City of Rochester
News Release
(Wednesday, July 20, 2022) – The City of Rochester and the Rochester City School District today are recruiting Black and Latinx professionals to serve as “Pillars of Hope” to mentor elementary and middle school students in the upcoming school year. A Pillars of Hope recruitment session will be held today, Wednesday, July 20 from 6 – 7:30 p.m., in the Rochester City Council Chambers at City Hall, 30 Church St., and by virtual attendance at https://cityofrochester.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_hcqSPVDaTMCZAPz0_dXGrw/.
“Pillars of Hope matches students from the Rochester City School District with caring adults who look like them and confronted hardships and setbacks that look like theirs to help them learn how to overcome adversity and gain a foothold on a path to lifelong success,” said Mayor Evans. “This program puts the very best of Rochester’s Black and Brown communities in a position to offer the example from their own lives to help every child in Rochester reach their full potential. I encourage anyone who fits this description to consider becoming a Pillar of Hope and witness the rewards of changing lives for the better.”
“We are grateful to these role models for helping us build a stronger community by making a positive impact on the lives of our scholars. These amazing African American and Hispanic professionals share personal journeys and strategies to overcome challenges while enhancing the love of learning,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Lesli Myers-Small.
The Pillars of Hope program works in partnership with educators at self-selected elementary and middle schools to introduce students to Black and Brown mentors – or “Pillars of Hope” – who can increase a zest for learning, provide strategies to deal with challenges and offer insights into such life skills as goal setting and career selection.
Mentors commit to spending at least one hour each month to participate in Pillars of Hope team activities and foster a personal connection with students with whom they can identify a shared experience.
To learn more about Pillars of Hope, visit cityofrochester.gov/pillarsofhope/
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News Media: For more information, contact Ted Capuano at Ted.Capuano@cityofrochester.gov
The City of Rochester administration of Mayor Malik D. Evans is committed to promoting positive systemic and structural change by providing transparent and collaborative leadership, offering equitable access to essential municipal services, enabling productive intergovernmental, private, and non-profit partnerships, and promoting increased quality of life through investments that create vibrant neighborhoods and employment opportunities, making Rochester a hope-filled city with an exciting future. For more information, visit http://www.cityofrochester.gov