named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Home Convening
Three-day community gathering focused on design justice, preservation, oral histories, and community-engaged design practices centered on the Coles House and Studio
J. Max Bond Jr. Lecture
Public lecture series fostering dialogue on legacy, equity, and representation in architectural practice
Open House Events
Public events to engage the community in dialogue about home, heritage, and the future of the Coles House and Studio, including tours and shared meals
activities · 4 groups
What they do
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Architecture and Design Public Education Programs 2 activities
- Mentorship and capacity building for emerging designersUses the Coles House as a platform to mentor emerging designers and cultivate community around transformative ideas in architecture and the built environment.
- Public programming to advance design justice and community engagementOrganizes multi-day gatherings, including a three-day convening, walking tours of historical sites, community discussions, and storytelling events to promote design justice, preservation, and community-engaged dialogue around architecture and urban planning.
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Historic Site Public Programming 1 activity
- Community open house events at the Coles House and StudioHosts open house events at the Coles House and Studio to engage the public, provide communal experiences with food and refreshments, and facilitate conversations about home and the future of the site.
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Historic Building Restoration and Preservation 1 activity
- Preservation and stewardship of the Coles House and StudioPreserves and stewards the Coles House and Studio as a physical and cultural landmark to honor the legacy of Robert Traynham Coles, with ongoing maintenance and creative preservation efforts supporting future community-centered programs.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Advancing recognition of underrepresented architects and community buildersWorks to elevate the recognition of Robert T. Coles and other historically unrecognized architects, planners, craftspeople, and community builders who shaped Buffalo’s urban fabric, particularly within Black, Brown, Indigenous, and Asian communities.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$146K
Contributions & grants$146K100%
Program service revenue——
Investment income——
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$162K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$367K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$67K
2 years on record · 2024–2025 · YoY revenue +7.7%
relationships · 5
Who they work with
- AIA New York Partner — Co-hosted or collaborated on the J. Max Bond Jr. Lecture event.
- Buffalo Urban League Partner — Facilitated connection between William Evans and Robert Traynham Coles for professional collaboration on community infrastructure projects.
- Coles House Project Partner — Organizes the home gathering in collaboration with community stakeholders.
- Deleuw, Cather, Brill Partner — Collaborated with Robert Traynham Coles on the development of the John F. Kennedy Recreation Center in Buffalo.
- Robert T. Coles Partner — Central figure whose legacy, architecture, and advocacy are stewarded and uplifted by the organization.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Architectural Design as Resistancemethodology: social_activism_through_designBy orienting living spaces to resist harmful urban infrastructure—such as highways—we mitigate environmental and social disruption, because intentional spatial design can protect community well-being and assert autonomy over place.
- Community-Driven Design for Social Justicemethodology: community_driven_designBy using participatory design and preservation practices that center community voice, oral histories, and agency, we advance social justice and equitable investment in underserved neighborhoods, because involving communities in shaping their built environment fosters dignity, counters historical harms, and produces spaces that reflect their needs and values.
- Community-Engaged Preservation of Cultural Spacesmethodology: community_engaged_preservationBy engaging the public in preserving and reimagining historic structures like the Coles House, we strengthen community ownership and cultural continuity, because inclusive stewardship rooted in collective memory ensures that preservation serves living communities rather than static heritage.
- Design Justice as Systemic Disruptionmethodology: design_justiceBy applying a Design Justice framework, we challenge and dismantle systemic injustices in architecture and urban planning that have historically harmed marginalized communities, because centering equity, care, and community-rooted dialogue transforms design from an extractive practice into one of resistance and repair.