Common Ground Discussion: September 24, 2025

Common Ground 9/24/25 Event Summary:

Key themes and feedback from organizers and attendees.

The second Common Ground discussion was held on September 24, 2025, at the Buffalo Museum of Science, bringing together community leaders and emerging professionals to address the critical need for developing the next generation of stewards and leaders in Buffalo. The event was a collaboration between Aleron and Leadership Buffalo, building on the foundation laid during the first session in June.

The conversation included feedback from all attendees through audience polling. The polls and results can be viewed here.

Key Theme: Creating Community Stewards

The central focus remained on solving one specific challenge: the absence of a structured process for creating the next generation of community stewards and leaders for the Buffalo region. The conversation emphasized that stewardship encompasses more than just board positions—it includes volunteering, community engagement, and any commitment of time to support organizations that benefit the region.

Participant Insights: Current State of Leadership

Community Leadership Characteristics (Word Cloud Results): The most prominent terms that emerged when participants described Buffalo’s community leadership were:

  • Overstretched – reflecting the reality that the same small group of people serves across multiple organizations
  • Old – indicating both age demographics and outdated approaches
  • Siloed – highlighting the lack of collaboration between organizations
  • Afraid – suggesting fear of taking risks and intimidation by the city’s historic legacy
  • Fractured – pointing to disconnected efforts and competing rather than collaborating

Major Barriers Identified

Primary Obstacles to Community Engagement:

  1. Organizations feel exclusive or hard to enter (16 responses) – The most significant barrier
  2. Lack of awareness about opportunities and how to get involved
  3. Time constraints and competing priorities
  4. Financial barriers to traditional philanthropic engagement
  5. Limited capacity for authentic mentorship

Generational Challenges:

  • Established leaders ready to pass the baton but unsure who to approach
  • Younger generations interested in engagement but lacking clear entry points
  • Communication style differences between generations
  • Need for updated access points beyond traditional galas and formal events

Solutions with Highest Impact Potential

Top-Ranked Immediate Impact Solutions:

  1. Formal mentorship/matching programs – Participants emphasized the transformative power of having someone champion their development
  2. Leadership training and development programs – Focusing on practical skills like reading financial statements and board governance
  3. Clearer pathways for engagement – Better communication about opportunities and requirements
  4. Skills-based volunteering matching – Connecting people’s expertise with organizational needs

Key Insights on Engagement Preferences

Most Appealing Engagement Formats:

  • Small group project teams (5-8 people) – Allows for authentic relationship building and partnership development
  • Skills-based volunteering matching – Efficient use of talents and expertise
  • Community forums and regular discussions – Continued networking and learning opportunities
  • One-on-one mentoring relationships – Personal development and guidance

Priority Areas for Action

Top Two Priorities Identified:

  1. Expand outreach to underrepresented communities – Ensuring diverse voices are included from the beginning of initiatives
  2. Launch a Buffalo stewardship portal – Create a centralized matching system between individuals and organizations/causes

Notable Innovations and Programs Highlighted

Existing Resources:

Success Stories:

Generational and Demographic Insights

Emerging Leader Characteristics:

  • 25-34 age group was one of the few demographic brackets that grew in Buffalo according to 2020 census
  • Young professionals, particularly young parents, need flexible engagement opportunities
  • Remote workers who work for non-WNY companies represent an untapped resource for community engagement
  • Need for “third spaces” beyond workplace and home for authentic community connection

Communication and Access Needs:

  • Importance of meeting people where they are rather than expecting them to adapt to traditional formats
  • Need for institutional support (paid volunteer time, flexible scheduling)
  • Value of personal invitations and encouragement over general announcements

Actionable Next Steps Committed to by Participants

Immediate Commitments:

  • Invite someone new to the next Common Ground – Expanding the circle of engagement
  • Connect with someone you met at the event – Building new professional relationships
  • Reach out to potential mentors or mentees – Activating mentorship opportunities
  • Join working groups or volunteer – Taking concrete action steps

Future Considerations

Structural Improvements Needed:

  • Breaking down organizational silos through collaborative funding and programming
  • Creating technology-enabled solutions for community engagement
  • Developing succession planning within organizations
  • Building authentic relationships across generational and demographic lines
  • Establishing regular opportunities for networking and relationship building

Cultural Shifts Required:

  • Moving from scarcity mindset to abundance thinking
  • Embracing failure as learning opportunity rather than avoiding it
  • Prioritizing inclusion of diverse voices from project inception
  • Valuing sponsorship alongside mentorship

Looking Ahead

 

The event successfully moved beyond identifying problems to developing concrete solutions and commitments, establishing a foundation for sustainable community stewardship development in Buffalo.

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