About Us
WNYMesh is a volunteer-led Western New York nonprofit helping neighbors stay connected during emergencies.
Our mission
WNYMesh brings Western New York neighbors together to stay connected when it matters most. We build and care for a community radio network that keeps working when the power or cell service goes out. We teach people how to prepare, and we create places to meet the people who live around you.
Why we started
Anyone who has lived through a Western New York winter knows how quickly a storm can cut a neighborhood off. Lake-effect snow, ice, and long power outages can take down phone and internet service just when people most need to check on each other.
We believe a community that is connected before an emergency is safer during one. So a group of neighbors set out to build a backup: a network of small, solar-powered radios, run by the community and open to everyone.
What we do
- Build and care for the network. Volunteers install and maintain solar-powered radio repeaters across the region, so messages can travel from neighbor to neighbor without cell towers or the internet.
- Teach and prepare. We hold free workshops and share plain-language guides on emergency communication and preparedness.
- Bring people together. Build nights, meetups, and demonstrations are a chance to learn something new and meet the people nearby.
Who we are
WNYMesh Inc. is a New York not-for-profit corporation based in Erie County, formed in September 2026 for charitable, educational, and scientific purposes. We are run entirely by volunteers and governed by a volunteer Board of Directors.
Our board
- Ehren Reynolds
President and Board Chair
WNYMesh is led by a five-member volunteer Board of Directors. We'll introduce the rest of the board here soon.
Our network
Today our community network runs on a system called MeshCore. Its technical home, with maps, guides, and the community Discord, is WNYMeshCore, a program of WNYMesh Inc. Learn more about our network.