Scientologists Spearhead “Brighter Future for Buffalo”

Forging a brighter future for any American city requires many shoulders to the wheel, and putting their weight behind a better Buffalo Wednesday night were community officials, leaders and parishioners of several local churches, and more than 100 community activists and dedicated Buffalonians.

The event was the Church of Scientology of Buffalo [http://www.scientology-buffalo.org] "Brighter Future for Buffalo" Jazz Night, featuring "Taylor Made Jazz," a group known for its humanitarian benefit performances. The venue was the Church’s community hall on Virginia and Main. The inspiration for the effort came from Mayor Byron Brown who has, in the city’s promotional literature and ads, urged citizens to work together in building a brighter future for the city. And even soul impresario Isaac Hayes added his shoulder from Harlem by contributing an effective tool for bringing greater respect and peace to the community.

Hosting the event as part of its "Creating a Brighter Future for Buffalo" campaign, the Church of Scientology of Buffalo honored Mark Fuller, executive director of the Stop the Violence Coalition with the Rev. Mary Lou Reile "Brighter Future for Buffalo" Award. "We applaud this coalition for being out there every day, on the front lines, whenever and wherever needed," said Teresa Reger, president of the Church in Buffalo. "Because of their non-stop efforts to make this city a brighter, safer place, I can’t think of a more deserving group to be the first recipient of this ’Brighter Future for Buffalo’ Award."

Following the award ceremony, the Rev. Jonathan Reece, executive director of the Church of Scientology of Buffalo, announced that, in collaboration with the Healing Tree Ministries, the Evangelical Deliverance Ministries and the Stop the Violence Coalition, the Scientology Volunteer Ministers [http://www.volunteerministers.org] are inviting people of all colors, creeds and cultures to join in distributing Isaac Hayes-sponsored copies of The Way to Happiness, a common-sense moral guidebook that serves as a centerpiece for a new campaign to reduce violence in Buffalo. Hayes has sponsored the printing of more than 9,000 copies of the book, which will be passed out in the city’s most problematic areas starting at 10:00am this Saturday, May 27, at 1279 Sycamore Street.

"Being of mixed ethnicity myself, I have seen racial discrimination and intolerance on both sides of the fence," said Rev. Reece. "But that mindset is born of ignorance and it all too often ends in hurt and violence. This little book has proven time and again—no matter where in the world it is given out—to be a powerful peacemaker."

When broadly distributed and read, The Way to Happiness has chilled violence and strife in apartheid-era South African townships, and in Los Angeles, where one million copies were distributed throughout strife-torn neighborhoods following that city’s riots in 1992. Immediate, observable and very positive change resulted. In its wake, gang members even joined forces to remove graffiti from 130 neighborhood buildings and to pass out more copies of the booklet. Today The Way to Happiness [http;//www.twth.org] is doing much the same in Palestine and Israel, where more than 1 million households now have and use copies.

Recognizing the pacifying power of this publication, written by author and humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard [http://lron.hubbard.org], have been opinion leaders in diverse fields—from the Palestinian Authority’s Deputy Secretary of Education Zeinab Habash, to Roots author, the late Alex Haley, to South Africa’s National Deputy Commissioner for Corrections Alfred Tsetsane, to the National Basketball Association’s preeminent championship coach, Phil Jackson, and others.

"Members of the Church of Scientology know that something can be done about the problems we face as a community—and we want to help revitalize Buffalo by bringing like-minded individuals and groups together to build a better society here," said Reger. The "Jazz Night," featuring jazz musicians noted for their support of child development and educational programs, "is the Church’s way of spotlighting and thanking those who are actively improving the community," said Reger. "They deserve it, wholeheartedly."

For more information about the Church’s ongoing "Creating a Brighter Future for Buffalo" campaign, or to take part in this weekend’s Way to Happiness distribution event, contact the Church of Scientology of Buffalo at (716) 856-3910.

For more information on the Scientology relgion visit the Scientology Theology web site http://www.bonafidescientology.org or the "What is Scientology" web site at http://www.whatisscientology.org.