Celebrating National Youth Violence Prevention Week
On Wednesday, April 29, 2026, the Buffalo Peacemakers convened business leaders, civic officials, faith leaders, and youth advocates at Seneca One Tower for the Business Leaders Gathering, a community event held in recognition of National Youth Violence Prevention Week.
Back to Basics Ministries was honored to take part in this important gathering, which brought together voices from across Buffalo to address one of the most pressing issues facing our city: how we protect, mentor, and invest in our young people.
Event Details
Date: Wednesday, April 29, 2026 Location: Seneca One Tower, Main Lobby, Buffalo, NY Schedule:
- 4:00 p.m. Meet and Greet
- 5:00 p.m. Program
The evening combined networking among Buffalo’s business community with a program featuring civic leaders, faith leaders, and youth voices speaking directly to the work of building a safer, stronger Buffalo.
Featured Speakers
Mayor Sean Ryan
Preventing Violence in Buffalo and the Important Role of the Peacemakers
Buffalo’s Mayor addressed the city’s commitment to violence prevention and recognized the Peacemakers’ essential role in keeping neighborhoods safe. His remarks highlighted the partnerships between city government and grassroots community organizations that make sustained change possible.
Pastor James Ciles
President and CEO, Back to Basics Ministries
Pastor Ciles spoke on the role of faith, family, and community leadership in shaping the lives of Buffalo’s youth. Drawing on years of ministry and community service, he emphasized the importance of consistent mentorship, spiritual grounding, and the power of local organizations working in partnership with one another.
Buffalo HEAT Youth Speakers
Health, Empowerment, Attitude, and Teamwork
The most powerful voices of the evening came from Buffalo’s young people themselves. Members of Buffalo HEAT shared their perspectives, their experiences, and their vision for a Buffalo where every young person has the opportunity to thrive. Their words served as a reminder that real solutions begin by listening to those closest to the challenge.
The Purpose Behind the Gathering
Youth violence prevention is not the responsibility of any single organization, agency, or sector. It requires the coordinated effort of city leaders, faith communities, schools, families, neighborhood advocates, and the business community working in alignment.
This gathering brought those voices into the same room with three goals:
- Recognition. Honoring the work the Peacemakers and their partners do every day in Buffalo’s neighborhoods.
- Connection. Creating direct relationships between Buffalo’s business leaders and the people doing the work on the ground.
- Investment. Opening pathways for resources, mentorship, and partnership that strengthen the long-term fight against youth violence.
When the business community engages directly with youth-serving organizations, the results extend far beyond a single event. Mentorship grows. Funding becomes more accessible. Programs scale. And young people see, in real terms, that the city believes in them.
Hall of Fame Sponsors
The Buffalo Peacemakers Business Leaders Gathering was made possible through the generous support of three of Western New York’s most committed corporate citizens. These Hall of Fame Sponsors have stood with the Peacemakers and the broader community in the long-term work of youth violence prevention.
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills have long been more than a football franchise. Through community programming, youth outreach, and ongoing investment in Western New York, the organization continues to demonstrate what it means to be deeply rooted in the city it represents. Their support of the Peacemakers reflects a commitment to the people of Buffalo that extends well beyond game day.
National Grid
National Grid’s investment in Buffalo’s future reaches across education, workforce development, neighborhood safety, and community programming. Their support of the Business Leaders Gathering reflects a long-standing commitment to creating opportunities for Buffalo’s youth and strengthening the communities the company serves.
Wegmans
Wegmans has built a legacy of community leadership in Western New York that goes far beyond its stores. Through philanthropic giving, employee engagement, and partnerships with local organizations, Wegmans continues to invest in the people and neighborhoods that make Buffalo what it is. Their backing of the Peacemakers represents the kind of corporate citizenship that strengthens the entire community.
We are deeply grateful for their continued partnership.
About the Buffalo Peacemakers
The Buffalo Peacemakers are a coalition of community advocates, mentors, and outreach workers dedicated to reducing violence and supporting Buffalo’s youth. Through neighborhood outreach, conflict resolution, mentorship, and crisis response, the Peacemakers work directly with the people and places most affected by violence, building trust and creating lasting change from within the community.
About Back to Basics Ministries
Back to Basics Ministries, led by Pastor James Ciles, serves Buffalo families through faith-based outreach, youth programming, and community partnerships. Our mission is to empower individuals and families through spiritual guidance, practical support, and meaningful community connection. We are proud to stand with the Buffalo Peacemakers in the shared work of strengthening Buffalo’s youth and families.