What’s Next?

We revisit two previous standout conversations: Thomas O’Neil-White and Sheri Scavone, CEO of the WNY Women’s Foundation, and Jay Moran's discussion with Tim Chen, Executive Director of Grassroots Garden WNY.

We celebrate Native American Heritage Month & discuss a recent Haudenosaunee flag raising in Buffalo, Native American boarding schools, and how Native people are represented throughout history and media.

We discuss suspensions in Buffalo Public Schools and the Buffalo Suspension Coalition from three different perspectives.

Dr. Meng Wang and Samantha Hidalgo discuss two new studies conducted to better understand the state of air quality in specific areas of Buffalo, as well as the state of Buffalo’s East Side’s Air Quality.

The Turtle Building in Niagara Falls is an important cultural landmark to the Western New York indigenous community. Today, the building stands vacant.

Today's conversations include the latest edition of Goodskills Career Builder and the recent lawsuit regarding the Kensington Expressway.

Buffalo PAL is dedicated to enriching young lives year-round with sports, educational, cultural, & enrichment programs. Nekia Kemp shares the full lineup of fall programs for Buffalo youth.

Pastor Charles McCarley discusses the role that religious leaders play in the community, & members of the YMCA Buffalo Niagara discuss the upcoming projects the YMCA is bringing to the East and West sides of Buffalo.

Recently, Niagara University partnered with various local housing agencies and the City of Niagara Falls to develop a housing and community assessment of the Mid-City District.

“Resetting The Table” is a national effort to prevent political violence through collaborative discussion. Recently, various local religious and civic leaders joined the initiative.

We revisit a conversation with the Deputy Commissioner of the Erie County Board of Elections. Next, we go back to an installment of our Project 2025 series with guests from the Clementine Gold Group.

On today’s episode, we welcome back Morgan Williams-Bryant, the CEO of Leadership Buffalo, and environmental artist Chantal Calato, whose work has been featured at various exhibits.

What's Next? welcomes the newly appointed 13th President of SUNY Erie, Dr. Adiam Tsegai. Her appointment marks both the first African American and Woman President of SUNY Erie.

We sit with the owners of black-owned Black Rock bakery Radah Baked Goods to discuss their business & community efforts. Then, we welcome Howard Johnson to discuss the importance of voting.

Jay Moran, Thomas O'Neil-White, and Dr. Michael Niman discuss the overall goals of the project, the historical significance of the movement, and the impact the project could have through the lens of media.

On today's episode, we welcome back Duncan Kirkwood, a renowned national resilience trainer and the visionary behind the “Unleash Your Greatness” program, an initiative designed to empower students in Buffalo Public Schools. He’s joined by Katie Schuta, Principal of the Buffalo School of Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management, where this transformative program is being piloted. Together with host Jay Moran, they delve into the profound impact of resilience training on young minds, the unique challenges facing Buffalo schools, and the broader potential of fostering resilience as a core skill in education.

Today, we say farewell to our friend and host Thomas O’Neil-White. For his final interview he sits with Jay Moran to discuss his time as host of What’s Next? his career as a black journalist, and his best moments from his time at WBFO.

On today’s show, we feature two conversations. To start, Jay Moran sits down with Beth Machnica, the Director of Health and Well-Being at Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. The two discuss the upcoming 4th annual “Food as Medicine” symposium, which aims to empower organizations and communities to promote wellness and close the disproportionate health gap in communities of color. For our second conversation, we go back to August when the “What’s Next?” crew attended the Black Business Block Party at the Exchange at Beverly Gray. The team collected interviews with various organizations in attendance and got their insight on the importance of the event.

We revisit two standout conversations. First Thomas O’Neil-White conversation with Buffalo’s first female historian Lindsey Lauren Visser. The two discuss the anniversary of the 19 amendment which gave women the right to vote, and the significant role Buffalo played in the suffragist movement. Then Jay Moran conversation with Licensed Master Social Worker Cheney Brockington. The two discuss generational patterns of trauma in Buffalo, along with the systemic barriers to education that results from them.

We continue our Project 2025 series as Jay Moran is joined by Ekua Mends-Aidoo and Kim LaVare from Clementine Gold Group. Together, they dive into a compelling discussion on the future of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the context of Project 2025. From fostering inclusive leadership to dismantling systemic barriers, the three sheds light on the role of DEI in shaping a more equitable and forward-thinking future.

On today’s show, we welcome Jessica Forgette, an English teacher at Niagara Falls High School. Jessica recently started the Native American Youth Club, a program meant to connect students at Niagara Falls High School to their Indigenous backgrounds by fostering an environment of education and cultural understanding. Alex Simone sat down with her to discuss the club’s mission, her journey with her own Indigenous roots, as well as dive into the world of Native American education in Western New York.

Today, on What’s Next? we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. First, Jay Moran speaks with Dinorah Baines from the Hispanic Heritage Council of WNY Inc. about the rich heritage of Hispanic culture in Western New York and the various celebrations happening throughout the month. Later, Jay Moran is joined by Valerie Cruz and Mykia Gibson from the Buffalo Prenatal Perinatal Network to discuss the critical work of the organization and its impact on the Hispanic community.

For today’s episode, we feature two conversations. To start, Jay Moran sits down with Liv Duke, the Programs & Services Coordinator at Arts Services Inc., and Tracy Synder, the Executive Director of The Theatre of Youth. The three discuss the Arts Access Initiative, a program designed to create wider access to arts and cultural events through transportation, language, and financial assistance. For our second segment, we welcome three members of the UB Center for Information Integrity. Jay Moran is joined by David Castillo, the Co-Director of the Center, along with E. Bruce Pitman and Jasmina Tacheva, who are two speakers for the center's upcoming film screening of “Coded Bias”, a film that discusses the pitfalls of generative AI.

For today’s episode, we feature two conversations. To start us off, we begin with the first episode of our Project 2025 series. The series aims to go in-depth as to what the impact of the Project would look like if implemented. For the first episode of the series, Thomas O’Neil-White is joined by returning guest Wil Green, the Assistant Dean of Outreach and Community Engagement at the Graduate School of Education at UB. The two discuss the potential impact of Project 2025 on education. For our second conversation, we welcome David Castillo, E. Bruce Pitman, and Jasmina Tacheva of the UB Center for Information Integrity. Jay Moran joins the three in a conversation about how misinformation and generative AI can affect access to reputable information on elections, as well as an upcoming film screening of “Coded Bias”, a film that discusses how certain facial recognition programs are not programmed to analyze dark-skinned faces accurately.

Today, we speak with two influential voices in the fight against Parkinson's disease. Nancy Nealon, Director of Education and Outreach for the Northeast Region of the National Parkinson’s Foundation, and Dr. Peggy Brooks-Bertram, President of the Uncrowned Queens Institute and National Parkinson’s Foundation volunteer. They discuss with Jay Moran the critical challenges facing African American communities. And they also discuss the historical exclusion from healthcare and research, and how it affects our understanding of Parkinson’s within these communities.

For today’s episode, we feature two conversations. To start us off, Thomas O’Neil-White is joined by Kelly Wolfe and Stephanie Pepper of the SCPA serving Erie County, as well as Racheal Tarapacki of the Resource Council of WNY. The four discuss a $100,000 incubator grant awarded to the SPCA, and how both groups plan on creating better access to veterinary resources in the East Side of Buffalo. For our second segment, Thomas O’Neil-White sits down with Sheri Scavone, the CEO of the Western New York Women’s Foundation. The two analyze a report from the foundation that details some of the issues that women in WNY are facing through data-driven metrics.

The 6th Annual Refugee Film Festival is more than just a series of screenings—it's a powerful platform that highlights the voices, stories, and resilience of refugees from across the globe. Running from this month through April 2025, the festival brings the lived experiences of displaced people into focus, sparking conversation and understanding. On today’s show, host Jay Moran sits down with two incredible guests: Theresa DeLuca, Chief Advancement Officer at Journey’s End Refugee Services, and Andy Cammarata, Director of Outreach and Volunteers at the organization. Together, they discuss the impact of the festival, and the mission behind their work.

The second annual FIG Fashion Festival is this Saturday at the iconic Seneca One Tower. The event looks to build off the promising launch of the event last year. On today’s show, we welcome back Dame Powell owner of DAME, a luxury leather goods brand in Buffalo. His mission “To empower & inspire our community by creating timeless pieces that blend urban edge with sophisticated elegance. We strive to bring a touch of luxury to the everyday, and to be a beacon of pride for our city and our culture. He sits with Jay Moran to discuss his thoughts his involvement in the first show and his return to for the second event.

People Against Trafficking Humans (PATH) is a faith-based nonprofit organization dedicated to ending human trafficking through education, prevention, and restoration. On today’s show, we’re joined by Julie Palmer, the Executive Director of PATH. Under her leadership, the organization has built a dedicated staff, established a survivor support fund, and increased public awareness of trafficking issues. Julie sits down with Jay Moran to discuss PATH’s work and the Enrichment Center, a safe space where survivors receive therapeutic support services, fostering healing and hope.

Recently, the Lackwanna School District implemented a cell phone ban for all its students. The ban aims to create fewer distractions and improve academic performance. On today’s show, we welcome Dr. Katheryne Leigh-Osroosh, an assistant professor of counseling, school and educational psychology at the University at Buffalo. She joins Jay Moran to talk about the pros and cons of the ban, including the psychological and social impact of the ban, particularly for students who rely on their phones or social media as key aspects of their identity.

Transportation inequality restricts access to jobs and key services for community members. Go Bike and the Coalition of Economic Justice are two groups that aim to change the system through their transit initiatives and legislative recommendations. On today’s show, we welcome Justin Booth, the executive director of Go Bike, Kevin Heffernan, the communications director of Go Bike, and Jamal Davis, a transit rider organizer for the Coalition of Economic Justice. The three sit down with Thomas O-Neil-White to discuss what better transportation safety looks like, and how better access to transportation can be achieved.

The Neighborhood Health Center is a vital healthcare provider in Buffalo dedicated to ensuring that every community member has access to quality medical services, regardless of their financial situation. Today we welcome Merlyn Hammer, the Senior Director of Public Health at Neighborhood Health Center. She sits down with Jay Moran to discuss the state of health equity in Buffalo, the challenges some residents face, and the solutions Neighborhood Health Center has developed to make healthcare accessible to all.

It’s back-to-school season! Recently, Thomas O’Neil-White hosted a Buffalo Public Schools roundtable discussion, which featured conversations on educational opportunity gaps, student mental health, and safety across all campuses. On today’s show, we welcome Jessica Bauer Walker, President of Buffalo Public Schools Community Health Worker Parent and Student Association, Danielle Grzymala, co-chair of the Buffalo Parent Teacher Organization, and Ed Speidel, the president of the District Parent Coordinating Council. All three are members of the BPS Parent Congress. We also welcome two BPS students, to get their insight on the issues they face, and the communication between them, their parents, and the district.

On today’s show, we speak with Tim Chen, Executive Director of Grassroots Garden WNY. Grassroots Garden is a dedicated group of community gardeners and activists in Western New York. Their mission is to address systemic harm and enhance neighborhood ties through their community garden project. Chen sits with Jay Moran to discuss the organization’s recent Soil Health Symposium, which is meant to educate the local community on soil screening and safety. They also explore the organization’s dedication to community development and environmental equity.

Today we welcome representatives of Niagara University Dr. Karen Kwandrans, Associate Vice President, and Rhonda Bivins-Talley, the Executive Director of the Levesque Institute. The Levesque Institute is an organization at the University that aims to generate civic engagement and make an impact in the revitalization of Niagara Falls. The two sit with Jay Moran to discuss how the Levesque Institute leverages its resources and influence to foster positive, sustainable change. They also explore the innovative programs and initiatives they've developed and their vision for the future of Niagara Falls.

Today welcome Mark Laurrie, the Superintendent of Niagara Falls Schools, and Dave Rust, the CEO of Say Yes Buffalo. The two join Jay Moran to discuss Say Yes’s recent expansion to Niagara Falls, and how the program will give hundreds of Niagara Falls students the chance to pursue higher education. The Niagara Falls Say Yes expansion is slated to start during the 2025 academic year, and the necessary endowment funding for the project sits at $18 Million.

On today's show, we welcome Cheney Brockington. Cheney is a licensed master social worker and an Erie County Restorative Justice Coalition board member. She sits down with Jay Moran to discuss generational patterns of trauma in Buffalo, along with the systemic barriers to education that results from them. They also dive into the work of ECMC's Buffalo Rising Against Violence Program, Buffalo's only hospital-based violence intervention program.

Recently, the What’s Next? team traveled to Jamestown, New York, to meet with members of the Sukanya Burman Dance Company. The group is a key force behind the upcoming Jamestown Dance Festival, set to take place from September 7th through the 8th. The festival promises a diverse lineup of nationally renowned dance performances, workshops, and panel discussions. Today, we welcome Sukanya Burman, the Artistic Director, and Daryl Simons, the Executive Director of Sukanya Burman Dance, along with two board members, Amanda Gesing and Ellen Shadle. They join Jay Moran in the Sukanya Burman Dance studios to discuss the significance of hosting the event in Jamestown, the importance of nurturing the local dance scene, and the rich history of the dance.

We revisit a standout conversation and follow up with a new discussion with the City of Buffalo Historian and Executive Director of the Niagara Aerospace Museum Lindsey Lauren Visser. First, we revisit the first time Lindsey Lauren Visser joined the show back in March. Thomas O’Neil-White sat down with her to discuss her newly appointed role, what we can expect from the position and some of Buffalo's local connections to national history. For our second conversation, the two spoke recently on the 104th anniversary of the passing of the 19th Amendment which gave women the right to vote. They discuss the Suffragist movement, and how Buffalo helped contribute to its success.

Today, we speak with Karen King, the Commissioner of Public Advocacy and also serves as the Executive Director of the Commission on the Status of Women. The Commission will celebrate and commemorate the placement of the “Trailblazing Women Monuments” in front of Old County Hall at 92 Franklin St. in downtown Buffalo. Karen joins Jay Moran to discuss the significance of these monuments and the vital roles women play in government, politics, and beyond.

The 8th Annual Beau Fleuve Music and Arts Celebration kicks off today and runs through Sunday, August 25, at the historic Buffalo Central Terminal. With the motto "Culturally Activated & Community Engaged," this event promises a vibrant showcase of art and music. On today’s show, we’re joined by Lindsey Taylor, the founder of Beau Fleuve, to discuss the multifaceted nature of the organization, and the recent announcement concerning Gibson Development.

This Sunday on WNED PBS, the powerful documentary Sold Next Door will air, sharing the stories of two women who have been victimized by human trafficking in Western New York. On today’s show, we speak with Kelly Diane Galloway, the founding director and president of Project Mona’s House. She sits down with Jay Moran to discuss the documentary and the vital work the organization is doing in the fight against human trafficking.

We revisit two standout conversations. First, Jay Moran sits down with Marie Patton, the vice president of the National Association of Women in Construction’s Buffalo Niagara chapter. They discuss how the construction workforce population still has a very small portion of women, and how the organizations she’s a part of are looking to fix that. Then, we rewind to a conversation Jay Moran had with Bob James of Western New York Vets and Carolyn Damon of Spectrum CARES. The three speak about mental health first responders and the importance of having them as a resource.

We revisit two standout conversations. First, Thomas O’Neil White sits down with Alex Burgos, a public health policy and public relations professional. They discuss how to fill the gaps in youth and sport programs on Buffalo’s West Side, and how to develop policies to increase accessibility to programs. Then, we go back to a conversation Jay Moran had with Dr. Henry Louis Taylor Jr, the director of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at the University at Buffalo. The two take a deep dive into two reports that Dr. Taylor previously worked on, “How we Change the Black East Side” and “The Harder We Run: The State of Buffalo in 1990 and the Present”, and how the community can benefit from the changes presented in them.

We revisit two standout conversations. Starting with Jay Moran’s talk with Marcus Watson, an Associate Professor of African Studies and Individualized Studies at Buffalo State University. They discuss his intro to Africana Studies courses, as well as his work in the Peace Corps while in South Africa, shortly after Apartheid. Then, Thomas O’Neil-White sits down with Rashawn Smalls, the program manager for Tobacco-Free Erie and Niagara through CAI Global. The two talk about what it means to advance tobacco-free communities, including eliminating secondhand smoke and creating overall healthy environments.

We revisit two standout conversations. Starting with a Jay Moran talk with Deja Middlebrook and LaShawn Davis of Walking Through Solutions LLC. The three discuss the group’s four-week couple’s bootcamps, and how they are designed to strengthen relationships and navigate issues. Then, Jay Moran speaks with Andre Stokes, the Director of Specialty Substance Use Disorder Services at BestSelf Behavioral Health. They dive into what the stigma of men’s mental health looks like, and how it correlates to substance abuse.

We revisit two standout conversations. Starting with a Thomas O’Neil-White discussion with Seamus Gallivan, founder of "Reconnector" about the initiative and how the “social connection space” aims to prevent social unrest. Then, Thomas O’Neil-White sits down with the City of Buffalo's Historian Lindsey Lauren Visser, the first female to serve in the role to talk about her appointment and the importance of the position.

We revisit Thomas O'Neil-White conversation with University at Buffalo's Associate Professor and Director of the Center for K through 12 Black History and Racial Literacy Dr. LaGarrett King. We then follow up with LaGarrett with Jay Moran as this Friday is the start of seventh Teaching Black History Conference with this year's theme being “Black to the Future: Afro-futurism as Black History”.

We revisit two stand out conversations. First Jay Moran’s conversation with Community and Public Relations Director for Evans Bank, Kathleen Rizzo Young, and the President and CEO of United Way of Buffalo, Trina Burruss. Then, Executive Director of Buffalo Educational Opportunity Center at the University at Buffalo Ben Hilligas.

Cooperation Buffalo is an organization that engages its community in training and education in cooperative economics, works to grow economic democracy, and creates an ecosystem of cooperatively owned enterprises in Buffalo. Today, we welcome Executive Director Andrew Delmonte to the show. They sit down with Jay Moran to give us a history of the organization, its mission, and why cooperative businesses are important for community economic development. The two also discuss Cooperative Changemakers: A Community Power Fellowship program and their end of Summer Bash called “Co-Op Fest”.