Key themes, breakout takeaways, and where we go next.

The third Common Ground discussion was held on March 31, 2026, at the Northland Workforce Training Center, rescheduled from late January after a Buffalo snowstorm. Despite the move, a nearly full house turned out, a powerful reminder of how deeply this community cares about Buffalo and its future. The evening brought together a true cross-section of our region, all working with intention to meet our shared challenges head on.

What We Heard

Building on the conversations from our earlier gatherings, the evening reaffirmed a clear set of themes:

• Many people want to get involved in stewardship and leadership, but feel excluded or unsure where to begin.
• Pathways to engagement are not always visible, accessible, or easy to navigate.
• The power of having someone champion a person’s development is viewed as critical to growing the next generation of stewards.
• Practical leadership training, including financial literacy and governance, would strengthen readiness for stewardship roles.

Breakout Takeaways

Our four facilitated breakout discussions sparked some of the most candid and energetic conversations of the series. Each group surfaced concrete ideas:

• Cultivating Interest (Sam Hill) — Meeting people where they are through personal invitations and grassroots outreach, and helping more people see themselves as part of this work, regardless of background.
• Information Access (Hadar Borden) — A centralized, easy to use hub that brings opportunities, organizations, and entry points together in one place.
• Mentorship (Christine Stolzenburg) — Models that are structured yet flexible, that remove barriers of time and access, and that extend beyond the workplace toward long term development and sponsorship.
• Leadership Development (Thea Pecht) — Practical preparation in governance and financial literacy, along with clearer, better supported on ramps into stewardship roles.

Where Do We Go Next?

These conversations and insights set a clear path forward. By prioritizing mentorship, expanding access, strengthening leadership training, and fostering hands on engagement, we can turn ideas into action and ensure Buffalo’s community stewardship ecosystem continues to grow, thrive, and include the next generation of leaders.

While we had initially envisioned this as a closing chapter, the energy and input from participants reshaped that plan. Future Common Ground discussions are ahead. Stay tuned for details, and for ways you can contribute your intellectual capital as we build a better, stronger, more inclusive Buffalo.

The real, transformational work starts now.

The Common Ground Advisory Council

To carry this momentum forward, we have formed the Common Ground Advisory Council, a group of regional stakeholders committed to designing, building, and nurturing a sustainable model for community stewardship and leadership in greater Buffalo. The Council held its inaugural meeting on June 26, 2026.

• Scott Stenclik — Chief Executive Officer, Aleron
• Morgan Hardy — Chief Executive Officer, Leadership Buffalo
• Sam Hill — Vice President of People & Culture, The John R. Oishei Foundation
• Hadar Borden — Director, Startup & Innovation Collaboratory and the WNY Prosperity Fellowship Program, University at Buffalo
• Christine Stolzenburg — Audit Principal, Withum
• Thea Pecht — Senior Vice President, M&T Bank
• Pete Petrella — President, TalentRise
• Michael Ulbrich — Certified EOS Implementer®, EOS Worldwide
• Dr. Steve Turkovich — President, Golisano Children’s Hospital of Buffalo