Uncrowned Community Builders

Ms. Karen R. Ellington is a native of Buffalo, New York. She is one of five children, born to Marian and Willie W. Davis. Ms. Ellington is a graduate of Buffalo's Riverdale High School and the Bryant and Stratton Business Institute. Upon graduating from Bryant and Stratton Business Institute, Ms. Ellington successfully attained thirteen certificates of completion in her field of Medical Technology.

She was the First African American and the first woman elected to the Fillmore District of the City of Buffalo Common Council where her guiding principles were stewardship and service to her community and to the City of Buffalo. As former Fillmore District Council Member, Ms. Ellington had a vision for her community which began with cleaning up neighborhoods, developing a safer place for all, establishing centers and programs for seniors and children, assisting people in the community to become homeowners, encouraging business growth and promoting health, education and wellness. Ms. Ellington was very much aware of the challenges people faced daily in her community, as prior to her election, she had been a property owner for thirteen years and a Block Club President for one year in the Fillmore District.

During her term in office, Ms. Ellington served on the Educational Committee, Civil Service Committee, Finance Committee, Police Reorganization Committee, and the Broadway-Fillmore Anti-Crime Task Force of the City Council. Furthermore, she was a member of numerous organizations, including, but not limited to: The Woltz Avenue Block Club, the Every Woman Opportunity Center and the Unity Coalition, a political organization.

Her volunteer services included the American Red Cross; board membership at the Bob Lanier Center for Educational, Physical and Cultural Development; member of the Youth Planning Council and Nurses Aide Task Force of Kaleida. In her commitment to community she organized neighborhood clean-up campaigns and provided help to needy families including a food, clothing and toy distribution project during the holiday seasons and other occasions as needed.

Ms. Ellington is the proud mother of three children and grandmother of four. She worked as a Laboratory Assistant at Kaleida Health (Millard Fillmore Hospital), prior to her election as the Fillmore District Council Member. Ms. Ellington is an active member of Calvary Baptist Church.