Senate Resolution No. 5518

BY: Senator KENNEDY

HONORING Oswaldo Mestre upon the occasion of his
designation as recipient of the Rufus Frazier Human
Relations Award by the Buffalo Branch NAACP

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the quality of life in their community and have shown a long and
sustained commitment to the maintenance of high standards in their
profession, certainly have earned the recognition and applause of all
the citizens of this great Empire State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Oswaldo Mestre upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the
Rufus Frazier Human Relations Award by the Buffalo Branch NAACP, to be
celebrated on Saturday, June 9, 2018; and

WHEREAS, Born the eldest of three children, Oswaldo Mestre was
raised by his mother in the heart of Spanish Harlem; and

WHEREAS, Oswaldo Mestre received his undergraduate education from
the University of Buffalo, through the Equal Opportunity Program (EOP),
where he primarily studied architecture as well as public policy and
administration; and

WHEREAS, In addition, Oswaldo Mestre is a 1997 graduate of the
Leadership Buffalo Program, a 2001 graduate of the advanced graduate
Leadership Buffalo class, and a participant in the FBI's annual Buffalo
Citizens Academy; and

WHEREAS, Oswaldo Mestre has served as the Director of Citizen
Services for the City of Buffalo since 2006, where he has been
instrumental in the development of what is now known as its 3-1-1 Call
and Resolution Center; and

WHEREAS, Prior to serving in this esteemed role, Oswaldo Mestre was
the Program Director of Buffalo's Weed and Seed Program, one of only
eight in the nation to establish an effective gun abatement program; and

WHEREAS, Under the able leadership of Oswaldo Mestre, the Weed and
Seed program was recognized in a United States Department of Justice
publication, Promising Strategies to Reduce Gun Violence, and
highlighted in Department of Justice's Executive Office for Weed and
Seed (EOWS) Weed & Seed In-Sites magazine in February 2002; and

WHEREAS, In his role as Director of Citizen Services for the City of
Buffalo, Oswaldo Mestre is responsible for the staff who coordinates a
number of ancillary services to educate and coach residents of Buffalo,
such as Citizen's Participation Academy, Urban Fellows program, 3-1-1
Pop Ups, the Community Crime Prevention Initiative, the Anti-Graffiti
and Clean City Program, Open Data initiative and the Save our Streets
Task Force; and

WHEREAS, One of Oswaldo Mestre's greatest achievements has been the
design and implementation of the Operation Clean Sweep Program, which
uses data from both 3-1-1 complaint calls and non-emergency 9-1-1 calls
to pinpoint trouble hot spots in the community and help deliver needed
services to underserved neighborhoods; and

WHEREAS, Oswaldo Mestre also serves as Chief Service Officer, where
he tirelessly advocates for service in the community and sponsors
AmeriCorps VISTA members to serve in local initiatives; and

WHEREAS, A staunch advocate for the youth, Oswaldo Mestre is the
founder and a former chairman of the Donald M. Dade Learning Through
Service Initiative, an initiative created in honor of his late mentor;
and

WHEREAS, With an unwavering commitment to his community, Oswaldo
Mestre serves as a Board Member of Buffalo and Erie County Workforce
Investment Board, as Chairman of the Issues and Policy Committee for the
National Federation for Just Communities of WNY, Inc., and as President
of the Father Belle Center Board of Directors; and

WHEREAS, Oswaldo Mestre is also an active member of Ionic Lodge No.
88, Prince Hall Free & Accepted Mason and was elected as a statewide
Grand Trustee; and

WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an
individual for the benefit of others which Oswaldo Mestre has displayed
throughout his life; and

WHEREAS, It has always been the objective of this Legislative Body
to honor and support those individuals who have displayed their
commitment to the betterment of their communities, and it is the intent
of this Legislative Body to inscribe upon its records this tribute to
Oswaldo Mestre, that future generations may know and appreciate his
admirable character, his many benevolent deeds, and the respect and
esteem in which he is held by his peers; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Oswaldo Mestre upon the occasion of his designation as recipient
of the Rufus Frazier Human Relations Award by the Buffalo Branch NAACP;
and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Oswaldo Mestre.