Current Projects

The Ostapenko Center for Race, Equity, and Mission has four key focus areas with projects associated with each. Our interns are responsible for the projects in the Center.

Education, Equity, and Race

REAC3H (Race Education Advocacy College Credit Courses in High School) program

• Niagara Falls High School Junior student cohort
• Niagara Falls High School Senior student cohort
• Alumni cohort

Youth Conference (held annually)

MST (Math, Science, & Technology) Preparatory School Youth Leadership Workshop

Social Action, Equity, and Race

Voting/Civic Engagement 

Legislative advocacy trip to Washington, DC

University, Community, and Government Partnerships

Campus Race Conversations

Aquarium of Niagara DEAI

Entrepreneur School of Thought, “We all we got” (WAWG)

716 United Youth program

Family Promise of WNY research project

Health Equity

Senior isolation

Social media/marketing for COVID-19

School outreach and education program for students

Youth ambassadors program 

Niagara Falls Health Equity Task Force

COVID-19 data collection

• COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, vaccination, and death rates among Niagara County residents (broken down by age, zip code, and race/ethnicity)
• Faith, Science, & COVID-19 Research Study (conducted with both community members and faith leaders about the perceptions of faith and science)