Power to Heal: Civic Design in the Aftermath of Tragedy
Summary
Key Insights
-
•
Buffalo ranks as the fourth most segregated city in the US, with 85% of its Black population concentrated on the East Side.
-
•
Highway 33 physically divided Buffalo’s East Side neighborhood, reinforcing segregation and limiting access.
-
•
Redlining, a discriminatory banking practice thought to be historical, was still legally challenged in Buffalo as recently as 2015.
-
•
Gun violence and race-related mass shootings have been increasing nationally, creating a dangerous environment for cities like Buffalo.
-
•
The 2022 Tops Plaza shooting was racially motivated, targeting Buffalo's Black community based on demographic data.
-
•
Immediate community needs after tragedy included food access, mental health support, and culturally appropriate resources.
-
•
Multi-sector collaboration involving government, nonprofits, community leaders, and celebrities was vital to Buffalo's healing response.
-
•
Allowing community members time and space to grieve openly was fundamental to developing trust and collective action.
-
•
Long-term healing requires multi-generational, multi-sector civic planning with community empowerment and Indigenous leadership.
-
•
Effective disaster response includes clear leadership roles, transparent donation processes, and mechanisms to sustain momentum beyond initial emergency efforts.
Notable Quotes
"Buffalo is actually designed for incidents like this to happen."
"When you add underinvestment, segregation, and poverty, you have a recipe for disaster."
"Gunshots were a routine sound growing up. We became numb to it."
"The shooter used census data to target the location to inflict the most damage on Black people."
"Tops was more than a grocery store; it was a bank, a pharmacy, and a community meeting place."
"We had to allow people to grieve first before we could make a plan for healing."
"Government cannot be the only solution—we needed community groups, nonprofits, and for-profits all involved."
"Political leaders had to show up and just listen, without campaigning or trying to say anything."
"Momentum is great, but without a disciplined system, things will go back to the way they were."
"Buffalo is the city of good neighbors—people immediately asked how they could help after the tragedy."
Or choose a question:
More Videos
"Think of a creative professional as an ideas athlete or a creativity Olympian."
Dr. Karl JeffriesThe Science of Creativity for DesignOps
January 8, 2024
"Creating internal champions in client organizations helps improve adoption and reduces churn."
Amy MarquezINVEST: Discussion
June 15, 2018
"Building an internal research practice is critical for long-term value and integration of insights."
Steve Portigal Chris Chapo Kelly Goto Christian RohrerDiscussion
May 13, 2015
"We covered critical design gaps without waiting for headcount allocation or hiring delays."
Alicia MootyDesign Staffing Models
September 30, 2021
"For the right audience, if applied correctly, humor and music can move people in many ways."
Ana Maria Montero Barrantes Aditi Dhar Michelle Kaplan Nate Osborne Matt LaurenceThe Authentic UX Talent Show
January 8, 2024
"The ultimate measure is bringing value so people invite you back to work with them again and again."
Lada Gorlenko Sharbani Dhar Sébastien Malo Rob Mitzel Ivana Ng Michal Anne RogondinoTheme 1: Discussion
January 8, 2024
"Research isn’t linear; it’s messy and modular, so your tools have to reflect that fluidity."
Sofia QuinteroThe Product Philosophy Behind EnjoyHQ
March 10, 2021
"Please don’t chop off that engine until the new one is built because you are not the only one on this plane."
Laura KleinUnique challenges of innovation in enterprises
April 23, 2020
"Combining the what we see in data with the why we get from user research is where true insights live."
Andrew MichaelBuilding a Product Insights Team
March 10, 2022
