We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Mark Talley a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Mark, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

The idea for Agents For Advocacy was born out of one of the darkest moments of my life. On May 14, 2022, my mother was tragically taken from me in a horrific act of racial violence at a Tops grocery store in Buffalo, New York. The pain, anger, and profound sense of loss I felt were overwhelming. I was consumed with rage, grappling to find a way to cope with my grief and make sense of such senseless hatred.

In the weeks following the attack, I found myself lost and searching for a way to channel my emotions constructively. I began volunteering with various nonprofit organizations that were active in the community where the attack had taken place. This experience opened my eyes to the power of collective action and the critical need for social and economic justice in our society.

Volunteering became a lifeline for me, a way to transform my anger into meaningful action. After three months of working closely with these organizations, I realized that I wanted to do more. I wanted to create something that could address the systemic issues that had contributed to my mother’s death and help prevent such tragedies in the future. This realization led to the founding of Agents For Advocacy.

Our mission is to provide awareness of socioeconomic inequality and shine a light on systemic racism. Our vision is simple yet profound: a world where one’s race or environment does not dictate their future. Over the past two years, we have organized numerous events focused on financial literacy, food inequality, socioeconomic justice, and support for underprivileged communities. From back-to-school giveaways to clothing and food drives, we have strived to make a tangible difference in the lives of those affected by systemic inequities.

I knew this endeavor was worthwhile because it addressed a critical gap in our society. While many organizations were doing incredible work, I felt there was a need for a focused effort on the intersection of social and economic justice, particularly in communities hit hardest by systemic racism. Our unique approach combines direct action with advocacy and education, empowering individuals with the tools and knowledge to improve their circumstances and fight for a fairer, more just society.

What excites me most about Agents For Advocacy is the potential for real, lasting change. Every event, every workshop, and every act of kindness is a step towards a more equitable world. Through our work, I honor my mother’s memory and transform my grief into a force for good. In doing so, I hope to prevent others from experiencing the same pain and loss, and to create a community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Hello, my name is Mark Talley, and I am the Executive Director and Founder of Agents For Advocacy, a nonprofit dedicated to addressing socioeconomic inequality and systemic racism. Born and raised on the east side of Buffalo, I grew up in a low socioeconomic environment but attended a high school for those from higher economic backgrounds. I earned bachelor’s degrees in Economics and Urban Planning from Buffalo State University.

The tragic loss of my mother in a racially motivated attack on May 14, 2022, spurred me to action. In my grief, I turned to volunteering and soon realized the need for a focused effort to tackle systemic issues. This led to the creation of Agents For Advocacy.

Our mission is to raise awareness about socioeconomic inequality and systemic racism, envisioning a world where race and environment do not dictate one’s future. We offer financial literacy workshops, food drives, educational events, and more, targeting the root causes of inequality.

What sets us apart is our personal connection to these issues. We are driven by a commitment to transform grief into positive change. Additionally, I authored “5/14 – The Day the Devil Came to Buffalo,” detailing the immediate aftermath of my mother’s death.

I am most proud of starting this organization and hopefully making my mother proud. Our work is not for the easily rattled; it is for those who truly want to make a difference in creating meaningful change and honoring the memory of those we have lost by building a better future for all.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

In the beginning of starting my organization, I believed that if I just put in enough effort, I could make everything better.

However, over time, I began to notice a troubling pattern. Despite my best efforts, the people I tried to help often ended up facing the same issues repeatedly. I felt frustrated and drained, unable to understand why my help wasn’t making a lasting difference.

One day, someone close to me gently pointed out that while my intentions were good, true change could only come from within. They explained that by constantly stepping in, I might be preventing others from recognizing their own strength and ability to solve their problems.

It was a tough realization, but I understood. I decided to step back and let people take the lead in their own lives. Instead of trying to fix everything, I offered support and encouragement from the sidelines.

Over time, I saw the people I were helping grow and become more self-reliant. This taught me that sometimes the best way to help is to allow others the space to find their own path. We all have our own alarm clocks, and true change begins when we wake up to them ourselves.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

A few years ago, I was working as a security officer at the county hospital, a job that I found fulfilling yet demanding. It gave me a sense of purpose, knowing I was protecting the staff and patients. However, my life took a dramatic turn when my mother was tragically killed in a domestic terrorist attack. The grief was overwhelming, and it forced me to reevaluate everything I thought I knew about security and safety.

In the midst of my mourning, I felt a deep, burning desire to do something more—to take a stand against the kind of senseless violence that had taken my mother’s life. I realized that my skills and experiences could be channeled into creating a broader impact. That’s when I decided to pivot from my role at the hospital and dedicate myself to a larger cause by founding my organization, Agents For Advocacy

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.agentsforadvocacy.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agentsforadvocacy?igsh=MWw0ZWl2enJkdTVkYw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/FDNCLoZ4eioBRbPN/?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/agents-for-advocacy-inc/