The east side of Buffalo, N.Y. captured the national spotlight in the aftermath of a massacre at Tops Friendly Market where a shooter targeted Black patrons and employees, killing 10 and injuring three. The neighborhood where the attack took place was portrayed as poor and violent.
Like many urban areas some of those things are true, but that’s not the whole picture. This is a neighborhood that many choose to live in, where people know one another, look out after each other — some have even lived there for generations.
It is a neighborhood where some residents, church leaders and former residents care so deeply that they are trying to make a difference.
This is a story of two of those people: lifelong friends Pastor Kenneth Simmons and John “Tubbs” Smith who grew up near the Tops. In their younger days they were a part of some of the issues that plagued the neighborhood, but through their personal awakenings became driven to be a positive guiding force in the lives of young people they encounter.
The Tops shooting shook their foundation but not their commitment.
Healing the harm on Buffalo’s east side
The story of two men raised on the streets of Buffalo’s east side, who changed their lives and became dedicated to healing the harm caused by poverty and addiction in their community.
Pastor Kenneth Simmons, holding grandson Cameo Simmons, listens to his praise and worship team before delivering a sermon at his church, Cold Spring Bible Chapel on Northland Avenue in Buffalo, N.Y., on June 26, 2022. John A. Smith, with Back to Basics Ministry, high fives another adult who was about to say what he was going to tell the teens in the HEAT program which was say what you mean, mean what you say but don’t say it mean. HEAT stands for Health, Empowerment, Attitude and Teamwork and teaches teens some life skills and exposes them to different experiences, meets at the senior center on Quincy Street in Buffalo on July 29, 2022.
Pastor Kenneth Simmons, holding grandson Cameo Simmons, listens to his praise and worship team before delivering a sermon at his church, Cold Spring Bible Chapel on Northland Avenue in Buffalo, N.Y., on June 26, 2022. John A. Smith, with Back to Basics Ministry, high fives another adult who was about to say what he was going to tell the teens in the HEAT program which was say what you mean, mean what you say but don’t say it mean. HEAT stands for Health, Empowerment, Attitude and Teamwork and teaches teens some life skills and exposes them to different experiences, meets at the senior center on Quincy Street in Buffalo on July 29, 2022.
Simmons and Smith walk down Northland Avenue to do street patrol as part of MAD DADS, Men Against Destruction-Defending Against Drugs and Social Disorder. The group works on connecting with men in the community. Simmons is the president of the local chapter and Smith is vice president. Juan Rodriguez, an elder at Cold Spring Bible Chapel on Northland, holds the phone so Pastor Kenneth Simmons of Cold Spring can pray for the man on the phone who is about to go to prison. Rodriguez has his sons, Josiah and Jeremiah, join in on the prayer. After they were done, they were joining more members of MAD DADS to walk the neighborhood. After praying over a group of young men they encountered, they challenged them to a three-on-three game.
Simmons and Smith walk down Northland Avenue to do street patrol as part of MAD DADS, Men Against Destruction-Defending Against Drugs and Social Disorder. The group works on connecting with men in the community. Simmons is the president of the local chapter and Smith is vice president. Juan Rodriguez, an elder at Cold Spring Bible Chapel on Northland, holds the phone so Pastor Kenneth Simmons of Cold Spring can pray for the man on the phone who is about to go to prison. Rodriguez has his sons, Josiah and Jeremiah, join in on the prayer. After they were done, they were joining more members of MAD DADS to walk the neighborhood. After praying over a group of young men they encountered, they challenged them to a three-on-three game.
John “Tubbs” Smith, vice president of MAD DADS, laughs as Pastor Kenneth Simmons, president of MAD DADS, teases him. Simmons talks about youth and their needs from his office at Buffalo City Hall on June 6. He is the director of recreation.
John “Tubbs” Smith, vice president of MAD DADS, laughs as Pastor Kenneth Simmons, president of MAD DADS, teases him. Simmons talks about youth and their needs from his office at Buffalo City Hall on June 6. He is the director of recreation.
FROM TOP: Members of Cold Spring Bible Chapel hand out sandwiches and water at East Utica and Main Street on July 16. This is an outreach ministry they do every Saturday. They offer the food to anyone who wants it. Memorials hang from a tree in front of the Tops Friendly Market on Jefferson Avenue on July 14. Two months prior, a white man drove several hours to the Tops to attack the Black community. He killed 10 people and injured three others. Trinity Carroll heads for the shark float while playing with Ava Debose in Debose’s pool on Eaton Street on July 26. A resident on an upstairs porch talks to someone on the street on Butler Avenue on June 6.
CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT: Members of Cold Spring Bible Chapel hand out sandwiches and water at East Utica and Main Street on July 16. This is an outreach ministry they do every Saturday. They offer the food to anyone who wants it. Memorials hang from a tree in front of the Tops Friendly Market on Jefferson Avenue on July 14. Two months prior, a white man drove several hours to the Tops to attack the Black community. He killed 10 people and injured three others. Trinity Carroll heads for the shark float while playing with Ava Debose in Debose’s pool on Eaton Street on July 26. A resident on an upstairs porch talks to someone on the street on Butler Avenue on June 6.
Pastor Simmons delivers a sermon at the church on June 26, while his sister Toni Nevins and mother, Juanita Duncan, sing as part of the praise and worship team. Lee Lemon underlines a passage in his Bible during Bible study at Cold Spring Bible Chapel on July 12.
Pastor Simmons delivers a sermon at the church on June 26, while his sister Toni Nevins and mother, Juanita Duncan, sing as part of the praise and worship team. Lee Lemon underlines a passage in his Bible during Bible study at Cold Spring Bible Chapel on July 12.
Children and adults cool off at the fountain at Martin Luther King Jr. Park on June 25. A basketball sits at the bottom of an empty pool in Masten Park on July 26. Nine outdoor pools were closed this year due to lack of lifeguards.
Children and adults cool off at the fountain at Martin Luther King Jr. Park on June 25. A basketball sits at the bottom of an empty pool in Masten Park on July 26. Nine outdoor pools were closed this year due to lack of lifeguards.
Simmons and Smith teach youths how to fish at Schiller Park as part of a city-sponsored event run by MAD DADS and the Buffalo Police Athletic League. Smith shows Sharif Bosley Jr., 9, how to do a special handshake. Simmons helps Chase Levy cast his fishing rod. Everyone joins hands for a prayer with a group of young adults who were also at the park.
Simmons and Smith teach youths how to fish at Schiller Park as part of a city-sponsored event run by MAD DADS and the Buffalo Police Athletic League. Smith shows Sharif Bosley Jr., 9, how to do a special handshake. Simmons helps Chase Levy cast his fishing rod. Everyone joins hands for a prayer with a group of young adults who were also at the park.
In addition to fishing and other outings, Simmons mentors a group of young boys by teaching them about gardening. He had the children weed, plant and water their seedlings in the raised garden bed behind the church on July 7.
In addition to fishing and other outings, Simmons mentors a group of young boys by teaching them about gardening. He had the children weed, plant and water their seedlings in the raised garden bed behind the church on July 7.
Aerial views of the neighborhoods on July 7 on the East Side of Buffalo that were separated by the Kensington Expressway, which was built decades ago. An outdoor market, Kuleta Pamela — Swahili for come together — is held throughout the summer on Jefferson Avenue. It is one of the programs at the Johnnie B. Wiley Amateur Athletic Sports Pavilion. A bicyclist rides west on Humboldt Parkway. Jefferson Avenue near Laurel Street has a small stretch of businesses and a plaza.
Aerial views of the neighborhoods on July 7 on the East Side of Buffalo that were separated by the Kensington Expressway, which was built decades ago. An outdoor market, Kuleta Pamela — Swahili for come together — is held throughout the summer on Jefferson Avenue. It is one of the programs at the Johnnie B. Wiley Amateur Athletic Sports Pavilion. A bicyclist rides west on Humboldt Parkway. Jefferson Avenue near Laurel Street has a small stretch of businesses and a plaza.
Master Park was busy with a basketball game and children doing football drills July 26. John A. Smith teaches Larry Cooper a dribbling drill after a joint MAD DADS and Peacemakers of Western New York meeting at MLK Park on July 8.
Master Park was busy with a basketball game and children doing football drills July 26. John A. Smith teaches Larry Cooper a dribbling drill after a joint MAD DADS and Peacemakers of Western New York meeting at MLK Park on July 8.
MAD DADS walk around Martin Luther King Jr. Park and the neighborhood July 12 greeting people and offering a prayer. One of their programs is street patrol where they walk around a neighborhood that may need extra attention due to drug dealing, violence or other issues and make a nonjudgemental positive connection to the people they encounter, mostly young men. The group walks by a local restaurant on Fillmore Street. Members head back to their cars at dusk.
MAD DADS walk around Martin Luther King Jr. Park and the neighborhood July 12 greeting people and offering a prayer. One of their programs is street patrol where they walk around a neighborhood that may need extra attention due to drug dealing, violence or other issues and make a nonjudgemental positive connection to the people they encounter, mostly young men. The group walks by a local restaurant on Fillmore Street. Members head back to their cars at dusk.
Children run around and play while Cold Spring Bible Chapel members prepare for their annual picnic at Buffalo Harbor State Park on July 23. Emmanuel Simmons hugs his dad, Pastor Kenneth Simmons, after Kenneth Simmons cried talking about how his son helped him emotionally get through the effects of COVID in 2020. Holding his hand is his wife, Jamelle Williams-Simmons, beside her is Shanice Anderson, who is charge of the church’s outreach.
Children run around and play while Cold Spring Bible Chapel members prepare for their annual picnic at Buffalo Harbor State Park on July 23. Emmanuel Simmons hugs his dad, Pastor Kenneth Simmons, after Kenneth Simmons cried talking about how his son helped him emotionally get through the effects of COVID in 2020. Holding his hand is his wife, Jamelle Williams-Simmons, beside her is Shanice Anderson, who is charge of the church’s outreach.
Pastor Kenneth Simmons of Cold Spring Bible Chapel, with help from church member Guy Capps, baptizes Lee Lemon in Lake Erie at Buffalo Harbor State Park on July 23. Jamelle Williams-Simmons gets a kiss from her husband, Pastor Kenneth Simmons, after her baptism. She said she felt this was the right time and suddenly decided to get baptized along with other members of Cold Spring Bible Chapel at its annual family picnic. Watching is her friend, Lisa Coons, who also got baptized. Simmons and Williams-Simmons were married a few months ago.
Pastor Kenneth Simmons of Cold Spring Bible Chapel, with help from church member Guy Capps, baptizes Lee Lemon in Lake Erie at Buffalo Harbor State Park on July 23. Jamelle Williams-Simmons gets a kiss from her husband, Pastor Kenneth Simmons, after her baptism. She said she felt this was the right time and suddenly decided to get baptized along with other members of Cold Spring Bible Chapel at its annual family picnic. Watching is her friend, Lisa Coons, who also got baptized. Simmons and Williams-Simmons were married a few months ago.
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