Economic mobility can be a challenge for many students in Buffalo, New York; Say Yes Buffalo is working to change that. By expanding access to education and career opportunities, the organization is helping more students build stable, well-paying careers. A key part of this effort? Data.
To connect students with real-world work experience, Say Yes Buffalo launched the Careerwise Greater Buffalo apprenticeship program in 2021. This program gives students hands-on job training while helping local businesses develop a stronger workforce. However, to measure its success and make improvements, the organization needed a better system for tracking data.
Christopher Lee, Data Director at Say Yes Buffalo, played a key role in improving how the organization collects and uses data. After a mass shooting in Buffalo in 2022 shifted focus to urgent community support efforts, Christopher remained committed to improving career opportunities for students.
By participating in technical assistance sessions and learning from other organizations, he helped Say Yes Buffalo improve its approach to data collection, management, and communication. One major achievement was developing a Power BI dashboard for the local school district, allowing real-time tracking of student progress and program impact.
“I utilized the Power BI dashboard system to help the local school district build their own data tool. Since I am working to bring the CareerWise model to the Buffalo level, that student level data from the local school district has been used to inform this process.” – Christopher Lee, Say Yes Buffalo
Christopher’s efforts led to several major improvements:
- Better Decision-Making: By identifying key factors like access to health insurance and savings plans, Say Yes Buffalo now has a clearer picture of what students need for long-term financial success.
- Increased Employer Engagement: More efficient data collection led to a 45% increase in employer participation in apprentice assessments, strengthening the program.
- Organizational Growth: The improved data systems led to the creation of a new role focused on program evaluation, reinforcing the organization’s ability to track progress.
- Stronger Funding Prospects: By demonstrating measurable success, Say Yes Buffalo positioned itself as a valuable community partner, helping secure ongoing financial support.
Thanks to Christopher’s leadership and Say Yes Buffalo’s focus on improving data systems, students now have more access to career-building opportunities. These changes ensure that more young people, regardless of background, have a clear path toward stable employment and financial security. By using data to inform its programs, Say Yes Buffalo is doing more than tracking numbers—it’s making sure students have the resources they need to build successful futures. Learn more about Say Yes Buffalo here.