Meet Our Team

Dwight Lowe

Founder and Executive Director

As an influential leader in his community, he has dedicated his life to influencing others to become effective agents of change. His life’s work aims to empower and equip men, women, and children with the tools and knowledge to create financial and spiritual equity for themselves.

Dwight Lowe is the Founder and Executive Director of Home Beneath Our Feet, Inc., a non-profit organization. From a young age, Dwight recognized the lack of opportunities that were given to the inner city. With his passion for giving youth in the community opportunities and his love of gardening, he was driven to start an organization that would help solve many of the obstacles he faced living on the East Side of Buffalo. Last year Dwight was one of 24 selected to participate in the Oishei Fellowship Leaders of Color Cohort. Throughout his career, Dwight has partnered with numerous organizations to further impact the lives of many community members. While youth development is at the heart of his mission, bringing awareness of crime prevention is a key goal. He has organized and implemented clean ups throughout the city using CPTED strategies to improve the communities he serves. When he is not working in the community, Dwight is advocating for individuals with disabilities and serves on the DEI board for People Inc.

Jesse Napierala

Farm Manager

Jesse Napierala is an Environmental Expert with a Passion for Nature Jesse Napierala is a talented Perma culturist, beekeeper, nurseryman, orchardist, and horticulturalist. With a  childhood spent working on farms, Jesse developed a deep appreciation for nature and the art of cultivating food. He earned a certificate in Permaculture Design from Oregon State University and has been managing organic farms for over a decade. Jesse is an avid beekeeper and the proud owner of Earth Eden LLC, a sought-after edible/ecological landscape and self-sustainability consulting service. His dedication to nature inspires him to offer and implement natural solutions to address many of the global issues we face today.

Ebony White

President

Ebony M. White, a native of Buffalo, New York, is an active mother and grandmother. She is a graduate of Empire State College, where she earned an undergraduate degree with a focus on Community Health. Ebony has spent over 20 years addressing social injustices that impact the intellectually disabled, youth, and the community at large, navigating social systems to improve health outcomes. Ebony leads various social impact initiatives that seek to counter the injustices that grossly impact communities of color.

Ebony White is a trauma-informed care champion from the Trauma Informed Care Institute of Buffalo, NY, and a recent graduate of the Institute for Nonprofit Practice, where she earned a certificate in Social Impact Management and Leadership. She is also the founder and CEO of ALIGN Consulting, LLC, a community engagement, organizing, and project management agency. Ebony White is also the Workforce Impact Manager for the Buffalo Center for Health Equity.

On 5/14/2022, Ebony lost her uncle (Heyward Patterson), a beloved community member, due to the white supremacist attack at Tops Market. Despite the pain, anger, and disappointment with the societal impairments faced by her community, she has forged ahead resiliently, continuing to give voice to the lost and silenced due to fear/despair. Ebony’s advocacy has led her to Chair the Community Engagement efforts of the 5/14 Buffalo Massacre Community Coalition and serve on several nonprofit organization boards. Her leadership continues to be defined by a contextual understanding of systems that requires immediate dismantling for systemic equity to prevail.

Deja James

Secretary

Dejia Marie James is Director of Policy Advancement and Media with PPG. She is a native Buffalonian whose family emigrated to the city from Havana, Cuba in the 1960s. As a Black feminist and African American/Afro-Cuban, she is dedicated to advocating for underrepresented communities and creating autonomous spaces for constructive support of marginalized peoples.

Her areas of focus are member engagement, public affairs, and local, state, and national community relations, specializing in developing content and storytelling that has advanced inclusive citizenship and advocacy for racial equity. She is proficient in understanding the New York State legislative process, the role of lobbying, developing sustainable pathways for leadership, access to resources, and shaping narrative. Dejia Marie received her Bachelor of Arts in International Relations with a minor in Spanish from SUNY Geneseo, where she completed her Spanish studies in Quito, Ecuador.

Prior to PPG, Dejia Marie worked closely on immigration advocacy, refugee resettlement, and childcare small business training through a program developed by Childcare Resource Network and Journey's End Refugee Services. She also coordinated for racial equity initiatives at a local foundation.

Clement Kwakye

Treasurer

Cindi McEachon

Board Member

Cameron Kukla

Board Member

Emere Nieves

Board Member