Division of Citizen Services Team

Oswaldo Mestre was born in the heart of Spanish Harlem, NYC, and raised by his mother, Isabella. The eldest of four, he received his primary, secondary, and higher education all at public institutions. While at UB, Mestre’s concentration was Architecture and Public Policy & Administration. An advocate for the youth, Director Mestre is the founder of the Donald M. Dade Learning Through Service Initiative, in honor of his late mentor who was a World War II veteran and director of C.R.U.C.I.A.L. Human Services. Appointed by Mayor Byron W. Brown in 2006, Oswaldo was named Director of the Division of Citizen Services and tasked with developing what’s now known as the 3-1-1 Call & Resolution Center. Additionally, Director Mestre is responsible for the staff who coordinates a number of ancillary services to educate and coach residents of Buffalo such as Citizen’s Participation Academy,  the Community Crime Prevention Initiative, the Anti-Graffiti & Clean City Program, and the Save our Streets Task Force. Recently, he was named Chief Service Officer for the City and currently sponsors Project M.O.V.E., incorporating 13 AmeriCorps V.I.S.T.A. members, making Buffalo City Hall one of 10 cities nation-wide utilizing such a program. 

Director Mestre full bio

Born in Queens, NY she spent time between both cities before settling in Buffalo. She received a Bachelors degree in Sociology, and a Masters's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. Nicole is a Marriage and Family Therapist that serves as the Confidential Assistant within the Division. One of her main focal points is community engagement which she facilitates by crafting different media, promoting communication with block chats and organizations, and other methods that help to connect the city to the community. Her second focus is on promoting mental health & wellness. She is certified in mental health first aid and has written countless articles about health & wellness, and facilitates health and wellness initiatives. She volunteers with The Healing Hub NY, an organization that offers help and healing to those afflicted by trauma. 

Nicole is also an avid supporter of entrepreneurship and equity and serves as a mentor in a local organization.  She is also the co-owner of a retail business & the co-founder of another new up-and-coming wellness corp.

Throughout his life, Michael Smith has shown an aptitude to serve and help others. He has donated much of his time to participating in efforts to benefit the residents of Buffalo. He has done this through participating in food drives, creating and assisting with grant applications, and leading city clean-up efforts.  

After graduating from SUNY Buffalo State College with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration, he enrolled in the AmeriCorps Project M.O.V.E program under Director Oswaldo Mestre.  Through his service year, he faithfully served his hometown of Buffalo N.Y. both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as collaborated with his colleagues to help create several policies that address the sociopolitical disparities faced by marginalized groups.  Additionally, he has organized funds for the purpose of creating/ distributing PPE and facilitated a food drive to mitigate food insecurity for families in need.  As a result of his efforts, he was credited for empowering community organizations to serve each other, which continues to be a focus of his work today. 

Michael has demonstrated a dedication to helping serve his community and the City of Buffalo and has proven to be an asset to the Division of Citizen Services.

Malika D. Lee was born and raised in Buffalo, NY, and has strong ties to her community. Lee credits the Mayor’s Summer Youth Program, where she was given the opportunity to intern in the City’s common council office, with developing her love for neighborhood and community. After graduating from McKinley High School (c/o ’09) she went on to attend the University of Hartford (c/o ’13), in Hartford, CT., where her concentration was Politics and Government. Lee took her concertation and infused her learning with sociology to better understand the lasting societal effects on disenfranchised and marginalized communities. After graduating, Lee returned home to Buffalo. Lee has over 10 years’ worth of experience working with diverse populations, community engagement, and program development. 

Ronald J. Dixon is the newly appointed Special Project Manager of Crime Prevention for the City of Buffalo under the direction of the Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency (BURA). He is currently implementing an initiative called Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED). This initiative is aimed towards community organizations, community businesses and law enforcers working together to create a development that will lower the crime rate.  Ron has an Associate of Science in Business Administration from Louisburg College, a private Christian school. He has obtained a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Plattsburgh University. Ron has a background in state government administration, data analytics, grant procurement and program oversight/management.  He is newly engaged and is the proud father of an eight-year-old daughter. Ronald is a Minister in training at Impacting Love Global Ministries under the direction of Apostle Garney Davis Jr. In 2020, Ron assisted in leading a one-hundred-man march where he compiled data from the citizens and listed thirty-three legislative agendas that contributed to the Buffalo Police Reform. He also received the 2020 International Mason Leadership Award and the 30 under 30 Changemaker Award in the category of Political and Community Engagement. Ron has a heart for the community, and his goal is to create equitable and sustainable programming from the city government that will push to evolve the city of good neighbors. Ronald J. Dixon believes life is measured in levels, and each level demands a different version of oneself so you must always re-examine your motives and commit one’s action to something greater than oneself pushing yourself to become a champion of causes. He holds firm to the quote that “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” 

Robert was born and raised in Western New York and has been a resident of the city of Buffalo for over 20 years.  Robert has a proven track record of producing results and increasing accountability in his 17 years of working for the City of Buffalo.  One of Robert’s many responsibilities was to assist in overseeing the conversion of the Mayor’s Complaint Line into the award winning Buffalo 311 Call & Resolution Center.  The Buffalo 311 system simplifies and shortens the time between a resident reporting a problem and receiving a resolution, while improving the delivery of City services both in terms of quantity and quality.  Robert has an Honors degree in Business Administration.

Ms. Hopson-Clemons has worked over 30 years in the human resources field and has been involved in the community for over 20 years.  She is the Program Director of the Masten Block Club Coalition, Inc. and Vice President of the Board of Block Clubs of Buffalo & Erie County, Inc.  Also, to her credit, she sits on numerous committees and boards, such as the Regional Anti-Graffiti Task Force, Crime Prevention Association of WNY, Groundwork Buffalo, Citizen Advisory Group to the Police Commission and more.  Ms. Hopson-Clemons is a certified trainer in Neighborhood Crime Watch & Prevention and Disaster Preparedness, and is certified in CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design), Mediation/Conflict Resolution and CERTS (Community Emergency Response Team) and has been trained in CATs eye (Community Anti-Terrorism). Through her community involvement, she works closely with elected officials and law enforcement.  Ms. Hopson-Clemons is a mother of two, and a grandmother of five and a great-grandmother of one.  She is a graduate of Bennett High School and Bryant & Stratton College with an AAS in Business Management Administration.