Monthly Motivator
Every month we are committed to spreading the word about a local WNY area individual who is inspirational and helping to move Buffalo forward. Here's the debut of our first "Monthly Motivator!"
If you have suggestions of an individual to be featured, please contact emily@unitebynight.com
Name- Jasmine Fluker Ansah Title- CEO- The Pivotal Paradigm Project, Managing Director of Program Continuum- Teach For America Buffalo
Find her on social media: Instagram
Instagram.com/pivotalparadigmproject Instagram.com/sick.tired.transcendent www.Facebook.com/pivotalparadigmproject www.facebook.com/Sick.Tired.Transcendent
What do you love about WNY? Moving here as a transplant this community has been so welcoming to me. I have been here for 3 years and I have been able to make incredible connections. I appreciate the various cultures, and traditions. I enjoy learning from others and immersing myself in various cultures. It works there is a melting pot here. Lastly, the summer here is absolutely beautiful! There are so many activities and perfect weather.
What does diversity and inclusion mean to you? Diversity and Inclusion to me mean so much to me it is the crux of my work. I started to learn more about inclusion and pick up skills because of the negative experiences that happened to me. Now, with my business, I look at each partnership that I take on as a personal commitment. My job is to make organizations inclusive for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color) employees. I usually don’t take on one-off sessions intentionally, I believe that doing one session doesn’t change outcomes for BIPOC staff members and is actually harmful. My approach centers healing before action, systematic evaluation, co-creating transparency frameworks, and thoughtful inclusion groups for both affinity and allyship. For me, diversity and inclusion must be holistic and encompass several layers to see full organizational change. The work doesn’t just happen between 9 am and 5 pm but a commitment to making the world better through inclusion must live out in every aspect of your life. That means calling people in that you know and love when you have breeches in your beliefs. For me, it means that I am usually causing “push-back”, but in order to be committed to inclusion, it means choosing to be uncomfortable. It’s a lifelong commitment and a journey of learning and growing that doesn’t end.
How are you making a difference in your community? Through volunteerism, philanthropy, and community service. I thrive when I am able to serve the community. I primarily serve through the lens of education but I also engage in programming that contributes to housing and community equity.
Buffalo Urban League Young Professionals – Education Committee Chair
City Year Buffalo – Educator Advisory Board
HBCU Thinktank – Historically Black Colleges and Universities Advocacy
Plymouth Crossings – Board of Directors, Development Committee
United Way Next Generation – Advisory Board, Community Impact Committee Chair
West Side Community Services – Board of Directors, Finance Committee
RAHMA – Board of Directors
Who do YOU recognize as a #moveforward motivator? Ekua Mends-Aidoo She is a powerhouse and champion for inclusion and was one of the first people to take a risk and trust me with creating and implementing inclusion plans for strong employee resource groups within the Evergreen Health system.