October 2024 Honoree
Kristin Heltman-Weiss, Executive Director, Providence Farm Collective
Kristin has shared her time and skills as a volunteer throughout her life. She served on the Erie County Commission on the Status of Women’s Education Committee. From 2012 to 2018, she and her husband Paul, led the East Aurora Rotary Club’s Youth Exchange Program. During that time they hosted students from across Europe. From 2016-2020, she provided academic support and advocacy for children at the Somali Bantu Community Organization of WNY’s After School Program.
In 2017, in partnership with Somali Bantu leadership, she was a founding member of the Somali Bantu Community Farm and in 2019, the group formed Providence Farm Collective as a nonprofit 501c3 with a mission of cultivating farmer-led and community-rooted agriculture and food systems for under-resourced peoples. Located near Orchard Park, it is the only non-profit in WNY that directly supports communities with access to rural farmland, farming and business education, markets, and the opportunity to farm for income. In 2020 Kristin was appointed executive director at Providence Farm Collective.
Most recently, Kristin served as a member of the One Region for Climate Action Climate Justice Working Group, a project of One Region Forward, and as a board member for the Somali Bantu Community Organization of WNY. She currently serves as president of the Board of Directors of Providence Farm Collective. She also serves on the NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets Diversity & Racial Equity Network, and is a member of the Food Future WNY Access, Equity & Sovereignty Working Group and Food Future’s Regional Leadership Team. Kristin is a founding member of the WNY Farmland Access Support Network, whose mission to improve land access in WNY by making better use of existing resources and programs, identify and fill holes in the network, identify and break down barriers, and actually get people onto farmland.
Kristin received her B.A. and Ed. M. from SUNY Buffalo. She taught English, research skills, and writing at SUNY Buffalo, Canisius College, and Williamsville North High School, prior to founding Buffalo Educational Therapy, which provided intensive individualized academic intervention for children, adolescents and adults with learning differences.
March 2024 Honoree
Morgan Williams-Bryant, CEO of Leadership Buffalo, Inc.
Leadership Buffalo unites leaders from diverse backgrounds and increases their knowledge of community issues, broadens their vision, and enhances their ability to lead.
Prior to joining Leadership Buffalo, Morgan was the Chief Impact Officer at Girl Scouts of WNY, where she oversaw all aspects of membership, volunteer training and girl programming for nearly 11,000 girls and 6,000 adults in nine counties. Morgan was appointed as the youngest, female Deputy Commissioner of the Erie County Youth Services Division, and has also served as Director of Youth and Family Services for the Community Action Organization of Western New York.
Morgan is also the founder and CEO of MWB Ignites, LLC, a global consultancy firm that elevates individuals and organizations through leadership development training and workshops to help awaken untapped talents, gifts and boundless potential. Her work has transformed the lives of countless individuals and inspired audiences of all ages to embrace a champion-level mindset. She is also the author of “A Champion’s Prayer Journey” and recently launched her Christian apparel line, Champion Made.
Morgan earned her BA in Broadcast Communication from the SUNY College at Buffalo and a MA in Organizational Leadership from Medaille College. She has served as an adjunct professor at Bryant and Stratton College. Morgan is a member of the Buffalo Chapter of The Links, Incorporated and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated where she serves as Chaplain. Morgan currently serves on several boards and committees: Say YES Buffalo Endowment Committee; Women Who Lead WNY; and is a former Trustee for Medaille University. She has also received recognition including the 2019 Buffalo State College Young Alumnus Award, Buffalo Business First 40 Under 40 Award, and as a finalist for the Buffalo Niagara Partnership Athena Award.