Michael Gainer: Let’s first go back in time, I just pulled this Mission and Vision statement from an email back in June of 2006 when we were first getting started. It’s the same mission that exists in writing today.

Our Mission

Buffalo ReUse, Inc. is committed to creating an economic and community development program related to deconstruction and re-use that provides quality job and educational opportunities; cross training in the trades, marketing, sales, and small business entrepreneurship; and a community collaboration process that considers both current and future use of our collective land resources.

The potential of this program is achieved through the development of a business model for building salvage and deconstruction that facilitates the reclamation of quality building materials, preservation of the architectural heritage of buildings that would otherwise be destroyed, and supply of low-cost building materials to enhance the structural and aesthetic quality of existing homes in our City.

I’ll be the first to say that this “Mission” is wordy, littered with run-on’s, and not the most concise representation of what we do or what we hope to accomplish, but it’s what we first wrote, nearly three years ago, when we first began this effort. We were largely working to start the engine. We wanted to get the idea of deconstruction off the ground and felt compelled to communicate this to the community. However, an examination of our VISION reveals that Buffalo ReUse has always intended to educate youth, participate in community development, and expand reuse effort beyond Buffalo.

Our Vision

As we expand the scope of our business operations our ability to serve in other capacities in the community is greatly increased. Our vision is to:

• Forge strong alliances and collaborations with existing non-profit organizations and public agencies to expand educational opportunities for youth.
• Serve as a liaison between community associations/block clubs and the City of Buffalo, to strengthen the planning process for community development.
• Actively support the incubation of new small businesses in the City of Buffalo related to deconstruction and re-use. For instance, new deconstruction and rehabilitation contract businesses, recycling services and retail stores, consulting, even furniture-making can grow out of our core business venture.
• Actively engage in crafting policy that will encourage reuse to increase landfill diversion and advocate environmental protection.
• Support other “rust belt” cities in developing building deconstruction projects to aid in job creation and building reuse.

While I will say with confidence that our Mission should be restated, our Vision and Values have endured and have been consistent since our first meeting back in April 2006. It’s critical that we elaborate on our values, because the values of Buffalo ReUse, Inc. guide our programs, guide our work in the community, guide us in our interactions and relationships with our many stakeholders, and largely define who we are and why we exist.

Our Values

We’ve been reflecting on our shared values lately.These values are things we hold dear and show by practicing them that we consider them to be important to us and our community. We practice them as we move our mission forward and express our vision. It’s how we work together,and, be assured, they work for us.

We believe:

• That when you have a good idea, you need to try it. Words rarely provide solutions to challenging problems, actions do. Dream it, Do It!
• That you can inspire people through doing and that by doing you create opportunities for people to come together.
• That every individual in a community deserves a voice, that everyone should have access to opportunities, that everyone has the right to freely express their own ideas and concerns, as long as it does not infringe on the rights of others.
• That our staff should be positive and caring mentors that are unconditionally supportive of young people and that we provide emotional, educational, and social supports, even when a young person makes a bad decision.
• That every young person can contribute in a positive way to our community and create a positive path of their choosing.
• That all young adults and individuals should have access to our programs regardless of their criminal history, their history of drug use, their personal challenges, their socio-economic status, their race, their gender, their sexual orientation, or their religious beliefs, if they are committed to making a positive change in their own life.
• That relationships are critical to the successful functioning of any organization or business. Relationships must be nurtured, respected.
• Trust must be established, honored.
• That Buffalo ReUse should always be inclusive.
• That the Staff and Board leadership should be transparent and conduct business in a way that reflects this value.
• That challenges, lively debate, and struggle are part of the learning curve and should not be hidden from the public.
• That when provided with tools, resources, and knowledge, individuals can create positive changes in their own lives and the lives of others.
• That there should be more action focused on improving and sustaining the health of our physical environment.
• That decisions should be made openly, in a way that supports discussion and debate, and through consensus whenever possible.
• That staff should be hired locally from the community and that gross pay should not exceed 200% of the established living wage for any ReUse staff member.
• That our organization continue to innovate and create so we may model solutions to the most pressing challenges of our time.
• In the value of a diligent work ethic.
• In the value of the arts in nurturing community, encouraging creativity, and creating beauty.