Buffalo Rising Online

Jan 15th 2008, 10:38am By queenseyes

With all of the recent excitement surrounding the increased downtown presence of the University at Buffalo, it was only a matter of time before the students presented an urban grassroots collaboration. I recently met up with graduate student (in comparative literature) Crystal Hickerson, who relayed to me that UB's Interdisciplinary Group for Social Engagement, a graduate club, was preparing a two-day event on Buffalo's urban space. The event will be held April 4th and 5th at the Karpeles Manuscript Museum (corner of North and Elmwood). The event is geared towards the public presenting a series of works, papers and presentations to a diverse audience that is interested in affecting change in the city. The presenters will be grassroots community members (maybe you) who have played, or would like to play, a role in a number of success stories in turning around our neighborhoods.

A few of the topics that are being sought after by the organizers range from, but are not limited to, urban pollution and conservation, Buffalo as an arts and historic preservation site, socio-political impact of architecture and city-planning, UB 20/20 plan for expansion into downtown Buffalo, virtual city space, green spaces, social and ecological effects of modes of transportation... or create your own topic that you feel will benefit the city in some form. The presentations will be delivered in the form of art instillations, audio and visual productions, talks, reports... even a theatrical approach would probably fly at this symposium.

So who gets to present at this event? You do... if you are so inclined. This is an opportunity to present you case to the public. Do you have an idea for a bridge design that no one has seen? Maybe you have come up with a public transportation idea that is revolutionary. Have you solved the parking problem in downtown Buffalo, but you don't know who will listen? This symposium is designed to give you (and your idea) a voice. There will be many different groups (policy-makers, community and activist groups, businesses) that will be listening and watching the series of presentations. The idea is to marry the ideas to the groups that can offer help in getting them off the ground.

Each presenter will have 20 minutes to address the crowd. The deadline for work submission is February 8th, 2008. If you have an idea, or you have a project in motion that you would like to share, please send an email to the Group for Social Engagement.