Keeping the Doris W. Jones Summer Enrichment Program Alive

I am humbled and grateful to have been featured in both The Niagara Reporter and the Niagara Gazette for something that truly hits close to home.

With guidance from former 4th District Legislator Owen Steed, I learned that the Doris W. Jones Summer Enrichment Program, a program that has been a lifeline for working families and a safe, positive space for our youth, was at risk due to funding cuts. For me, that wasn’t just news. It was a call to action.

I couldn’t sit back and watch a program that serves as both a safety net and an opportunity hub for our kids disappear. So my team and I went to work. I’m proud to share that we were able to help secure the funding needed to keep it going this summer.

On the last day of camp, I had the privilege of visiting the program in action. What I saw was pure joy, kids laughing and playing, live music filling the air, free food being shared, and a bounce house and water slide bringing endless smiles. That moment made it all worth it. This wasn’t just a program on paper; it was real lives being touched, memories being made, and a safe space where kids could just be kids.

This is what real leadership looks like, not waiting for change to arrive, but stepping up to be part of the solution. And this effort wasn’t about party lines. It was about people. I’m thankful for both Democrats and Republicans who worked together to put our youth first.

Special thanks to Arlene M. Doss, Roger Trevino, Dontā Myles, and Dante Richardson for being part of this mission. And to the community members who continue to rally behind our youth,

your passion is the heartbeat of Niagara Falls.

This is why I do what I do: to help build a stronger, more connected city where no child is left behind.