How we got started
Mark Talley is the founder and director of our organization. He was inspired to create this charity after his mother, Geraldine C. Talley, was killed in the Tops shooting on May 14th, 2022. Growing up, Mark struggled with a number of challenges, including being raised by a single mother after his father left when he was 10 years old. Despite being academically successful in junior school, he started hanging out with the wrong crowd in high school and his grades dropped. His mother was able to get him transferred to a prestigious high school, where he graduated in 2007.
After attending college in Detroit, Mark dropped out and struggled to get back on track. It wasn’t until he received a disappointing email from his mother that he decided to move back home to Buffalo and attend community college and university. He obtained a dual bachelor’s degree in economics and urban planning but struggled to find a job due to his partial complex epilepsy. In his late 20s, he became epilepsy-free and eventually found work as a security officer in a county hospital.
Through his personal experiences, including living with epilepsy, Mark has gained a deep understanding of the challenges that low-income communities face and is committed to using his skills and talents to make a positive impact in these communities. Our organization is dedicated to promoting socioeconomic equality and providing resources and services to those who need them most.
OUR MISSION
To combat systematic racism and provide awareness on socioeconomic equality & equitable issues.
OUR VISION
To foster a reality in which one’s race and one’s socioeconomical environment shouldn’t determine one’s future outcome.
Mark Talley is an amazing young man who is doing so much for the community. I’m so proud of this young man and can’t wait to see what the future brings him I know it will be amazing we are lucky and blessed to have him as a leader everything he does will not go unnoticed.
As someone who lived through a nightmare that would break even the strongest of people, I continue to be amazed by Mark and his ability to turn pain into power through the selfless work he does to benefit the lives of many in the Buffalo community.
I’ve worked in community advocacy for 30 years. Never have I worked with someone that is so committed to improving our community and helping our most vulnerable as Mark. He does it with intensity and opinions, but most importantly with actions and results.
I have both interviewed Mark and worked with him on a fundraiser. To be frank, I am amazed. Despite everything he has gone through, he still thinks six steps forward and shows an empathy and caring for others that makes you want to be around him.”
When he speaks of his mother, he speaks of her as the root of everything he is trying to do an accomplish. You can tell his heart is in the right place and that he is really trying to make a change in the city
I met Mark Talley a few Months as a Portrait client. As I grew to know I discovered that he suffered a major loss when his Mom was brutally murdered by a White Supremacist just a few miles from Studio. Mark through his Pain lunched a Brilliant initiative and bringing all ethnicities to via an alliance of Love to support members of his community and beyond. He turned a tragic event into a powerful opportunity to help and inspire others. I am so grateful for your dedication and passion for this amazing project to others Mark. I only see a bright future for your team and board flourishing in this endeavor. I am so proud of you and God’s Speed!
Commitments
Our organization is dedicated to promoting socioeconomic equality and providing resources and services to those who need them most. As part of our mission, we will be offering a series of charity events that focus on the five key factors of socio-economics and how they impact individuals and communities. These events will provide valuable information and resources to help people understand the challenges they may face and how to overcome them. We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their background, and our events are designed to support and empower those who are struggling. Join us at one of our upcoming charity events and learn more about how you can make a difference in your community and beyond.
Meet the Board of Directors
