Educate, Advocate, Eradicate
The ROC Against Gun Violence Coalition seeks to end gun violence in Rochester by bringing attention to the causes and effects of gun violence and promoting quality of life in Rochester's neighborhoods. The Coalition is made up of community partners and stakeholders who are already working to end gun violence using three unified tools: to educate, advocate and eradicate.
On June 9, 2023, as a part of multi-faceted and continued efforts to address gun violence, Mayor Malik D. Evans released a Gun Trace Data Report compiled by Brady.
On October 10, 2023, Councilmember Willie J. Lightfoot, Sr. released the Coalition's 2023 Solutions Action Plan.
The ROC Against Gun Violence Coalition meets at 6 p.m. the second Monday of every month hybrid on Zoom and in City Council Chambers. For a full meeting schedule, see the bottom of this page. For more information, call City Council at (508) 428-7538.
Mission
The ROC Against Gun Violence Coalition will be a unified voice to improve the quality of life in our community by supporting efforts that educate and assist with eradicating gun violence, provide safe neighborhoods and trauma care for the individuals in the city of Rochester.
Purpose
The ROC Against Gun Violence Coalition will educate youth and the community at large of the dangers and collateral effects of gun violence, encourage individuals to engage in diversion programs that lead to positive outcomes for their families and neighborhoods.
Support Services
One of the important functions of the Coalition is the support and services
they provide to families and the community after a homicide has occurred. Community
guidance around social distancing prohibits the RAGVC from providing in-person
responses to homicide at this time, however the following services are
available:
- 211 - will provide access to available mobile and online services
- Moms on Demand - intake services for survivors to connect them with
resources, call 585-685-4460
- RAGVC – to leave a message, call 585-428-6554.
Leadership
- Councilmember Willie J. Lightfoot, Sr., Chair
- RCSD Board Commissioner Jacqueline Griffin, Vice Chair
- Andre Gulley, Secretary
- Dassy Kemedjio, Secretary
- Kathy Richardson, Secretary
- Septimus Scott, Treasurer
Committees
Education Committee - Tanois Sarkis, Chair
The Education Committee will identify existing
programs within the City of Rochester (i.e. R-Centers, RCSD) to assist with
efforts to inform individuals and groups about the effects of gun violence in
communities. The Education Committee will also use data to create new
curriculum or programming that will align with the mission of RAGVC.
Advocacy Committee - City Council President Miguel Meléndez, Chair
The Advocacy Committee will create new legislation supportive of the
RAGVC mission and coordinate efforts to support existing laws that work towards
reducing and eliminating gun violence.
Eradication Committee - RCSD Board Commissioner-Elect Jacqueline Griffin, Chair
The Eradication Committee will recruit
volunteers, mobilize RAGVC’s awareness, prevention, and assistance teams, as
well as coordinate with existing agencies that address gun violence.
Media Committee - Councilmember LaShay Harris, Chair
The Media Committee will manage RAGVC’s social
media platforms, organize press events, oversee public messaging and create a
calendar of events with ongoing updates. The Media Committee will coordinate
with Rochester City Council’s Communications Team, as well as the City of
Rochester’s Communications Department.
Resources Committee - Crisis Intervention Services Unit Manager Alia Henton-Williams, Chair
The Resources Committee will organize, promote, and distribute existing
resources related to the wellbeing of city residents, including both material
resources and support services. The Resources
Committee will also research resources that can support our community partners.
Youth Committee - Ruth Reeves, Chair
The Youth Committee will focus on the social, physical, mental, and
emotional development of city youth, which will include connecting youth to
resources, empowering our youth to succeed, and engaging with youth that have
been impacted by gun violence.
Meeting Schedule
2024
January
8
February
5*
March
11
April
8
May
13
June
10
July
8
August
12
September
9
October
7*
November
4*
December
9
*Meeting occurs on the first Monday of the month.
General Coalition Partners
History
The ROC Against Gun Violence Coalition (RAGVC) was founded
in 2018, when in February of that year, Councilmember Lightfoot first
conceptualized the idea for the “Think About It” campaign in response to the
rampant gun violence that Rochester was facing at the time. He went on to
become the Chair of the RAGVC, which held its first organizational meeting in
June of 2018, and the “Think About It” campaign launched the following month.
“Think About It” involved a widespread media campaign that featured flyers, radio
ads, and even billboards displayed across Rochester, and the central purpose of
this initiative was to emphasize the long-lasting impact of gun violence on
city residents. The Coalition built on its momentum by continuing its practice
of direct community engagement through actions such as hosting a meeting at the
Monroe County Crime Victim Center in August of 2018. The following months, the
RAGVC Committees were formed, the first full Coalition meeting was held at the
David F. Gantt R-Center, and the third Coalition meeting was held at the
Honorable Willie Walker Lightfoot R-Center.
The work of the RAGVC was culminated in the submission of
an action plan—the predecessor to this action plan— to the Mayor, City Council,
and the citizens of Rochester. It featured recommendations that resulted in the
development of some of the vital services programs that the City of Rochester
provides today, including the Crisis Intervention Team, Trauma Response Unit,
and Homicide Response Team. It also paved the way for the unprecedented Gun
Trace Data Report that was released in June of this year and provided crucial
information regarding where precisely the guns used to conduct crimes in our
city come from, as well as other key data that will be used in the fight against
Rochester’s gun violence.
Join Us
The
Coalition seeks more Individuals and organizations to get involved and help
Educate and Advocate to Eradicate gun violence in Rochester. Meetings occur on
the second Monday of the Month at 6 p.m. in City Council Chambers. If you cannot
join in person, you can participate with Zoom or watch on the Council's YouTube channel or Facebook page.
Are
you interested in joining the Coalition, attending a meeting, or receiving
email updates on their progress? Call Councilmember Willie J. Lightfoot’s office - at (585)
428-6554, the Rochester City Council Office - at (585) 428-7538, or email
Councilman Lightfoot’s Legislative Aide Andre Gulley.