Bringing Together Diverse Perspectives To Create Change

A restorative justice program for survivors of domestic violence. A plan to reduce readmissions at one of Buffalo’s busiest hospitals. A strategy to expand a mobile food market that combats food insecurity. A guidebook to help caregivers assist aging relatives.

These are just a few projects that the University at Buffalo’s Social Impact Fellows developed at community organizations last summer.

Throughout the program, MBA students from the University at Buffalo School of Management team up with graduate students from the UB School of Social Work and UB College of Arts and Sciences for internships at mission-driven organizations. The fellows research a problem facing their organization, devise a solution, and pitch their project to win funds for the organization to implement it.

The program is based on the idea of social innovation — that organizations and individuals from many sectors must come together to tackle society’s greatest challenges. It’s also representative of the UB MBA program’s focus on action learning, which allows students to hone their skills, challenge themselves and make a positive impact.

Making a difference

“I hate to be cliché, but I definitely signed up to make social impact in the Buffalo community,” UB MBA student Kennethea Wilson said of her decision to join the program.

Working with the South Buffalo Community Association, Wilson and her teammates created a business plan for a food pantry and delivery service to address residents’ greatest concerns: food insecurity and transportation.

“After this experience, I feel affirmed in my career path — I am going to be a leader,” Wilson said. “I know I will step into a leadership role having the training to know what it means to be a leader, how to manage a team setting, and how to create a timeline and execute it.”

Another team worked with the Open Buffalo on a business plan for an urban ecology center that would address environmental racism in East Buffalo.

“It’s been an eye-opening experience for me,” said PhD student Alex Bakke. “I learned how I can translate my skills into the private sector, nonprofits or to give back in my free time. All in all, having this experience just makes me more marketable.”

Presenting creative solutions

In addition to their internships, the fellows meet throughout the summer for sessions with management and social work faculty and visit local mission-driven organizations. The program culminates with the Pitch for a Cause competition, when teams present their solutions and field questions from the judging panel.

“Social innovation is imperative for the next generation of leaders, particularly because you get an opportunity to address the complex challenges facing today’s society,” Ananth Iyer, dean of the University at Buffalo School of Management, told the fellows at the competition.

Finally, to thunderous applause, the team from the Lt. Col. Matt Urban Human Services Center of WNY was declared the winner. The students created a curriculum, marketing materials, and other tools for a workforce development program that teaches participants culinary skills and kitchen fundamentals, leading to certifications and employment opportunities.

Now, thanks to their victory and the prize money, their idea is poised to become a reality.

Matthew Biddle is the assistant director of communications for the University at Buffalo School of Management. The UB School of Management is recognized for its emphasis on real-world learning, community and impact, and the global perspective of its faculty, students, and alumni. The school also has been ranked by Bloomberg Businessweek, Forbes, and U.S. News & World Report for the quality of its programs and the return on investment it provides its graduates. To learn more, visit management.buffalo.edu.