20231st Annual
BUFFALO SPEEDUP
Empowering Buffalo students with lightning-fast reading skills — one week every summer, completely free.
In loving memory and honor of Dr. Carolyn C. Benton
About the ProgramAbout the Program
A free week that changes how students read.
Buffalo SpeedUp is a free, one-week summer program that teaches Buffalo students how to read faster, understand more, and believe in their own ability to learn. No cost. No barriers. Just skills that last.
Every summer, we bring students together for an intensive, encouraging week built around speed reading, comprehension, and study strategies they carry into the school year and beyond.
The program is run by Upstate Collective Inc., a Buffalo nonprofit committed to giving every young person in our city access to the tools that accelerate learning.
Dedicated to the memory of Dr. Carolyn C. Benton, whose belief in Buffalo's students continues to guide this work.
Through the Years
Three summers and counting.
The Curriculum
What students learn.
Six core skills, built up over one focused week.
01
Speed Reading Techniques
Students learn proven methods to read faster without sacrificing understanding — expanding their pace week over week.
02
Comprehension & Retention
Reading faster only matters if it sticks. We pair speed with strategies that lock in meaning and memory.
03
Critical Thinking
Students learn to question, connect, and analyze what they read — turning information into real understanding.
04
Academic Confidence
As skills grow, so does belief. Students leave the program ready to take on tougher material head-on.
05
Focus & Concentration
We build the attention habits that help students stay locked in — in the classroom and beyond.
06
Study Skills & Strategies
Practical tools for note-taking, review, and test prep that carry students through the whole school year.
Get Involved
Want to support Buffalo SpeedUp?
Whether you want to volunteer, partner, or enroll a student, we would love to hear from you.
Email ushello@upstatecollective.com