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M&T Charitable Foundation Sees BCAT as Key to Strengthening Community  

When Buffalo Center for Arts & Technology was still in the idea stage more than a decade ago, M&T Bank was part of the founding group of funders that helped bring the arts and technology nonprofit to Buffalo after learning about its success in Pittsburgh.  Along with First Niagara Foundation, The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, and The John R. Oishei Foundation, M&T believed that the model could help build brighter futures for both high school and adult students. 

“M&T Bank’s mission is to strengthen the communities where we operate,” says Don Elick, Senior Vice President, Regional Manager for the M&T Charitable Foundation, “and BCAT does just that by providing a practical pathway to strong futures and jobs that offer family sustaining wages.” 

BCAT’s high school afterschool program, with its focus on the arts also aligns with M&T Bank, according to Elick, sharing that the bank has a long history of supporting arts and cultural institutions. He adds that the arts play a transformative role for young people in building confidence and helping them choose their future pathways. 

Elick notes that BCAT continues to adapt to the needs of the community by expanding their offerings. While first focusing on Allied Health training, BCAT has more recently added technology training for adult students. “There are not enough trained professionals for tech jobs in the area. BCAT’s focus on this training is something that can benefit M&T directly, and more importantly, benefit our region by building a pipeline of future employees for in-demand jobs. 

M&T Bank has furthered its support by contributing the BCAT’s Capital Campaign to provide funding for the recent move to its new East Side location at 368 Sycamore Street.  “We are so excited about the new location that provides room for BCAT to expand. They have demonstrated proven impact and we are very happy to help them increase capacity to train more students and provide opportunities for strong futures that benefit individuals and the entire community,” added Elick.

Partnership Addresses Healthcare Worker Shortage

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When Dr. Ian Barrett, Executive Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer with Kaleida Health, describes the urgent need for healthcare workers, he points to the pandemic as a key turning point. “While we had gaps in our healthcare workforce before COVID, we now have craters,” he says, noting that retirements and those seeking new careers increased, leaving healthcare institutions looking for new ways to recruit and train talent. 

That need for workers led to a new partnership with Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology (BCAT) and its Certified Medical Administrative Assistance training program, bringing greater connection between those seeking jobs and a key local healthcare employer. 

Kaleida and BCAT began discussion about a partnership in mid-2024 and the first cohort of adult students are now enrolled in the class that is designed with significant input from Kaleida. The curriculum aligns with Kaleida’s specific needs, meaning BCAT students will graduate with the critical training required by the healthcare institution. 

As part of the partnership, Kaleida will provide guest speakers to the class, providing more clarity to students about specific job opportunities once they graduate. In addition, Kaleida will give students opportunities for site visits so that students can meet professionals in their field and experience jobs firsthand in preparation for seeking and accepting positions after completing BCAT’s training.  

“Our goal is to hire 100 percent of BCAT students who successfully complete the class and demonstrate they have the necessary skills,” adds Barrett, “BCAT has been so flexible in designing the class that we know these students will have the training necessary to step into jobs.” He adds that the partnership and the relationships that will develop will make it easier to connect students to opportunities and the job interviews that will likely lead to employment. 

With nearly 85 percent of BCAT’s adult students graduating and gaining the appropriate certification in their field, BCAT is confident that their students are well prepared for jobs.  Now, by partnering with Kaleida, students will have direct access to job openings and can begin building great careers, benefiting both BCAT students and our local healthcare sector. 

Community Member’s Support for BCAT Continues to Grow

When Stephanie Rivera, owner of Half Luna Empanadas, was recruited by a friend and colleague to serve on the BCAT board, she was somewhat familiar with the organization and as she learned more, she realized how much BCAT’s work aligned with her interests and values. 

Stephanie learned about BCAT’s high school afterschool program from a friend’s Instagram post about her daughter helping to create a beautiful outdoor mural. Rivera then discovered BCAT’s Adult Workforce Program and began to refer the parents of her students from her previous not-for-profit job to BCAT as a possible option for workforce training. She was so impressed with what BCAT has to offer and how community-centric they are that she accepted a role on the board and has become a BCAT champion ever since.

BCAT’s recent move to 368 Sycamore Street on Buffalo’s East side cemented Rivera’s respect for BCAT. According to Rivera, “BCAT walks the walk. Moving to the East Side demonstrates their commitment to the community despite the fact that they had to overcome many challenges to do so. Most importantly, they were very intentional in meeting with community members to gain understanding, ask how they can help, and build trust – that speaks volumes!”

Rivera connects her work with BCAT to her personal experience as she recounts how the arts kept her engaged in school as BCAT’s high school afterschool program does for its students. She also sees the adult workforce program as a pathway to better jobs and careers for many and notes that her parents did not have access to similar programs when they initially moved to Bufalo years ago.

Having served as a board member since 2022 Rivera is now lending her time and talents to serving on the BCAT’s Leadership Cabinet for the Capital Campaign and is working to recruit young leaders to help support the organization. 

“BCAT made a choice to support the community,” says Rivera referring to the East Side move, “they put the work in and it is great to be around those who want to see others succeed – it is inspiring and empowering.” 

 

Erie County Awards BCAT Cultural Grant

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BUFFALO CENTER FOR ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY POWERS UP WITH ERIE COUNTY CULTURAL CAPITAL GRANT

 

ERIE COUNTY, NY, December 11, 2024 — The Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology, at home in their new East Side facility on Sycamore Street in Buffalo, will be helping more students and adults seeking career advancement thanks to a $189,350 Erie County cultural capital grant that funded information technology equipment at the site. The Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology (“BCAT”) offers two cost-free programs designed to provide tools, support, and opportunities for students to realize their potential and create positive futures. Today, Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz joined BCAT Board Chair Dr. Michael Cropp, BCAT President and CEO Gina Burkhardt, and Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Environment and Planning Thomas Baines to discuss the grant and how it will assist BCAT in helping students realize their career goals.

“The Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology provides the education and environment that students need to succeed and to build a future for themselves, whether they are adults needing workforce training and upskilling to move into a new job or high school students who want to stay in school and explore pathways into careers that interest them,” said Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz. “Using a cultural capital grant to invest in IT here is not only an investment in BCAT, but also an investment in Erie County residents. We are building a stronger community with these investments.”

The cultural capital grant funded the purchase of three servers with firewall and switches, seventy PC workstations, and twenty Mac workstations; the procurement of interactive boards, smart displays, teleconferencing, document cameras, and Audiovisual equipment is in progress.

Offered in a welcoming, supportive, and inspiring environment, BCAT’s cost-free programs are designed to provide tools, support, and opportunities for our students to realize their potential and create positive futures:

  • BCAT’s adult workforce training programs lead to nationally recognized certifications and meaningful employment with family-sustaining wages.
  • BCAT’s high school arts and technology afterschool program motivates students to stay in school and graduate with an actionable pathway into college and fulfilling careers.

“BCAT students bring tenacity, creativity, and ambition but often face significant barriers including limited resources and tools,” said Gina Burkhardt, President and CEO of the Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology. “Thanks to Erie County’s Cultural Capital Grant, our new East Side facility is now fully equipped with essential technology—from computers and networks to security and networking systems. This investment not only supports free, high-quality programs but also sends a powerful message to our students: they are valued, and their futures matter. We deeply appreciate Erie County’s support for our students in their efforts to create successful futures for themselves and their families.”

For more information from Erie County visit on the Department of Environment and Planning, visit https://www3.erie.gov/environment/

A Conversation with Adult Workforce Student Graduate, Teria Newell

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Teria Newell came to BCAT after looking at many other programs and colleges for phlebotomy. She selected BCAT on the recommendation of her niece who said, “Aunty, the program is amazing, encouraging and free!”

Teria’s niece is a graduate of BCAT’s sterile processing program, so she knew firsthand the impact BCAT can have on someone’s career.

On July 29, Teria earned her national certification in phlebotomy after completed her coursework at BCAT.  She is actively looking for a job with the long-term goal of becoming a nurse.

“Coming to BCAT was definitely the right choice, “said Teria. “At BCAT they actually care about you and want to make sure you exceed not only in the program that you are participating in, but in life after as well.”

Teria said she is proud to be a graduate of BCAT and is looking forward to helping others in the phlebotomy program. “Ms. Porter is a huge inspiration. She cares about each and every single last student in her program. Ms. Porters make sure everyone will make it and succeed. I thank her for being hard on us and giving us that push we needed.”

From all of us at BCAT, we are so proud of you Teria!

A new path forward for career development and park conservancy

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JUNE 28, 2021 — Featured in Buffalo Magazine’s July issue.

Quentin Jackson never imagined he’d play a role in beautifying the neighborhood park he jogged through nearly every day growing up on Buffalo’s East Side.

Jackson, 55, could see Martin Luther King Jr. Park as a kid from his father’s house at the corner of Fillmore and North Parade avenues and had always admired its beauty. Back then, his dreams centered on becoming a professional basketball player, but life got in the way. He was recently working on some odd landscaping jobs when a friend told him about the new Landscape Maintenance Technician program, a partnership between the Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology (BCAT) and the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy.

Jackson enrolled in January as one of 11 attendees of the program’s first class—and after 12 weeks of classroom instruction and field training, the conservancy hired him to prune, mow and maintain the same park he spent so much time enjoying as a child. He arrives at 6:30 every morning, a half-hour before everyone else, to beautify the park in the shadow of his father’s old house.

“It’s gratifying for me to keep this going. We have something here that’s nice and beautiful, especially in the inner city,” Jackson said. “I’m a part of that.”

Bank of America Awards BCAT with Funding to Support Economic Mobility Initiatives

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BUFFALO, JUNE 3, 2021 —  This past March, BCAT announced a new scholarship-based medical billing and insurance upskill preparation program. This initiative is generously funded by Bank of America and will increase access and opportunity for adults looking to grow their careers in high-demand health care fields. Additional funding was provided by Bank of America this June.

“BCAT is proud to offer a course that includes the essential and additional skills adults currently working in health care need to advance their careers,” said Gina Burkhardt, CEO, BCAT.  “We are so very appreciative of Bank of America’s support and commitment to increasing employment opportunities for adults, job stability, and the ability to attain a family-sustaining wage more quickly.”

The program includes 120 hours of classroom instruction at BCAT in areas such as technical education, certified billing exam preparation, and work-readiness skills needed to ensure students are better prepared to navigate and excel in today’s workforce.

“Bank of America is dedicated to driving economic mobility and social progress in Buffalo, especially at a time when the tireless work of our healthcare professionals is of critical importance,” said Ted Janicki, Buffalo market president for Bank of America. “This innovative program will create new opportunities for adults in the medical field, including a path to family-sustaining wages and stable employment. We are grateful for our partnership with BCAT and we look forward to seeing this collaborative program come to fruition.”

For the inaugural class, BCAT will be accepting 12 adults with the first course running from March to September 2021. A second course will be offered from October to April in 2022. Both workforce development programs will be held in the evenings to accommodate work and family schedules. Interested candidates should apply at bufcat.org/apply-now.