On June 4, 2019, Buffalo Bills defensive end, Shaq Lawson, hosted a gathering of student athletes from across the Western New York region at the Heritage Center. This event represented a unique junction of history, sports, and social justice. The student football players played for Niagara Falls, Lackawanna, Orchard Park, Bennett, and Bishop Timon high schools.
Shaq Lawson and the students went on a tour of the museum, spoke to community members, and, of course, took lots of pictures with kids, students, adults, and staff members.
This gathering reminds us that history is rooted in community. The Heritage Center is committed to being an open, accessible place for the people of Niagara Falls and the wider Western New York region to reflect on our history.
A big thank you to Shaq, the students, and everyone else who attended this wonderful event!