Stronger Together

How Buffalo women are creating community and circles of belonging

Across Buffalo, women are creating circles of connection, belonging, and support that ripple throughout Western New York. Their work is reshaping how people gather, how they heal, and how they find one another in a world that often feels disconnected.

Power of the Pack

Power of the Pack began when Maha Hammad opened her home, cooked a meal, and invited a handful of women to gather. What she hoped for was simple – a space without competition or comparison. That evening grew into a powerful movement built on kindness, collaboration, and the belief that women are stronger together.

Maha works in the mortgage and real estate industry at a local, community-driven bank. She credits Power of the Pack’s Board of Directors: Enas Latif, Ashley Draper, Jeanette DiPasquale, Sarah Blankenship, Danielle Wolfe, and Massoma Alam Chohan.

“We need to help and support each other in this world,” Maha says. “There is room for all of us. Let’s make a difference coming from a place of heart. Be true to who you are and never be embarrassed about who you are. We are all created differently for a reason. We all have different gifts that complement each other.”

What began as backyard gatherings has grown into a nonprofit led entirely by volunteers. These women work full-time jobs, run businesses, raise families, and still show up with the shared mission of giving back.

Their events blend empowerment with community impact. One of their most meaningful collaborations was with the Family Justice Center, where survivors of domestic violence were invited to participate in a “Runway of Hope” fashion experience. “We give them a day to feel beautiful and share their stories,” Maha says. “Helping someone in that way has a trickle effect.”

Women come away from Power of the Pack events feeling more connected, more inspired, and more certain that community is built one act of kindness at a time. 

“What this all circles back to is my children,” Maha says. “It began with my children because they are my greatest purpose. I wanted to help create a stronger, more compassionate community, not just for them, but for future generations. If we plant seeds today by empowering, educating, and supporting others, those seeds will continue to grow long after we are gone. That is the legacy I hope to leave.”

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Jennie's Circle: Fifty Fabulous Women Giving Circle

Lisa LaTrovato founded the Fifty Fabulous Women Giving Circle to help small nonprofits serving women and children in Western New York. The model was simple: collective giving. When many women contribute small amounts, the impact becomes powerful. That spirit of collaboration led to Jennie’s Circle; a giving circle focused on mental health.

Lisa named the circle after her Great Aunt Jennie, who lived in a time when mental health was hidden in the shadows. “She didn’t get the treatment she needed,” Lisa says. “Today, she would have had a fuller life.” The circle honors her story and brings conversations about mental health into the light.

Jennie’s Circle supports grassroots nonprofits with budgets under $1 million. Each quarter, applicants present their mission to the group. A coach helps them refine their pitch, giving them skills they can use long after the grant cycle ends. Even organizations that aren’t selected leave with confidence, clarity, and a stronger voice.

The impact is tangible. “Knowing the investment we made and how many lives it touched, that’s what it’s all about,” Lisa says. One recipient, UPward Design for Life, used Jennie’s Circle funding to build metrics that later helped them win a larger United Way pitch contest.

Lisa encourages women to get involved with causes they care about and she currently seeks leaders for Jennie’s Circle and its youth group This Little Light of Mine. Lisa says, “It starts with service and stepping up. Even the little things make a big difference.”

She adds, “It’s gratifying and fulfilling to know that this crazy idea I had when 13 women gathered at a restaurant in 2019 came to fruition. It’s incredible and humbling at the same time. This is never about one person. Yes, I started it, but it’s beyond me; it’s collective. This is a legacy. Part of my legacy is building Children’s Hospital. This one is a personal legacy for me; I am helping the next generation.”

This movement keeps growing, with chapters in Buffalo and Charlotte, NC. For Lisa, it’s not just philanthropy; “It’s neighbors helping neighbors. And if Buffalo isn’t a City of Good Neighbors, I don’t know what is.”

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Buffalo Social Club

Community can take many forms, and for journalists Mary Friona Celani and Kimberly LaRussa, it’s found in the conversations shared on their podcast, Buffalo Social Club. Part of the Heard of Buffalo network, the show gives Western New Yorkers a place to tell stories that are honest, vulnerable, and often overlooked.

With backgrounds in broadcast journalism, Mary and Kim approach each conversation with compassion. Episodes are filmed live at Hilbert College in a studio built specifically for them, creating an atmosphere where guests can open up without pressure or pretense. “We want people to be themselves,” they say. “It’s a safe place to have courage and be comfortable at the same time.”

Without rules or time constraints, their topics include domestic violence, grief, mental health, entrepreneurship, and everyday challenges. One guest described her appearance as “therapeutic” after sharing the story of losing her daughter to domestic violence. Others say the show gives them permission to speak about things they’ve carried silently for years. “None of us have it all together,” Mary and Kim say. “We want people to know they’re not alone.”

Behind the scenes, they’ve built a community that asks questions, finds resources, and supports one another through conversations shared. Every episode includes a charity component, highlighting fundraisers, nonprofits, or people helping neighbors in need.

These women have collaborated with one another and with the community for years through Totally Buffalo and Sweet Buffalo, continuing their journalism roots on a new medium through the Buffalo Social Club podcast.

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The Beauty Boost

For Chris Belin, Buffalo isn’t just home; it’s the heartbeat of her life. She grew up here, went to UB, built her career, and met her husband. “All roads lead to Buffalo,” she says. “When you’re a Bills fan, you’re part of something. And we all want to be part of something.”

A few years ago, when many women were feeling isolated, Chris worked as an online health coach and saw how mental wellness suffers when people lose opportunities to gather. She decided to launch a Buffalo franchise of The Beauty Boost to create in person experiences that help women feel healthy, supported, and connected.

One benefit of being in-person is laughter that tends to be contagious and releases a beneficial hormone in your body. Laughing with others compounds its power. Community is crucial to people’s mental wellness journey. Counselors and mental health professionals have even begun recommending The Beauty Boost to their patients as part of their wellness routine.

The Beauty Boost offers four types of events – fitness classes, empowerment workshops, retreats, and social gatherings – all designed to help women feel seen and supported. Chris and her team are intentional about welcoming every woman who walks through the door, especially those who arrive alone.

Chris sees the community as an investment in women’s mental, emotional, and social wellness. The Beauty Boost also partners with local organizations to support charitable causes. 

“Having a community is essential,” she says. “These conversations can be life-changing.” These circles remind us that community grows when someone chooses to open a door and has a heart to help. Find an event that excites you. There are many ways to get involved. It starts with just one.