Get Involved: Community Ambassadors
To ensure representation and accessibility for all neighborhoods along Bailey Ave, NFTA has hired community members as ambassadors for the BRT project. Bailey Ave BRT ambassadors work to educate the public, foster community outreach, and deliver project information to neighborhoods along the corridor. Ambassador efforts will help expand public participation for this project and reflect NFTA's emphasis on equity.
Community ambassadors at an open house event.Photo credit: NFTA
Donna Latham-Edwards
Nnenna Ferguson
Pamela James
Samira Winfrey
Meet Some of our Ambassadors
Ms. Della Miller
Pamela James is a native of Buffalo, New York with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, a master’s degree in planning, and a PhD in American cultural studies.
James has forged partnerships with educational institutions, faith-based organizations, healthcare industries, and block clubs throughout the Buffalo area. She has worked for Buffalo Americorps, LifeSource Systems, and Good Food Buffalo Coalition. James also co-created the Youth Entrepreneur Marketplace and the Food in Community Program.
Samira Winfrey is a hardworking youth ambassador who has taken many opportunities to work in various communities. She has been a leading ambassador for the Confident Girl mentoring program and participated in many small youth groups for young teens. Her experience working with teens of many different backgrounds aligns with her goal to inspire change in her community. Samira strives to make an impact in our society and improve its view on teen leadership. She looks forward to taking on new opportunities to make a difference.
Donna Latham-Edwards is a community leader with expertise in food, climate and land justice, and youth advocacy and empowerment.
Donna also specializes in trauma-informed care, youth mentorship and crisis intervention. Ms. Latham-Edwards is a longtime advocate for people in East Buffalo.
Ms. Della Miller is a community leader who has lived in the Kensington Bailey community for over 40 years. She believes everyone should have access to a healthy environment and a safe community.
Ms. Della is actively involved with several community organizations, serves and volunteers on several boards, advisory groups, and work groups, throughout the city, county, state, and region. She is looking forward to experiencing a new vibrant Bailey Ave. that will contribute to a growing and safe community.
Nnenna Ferguson is a creative maverick and brand architect who is passionate about building cooperative economic models. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University at Albany and has a background in broadcast journalism and digital communications.
Nnenna is a Buffalo, NY native and has cultivated deep ties to its artistic and grassroots organizing communities. She is an alumna of Open Buffalo's Emerging Leaders Program and currently serves as the Buffalo Food Equity Network Director.
Nnenna Ferguson is a creative maverick and brand architect who is passionate about building cooperative economic models. Nnenna earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University at Albany and has a background in broadcast journalism and digital communications. Nnenna is a Buffalo, NY native and has cultivated deep ties to its artistic and grassroots organizing communities. She is an alumna of Open Buffalo's Emerging Leaders Program and currently serves as the Buffalo Food Equity Network Director. She enjoys studying yoga, agriculture and making "kitchen medicine" as a form of community and self-healing and expresses these passions through her business, Bru Apothecary.
Gregg Rabb
Shaniah Paige
Asha Brown
Candace Moppins
Candace Moppins' work in the community over the past 25 years includes health and wellness and addressing the needs of the East Side of Buffalo through the coordination of resources, programming and activities.
Candace is the Executive Director at the Delavan Grider Community Center, of one of the busiest community centers in the City of Buffalo. As a former block club member and president, She recognizes the need to improve community knowledge and input regarding neighborhood improvements.
Gregory P. Rabb is a retired SUNY Jamestown Professor of Political Science and President of Jamestown City Council. He currently works as an adjunct in Public Administration at Buffalo State University.
Gregory is a frequent rider of buses and light rail in Buffalo and is excited about making new contacts with people and businesses along Bailey Avenue to make the east side of Buffalo a better place.
Shaniah Paige was born and raised in the Grider/Bailey Ave. and East Delavan Ave. area of Buffalo. Shaniah has seen the change in her community and wanted to step up and help improve the area or inform the community of upcoming changes. Shaniah is also involved with the NFTA Citizens Advisory Committee, Roswell Park Patient and Family Advisory Board, and volunteers with a local food pantry. Shaniah is very excited to see the upcoming changes to Bailey Ave as it's time for it to be revitalized and the community to be proud of our surroundings.
Asha Brown is a member of the WZLK Block club. She lives less than a 5-minute walk to Bailey Ave and commutes down the Bailey corridor daily.
Asha is looking forward to the upcoming enhancements along Bailey Avenue.
Community Ambassador Area Map
Community Ambassador Area Map for the Bailey Ave BRT corridor