Young Professionals Program

Join Explore Buffalo’s 2025 Young Professionals Program, sponsored by National Fuel, to become an expert on your city! Through this program, you will gain an in-depth understanding of Buffalo’s neighborhoods and landmarks, including history and present-day opportunities and challenges. Each month’s program will focus on a different area of the city. The program is intended for young professionals who are passionate about Buffalo. This program is an excellent opportunity for those who have recently moved to Buffalo and want to build roots here, as well as for WNY residents who want to learn more about their hometown.

“My time spent throughout 2024 participating in Explore Buffalo’s Young Professionals Program was definitely a highlight of my year. I am blessed to have traveled outside of the US many times in my adult life, but have always returned from my trips with the comfort of Buffalo as my home. Touring the different sites, neighborhoods, and organizations that are alive and well in Western New York and the City of Buffalo grew my care, love and support of this region while providing me an eye-opening look into the past, present and future of the area.

I found that our monthly journeys around the 716 provided me with a dedicated time for play, fun and community. It was a great lesson for me as I was in the midst of a busy season professionally and when I took the time to pause for my Explore Buffalo afternoons, the work was still accomplished and I walked away refreshed and ready to jump back into my role at Hearts. I looked forward to each meet up and welcomed an important element of work-life balance into my routines which I am taking away as a personal and professional goal of mine for the years to come.”
– Kelsey, 2024 Young Professionals Program

Goals for Participants

  • Building stronger connections with specific neighborhoods and the Buffalo community as a whole.
  • Developing an in-depth understanding of Buffalo history and neighborhoods.
  • Expanding your network in the Buffalo community by engaging with fellow program members throughout the program, and with community leaders each month.
  • Strengthening your local roots as an engaged and informed member of the Buffalo community.

2025 Program Schedule:

We’ll gather from 2-6pm on the second Thursday of every month from April to December: April 10, May 8, June 12, July 10,  August 14, September 11, October 9, November 13, and December 11. For each program, we’ll start at 2pm with an in-depth tour of a landmark building or neighborhood, including conversations with community leaders connected with that day’s focus. We’ll end with a happy hour in the neighborhood, and the program will be wrapped up by 6pm.

We will provide the full schedule to participants before the program begins in April. Example locations from our 2024 Young Professionals Program include: downtown Buffalo, the Michigan Street African-American Heritage Corridor, Broadway-Fillmore, South Buffalo, the Tri-Main Building, Temple Beth Zion and Trinity Episcopal Church, and Kleinhans Music Hall.  We’ve met with community leaders and engaged with partner organizations such as Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper and the Stained Glass Association of America.

Program Details

  • Suggested age range: 22-40
  • Program Fee: $500. Your company/organization can cover your program fee. Scholarships are available on request. There is no fundraising component or expectation in this program.
  • Maximum of 25 program members.
  • Accessibility accommodations can be made upon request.
  • Each program member will receive a two-year Explorer Pass membership at the Dual level to take additional tours during and after the program. The Explorer Pass membership provides you with free access to more than 70 different walking and bike tours for two adults. (One of our 2023 Young Professionals used this membership to take more than 40 tours in 2024!)

Program Member Expectations

  • Program members are expected to attend each monthly program and make it a priority on their calendar. We do understand that sometimes, life happens, and you may be able to attend a program.
  • At each monthly program, we expect program members to actively participate and engage with their fellow program members and community members.

Get Started!

Please complete the application found below. Completing this form is the first step in the application process; it does not obligate you to join the class. The application deadline for the 2025 Young Professionals Program is Friday, March 21, 2025.

After you submit your application, we will set up a time for a 10-15 minute phone call to discuss the program and your interests in Buffalo architecture, history, and more, and answer any questions you have about the program.

Apply to the 2025 Young Professionals Program

Questions? Please contact Executive Director Brad Hahn at brad@explorebuffalo.org with any questions.