Reimagining Black Futures I

Part 1

This panel, part of the School’s programming for Black History Month, aims to understand, explore, and discuss a series of contemporary projects in the city of Buffalo through the lens of both opportunities and challenges. This panel discussion was organized by the student group AASAP (African American Students of Architecture and Planning) in collaboration with Dr. Henry Taylor, Dr. Emmanuel Frimpong Boamah, and Julia Czerniak.

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. | 403 Hayes Hall

To the left is a headshot of Albert Chao, and to the right is an image of a gathering at the Coles House Project with students.

Albert Chao

Co-Director of the Coles House Project
The Coles House Project preserves and stewards the Coles House and Studio. We uplift and nurture Robert Traynham Coles’ legacy of advocacy and architecture through public programming, community driven design, and architecture and planning. We intend for our work to model and inspire design and conservation that brings investment, health and well-being, and justice to Buffalo’s East Side.

To the left, a headshot of Jin Young Song, and to the right, an image of the Seeing US physical model.

Jin Young Song

Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies
Jin Young Song is an Associate Professor in the Department of Architecture at the University at Buffalo and a registered architect in the state of New York. His research focuses on architectural design, with an emphasis on sustainable building envelopes and the socio-cultural performance of building façades. In collaboration with Douglass Alligood, Song has been working on the 5/14 Memorial project. This presentation will highlight the memorial’s design mechanisms, addressing key challenges and principles while exploring the transformative power of design—its unique ability to elevate awareness, mobilize communities, stimulate intellect, and inspire meaningful action. By working closely with families, community members, and the 5/14 Memorial Commission, the project seeks to create an enduring platform for social justice, healing, and remembrance—not only for the present but for audiences across the nation and future generations.

To the left, a headshot of Henry-Louis Taylor, Jr., and to the right, an image depicts a row of houses on a street during winter. The houses are two-story buildings with porches; some appear to be in a state of disrepair.

Henry-Louis Taylor, Jr.

The East Side Neighborhood Transformation Project: Improving Health Outcomes in the Upper Broadway-Fillmore Neighborhood
Henry-Louis Taylor, Jr., Ph.D., is a professor in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, founding director of the UB Center for Urban Studies, and associate director of the UB Community Health Equity Research Institute. His research focuses on the interplay of racial capitalism, metropolitan city-building, and Black neighborhood underdevelopment. The East Side Neighborhood Transformation Demonstration Project theorizes that poor health outcomes and underdeveloped Black neighborhoods are inseparable, creating a cycle of premature death, exploitation, and inequity. We aim to break this cycle by improving health and socioeconomic outcomes on Buffalo’s East Side by transforming underdeveloped neighborhoods into healthy, thriving, and joyful communities. This task requires building a new model of Black neighborhoods: one that controls market dynamics. This presentation explores the challenges we have faced, are currently confronting, and anticipate in our mission to build and implement this transformative model.

To the left, a headshot of Christina P. Orsi. To the right, a house is light gray with purple accents and a second house is blue and is a barber shop with the sign.

Christina P. Orsi

Oishei Foundation’s East Side Initiative
Christina P. Orsi is the president of The John R. Oishei Foundation, the first woman to hold this role. She leads the Foundation’s strategy and guides efforts to address community needs and improve quality of life in Western New York. The Foundation's East Side Initiative approach is based on the belief that solutions must be driven by the voices of East Side residents. It emphasizes engaging the community, supporting grassroots organizations, and collaborating with stakeholders to tackle challenges. The Foundation works to increase access to affordable housing and create wealth-building opportunities for marginalized communities. Resources: John R. Oishei Foundation.

AIA approved continuing education logo.

The School of Architecture and Planning is an AIA CES Approved Provider. This course is AIA CES Registered and approved for 1 Learning Unit (LU).

Published February 5, 2025