Task Force Team:
The 101 Illuminating Ideas project was started by Sergio Rodriguez, a local author and community advocate. The task force is comprised of a variety of local thought leaders and community activists, including students, representatives from local government agencies, college professors, and entrepreneurs:
Sergio R. Rodriguez

Sergio is author of Little Santa: The Childhood Adventures of Santa Claus children’s book. Sergio drew inspiration for Little Santa Claus while living in Buffalo, NY, a snow-filled landscape reminiscent of the North Pole. Sergio has now embarked on a journey to help illuminate the City of Light. He attributes his energy and motivation to work on this project to the City’s good neighbors, their tenacity, and belief that Buffalo is on the verge of making a comeback. Sergio is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and the Just Buffalo Literary Center.
Marti Gorman

Marti is a born again Buffalonian. After wandering the globe more than 30 years, she finally found her way home in 2005, and promptly fell in love with Buffalo and all the potential it represents. She now promotes her home town relentlessly and breathlessly in a variety of ways, coordinating the annual Buffalo Citybration festival at the end of June each year, and publishing beautiful books about Buffalo through Buffalo Heritage press. 101 Illuminating Ideas for the City of Light is a perfect fit, for both the publishing company and for Buffalo.
Michele Tucker

Michele Tucker works in Human Resources/Training and Development for Tapecon, Inc. She is currently finishing her Masters degree in Leadership & Change at Canisius College. In her spare time, Michele enjoys writing creative non-fiction and has shared her work at a number of local venues. She is inspired by the efforts of the Illuminating Ideas Task Force and hopes to become more involved in other grassroots organizations to promote Buffalo.
Sawrie Becker

Sawrie Becker is the Commissioner of Public Advocacy for Erie County and in that role acts as the Executive Director of the Erie County Commission on the Status of Women. A graduate of the University at Buffalo with a Masters of Science in Education from Niagara University, Sawrie recently returned to Buffalo after spending three years in her hometown of Nashville, Tennessee. While in Tennessee, Sawrie founded SBB Life Coaching which provided professional life coaching for individuals and groups. During that time she served as the President of Tennessee Coaches Alliance. She is also a past president of the Junior League of Buffalo where she co-developed the family literacy initiative LEAF (Learning, Empowerment and Families). As a result of that work, Sawrie was invited to be a non-governmental delegate at the International Conference on Women in Beijing, China in 1995 to present the literacy projects she produced. In her role as Commissioner and a Professional life coach, Sawrie is committed to empowering individuals to help them reach their full potential.
Aubrey E. Stevenson

Aubrey is a recent Canisius College honors graduate and has begun her career at
M&T Bank as a Business and Planning Analyst.She also works on
her family’s Quarter Horse farm and is an avid horseback rider and show
competitor. Aubrey is looking forward to become more involved in Buffalo
community by supporting great projects, like the 101 Illuminating Ideas
book.
M&T Bank as a Business and Planning Analyst.She also works on
her family’s Quarter Horse farm and is an avid horseback rider and show
competitor. Aubrey is looking forward to become more involved in Buffalo
community by supporting great projects, like the 101 Illuminating Ideas
book.
Patrick Welch, PhD

Patrick Welch is a Professional Veteran who served in the US Marine Corps and is Vietnam Veteran. He is the Director of the Center for Veterans and Veteran Family Services at Daemen College. Awarded a Purple Heart for combat service in Vietnam, and former Director of the Erie County Veterans Service Agency, Dr. Welch has made it his mission to advocate on behalf of Veterans.
__Casimiro D. Rodriguez Sr.

_Casimiro was born and raised in WNY, and has lived a lifetime of
advocacy for Buffalo’s Latino Community in the areas of Education,
Health, Social, and Economic Status. He is passionate for community
progress, and envisions the future of Buffalo’s community to be built on
the strengths of everyone working together for the benefit of all. Cas
is driven by his dedication to today’s community and tomorrow’s leaders.
He is a catalyst for revival and progress, and what can be accomplished
by bringing people of different faiths and races together for the
common goal.