Buffalo, NY - Mayor Byron W. Brown, Police Commissioner Byron C. Lockwood, and the Buffalo Police Department Neighborhood Engagement Team (BPDNET) launched a pilot community job fair program today on Goodyear Avenue, introducing job seeking residents from the Genesee-Moselle neighborhood to potential employers. The goal of the event was to connect residents of this economically challenged neighborhood with job opportunities by bringing employers directly to the area.
“I am pleased to partner with Commissioner Byron Lockwood and the Buffalo Police Department Neighborhood Engagement Team on this unique job fair that brings potential employers to job-seeking residents. In my continued effort to make Buffalo a city of opportunity for all people, my goal is to assist residents in every section of the City with employment and training opportunities,” said Mayor Brown.
This was Mayor Brown and the BPDNET’s second visit to the Goodyear Avenue neighborhood in less than two months. In June, under the direction of Mayor Brown and Commissioner Lockwood, the BPDNET kicked off a 100 day detail on Goodyear Avenue, which focused on targeted neighborhoods. Over a 100 day period, the officers plan to spend two weeks in each neighborhood, engaging youth and their families in a number of activities, from cookouts, soccer clinics and bike rodeos. Rolling back to Goodyear Avenue by hosting today’s job fair is part of Mayor Brown’s continued plan to further improve community and police relations, as well as bring new opportunities to all people.
Police Commissioner Lockwood stated, “Our BPDNET program, launched just in June, has seen great success in the community. We have hosted a number of events within different communities across the City with the continued goal of improving relations between police officers and the public. Our ultimate objective is to strengthen our neighborhoods in Buffalo, and we recognize the best way to do that is to connect people with meaningful jobs. This is why our job fair today was so important, bringing jobs right to the hardworking people of our City’s neighborhoods.”
A number of participants were present at today’s job fair, including Mayor Byron Brown, Commissioner Byron Lockwood, BPDNET, BETC, M&T Bank, Seneca Nation of Indians, AMR, ECC, NYS Department of Labor, and NFTA. Today’s event is the first in a series of potential in-the-community job fairs, targeting economically challenged areas. The goal of these events is to further build and strengthen neighborhoods and encourage equal access to financial security throughout our City.