Part Two of a Series

This series of informational blog posts come from a document Mike,Caesandra and Kevin created to help orient new Buffalo ReUse board members to our mission,vision,values and the actual history of our organization.Part One is here.

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. 

more to come . . .