularly its elected officials in Albany think about public higher education and especially its public research universities. So anytime you try to change the culture, it’s a lift. Is the community in Buffalo as a whole giving you the support you were hoping for, and is there anything else citizens can do?
I think the community in Buffalo has been marvelous in supporting the University and being engaged with what we are doing and in participating. And I mean participating not just in obvious ways like telling their elected officials that this is an idea that benefits the whole community, which I sure hope they keep doing. But I think as well, the community as a whole has been engaged in what we are doing. We just finished a major master planning process called “Building UB.” It took us about three years to do. It’s around one of the facilities and the need to pursue our academic vision. We had
Plans for the Downtown Campus include a new Gateway Complex for UB community programs and will make the campus a world-class center for health care, teaching and research.
article continued on page 44.
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March / April 2010 THRiVE!
The
MAKING of a
Masterpiece BY SANDRA ARCADIPANE
Why local filmmaker KYLE PROHASKA is going head to head with Hollywood
Kyle Prohaska may not have the reputation of a Keanu Reeves or Steve Carell—yet—but like these Hollywood stars, the twenty-one year-old has found filmmaking inspiration in Western New York. Along with co-writer and producer Kevin Michael, Prohaska and his small but committed cast and crew have ranged from Lewiston to Youngstown, from coffee shops to private residencies to create Standing Firm, a full-length film with an inspiring message. Influenced by films like Facing the Giants, Flywheel and Fireproof, in 2007 Prohaska started Praise Pictures to produce top-quality, faith-based movies. Despite a small budget, even by independent film standards, Prohaska is all about stretching his resources as far as they can go. Standing Firm, which was still in the final editing process at press time, was produced for approximately $35,000. The film engages a universal subject, death, and attempts to shed light on the age old question, “If God really loves me, then why do I suffer?”
The film... attempts to shed light on the age old question, “If God really loves me, then why do I suffer?”
According to the official website, the plot revolves around, Dave, a widower and workaholic working late nights running on fumes. Bills are piling by the week, and foreclosure looms
on the horizon. Blaming God for his wife’s death, he ends his relationship with the church. His son, Steven, has been watching his father’s unhealthy lifestyle with great concern. Along with his best friend Maggie, Steven works to reach his father in any way he can. Despite his grieving, Dave begins to move in the right direction seeking an answer to the question that has been haunting him since his wife’s death: Why? Standing Firm is a story of suffering,God’s purpose in it, and being joyful despite of it. With the exception of stage actor Eric Stevenson, who drove almost two hours a day to be a part of the production, the entire cast was drawn from the congregation at Prohaska’s home church, Niagara Frontier Bible Church. They were not remunerated for their efforts, but instead worked in support of Prohaska and his vision for Standing Firm, believing that the movie honored God and His will. There had been a series of deaths at NFBC as Prohaska was writing the script, so despite the cast’s lack of formal training, the real life events that were taking place in their lives made it much smoother to step into the role they were to play in the movie. Prohaska commented, “Every time I left a funeral I was right back in the same pew, crying for another friend or family member.” In retrospect, these experiences served to confirm that this was exactly the story he needed to tell. Besides Prohaska and Michael, the production crew was rounded out by gaffer Shaun Smith, who has been a professional photographer for years in Buffalo, NY. This is not the only project in the works from Praise Pictures. Prohaska told THRiVE!, “I have started a site called ChristianFilmTrailers.com, which aims to be the Apple Trailers of the Christian film world. Also our site PraisePictures.com serves as a great resource for filmmakers with articles written about indie filmmaking, some by us and some by qualified others.” You can help support Standing Firm by becoming a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/standingfirm and finding out more about the movie at http://www.standingfirmmovie.com. Standing Firm is planned to be released on DVD in 2010.
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THRiVE! March / April 2010
ALL THINGS Aesthetic BY KYLE PATTERSON
In the plains of Eden, New York lies the rustic haven of painter, sculptor and designer Robin Mols. Mols, 62, finds his fourteen acre lot of wooded beauty fitting to his fancy. His art evolves out of the diversity of the post modern world while fusing the two extreme ends of realism and abstraction. As Eden was the paradise of God, so Mols’s own arboreal enclave in Western New York has helped him discover a sense of the divine in his own backyard paradise.
Heat Mols also sculpts works out of bronze, wood and marble David and the Five Stones
Born in Rochester, New York, Mols was interested in art from a young age. The son of Dr. Robert W. Mols, a composer, gifted flutist and co-founder of the music department at the University of Buffalo, Mols grew up immersed in the sounds of chamber music, opera, jazz and big bands. He realized early on that the history of art and music are inter-related and proceeded to study art at New Paltz State College from 1965-67, followed by painting and graphics at the Pratt Institute. It was while studying in New York that Mols had an epiphany. “There is an image that is born in the process of painting which, regardless of the results, is a testament of the nature of man,” says Mols. His abstract works like “Heat” and “Falls Tale” reveal something Mols describes as a “voice within.” Hearing this “voice” happens at the moment when he discovers what image is being created, which Mols believes reveals the deep spiritual inspiration in his art. “In the search for Truth, we seek for that which calls to us from the mysterious unknown, to see, perhaps understand, but which pulls at us to discover what lies beneath the whiteness of beginnings. The journey is wrought with
uncertainty and surely wrapped in chaos, but the end is a place of comfort to reflect and to review from the safety of hindsight.” Mols’s search for truth has led him to the Old Testament, to the Tabernacle of Moses. His lithograph painting, “Mosaic Tabernacle” depicts the Jewish worship center as described in the book of Exodus. Mols says this has become his best selling work, attracting a worldwide audience. The painting includes a full view of the outer court, the altar of sacrifice, the Holy Place, the Most Holy Place and the community of Israelites surrounding the Tabernacle. Other spiritual realism works include the acute detail on the face of David in “5 Stones” based upon the Biblical account of David and Goliath, and his stunning portrayal of Moses journeying up Mount Sinai to commune with God. It is works like these that have earned him commissioned work at places of worship around the country, including The Tabernacle in Orchard Park, New York. Mols built his latest project, a new studio, to give him a refuge to harness his creativity and showcase his talent. Mols’s other works include landscapes, lithographs and portraits which have been displayed locally at the Albright Knox in Buffalo, Erie Art Museum in Erie, Pennsylvania, the Castellani Art Museum of Niagara University and the Black Forest Gallery in Eden, New York, among many others. Prints of his work can be viewed and ordered online at www.molsart.com.
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March / April 2010 THRiVE!
INVESTING
IN HIS OWN BACKYARD BY ROBERT COUSINS Croce emphatically replied that he has no intention of pursuing developments anywhere besides right here in Buffalo. As for the “unique niches” to which Croce referred, he feels no need to restrict himself with labels beyond that of, “High end.” There will be four components to the new hotel site, he says. Of course there will be a luxury hotel, currently slated for a sixty seven room capacity, but that’s not nearly all. There will also be a 20,000-square foot convention center, a restaurant and lounge on the premises and even a salon and spa. Croce is drawing on every aspect of his entrepreneurial experience to make this new project an instant hit in downtown Buffalo.
PHOTO COURTESY OF YOUNG + WRIGHT ARCHITECTURAL
A Rendering of the Curtiss Building. An upscale boutique hotel planned for completion in 2011 by Buffalo Development Corporation.
Mark Croce may be one of Buffalo’s most well-known men. Even if you don’t recognize his name, chances are good that you’ve heard of his work. The owner of the Buffalo Chophouse and Darcy McGee’s Irish Pub, to name but two of his five clubs and restaurants, has now set his sights on an even more ambitious project. Croce’s newest project, which he described to THRiVE! as a, “Very high end, very specialized” luxury hotel, will join his other properties on Franklin Street as part of his stated goal to, “Invest in my backyard, where I know the landscape and the folks that are part of the process.” The new hotel, which has not yet been named, grew out of Croce’s longstanding dedication to the service industry. He began by starting a nightclub and then expanded into the restaurant business not long after. As these establishments began to prosper, Croce soon opened additional restaurants and clubs. Now,
he explained, starting a hotel, “Seems like a natural progression of the hospitality business.” On top of that, he also quoted industry contacts who told him that running a hotel, while certainly a demanding undertaking, was actually less challenging than managing a successful restaurant. All of Croce’s ventures are located on Franklin Street in downtown Buffalo. This centralization is a microcosm of his professional perspective on geography. Croce, who considers Buffalo his hometown, sees, “Just as much opportunity here as in other cities.” He noted the, “Explosive decline” in cities such as Atlanta and Las Vegas, which pursued development with too much aggressiveness and are now stumbling under its weight. Buffalo, on the other hand, “Hasn’t gotten too far ahead of itself… there are unique niches here that need to be served.” Asked about his desire to expand his business ventures into other cities,
But that’s not all. One of Croce’s intended first guests for the convention center is the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s annual meeting in the fall of 2011. Beyond wanting to host the annual meeting itself, Croce aspires to have the hotel recognized as a historic place. He has purchased multiple parcels of property out of which to mold the new hotel, and this will enable him to preserve the terra cotta façade for which that block is so well known. On top of that, adding a location in Buffalo to the Registry would bring a certain level of prestige for the city. And that, in a nutshell, is the essence of what Mark Croce is trying to do. He wants to do everything in his power to see that this city prospers. By simultaneously meeting a need for an expanded, “High end… niche market” and seeking to preserve a slice of Buffalo’s heritage through registry with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Croce is serving the city he loves the best he knows how.
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March / April 2010 THRiVE!
SPECIAL PREVIEW SECTION
NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER
INTERVIEW WITH MICHAEL ROBINSON, MEN’S MINISTRY DIRECTOR OF THE BUFFALO CITY MISSION.
schools and programs for our children as well as jobs for those who are able and willing to have a job. Seeing the great need at the City Mission, how does that affect your prayer life?
Michael Robinson, Men's Ministry Director of the Buffalo City Mission will be praying at this year's National Day of Prayer gathering in Buffalo at Niagara Square on May 6.
Why are you involved with the National Day of Prayer?
I am the Men’s Ministry Director at the Buffalo City Mission. Historically our men help to set up and tear down the podium and lights and such so we have always been involved in some way. This year I have been asked to lead one of the prayers. I am a native Buffalonian; I will be praying for local government. I have children in Buffalo public schools, and my family is all here in Buffalo. So Buffalo is very close to my heart. I am praying that God will continue to bless Buffalo and that God would give courage, wisdom and insight to our local leaders to turn us from a city that has been in decline and decay and to lift Buffalo into a place of hope and opportunity with a safe, nurturing environment for our families and with positive
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THRiVE! March / April 2010
I have walked both sides on the line. God brought me through drug and alcohol addiction and some difficult situations that I put myself in. So once I came to the City Mission as the Men’s Director I was able to develop and implement specific programs to help the poor. I have a passion for helping people. The City Mission has been the perfect place for me to move out in this area of ministry. We have developed a case management program and developed a network of service agencies including private, government, faith based, not faith based, etc. to address the specific needs of human beings and reach out to other entities when we need to. So it not only allows me to help those who come to the City Mission but it has allowed me to interact with all strata of society. Can you relate an example of how God has answered prayers personally or at the City Mission?
Every day is a testimony because I am able to see God work through me and touch other people. I am a person who has been clean and sober for the last fifteen years. At one point, however, I lost every good thing that my parents had put in me. I had lost everything over and over, until November 20, 1994. That day, I stepped to the curb and said to God, “I am just a shadow of the man I should be. But if you will get me up on my feet just one more time, I promise I will look at life through the lens of your Scripture and I
won’t turn back.” That was the last time I drank; I have been sober ever since. I completed college, I am pastoring a church and I’ve been married over nineteen years with children. God has blessed me more than I could ever deserve. Why would you encourage others to come out for the National Day of Prayer?
I encourage everyone to come out because God is real. There is power in collective prayer. I encourage people to come out for those who don’t believe in God so they will see us loudly declaring the goodness of God. After the National Day of Prayer is over, how can people help be an answer to our very prayers?
Let’s stop passing by that man, that woman, that boy or girl. Let’s stop driving by folks and pretending we don’t see them. Let’s stop blaming people’s pain on their lack of faith for their situation. Let each person individually take an accurate understanding of the Word and love of God to apply them practically in any situation we are in. I understand that everyone can’t go to street corners or crack houses to deal with these people, but they can get involved in many ways with the Buffalo City Mission. They can give time, talent and/or treasure. The face of homelessness is not the stereotypical face. I have former professional athletes, entertainers, people with Master’s degrees and doctorates that come to the City Mission for help. We need to live, teach and walk out the Gospel of Jesus Christ every way we can.
SPECIAL PREVIEW SECTION
PRAYER THAT TRANSFORMS A CITY BY ANNE MCCUNE
The Bible instructs us to pray for our city and nation.1 Prayer is not merely giving God our “wish list,” though petition is an important part of prayer.2 The fullness of prayer involves coming into His presence
Prayer makes a difference when we understand what it is. Prayer is not merely giving God our “wish list.”
a turnaround for our city. God answers prayer, and He can and does move neighbors to help neighbors. Not everyone is in a position to build a new house for a stranger, and God doesn’t expect you to be. As you spend time in His presence, He will speak to you about the best way to use your time and talents to transform your community. It might be as simple as having a nutritious meal with your own kids or helping a neighbor paint his house. Or, just maybe God will challenge you in the way He did David Stapleton, the president of David Homes. Perhaps God will lead you to run for a local office like the school board or to simply pray continuously for those who do. Let’s keep praying, listening and allowing God to use us as spiritual, emotional and physical instruments of transformation. And please consider yourself warmly invited to join us in Niagara Square on May 6 for the National Day of Prayer, where we will pray together as a city for our city, state and nation.
with thanksgiving, repentance and acknowledgement of who He is. What’s more, prayer is about listening to Him, and listening leads to action.3 So how can we best pray for Buffalo?
For stories of answered prayer or to learn more about the National Day of Prayer, please visit: http://www.nationaldayofprayer.org
There are many problems—large problems, God-sized problems—ailing this city. We are beginning to see His answers, though. One particular issue that has been on my heart is Buffalo’s housing problem, but He recently moved ABC, local businessmen and individuals with a myriad of talents to come together to create an episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Indeed, there is great reason for optimism that this is the beginning of
Anne McCune is the Western New York Coordinator for the National Day of Prayer. You can find out more info at www.wnyprays.com
(1) Jeremiah 29:7 and 1 Timothy 2:1-2 (2) Philippians 4:6 (3) James 1:22
“PRAYER IN THE SQUARE” NIAGARA SQUARE, BUFFALO
12 NOON & FRIDAY APRIL 30 CONCERT OF PRAYER UB STUDENT CENTER AUD.
7 PM MORE DETAILS AT WWW.WNYPRAYS.COM
BY VALERIE NICHOLAS AND KYLE PATTERSON
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THRiVE! March / April 2010
The challenge before us now is to continue the relief effort in Haiti despite the slowly fading media attention. The process of rebuilding the nation is still in its earliest stages, so here are four ways you can make a difference.
GIVE Despite the financial recession gripping our nation, America has emerged as the largest contributor to the crisis in Haiti. This generosity includes individuals, churches, major corporations, and our armed forces. A report provided by the Huffington Post in January showed that corporations like J.P. Morgan, Google, Microsoft, UPS and Comcast have each donated more than $1 million, and private citizens have donated more than $8 million by text message alone. It is inspiring to hear of the generosity of fellow Americans, and supporting the Haiti relief effort is no different. Everyone can contribute to the cause; it’s not the amount of the gift but the response of our hearts that matters. There are thousands of organizations, nationwide and locally, with which you can partner, so do your homework, find a worthy organization and make a difference.
For those wanting to work in Haiti, the best thing to do is to connect with a larger organization and work together to make relief efforts smoother.
One group to consider is World Vision. They are engaged in immediate relief efforts and plan to assist with long-term recovery and rehabilitation as well. World Vision’s greatest need at the moment is for financial donations. • $40 can provide a family with a hygiene kit, which includes items such as soap, toothbrushes, feminine hygiene items and toilet paper. • $300 can provide one collapsible water container. • $500 can provide aqua tabs to purify water and provide clean water. • $1,000 can provide kitchen sets. World Vision is currently focused on distributing necessities and food. As of early February, they had already provided food to more than 60,000 people, and they are now working to provide a two-week supply of food to 400,000 people.
As of January 31, World Vision shipped nearly 882,000 pounds of relief supplies and essentials, with more supplies en route. Thousands of people have received essentials such as mosquito nets, tarps, cooking sets, blankets, hygiene kits, water containers, and more. To help meet medical needs, World Vision distributed medicine and supplies such as gloves, bandages, gauze, and antibiotics to 11 hospitals, and is setting up mobile clinics. World Vision also distributed maternity kits (containing soap, surgical gloves, sterile razors, and more) to 100 pregnant women who are at risk of delivering outside of hospitals, as many of the buildings are damaged or overcrowded.
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In addition to meeting the physical needs of quake survivors, World Vision is currently setting up seven ChildFriendly Spaces, giving children a safe and structured place to go as their families rebuild their lives.
PRAY Even as progress is being made, the needs are great in Haiti and your prayers can and will make a difference. It may seem counter-intuitive at times like this when there is so much work to be done, but prayer has the ability to change atmospheres, people and nations. So commit to pray for Haiti, here are a few points to keep in mind. 1. Resources to buy needed equipment so that supplies can continue to get to those in need.
2. The right materials, medical supplies, food and water would be delivered in time. 3. Spiritual renewal to strengthen and refresh the people of Haiti as many are turning to God for answers. 4. The weather conditions to remain clear and that rain would not compound the tragedy. 5. Tangible support that the government of Haiti would be willing to accept and use wisely. 6. Lawlessness would not prevail during this time of desperation. 7. Shelter for over 1 million people without homes. 8. Care and protection for children who lost their families. 9. Wisdom for rebuilding planning process. 10. Order and peace.
PREPARE There is no such thing as being over prepared for a crisis and America is not exempt from them as we learned this last decade. According to Zebgear.com there is data that shows an 800% increase in disasters over the last 30 years and more projected for the future. So make a plan and get prepared. You can download a free guide to disaster preparedness at www.areyouprepared.com that includes instruction on how to purify water, store water and food, build a first aid kit and how to prepare a three day survival kit that includes all basic necessities, matches, propane stoves, battery powered radio among other things. SERVE As the saying goes, the second disaster is when untrained volunteers show up at a disaster zone. For those wanting to work in Haiti, the best thing to do is to connect with a larger organization and work together to make relief efforts smoother. Organizations like Crisis Response International (www.criout.com) are training responders equipped with practical skills and a missionary mindset. CRI has sent numerous teams to Haiti and will be deploying additional trained volunteers in March after training at their Kansas City, Missouri headquarters. Their operations will continue in Haiti indefinitely. World Hope International (www.worldhope.org) is also accepting applications for relief support teams. They are sending up to 100 volunteers per week to Haiti. No matter what you can do your generosity will make a difference to the victims of this catastrophe. Never underestimate the power of generosity. Please continue to provide help to those in need; with your help, change can and will happen.
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MAN BEHIND THE MAKEOVER
“I didn’t ask to be the leader; I wasn’t looking for the position. 5,000 people came out looking to be led, and the door opened for me,”
BY THRiVE!
DAVID STAPLETON
David Stapleton led 6,000 people in the biggest single-week effort to revitalize Buffalo in recent history. Stapleton, President of David Homes, is a Buffalo native and father of three who was catapulted into the local spotlight when ABC selected his company as the builder for the November Extreme Home Makeover. After hearing the story of Delores Powell, Stapleton was galvanized into action. “We wanted to continue Delores Powell’s work to revitalize the West Side of Buffalo,” explained Stapleton. That he did, and now his goal is mobilizing the community to continue the momentum. 25
March / April 2010 THRiVE!
“I didn’t ask to be the leader; I wasn’t looking for the position. 6,000 people came out looking to be led, and the door opened for me,” said Stapleton, who took it upon himself to give more than the producers of ABC’s Extreme Makeover were asking. “I couldn’t in good conscience come into a neighborhood like this and ignore the thousands of other needs around us,” he added. Stapleton wasn’t satisfied with helping just one family so he contacted his long-time friend and marketing professional Kyle Kraus to help him get the community involved. Kraus was good friends with Josh Randle, who happened to work at Western New York Americorps, an organization dedicated to serving and bringing positive change to neighborhoods in
It all snowballed from there. Donations, volunteers, building material, publicity, momentum; the excitement became contagious. Western New York. This is the largest local branch of Americorps in the nation, and they had ready access to hundreds of volunteers. It all snowballed from there. Donations, volunteers, building material, publicity, momentum; the excitement became contagious. Whether people were involved or not, they observed what was happening. Stapleton, David Homes, WNY Americorps and Kraus had less than a month to pull together the gargantuan project and only five days to actually build the home. And if that weren’t enough pressure already, the group 26
THRiVE! March / April 2010
also undertook projects for the whole neighborhood. Add in gardening, roofing, siding, painting and porch repair projects and you have an undertaking that is bigger than any one individual, company or organization, and even bigger than one Hollywood show. That is why ABC turned the program into a two-hour special. The whole community celebrated on January 24th because this time Buffalo won; the kick wasn’t wide right and the call wasn’t “no goal.” This was Stapleton’s desire all along. “This is about Buffalo saving itself, to show on a national scale what we all know living in Buffalo. This is just a symbol of what we are all about.” Stapleton’s goal was for Buffalo to shine on a national stage, and that’s exactly what happened.
house and some of the surrounding, boarded-up homes, Stapleton said, “Let’s not act as if we have nothing better to do than blow up homes that no one wants. I wanted them to produce a show that this city is proud of.” Thus Stapleton wore short sleeves and shorts during the November build to show the world that Buffalo was enjoying one of the most beautiful weeks of the year. Stapleton’s passion for Buffalo was one of the driving forces that made him say “yes” to Extreme Makeover even though it meant that he open up his wallet and write the check to make the home build possible. While ABC is responsible for creating a show that wows its viewers, the home builder selected is tasked with building the brand new home for free. Stapleton is passionate about doing the right thing for people in need, so although he hadn’t done anything of this magnitude in the past, he knew it was a date with destiny to do something for the Powell family. His goal now is figuring out how to continue growing his business so he can continue giving back. This was the question Stapleton was pondering when I met him at his office shortly after he had completed the week-long construction spree. He was hard at work meeting with stakeholders in the community to discuss what the community could learn from the makeover, something to spark further efforts to revitalize Buffalo.
The Powell home was the first green certified, emerald level home built on the show. Emerald level is the highest and most stringent level of certification a home can achieve when tested by environmentally friendly standards. The home was the first of its kind in New York State, and the first “green” deconstruction on the show as well. Rather than the typical explosive demolitions for which Extreme Makeover is known, Buffalo ReUse took down the home one piece at a time and literally reused much of the salvageable hardware. Stapleton capitalized on his clout as the donating home builder to brand Buffalo as the place to David Stapleton speaks about the progress of the makeover be, even in as Mayor Byron Brown listens attentively. November. When the show asked him to talk about how cold it was in Buffalo, Stapleton refused to comment. When the show wanted to do its typical demolition of the Powell
Organizations like PUSH Buffalo, a group that works for sustainable housing on the West Side, and Americorps are serving the community on the West Side of Buffalo daily. What the makeover did was bring energy and a renewed sense of purpose to what many of these organizations have been working at for years. The makeover shone a spotlight on the need and helped put the city back on the radar as a great opportunity for business and service. In fact, Stapleton made a public commitment to Mayor Byron Brown that he and his company, David Homes Construction, would continue to take an interest in downtown Buffalo. Stapleton will put that commitment into action when Extreme Makeover: Home Edition returns to Buffalo this summer for yet another home makeover. David Homes also plans on continuing its close partnership with Canisius College, which made a big splash at the makeover when it donated full college scholarships to the entire Powell family. As a suburban subdivision home builder, Stapleton had stayed out of the downtown housing market in the past because of the spate of residents looking for suburban living. Now, however, Stapleton led a team of 6,500 volunteers this past November when Extreme Makeover Home Edition came to town.
He is now energetically exploring home building in Buffalo in what he calls the “New Urbanist Style,” of which the Powell’s new home is an example. Stapleton sees potential for new homes in the city of Buffalo, where there are currently 10,000-20,000 vacant properties. “What happens to the families that may not want to live in a loft or an apartment downtown but may be in the market for a home build in the city?” said Stapelton. He is now energetically exploring home building in Buffalo in what he calls the “New Urbanist Style,” of which the Powell’s new home is an example. The opportunity to simultaneously expand his business and help revitalize his beloved Buffalo is irresistible to Stapleton, who built his business from the ground up and repeatedly thanks his loyal customers for the opportunity to give back in this way. He knows that the city is the core of our community, and if the city is doing well then the whole region benefits. The West Side revitalization has indeed begun, but there is so much more work yet to do. Now that the dust from the makeover has settled, it is time to take stock of what we have learned and apply that wisdom to the ongoing rejuvenation of the city. The chief lesson is that Buffalo is not dying! On the contrary, it is coming roaring back to life. No other city in the seven-year history of Extreme Makeover had nearly as robust a turnout as did Buffalo. This is yet another sign of the turnaround that is happening in the region. What’s more, it is vitally important to keep alive the spirit of service within each one of us. Never underestimate the goodness inside of people; men and women crave to be part of something worthwhile. Now that all the cameras are gone—and even when they return this summer—what is left are the acts of intentional kindness that we have the opportunity to perform on a daily basis, acts that no television producer may ever see but which make all the difference in the world to someone in need. So go ahead and pay it forward, Buffalo. Let’s keep the momentum going.
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EXTREME
INFLUENCE
HOW THE MAKEOVER IN BUFFALO TIPPED
ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition succeeded in mobilizing Western New York to give of its time, money and energy in support of a family whom most had never met. 6,000 people donated nearly two million dollars worth of labor, and $200,000 was donated to a local food drive initiated by the Makeover. With so many good causes competing for the community’s attention, how did Extreme Makeover achieve this kind of success? The answer lies in part with the power of media. Local media guru and Edifi Media founder Erik Ticen agreed that a charity can work around the clock to raise money for a worthy cause without getting the desired result. He explained, “Despite the rapid growth of alternative forms of media, such as the internet, television is still king for influencing people. A charity can beg for volunteers forever and not get the kind of turnout that a famous television program can.” Ticen averred, “Reality TV programs are the cheapest forms of production for the networks to make, which is why they are so popular right now.” Extreme Makeover is no exception; the show has ranked among the top programs for ABC with an average of thirteen million viewers per episode. With stories that revolve around the good nature of people and absent the typical slathers of sex and violence, the show has inspired community-minded individuals to watch it religiously. Brady Connell, Executive Producer of Extreme Makeover, agrees that there is something different about the show. Connell’s background includes producing the hit shows Survivor and The Amazing Race. When he got the opportunity to produce television that would change people’s lives, it was a no-brainer. “That’s the show that I really connect
with,” said Connell. “There is another layer of storytelling… at its core, it’s feeling good about helping someone else. I think that is a basic human instinct that people want to feel. There are positive results from that kind of television.” Beyond the intrinsic advantages of its medium, Extreme Makeover succeeded by making its message “sticky.” In the book Made to Stick, by Dan and Chip Heath, the authors argue that the ability of an idea to penetrate a culture—its stickiness—depends on the use of vivid, concrete images tapping into human emotion. In order to stick with a large number of people, there must be what
Malcolm Gladwell, in his book The Tipping Point, talks about the phenomenon of the “social epidemic.” A social epidemic is something that blows up and then dies out quickly. As he says on his website, www.gladwell.com, “Things can happen all at once, and little changes can make a huge difference. As human beings, we always expect everyday change to happen slowly and steadily, and for there to be some relationship between cause and effect. And when there isn’t… we’re surprised. I’m saying, don’t be surprised.” Gladwell explains two key rules for starting an epidemic: The Law of the Few and the Power of Context.
Thousands came out to observe and support the work being done in Buffalo.
they call, “A Simple Unexpected Concrete Credentialed Emotional Story.” Indeed, nothing could better describe Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. When you combine a deserving family that needs help with the thrill of appearing on national television to showcase our community in a positive light, you have the epitome of stickiness.
A social epidemic starts with a small number of influential people who spread a message far and wide. In this case, David Stapleton of David Homes, marketing expert Kyle Kraus, Josh Randle of Western New York Americorps and Jim McGinnis of The Tabernacle filled that role. These four individuals spread the call for donations and article continued on page 35. 29
March / April 2010 THRiVE!
MICHAEL INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVE
PHOTO BY MATT BROWN
THRiVE!’s Julianna Patterson talks with Extreme Makeover: Home Edition designer Michael Moloney
Michael Moloney has been a designer with Extreme Makeover: Home Edition since the first show began in 2004. THRiVE! caught up with Michael for an interview while he was hard at work on the Powell home. Here is what he had to say. THRiVE!: Okay, quick five questions.
MICHAEL: Yes. THRiVE!: Okay, tell me, what were your thoughts of Buffalo before coming here?
MICHAEL: My preconceived notion? THRiVE!: Yes, your preconceived notion.
MICHAEL: My preconceived notion was cold, dreary and not very exciting. After eight days here, it’s the complete opposite. I have had the most amazing time. The weather has been 30
THRiVE! March / April 2010
fantastic, the people are phenomenal, the city is beautiful, the architecture is amazing and the support we have seen just blows my mind. So I am leaving with a much, much, much, much vastly improved concept of it (Buffalo). I really think that this week and the show we are creating will make people have that view across the country, that view of Buffalo. I think it just gets this bad rap like it’s just up there, this cold, industrial place or something and it’s really not. It’s like old school and I love it. THRiVE!: What has been your favorite experience so far in Buffalo? Has there been something that stood out to you?
MICHAEL: I don’t know if I could pick one. I would say that the support and the community involvement have been mind blowing. And I would say food. I have found amazing restaurants.
THRiVE!: They do have amazing restaurants here.
MICHAEL: They do and they really don’t get shy with what they put on a plate. THRiVE!: They don’t, and are you a Buffalo Wing fan?
MICHAEL: No, no wings. I did your Tempo, Mother’s, Olivers, Hutch’s, that kind of thing. All awesome, great food. THRiVE!: Last question, all the community outreach and the houses that have been done. Can you see this effort continuing around here?
MICHAEL: That is my wish for this. We are the catalysts hopefully to start this. We can come in and get everybody together and get the energy going and get this movement going but really it doesn’t mean this has to stop. Hopefully people become leaders in their own blocks and neighborhoods.
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EXTREME STATS 6,336 Volunteers Mobilized 4,053 Community Revitalization and Transformation Volunteers
1,428 Skills and Trades Volunteers
$415,548 Skills and Trades $191,794 Food Drive Helping Hands
14,360 Meals Donated and
53,544 Volunteer Hours Served 32,424 Community Revitalization and Transformation
14,280 Skills and Trades 6,840 Food Drive Helping Hands
$1,516,511 Value of In-kind
Volunteer Service1
$909,169 Community Revitalization and Transformation
Served
412 Community Residents Served2
Served to Volunteers
108 Individual Community Revitalization and Transformation Projects
855 Food Drive Helping Hands Volunteers
30 Properties Landscaped 164 Unique Households
33 Homes Equipped with New Security Lights
7 Full or Major Paint Projects
17 3 3 5 5 4 2
Minor Paint Projects Full Siding Projects Roofs Installations Porch Renovations Gutter Installations New Fence Installations
119 388 85.1 $255,300 1,207
New Trees Planted Units of Blood Collected Tons of Food Collected Value of Food Collected 3 People Fed Every Day for an Entire Month4
1 Value for volunteer hours is set at $28.04 for unskilled and $29.10 for skills and trades. Independent Sector, www.independentsector.org United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov 2 The average household size in Census Tract 69, Erie County, New York is 2.51. 2000 United States Census, factfinder.census.gov 3 Feeding America, www.feedingamerica.org 4 United States Department of Agriculture, www.usda.gov/factbook/chapter1.htm
Community Garden Projects 33
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PHOTO BY MATT BROWN
Ty Pennington, leader of the Extreme Makeover Design Team brought the power of television’s influence to Buffalo last November resulting in a record breaking makeover.
continued from page 29
volunteers to thousands of people in a short amount of time. The Law of the Few says that there are exceptional people out there who are capable of starting an epidemic; ABC found them. The Power of Context holds that small changes in the environment can have large effects, especially regarding group dynamics. Gladwell states, “When people are asked to consider evidence or make decisions in a group, they come to very different conclusions than when they are asked the same questions by themselves.” The kind of response that Buffalo experienced didn’t adhere to social expectations. It is not normal to take off work to engage in volunteer work. The mass appeal made by churches and not-for-profit organizations on behalf of the Extreme Makeover effort allowed the power of context to take root. Such was its impact that when Jim McGinnis announced to thousands of
people at The Tabernacle that they had an opportunity to be involved, more than 700 made an on-the-spot decision to participate. Lastly, people want to be part of a good cause. As Brady Connell mentioned, there is an inherent goodness in people; we want to make a difference in the world. That was accentuated in Buffalo because of the unique bond that exists in this City of Good Neighbors. Even though the final, televised cut didn’t focus on the spirit of service that we experienced, as Buffalonians we all know that there is no place like home.
SHARE YOUR OPINION. COMMENT ON THIS ARTICLE AND OTHERS AT THRIVEBUFFALO.ORG
STAYING CONNECTED You can help keep the momentum of service going. Here are six of the main not-for-profit organizations that stepped up to the plate for the makeover. Stay connected and keep the spirit of service alive in Western New York.
THE TABERNACLE WWW.THETAB.ORG Our Primary Message is that of offering love, hope and forgiveness to all. Restoration to our Loving Heavenly Father is possible through the free gift of salvation that is found through the sacrificial and atoning death of Jesus Christ - God’s One and Only Son. Christ willingly gave His life to redeem us. It is our endeavor to transform the region and those of this region, as seen in our mission statement: “We are called by God as a body of believers through our lifestyle of worship to reach every person in Western New York with the message of Jesus Christ, to build a family where one can find healing from brokenness and be discipled into wholeness and life mission for the entire world.” For more information please call 716-675-2888.
BUFFALO REUSE WWW.BUFFALOREUSE.ORG Buffalo ReUse is Western New York’s first and only Green Demolition & Salvage Company. We are fully licensed and insured to demolish houses, garages, additions and barn, but instead of creating tons of debris which is buried in the landfill we use a method of deconstruction which keeps usable materials out of the landfill. Hundreds of things like doors, tubs, sinks, tiles, chandeliers, brick and dimensional lumber are reclaimed or recycled. We bring the usable materials to our ReSource retail store. The revenue generated from the sale of the used building materials funds our community programming and neighborhood revitalization efforts. We are a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. For more information please call 716-885-4131. PUSH BUFFALO -- PEOPLE UNITED FOR SUSTAINABLE HOUSING PUSH Buffalo is a grassroots non-profit community organization working to rebuild the West Side. PUSH organizes residents to confront institutions that perpetuate poverty on the West Side, and too create and implement an action plan for improving the neighborhood. We need everyone’s help because our ideas are better together! Volunteer Coordinator: Whitney Yax PUSHBuffalo.org, 716.884.0356. 36
THRiVE! March / April 2010
RE-TREE WNY WWW.RE-TREEWNY.ORG Re-Tree WNY is an all-volunteer organization that was founded in the wake of the devastating October, 2006 surprise snowstorm. Their goal is to replace 30,000 trees. So far, Re-Tree WNY has reforested the City of Buffalo and 18 surrounding municipalities with 13,070 trees planted along public by-ways and in parks. Re-Tree WNY is supported by tax-deductible donations and grants and is a service of Keep WNY Beautiful, a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit organization. Planting is done in 2 different seasons, fall and spring. The next planting will be Saturday, April 24, 2010. Re-Tree WNY has won the National Arbor Day Foundation project award for 2008. More information on Re-Tree WNY is available at www.re-treewny.org or by calling Paul Maurer, chairman, at (716) 888-9766.
WNY AMERICORPS WWW.WNYAMERICORPS.ORG WNY AmeriCorps, an independent non-profit, creates opportunities for all individuals to serve, challenging citizens to turn their ideals into action and their passion into positive change. Through transformational service and civic responsibility, WNY AmeriCorps is designing a sustainable future for our nation’s communities. For more information please call Patrick Metzger 716-558-3325. POTTER’S HANDS Potter’s Hands provides an avenue and encouragement for men, women, and their families to get involved in acts of service in the community, meeting the physical and spiritual needs of our neighbors who may be facing desperate circumstances while developing spiritual growth in the membership of The Potter’s Hands. Potter’s Hands is a ministry that engages in outreach, construction, and disaster relief in order to use their hands and feet for the advancement of God’s Kingdom. PH touches the lives of individuals whose need is so desperate that it alters their way of life. Their ability to move forward is threatened by their circumstances and they have no other logical means of help. To learn more go to our web page at www.thechapel.com/thepottershands.
THE
SAVING STATLER
PHOTO COURTESY OF DOUGLAS LEVERE DOUGLASLEVERE.COM
BY CATHY LANSKI
THE RISE AND FALL OF BUFFALO’S PAST
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Too late to save the Statler? The Statler Hotel, a Buffalo landmark since 1923, is where Ellsworth M. Statler forever changed American hotel standards. Statler provided amenities such as telephones, closets, desks with writing supplies and a fulllength mirror in every room, all unheard of at that time, even in the nicest of hotels. His biggest innovation was a private bath in every room. He accomplished this by creating the “Statler Plumbing Shaft.” Bathrooms were built back to back and on top of one another, creating a direct vertical shaft from the bottom of the building to the top where plumbing and electrical could be housed. This
The Statler, which cost $8 million to build in 1923, recently sold at auction for $1.3 million to a local investment group invention dramatically increased the quality of the guests’ experience while only increasing construction costs by thirty percent. This enabled Statler to keep his hotel affordable for the middle class. His slogan was “A room and a bath for a dollar and a half.” The Statler’s Niagara Square site once featured the home Millard Fillmore occupied from 1858 to 1874, though the building was razed in 1921 to make room for the hotel. The Statler was run as an independent chain until 1954 when it was purchased by the Hiltons. The Statler Hotel’s registry reflects decades of influential guests including Elvis Presley, Katharine 38
THRiVE! March / April 2010
Hepburn, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Elizabeth Taylor, and Richard Burton. Perhaps the building’s most interesting guests were the peregrine falcons that occupied nest boxes placed there in 1998. They were constructed by the Audubon Society and the Buffalo Ornithological Society. An icon for decades, The Statler’s fortunes began to wane as Buffalo’s economy declined. The building transitioned from hotel to office space beginning in the 1970s, and it changed hands multiple times over the next forty years. Statler purchasers include a group of Kuwaiti businessmen (1981), local investors York Statler, Inc. (1992) and British investor Rashar Issa (2006). Each had big renovation plans but was ultimately unable to keep the Statler running profitably. The Statler, which cost $8 million to build in 1923, recently sold at auction for $1.3 million to a local investment group headed by William Koessler of Park Lane, who was unable to close the sale. It is now in the control of a bankruptcy trustee. Preservation Niagara Buffalo, a non-forprofit corporation formed to protect and revitalize historical or architecturally significant sites in the Buffalo-Niagara ares, has scrambled at the last minute to try to save The Statler, when the latest investors were unable to finance the purchase. PBN nominated The Statler for designation as one of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Eleven Most Endangered Places which would provide national attention and the advocacy that could prevent The Statler’s destruction. Previous “Most Endangered” success stories include The Roycroft Campus, Abraham Lincoln’s cottage and the World Trade Center’s Vesey Street Staircase also known as the survivor’s staircase all of which were saved from demolition after receiving a “most endangered” designation. Quick intervention is needed because, according to PBN, “The building’s pipes have been drained, its boilers
decommissioned, the electricity shut off and the fire suppression system deactivated. The Trustee described these steps as ’mothballing,’ but the actions taken thus far do not meet the National Park Service’s definition, which requires providing adequate ventilation to the interior, periodic maintenance and surveillance monitoring. Without utilities and heat, the building will begin to deteriorate rapidly in Buffalo’s harsh climate, and the cost of repairing what is now a relatively sound building will balloon to an exorbitant amount.” The Statler’s chances for survival are greatly lessened by the improper mothballing process. It is vulnerable to damage by vandals, fire and weather. An unheated building in Buffalo is highly susceptible to mold, which is dangerous and expensive to remediate. Shutting off the electricity and fire alarm and suppression systems make a fire at The Statler an ominous prospect and creates serious danger for firefighters. The latest idea, backed by Congressman Brian Higgins, (D- South Buffalo) is to move the University at Buffalo Law School to The Statler, which would serve the dual purpose of moving the school from the Amherst Campus to the city— a move that was already planned for 2020—and locating law students directly in the City Hall-courthouse hub. The Statler may have been able to limp along while private owners kept the utilities up and running, but without heat and electricity its decline will escalate rapidly. Rehabbing the building will then become prohibitively expensive. While some question the viability of The Statler and the expense associated with maintaining it, a decision must be made soon, before irreparable decay takes root. Its demolition will then become near inevitable, joining the Statler hotels that have already been demolished in Detroit and Hartford.
BY ROBERT STERNS
THE
WALKING ANCIENT PATHS
The world we enter in 2010 is one reeling with uncertainty. From the threat of nuclear war and global economic collapse to the teetering of once stable governments—including our own—the world seems precariously positioned and able to give way at any moment. “The future” has taken on an ominous tone, and people try to buffer themselves with the newest technology. Who would have thought that something not on the bestseller list would be the answer to anything? My friends, could it be that what we’re looking for is not found in what is new, but what is old? Not in what is just discovered, but what is re-discovered after having lain hidden for centuries?
It never ceases to amaze me how, at the beginning of each New Year, there seem to be dozens of new gadgets, ideas or must-read books that promise to be the answer to all our problems. Whether it’s a new phone, philosophy or personal trainer, each January brings with it the next be-all, end-all claim to health, wealth and happiness. Diet books are my favorite. I don’t read them, I mean, but the way they espouse such extreme theories—one says no carbs, another says all carbs—they always manage to make me chuckle as I pass them by in bookstores. With each passing day, it seems people are ever more intent on finding the newest, fastest, smartest trend in which to put their hope.
The wisdom of Solomon tells us it is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings to search it out (Proverbs 25:2). It is the glory of kings to search it out… I have been meditating on these words recently, I believe that 2010 is a year when our searching will lead us to an ancient pathway. The book of Jeremiah chapter 6 verse 16 says, “Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; and you will find rest for your souls.” Rest for our souls, that would be nice. Perhaps our souls need rest more than they need health, wealth or happiness. Perhaps the way to achieve these things has more to do with resting than it does with striving. As with Israel of old, God is inviting men and women today to walk His ancient paths. There is a God who knows us, loves us and invites us to journey
with Him through the uncertainties of life. His are the paths that lead us to the answers we seek. Whatever you are facing now and in the year to come, I want to say to you that in the ancient paths there is forgiveness, there is security, there is meaning and there is peace. Walk in these paths and you will not lose your way.
The world we enter in 2010 is one reeling with uncertainty. From the threat of nuclear war and global economic collapse, to the teetering of once stable governments. Robert Stearns is the founder and executive director of Eagles’ Wings, an international relational network of believers, churches, and ministries committed to the lifestyle of biblical spirituality, the unity of the Body of Christ, and God’s enduring covenant with Israel. He has ministered in 30 nations around the world and maintains a significant burden for the Eastern United States and Israel. Robert also serves as co-chairman of the Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem, and Publisher of KAIROS Magazine. Robert, his wife Ana, and their three sons live in New York, and spend a great deal of time in Jerusalem, Israel.
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March / April 2010 THRiVE!
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from circumstances outside of their control. Whether it is a lost job, health problems or the special needs of a child, it is times like these when we need to come together as a community to lend a hand, and make a plan for a brighter future.
“I believe we are in the midst of a test, a test of our compassion, humility, and faith. Issues such as domestic violence, alcohol, drug use and stress on the family unit are outcomes of failures of this test.” The challenges of the down economy have affected all of us. Our safety net of savings, available credit or family help may be getting us through, but others do not have that security. This results in a struggle for some people to provide for their family’s basic needs. Be aware that these needs exist even among people with whom you have contact with on a daily basis. Try to understand what they are going through and be there to show compassion. Many of these struggles come
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Think about how you would react if someone you only knew by sight came up to you and said, “I heard you lost your job and I want to give you $100 for groceries.” The person offering the help was showing kindness, but the delivery may not have been well received. With all humility you may say, “Oh, that’s okay, I am fine, but I appreciate the gesture.” That in all reality is a lie, but your ego would have gotten the better of you. Many people may need the help but may not be willing to admit it for any number of reasons.
I would like to offer a solution. If we would worked with our communities and churches to set up a “family fund” to be used to help people that we know need it, pastors could effectively bridge the ego abyss. Pastors have a unique way of getting us past our egos and getting right to the quick of the problem. We need to be aware of the people in our lives and make sure they are okay. Let them know you are there for them, ready to help if they need it. Helping means more than just giving money, too. We can help through prayer, lending a listening ear or giving a warm hug and a smile over a cup of hot chocolate.
BY STUART HARPER
POVERTY Being Aware
I believe we are in the midst of a test, of our compassion, humility and faith. Issues such as domestic violence, alcohol, drug use and stress on the family unit are outcomes of failures of this test. I was in the Coast Guard for six years, and we had a saying, “Be aware and be there.” So for us I say, “Be aware and be there for each other.” Today we see many people coming to our food pantry at the Mission who used to be donors. Now the tables have turned and former donors are in need of our services. That is exactly why they should come. We are their safety net. Many of our best friendships are born of hard times; each of us gives up his pride and lets another person give us a hand. I have lived long enough to know that one day we will all need help. I did before and probably will again. God works through us every day, so please be aware of how He wants us to help one another in this very difficult time. Be blessed. Stuart Harper is executive director of the Buffalo City Mission since March of 2008 and prior to that sat on the Mission’s Board of Directors as secretary. Harper held executive posts in Buffalo, Boston, Dallas and New York for large national and international companies. A resident of Elma, Harper lives with his wife Laura and they have three grown children Ben, Lindsay and Anna who live in California and Vermont respectfully and two children at home Stuart Jr. and Macuen who attend Christian Central Academy. His wife Laura is an RN at Buffalo General Hospital. The family attends Crossroads Christian Church where Harper and his wife are on the management team.
EXTREME
CITY MAKE OVER:
COSMETIC OR TRANSFORMATIONAL? BY MATTHEW BROWN The City of Buffalo proved once again why it is called “The City of Good Neighbors” when we rolled out the red carpet for the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition design team. Joined by thousands of volunteers, they arrived to work their magic on a West Side home on Massachusetts Avenue. Hats off to David Stapleton, the President of David Homes, as he and his team did a great job partnering with ABC in making the production in Buffalo a reality. The buzz around the production was electrifying, and it produced positive media coverage for Western New York, which is always warranted and welcomed. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition was a tremendous success and it got me thinking about the community in which we live. In many ways, Western New York is experiencing a long overdue “makeover.” If you dare to look objectively, you will begin to see a transitional region slowly becoming a transformational destination! I contend that improvements in our community are sustainable and are creating an opportunity for additional investment and retail around these transformational destination points. Downtown Buffalo has, in the last twelve to fifteen years, begun to take on signs of vibrant life and culture. A
growing working class and an influx of re-migrated suburbanites into the heart of our city prove the long-term investment strategy is paying low end dividends with a promising future. Investment on the waterfront, in the medical corridor, in new business ventures, apartment lofts, restaurants and housing begin to show signs that our cosmetic upgrade is morphing to sustainable transformation. Universities and colleges are expanding their development footprint and are casting ambitious visions. Buffalo, with its premier academic community, is a world-class city with multiple expressions of God’s humanity from the four corners of the earth. Our path forward does not signal by a long shot that we’ve arrived; we have not, but, we’ve at least turned the ship in the right direction! In spite of historical developmental failures and false starts, this community has rallied to show its indefatigability to move past the arguments of “wide right”, “no goal”, and no bridge! Those historical hang nails are reminders of how far we’ve come. A glorious future beckons our beloved community and a new spirit of vision and commitment is on the horizon. The combined effort of investors, savvy business professionals, mission driven organizations and stable regional and city churches have provided the framework to make a transformational distinction in the City of Buffalo. There are hundreds of projects taking place in the City of Buffalo and more great ideas on the drawing board awaiting resources. Our plight is not a dearth of ideas, nor a desert of creative wasteland; it is our commitment to refuse cosmetic makeovers that do
not provide high-impact contribution to our overall goal of becoming America’s first transformed city! The development of neighborhoods and communities without a coordinated strategy has left in its wake some historical patchwork that marred our city. Without a doubt, the city is in transition which bode well for our future. Transition is not change. It is the change process. Our challenge moving forward is to manage that process and drive it in a coordinated fashion that will combine new technology and energy-efficient smart buildings to save and rehabilitate old housing stock and work with small businesses to invest and grow. The
Buffalo... you’re looking good! “makeover” project was no accident; it was a prophetic statement to the naysayers who prematurely pronounced our city as dead. There are 250,000 reasons that in this city, we choose to live! The Tabernacle of Orchard Park, led by one of the nation’s top pastors, Bishop Tommy Reid, provided a bevy of volunteers and material support to this initiative. Our city is indebted to this venerated leader who continues to look past our cosmetic deficiencies to see our transformational possibility! Buffalo! I see you in the future, and you look much better than you do right now! BTW, you’re looking good!
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more than 200 conversations with all sorts of communities and people. So they helped shape the plan, the community did, of where the University is going. It is very gratifying from my point of view to see the degree of interest and the degree of participation of the community in helping us do this. You mentioned in past speeches how ingrained UB is with the community of Western New York and your commitment to the community. Can you explain further what that commitment has included with some past examples and future plans?
Well, I think the general question about the University’s commitment to the community and the community’s commitment to the University is at a higher level in both directions than what I have experienced in Universities I have worked at before, and those were in California and Washington State. I think in part this reflects maybe changing roles of public Universities but I think it also reflects the special characteristics of Buffalo and Western New York and UB. I think there is a long-standing symbiotic relationship between the public and their University, and it is something to our advantage that I will continue to emphasis and encourage my faculty, staff and students as they understand and are able to participate in. I think it is good for everybody. Good for the folks at the University and good for people in the community who are not directly a part of the University. I think also that there is a substantial history we are building on University participation in the community. If you go back to the founding of the University, it was founded as a medical school because of the perception that the community needed doctors. We provide the lion’s share of the professionals in the community. Whether it’s engineers, attorneys, doctors, dentists or nurses, they by and large overall are being trained at their home-town University. A couple more specific examples are, first, the partnership we have with the Buffalo public schools which James Williams and I have started and support. This is a way to use the University’s resources as appropriate in partnership with the schools. To bring some of the kinds of research and innovation tools we have to bear on issues that the Buffalo public schools want partners and want some assistance on. There is enormous capacity that I think helps in ways such as evaluating how effective particular programs and initiatives are when the Buffalo Public Schools do them. There are other examples of programs that have gone on for a long time that have certainly inundated me, such as our dental clinics, our public housing clinics, ways through the SEPA campaign that UB has a day of caring in the community. There are all sorts of
“Innovation, I think is what will define the economy of the future.”
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View east of proposed Virginia Street extension and McCarley Park
ways in which the University has and will continue to build upon what I think are successful interactions with the community and groups of stakeholders in it. You mentioned the shift from Buffalo moving from a manufacturing economy to a technology and knowledge economy. Can you talk briefly about developments UB is working on in these fields?
I am going to answer in a generic sense and it’s this kind of answer. What research Universities do is innovation. That is what the responsibility of every faculty member is, it’s scholarship. It’s doing things in new and creative and unexplored ways. That is what we do. In a sense every school, every college, every area of endeavor in the University is always working at innovation. Innovation, I think, is what will define the economy of the future. We are past the days when we can have an economy based on our geography, where the natural resources we have available to us are used in manufacturing. Those jobs have by and large gone overseas, and I don’t see them coming back. On the other hand, what is going to lead the economy in the twenty-first century and what America has been so successful at is innovation. The invention of new things, intellectual property, and this is why research Universities are so important, maybe more than they have ever been. Let me put it another way. If you [go] back over the last half century or so since World War II, the federal government has been partnered with universities in research and development, and I think that partnership has underplayed much of the economic prosperity this country has enjoyed because of its never ending ability to do things and to solve problems. That is what the future economy is going to be based on and that is what UB does. Find out the four things President Simpson loves most about living in Western New York by visiting www.thrivebuffalo.org.
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