About Us
Recipient: Organizational Award Non-Profit
Vision
WEDI’s vision is that all residents of Western New York can succeed and thrive in a culturally inclusive community.
Mission
WEDI strengthens communities through a continuum of educational and financial resources, removing systemic barriers to economic equity for all Western New Yorkers.
What We Do
WEDI’s dual focus areas of Education and Economic Development work in tandem to tackle systemic inequities that affect Buffalo’s underserved residents, many of whom are people of color. By supporting youth to succeed in school and powering entrepreneurs to launch, sustain, and grow small businesses, WEDI is helping to create a more equitable Buffalo.
WEDI's Education program supports Multilingual Language Learners (MLLs) to achieve literacy through four programs: ENERGY (elementary-aged students), FLY (middle schoolers), Launch (high schoolers), and Peer Support Groups.
WEDI's Economic Development program provides multi-faceted support to aspiring and early career entrepreneurs through two programs: Microloans and the West Side Bazaar and Downtown Bazaar (WEDI's business incubators and community gathering spaces).
WEDI's programs and services are available to underserved residents of Western New York including elementary and middle school-aged MLLs in the 14213 zip code (ENERGY and FLY) and students at Lafayette International Community High School (Launch). Our Economic Development programs are available to economically-disadvantaged adults earning 80% or less of the AMI (Area Median Income).
Support WEDI businesses all over Western New York and Beyond!
Background
WEDI (the Westminster Economic Development Initiative) was founded in 2006 by members of the Westminster Presbyterian Church to improve the quality of life for underserved residents of Buffalo’s West Side, which was increasingly populated by immigrants and refugees from Southeast Asia and the Middle East. The organization’s initial Education programming supported elementary-aged children to achieve literacy. This focus area eventually expanded to include grades 1-12 with additional programming focused on soft skills/social-emotional intelligence, enrichment activities, STEM, financial literacy, college preparation, and workforce/career development. In 2012, WEDI added a second focus area, Economic Development, to support underserved entrepreneurs to launch and sustain small businesses. In doing so, WEDI expanded its geographical reach to Buffalo’s East Side, which has a predominantly Black population. Today, WEDI runs six programs including the Downtown Bazaar and West Side Bazaar, our small business incubators offering delicious food and unique products from a diverse group of cultures and ethnicities.
WEDI is an ATHENA award recipient: organizational award non-profit
Pictured L-R: Elizabeth Lovria, WEDI's Grants and Operations Specialist, Steve Zenger, WEDI's Board of Directors President 2020-2023, Carolynn Welch, WEDI's Executive Director, and Nancy McNamara of UWBEC.
In accordance with federal laws and U.S. Department of the Treasury policy, this organization is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. Learn more here.