Community Academic Center marks first year

By Shari Ingles and Mauree Vitali
BengalNews Reporters
      A half a dozen wiggling children in the Community Academic Center’s visual arts program could be seen through the storefront window molding clay. However, there is more being molded inside than just clay.
       Since the CAC opened last November, on 214 Grant St., it has molded the minds of youth and is continuing to build bonds of trust with several populations including other community organizations, neighborhood parents and children, and Buffalo State College students. 
     In doing this, the CAC has furthered its mission to coordinate and provide cradle-to-career educational support programming for youth and families on the West Side. Their mission has been made possible thanks to a $500,000 donation from Buffalo State College, class of 1950, graduate, Eleanore Woods Beals and her husband Vaughn Beals.
      According to the CAC’s page on Buffalo State’s website, “The CAC is jointly operated by Buffalo State's Center for Excellence in Rural and Urban Education and the This connection proved to be an advantage when it came to building trust and collaboration with other community organizations. Gaining the trust of parents proved to be more difficult. 
     “Since our program is so new, it can be challenging to convince parents in the West Side that we’re credible,” said Buffalo State AmeriCorps Community Service After-School CAC Volunteer, Marshay Berry, as she walked to the Grant Street Neighborhood Center to gather participants for the CAC’s evening activity. Berry explained that the CAC works directly with well-established community groups such as the Grant Street Neighborhood Center, the Asarese-Matters Community Center, and Journey’s End Refugee Services. According to Berry, these bonds have greatly boosted CAC’s image as a reliable organization.
      “Parents don’t want their kids to be supervised by just anyone,” said Berry. “Fortunately, our partnerships with other West Side organizations have really helped us to succeed in our goal of becoming a community organization that’s seen as credible.”
      Although the CAC has successfully gained the trust of surrounding community organizations, parents and children of the West Side, it is still struggling to earn the trust of Buffalo State students. The CAC is struggling to do this because of the popular student perception that Grant Street is a dangerous place to be. Berry believes this is a poorly founded misconception. 
     

 -->Employees of the Community Academic Center located, on 214 Grant St., discuss the misconceptions of Grant Street and how the CAC is working to improve relations with Buffalo State College.

      Berry said that in order to overcome the negative perception of Grant Street; students need to be exposed to more of the positive things that are happening in the area. The CAC already boasts a variety of volunteer opportunities for Buffalo State students, including Berry’s own position with the CAC. 
     However, Berry thinks that more can be done. She would like to see students take charge and experience Grant Street for themselves, so that their positive word-of-mouth can help engage other students. 
     Program Coordinator of the CAC, Maureen McCarthy, said the portion of Grant Street closest to Buffalo State is arguably the most intense area of the street; but she has never felt unsafe in the part of Grant Street where the CAC is located.
      “Crime only happens in areas where people aren’t paying attention,” said McCarthy. She agrees with Berry that securing the trust and confidence of Buffalo State students is the key to establishing the success of both the CAC and of the West Side.
      “We’re not there to just sit and judge, but definitely to be a part of and help the change that is happening with our youth and with our community,” said Berry. “I was one of those students who was unaware of the great things that were happening on Grant, but my eyes have definitely been opened in this position.” Edited by Jasmine Willis