BUFFALO, N.Y. — For members of the Buffalo community, remembering the tragedy of May 14, 2022 also comes with commemorating it.

“My son nearly lost his life that day. But I’m standing here grateful. I got to keep my kid that day, but 10 other people didn’t get to keep their kid. And so therefore, I have to pay it forward,” said Zeneta Everhart, Buffalo Common Council. 

The third annual Buffalo Black Caucus is just one way of paying it forward.

“When 5/14 happened, our only grocery store in this area was shut down for some time. And so after that, people started talking about the need for food access, but they also started just talking about the east side in general and the different things that were missing on the east side of Buffalo. Resources go a long way. But a lot of people don’t know where to go to get them. We had them for a long time, but we don’t know where to go to get them,” said attendee Talea Barnes. 

The Caucus offered resources from things like how to start a business, to how to get involved in gun violence prevention. But most importantly, it offered support.

“If it were you, right, and that day came up, would you really want to be out and about? It’s really hard. So that’s why we try to do the caucus ahead of time,” Everhart said.

Whether you were directly impacted by the tragedy or not. 

“It doesn’t matter if you know the victim or not is pretty much guess what? They’re family because they reside within your community,” said Barnes.

Giving the City of Good Neighbors yet another meaning.

“It makes me feel good. And what I do like to see when I see enough young people coming,” Barnes said.

“I just feel like you know, I wasn’t shot, but I have a voice, right? And I have a platform,” said Everhart.