BIGS AND LITTLES BECOME PART OF HIGHMARK STADIUM HISTORY
Creating Something Together That Will Last for Years to Come
Bigs and Littles helped create permanent public art installations now on display at the new Highmark Stadium.
Sometimes the biggest moments start with something small.
A rock. A LEGO brick. A Saturday afternoon spent together.
Months ago, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Erie, Niagara & the Southern Tier welcomed Rocks of Unity and BuffaloLUG for a very special afternoon with our Bigs and Littles.
Together, they painted rocks, built with LEGO and, maybe most importantly, spent time creating something side by side.
At the time, we knew their work would become part of something special.
Now, we can finally share where it ended up.
The pieces created that afternoon are now part of permanent public art installations at the new Highmark Stadium, giving our Bigs and Littles a place in Buffalo Bills history.
Thousands of Rocks. One Community.
Rocks of Unity began nine years ago as a college lesson plan created by Buffalo native Alexa Zappia. Since then, the project has reached more than 25 countries and 35 states.
Its new permanent installation at Highmark Stadium brings together nearly 3,000 individually painted rocks, each carrying its own message, story and personality.
Alexa intentionally chose Big Brothers Big Sisters to be part of the project after seeing the impact mentoring had on students during her years in the classroom.
“The work of BBBS prides itself in forming meaningful lifelong connections, which is what Rocks of Unity also strives to do. This collaboration felt not only natural but needed.”
Alexa Zappia, Rocks of Unity
That connection is exactly what made this project so meaningful to us.
Our Bigs and Littles weren’t simply creating pieces for an art installation. They were doing what they do every time they get together: talking, laughing, creating, learning about one another and building a relationship one moment at a time.
Building Together, Brick by Brick
The creativity didn’t stop with the rocks.
Our Bigs and Littles also worked alongside BuffaloLUG, the Buffalo LEGO User Group, building pieces that would become part of another display at the new stadium.
There was something special about watching it all happen.
Bigs and Littles sitting together. Paintbrushes in hand. LEGO pieces spread across tables. Ideas being shared. Decisions being made together. And plenty of laughter along the way.
It was an afternoon of creating art, but for us, it was also an afternoon of creating memories.
And that’s what mentorship looks like.
Sometimes it’s a big milestone. Sometimes it’s a conversation. And sometimes it’s sitting together on a Saturday afternoon painting a rock or finding just the right LEGO piece.
Every Piece Matters
Alexa describes the Rocks of Unity installation as a reflection of Buffalo itself. From a distance, thousands of rocks become one piece of art. Up close, every rock remains completely individual.
Her hope for the installation isn’t about her own legacy, but the legacy of the community that created it.
“If just one rock were removed, it would no longer be the same piece of art. This is analogous to the Buffalo community. If one person from this community were to ever be removed, our community would no longer be the same.”
Alexa Zappia, Rocks of Unity
We can’t think of a better message for our Bigs and Littles.
Every person matters. Every relationship matters. Every moment spent showing a young person that someone is in their corner matters.
Part of Buffalo History
Now, tucked among thousands of rocks and LEGO bricks inside the new home of the Buffalo Bills, are pieces created by our Bigs and Littles.
Pieces of an afternoon we have been waiting months to share.
Pieces of their relationships.
And pieces of Buffalo history.
We are incredibly grateful to Rocks of Unity, BuffaloLUG and the Buffalo Bills for giving our Bigs and Littles the opportunity not only to be part of these installations, but to build something together that will be there for years to come.
Because when we build moments together, they can become something much bigger than we ever imagined.
See It Come Together
From paintbrushes and LEGO bricks to permanent installations inside the new Highmark Stadium, watch some of the moments that helped bring these incredible projects to life.
Watch the Highmark Stadium art project highlights on YouTube
