By David Clarence Scott, Director of Diversity & Inclusion at Roswell Park Cancer Institute

Although an old proverb surmises that good fences make good neighbors, Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) believes that tearing down those “fences” is a much better way to go. As a nationally recognized cancer center, some of RPCI’s most important work is happening right here in our community with a dedicated effort to strengthen our surrounding Buffalo neighborhoods.

RPCI’s community relation’s efforts focus on bringing positive changes, and health and cancer awareness to Western New Yorkers. A serious corporate citizen, RPCI steers partnerships, educational programs and employee volunteer efforts to benefit the local communities the Institute serves. Community relations are central to RPCI’s vision, values and mission. A sampling of current endeavors include:

• Partnerships with local businesses including women and minority owned businesses to keep the economy growing in Buffalo.
• Cancer prevention programs including the Buffalo/Niagara Witness Project, a church and community based program to increase awareness of breast and cervical cancer in black women; Esperanza y Vida, a program to increase breast and cervical cancer screening in Latinas; and Minorities Allied for the Need to Understand Prostate Cancer (MAN UP), a prostate cancer education program for men of color.
• Community Career Development workshops to help participants hone resume writing, interviewing and networking skills to gain employment. In 2014, RPCI hired 12 people who participated in these workshops.
• The Community Connections Newsletter, an informative newsletter mailed quarterly to more than 7,700 people in targeted minority communities throughout the WNY-region.

For more information regarding these programs and community events, and to learn more about others that are available, please visit www.roswellpark.org or call 1-877-ASK-RPCI. For information on partnering with RPCI or the Community Career Development workshops call 716-845-4567.