Black Lives Matter...it's a call to action that only seems to be getting louder. The Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor Commission is working to continue spreading that message.

"We have great momentum right now when we talk about preservation, especially, but when we tie it into the significance of our history, not just for the city of Buffalo, but for our entire region itself," said Terry Alford, African American Heritage Corridor Commission executive director.

"I think that you notice that many times, the people that are protesting in the streets are using words from our leaders of the past. And that's because what has come before can help to inform us of how we move forward," added Lillie Wiley-Upshaw, African American Heritage Corridor Commission Co-Chair.

The Commission is working to create a space for activism to flourish and that includes a community garden where people can gather. 

"We hope to be able to have a space where we can have community events where speakers will come down and not only will we be sharing the cultural aspects of the African American folks, but we also want to bring people in to dialogue and be active. How can we push forward for collective change?" asked Wiley-Upshaw.

The plan is to create the garden right beside the Michigan Street Baptist Church. 

"And that's just the start. We're going to be creating a vision for this entire block, so every property that you see here is important in telling the story of the people who lived here," said Wiley-Upshaw.

The commission is working to develop a fundraising plan and gain local and national engagement for the project.

If you're interested in donating or becoming a volunteer, more information is at the Michigan Street Buffalo's website.