Uncrowned Community Builders

Douglas Russell Ruffin, Jr was born in Buffalo, New York on September 10, 1971 to Donette and Douglas Ruffin, Sr. Doug attended the BUILD Academy from 1976-1984, a 1989 graduate of Bennett High School. A 1993 graduate of The New York Institute of Technology with a Bachelor's Degree in Communication Arts and a 2006 graduate of ITT Technical Institute with an Associate's Degree in Multimedia; Doug began his media career in the city of Buffalo, New York in 1994 working for various local television stations such as WNED-TV (PBS Affiliate), WIVB-TV (CBS Affiliate) and Empire Sports Network. He was also the Director of Operations for the local Public Access television station. In April of 2000, Doug made a smooth transition to radio, becoming an On-Air Personality at 93.7 WBLK FM where for 4 years he would host such shows as The Quiet Storm, Jazz Flavors and The Gospel Inspiration Hour. On September 9, 2004 Doug was inducted into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame.

In 1997, Doug produced & directed his first documentary film " BUILD of the community & for the communityââ?¬, which focuses on the 15 year history of the BUILD Organization, the film was the recipient of The William Wells Brown Award from The Afro American Historical Association of The Niagara Frontier, He has since produced a number of other documentaries such as Model City, The Buffalonians, The Waitresses of Dan Montgomery's and Yielding to the Spirit - A History of St. John Baptist Church. These are all local documentaries on the history of Buffalo, NY's African American community. Doug has also produced a number of community based television programs such as BCTV Tonight - Buffalo's Community Affairs Magazine, AmeriCorps Magazine & the Doug Ruffin Show. Doug is among the few pioneering community producers who were involved with Sunship Communications. Many of Dougââ?¬â?¢s television programs have been influential in the scope of current programming on both the public and government access channels. In 2002, Doug established The Community Media Project, a media literacy program for youth where they learn to produce & direct their own documentary projects. Doug Ruffin has always been active in various organizations such as Juneteenth Festival, Inc, The Dr. Martin Luther King Student Awareness Tour, The Afro American Historical Association, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc, The Prince Hall Masons and Shriners.

Today Doug Ruffin is the owner of Doug Ruffin Enterprises Multimedia Development (formerly known as Jet-Set Entertainment), the Co-Host of Upfront Magazine, a program committed to showcasing positive images of the African American community, which is produced by the Western New York Minority Media Professionals which Doug also serves as a Board member. Doug Ruffin is also the Curator of The Community Images Multimedia Exhibit, an innovative historical exhibit on Buffalo's African American community consisting of photographs, videos, films and documentaries. Doug is currently an On-Air personality at WUFO 1080AM.