The Erie County Youth Board is a citizen advisory panel. Board members are volunteers who advise the Youth Bureau on matters of positive youth development, delinquency prevention, and runaway and homeless youth. The Youth Bureau and Board work closely together to ensure that the best possible youth programs in Erie County are supported in their missions. Board members review and approve applications for state and county funding for services to youth. Together, they work with the Youth Bureau staff to make funding recommendations to the Erie County Executive and Legislature.
In order to ensure that the youth of Erie County are receiving the best programs available, board members attend meetings on the second Monday of the month. Board members are also encouraged to attend agency site visits. In addition to volunteers from the community, the Board is also made up of at least two youth volunteers from area schools. Furthermore, Liaisons to the Board are volunteers who attend Board meetings but who have no voting privileges. These members are selected for their experience and knowledge in youth matters and are a valuable resource to the Board.
For more information, or for anyone interested in becoming a member of the Erie County Youth Board, please send a letter of interest, current resume, and 2-3 references to Kate Hilliman, Senior Youth Bureau Director, at katherine.hilliman@erie.gov.
Board Members
Name Occupation Member Since
Iman Abuhamra Student at Lackawanna High School 2020
Liza Acanfora - Chair Director, Regional Educational Center for Economic 2014
Development at Ken-Ton UFSD
Jasmine Ansah Managing Director or Programs at Teach for America 2020
(Buffalo, NY)
Kelli Blakeley Principal Probation Officer at Erie County Probation 2014
Department
Angelina Bolognese Student at Nardin Academy 2020
Nichelle Brown Senior Counselor at Housing Opportunities Made 2020
Equal, Inc.
Alan Carter-Fambo Residential Social Worker at Gateway-Longview 2017
David Caywood- Vice Chair Principal Law Clerk at Hon. Christopher Burns, 2009
NYS Supreme Court
Paul Denning Retired Human Resources Executive 2014
Benjamin Fox Student at St. Joseph Collegiate Institute 2020
Melissa Jones Care Coordinator at Hillside Children's Center 2017
Jack Kavanaugh Director of Program Development at Mentor New York 2020
Charity Lulas Program Manager, Bridges to Health at Hillside 2017
Children's Center
Susan Lumadue Contract Monitor/HR Planner, Office of Contract 2012
Administration at City of Buffalo
Aneesa Masaed Respiratory Therapist at John R. Oshei Children's 2020
Hospital
Brian Rochford Vice President, Relationship Manager at First Niagara 2015
Bank
Kenny Simmons Pastor at Cold Springs Bible Chapel; Chaplain at ECDSS 2017
Secure Youth Detention Facility
Sean Tulumello Human Resources Planner at City of Buffalo 2020