Oswaldo Mestre Jr.

For me this statement (attributed to Mahatma Gandhi) is more than a mere reminder, but is a daily mantra. Growing up, I was always taught to give back and pay it forward. I saw it in the underfunded after school program that I attended, where the staff always selflessly gave of themselves. I saw it in the community where I grew up, when everyone helped each other. I saw it in my fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Fisher, who worked after hours with him to make sure that a young Afro-Latino boy would succeed. All of those selfless acts of service shaped me to give back and dedicate my life to public service.

Now, I serve as the Chief Service Officer & Director of Citizen Services for the City of Buffalo. In this role, I plan, coordinate, and evaluate the implementation of citywide engagement programs and opportunities, while also building the city’s capacity to address its most pressing challenges. One of the highlights of my career has been the design and implementation of the Operation Clean Sweep program. This program uses data from 3-1-1 quality of life complaint-driven calls, non-emergency 9-1-1 calls, recommendations from community stakeholders and Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles. Using this compiled data to pinpoint hot spots in the community, these cross-sector partners enter into underserved neighborhoods to help deliver needed services. 

‍