At Bengala 2024, Aitina Fareed-Cooke ’12, ’16, performed her spoken word piece “A Letter to My Younger Self.” She left the audience inspired and energized as she urged her younger self to realize her dreams. Fareed-Cooke, the current Poet Laureate for the City of Buffalo, agreed to create an abridged version of her original letter.
In her abridged version, she keeps the same tone and energy, but urges her younger self to “imagine a place.” In collaboration with her company, Get Fokus’d Productions, and Buffalo State University, Fareed-Cooke's inspiring and authentic letter to her younger self became the foundation of Buffalo State’s newest creative theme: “Imagine a place…”
About the Theme
This theme brings true authenticity to the Buffalo State brand and is also tremendously versatile. It easily adapts to the verticals recently outlined by Interim President Bonita Durand and can be embedded across our paid campaigns and our campus events. As we roll out this new creative theme, we will begin to tie “Imagine a Place …” to our strategic goals as an institution.
Imagine a place … Where innovation thrives
Imagine a place … That cultivates leaders for tomorrow’s classrooms
Imagine a place … In the epicenter for arts, culture, and tourism
Using the Creative Theme
Our creative theme will be used in admissions recruitment materials as well as in brand awareness campaigns, marketing initiatives, and general promotional items. Our tactics will continue to ramp up throughout August and September and continue through our fall open houses and entire recruitment cycle. We will also implement this adaptable theme across all paid media, owned media, and large-scale campus events to support a fully comprehensive strategy.
Please contact the Marketing and Communications Office for any questions related to the new creative theme and its usage.