WEDI’s mission is to empower economically disadvantaged people in Buffalo, New York, with a primary focus on the West Side community. The organization implements programs in three areas: Economic Development, Community Development, and Education. WEDI maintains three guiding principles for what it wants to achieve: 1) low-income individuals and families attain sustainable incomes through business creation and expansion; 2) communities of entrepreneurs create focused, market-driven, and sustainable destinations that bring people together to create strong, diverse neighborhoods; and 3) English-language learners acquire comprehension and fluency to attain parity with native English-speaking peers, which in turn promotes high graduation rates, family health, and a strong community.