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Say Yes Buffalo Alumni Network

The Say Yes Buffalo Alumni Network aims to connect with former Buffalo Public and Charter School graduates who have graduated with a college degree or program certificate since our launch in 2013. The goal is to connect with as many alumni as possible in an effort to continue their pipeline to Say Yes Buffalo, from kindergarten to career.

Alumni Spotlight: Deja Middlebrook

 

Deja Middlebrook remembers when she first heard about Say Yes Buffalo’s promise of a postsecondary scholarship. “When I first heard about Say Yes, it was surreal just to think that I can go to whatever college in New York that I get accepted to, that was a big deal for me,” Deja said.

Born and raised in Buffalo, Deja attended City Honors and McKinley High School. She moved from high school to eight years of college, collecting a law degree and Master’s in Social Work along the way. At each step, there was Say Yes.

“Say Yes launched and swooped right in to help me figure which colleges I wanted to apply to, helped me to ensure I did my SATs and they helped me from there even through grad school,” she said. 

Deja is currently a staff attorney at the Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo and a member of the Say Yes Buffalo Alumni Network because she knows firsthand how impactful the work of Say Yes Buffalo is in the community.

“I can tell just from the generations below me from the internships, even young kids are becoming conditioned to the fact that they can go to college. I don’t think that’s how it was before 2013,” she said. “I think this is the change: the education that allows kindergarteners that they can go to college and be whatever they want to be. It’s that hope, it’s that dream, it’s attainable for all of us. I would say definitely donate, please donate. It makes a difference.”

Join the Say Yes Buffalo Alumni Network

Fill out my online form.

 

Upcoming Events

In-person Alumni Network events have been on hold since March 2020 due to public health concerns. We are currently moving forward and planning safe events for 2022 so please stay tuned!

The Mission

The Say Yes Buffalo Alumni Network aims to connect with Buffalo Public and Charter School graduates who have graduated with a college degree or program certificate since our launch in 2013. The goal is to connect with as many alumni as possible in an effort to continue their connection with Say Yes Buffalo. In doing this our objective is to:

  • Build a sense of community with Say Yes alumni through social media, special events, and shared learning opportunities
  • Assist alumni with exploring internship opportunities and career leads
  • Provide them with a centralized point of connectivity to Say Yes Buffalo
  • Give alumni a central place to catalogue their successes and life milestones
  • Encourage recruitment of other SYB alumni
  • Afford alumni opportunities to give back, including connecting with BPS high school students to assist with the transition to high school

You Can Help Give Back to the Say Yes Community

Since 2013, 1000+ Say Yes scholars have graduated with postsecondary degrees and begun their journeys in the working sector, while others have continued on to higher levels of post-secondary education.

Benefits to becoming a member of the Say Yes Buffalo Alumni Network include:

  • Peer and professional networking opportunities
  • Notification and discounted cost to attend Say Yes events
  • Recognition of outstanding alumni
  • Alumni swag

Make a Contribution to the Scholarship Endowment Fund today