Gearing up for Fall events and a new Executive Director. Read more in our October Newsletter.
Bid Opportunity – Landscaping and Snow for 2023-24 Season
We are now accepting bid proposals for Landscaping and Snow removal for the 2023-24 season. Sealed bids will be received until Friday, September 15, 2023. Full RFP is here.
Welcoming Our New CFO: David Kraus
The Matt Urban Center is thrilled to welcome David Kraus to our administrative team as our Chief Financial Officer.
Hailing from Syracuse, NY, David received his MBA from UB. He immediately went to work at UB as an administrator in progressively challenging roles, as Assistant to Chair of the Music Department, the Project Manager of the all-new UB Center for the Arts, and finally as Assistant Dean of UB’s College of Arts & Sciences.
David took a break from the Queen City’s notorious winters living nearly 14 years in Durham, NC, where he worked in the finance industry, continued his educational pursuits, and earned additional professional credentials. David boomeranged back to Buffalo, became a New York State CPA, and co-founded the consulting group, NuLevel Strategies to be a resource to mission-driven businesses and local nonprofits. Of his new role, David says, “it’s a unique opportunity to join a great team and get closer to the front-lines of mission-driven nonprofit work.”
David is married with two grown step-kids. He and his wife have dogs (Doberman Pinscher & Dober-Shep mix) and often pursue animal rescue efforts like fostering otherwise homeless pups. When he’s not working, David enjoys making homemade bread and other yummy comfort foods. He enjoys long bike rides and attending local cultural attractions, concerts, and festivals.
Bid Opportunity: Snow Removal 2021-2022
The Polish Community Center of Buffalo, Inc., d/b/a Lt. Col. Mat Urban Human Services Center of WNY (Matt Urban Center), owns and operates in a number of properties in the City of Buffalo. The Matt Urban Center seeks the services of a qualified contractor to provide snow removal and salting at these properties between October 2021 and May 2022.
The full Request for Proposals can be viewed here.
Proposals are being solicited from companies to perform snow removal services listed in these specifications on behalf of the Matt Urban Center. Work will be done on a scheduled basis, as detailed in this request and further agreed to between the parties.
Due to payment requirements of Matt Urban grants and other funding sources, bills for services must detail billed costs by individual property. Services are to be billed in three (3) installments.
The Contractor is responsible for making site visit to the properties prior to submitting its bid. Failure to view the property shall not relieve the Contractor from honoring its bid prices(s).
Sealed proposals will be received until Tuesday, August 10, 2021 at 3:30 P.M. Via U.S. Mail or delivery to:
Ryan Undercoffer, Chief Community Development Officer
Lt. Col. Matt Urban Human Services Center of WNY
1081 Broadway
Buffalo, NY 14212
Questions on this request for qualifications may be directed to rundercoffer@urbanctr.org or to (716) 387-1209.
Volunteer Opportunity: Urban Diner
Our Matt Urban Hope Center’s Urban Diner serves a fresh, healthy meal to residents free of charge on weekdays. We are looking for volunteers to help with food preparation (10:00AM to 1:30PM) and diner service (1:30PM to 4:30PM). Due to social distancing requirements, we cannot accommodate large groups for volunteering at this time.
Those interested in volunteering can contact Sarah Maurer at smaurer@urbanctr.org or (716) 893-7222 x232.
MUC to Host PLAY/GROUND 2021 Installation
We’re excited to welcome PLAY/GROUND 2021 to the Broadway-Fillmore neighborhood this summer! Sponsored by The Buffalo Institute for Contemporary Art (BICA) and Resource:Art, PLAY/GROUND brings a series of public art installations to our community and downtown Buffalo from August 6-15, 2021. The Matt Urban Center will be participating as a host site for an installation. Youth and families in our summer program will collaborate with the selected artist to create the piece that will be installed at our main headquarters at 1081 Broadway. Public art proposals are being accepted on the PLAY/GROUND website now through June 4, 2021. Learn more about PLAY/GROUND 2021 by checking out this article by Buffalo Rising.
Join Us This Summer on SuperStreet
Join the Matt Urban Center and our neighboring community organizations for the kickoff of Summer on SuperStreet at the green space on the corner of Clark and Kent streets. Sponsored by Jericho Road Community Health Center, this initiative will launch on May 15 from 11:00AM to 3:00PM and will continue to provide a variety of programming at the green space every week throughout the summer and early fall. Our Housing & Community Development staff and Youth Department staff will be at the Superman Corner on multiple dates in July and August, to talk with local residents about available programs while providing fun activities for kids! Visit the Summer on Superstreet website for the calendar of events and more information.
Help Us Meet Our Match Campaign Goal!
We’re thrilled to share that through the generosity of our supporters, we raised over $7,000 throughout the month of April, bringing us very close to our goal to raise $10,000 by May 31. Every donation made to the Matt Urban Center between now and May 31 will have double the impact, thanks to a matching donation from The Dolce Firm. We will also be hosting a few giveaways throughout the month on our social media pages, so keep an eye on our Facebook and Instagram for posts on how your donation can get you entered to win prizes! Help us meet our goal to raise $10,000 for our essential programs by following this link: www.urbanctr.org/donate
Request for Proposals: Furniture Moving Services
The Matt Urban Center is seeking a qualified contractor to assist in moving donated furniture from the donor’s building (275 Brompton Road, Buffalo, NY 14221) into 15 units of supported housing at 19 Doat Street, Buffalo, NY 14211, and to the Matt Urban Center administrative building at 1081 Broadway, Buffalo, NY 14212.
To view the full request for proposals, click here.
Proposals will be accepted until Friday, April 9th at 3:30 P.M.
Via U.S. Mail or delivery to:
Will Smith, Security
Lt. Col. Matt Urban Human Services Center of WNY
1081 Broadway
Buffalo, NY 14212
Questions on this request for proposals may be directed to rundercoffer@urbanctr.org or to (716) 893 – 7222 ext: 212.
Letter from the Executive Director
Dear Friends of MUC,
I have been thinking a lot recently about transition. Clearly, I have been experiencing a transition the past two months as I have assumed this new role with MUC. The agency, of course, has been in the process of transition for some time. The immediate neighborhood as well, as the City at large has transitioned a great deal over decades and more noticeably in the past several years. And our nation, due to COVID-19 and many other factors is currently in a period of great and historic transition.
Transition is not a bad thing, but it is also not inherently good and can often be associated with pain. Positive change and transition which trends towards growth and success requires thoughtful planning, engagement of stakeholders, commitment and the ability to adapt. It means recognizing and respecting the past while addressing the needs of the present, and anticipating and being prepared to meet the needs of the future.
I believe that this neighborhood, City, Country and especially this organization are poised to transition to a stable, sustainable and vibrant future. As long as we remain committed to values such as open communication and dialogue, a belief that all members of society are entitled to a life of dignity and respect, and understanding that our impact collectively is more than that of ourselves alone, I believe that brighter days are indeed ahead.
Sincerely,
Ben Hilligas