Greater Rochester Jaycees
Description: Leadership training program for 21- to 39-year-olds.
Mission: To develop leadership skills in members through volunteer action.
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What they do: Conduct meetings to encourage management, leadership and personal skills and oversee several community projects.
Shonda Ranson, 31, of Rochester is chapter president of the Jaycees, the granddaddy of Rochester young professional organizations.
“This is our 20th anniversary in Rochester,” she says. “Several of the leaders of the other city organizations have actually been members of the Jaycees at one point.”
The Jaycees actually led ROC City Coalition to the Halloween Balloon Manor project, which is their signature event for the year.
“It's a great starter project for the Coalition since we could really use the help and volunteers,” she says. “It's a perfect example of how the Coalition will help with projects that would've been too big for the individual organizations.”
E-mail:
rochester.jaycees@earthlink.net
or go to:
The City Walk
Description: A grass-roots, social-networking organization.
Mission: To improve Rochester by promoting a strong foundation of connectedness in the community.
What they do: Main event is a monthly walk through a Rochester neighborhood, visiting three local bars or restaurants.
Spokesperson Julie Burghardt, 28, of Webster says the point behind the monthly walk is to get Rochester youth organized and enjoying the town.
“We maybe focus on the social aspect a little more than the other members of the ROC City Coalition, but we're really trying to build a sense of community in Rochester,” she says. “The City Walk helps you get to know your peers and local businesses which makes the city a better place.”
Call 234-9025, e-mail:
or go to:
Other supporters
Aside from the core members, the coalition is supported by other organizations that are able to participate but not vote on matters at hand.
Digital Rochester, Leadership Rochester, the Regional Innovators' Participation Network, Rendezvous Rochester, the Greater Rochester Visitors Association and, yes, even insider fall into this category.
Local government officials have also embraced the coalition, including Johnson, Brooks and Slaughter, and others all have shown interest in the coalition.
Jeremy Cooney, 23, of Rochester, a staff assistant to Slaughter, even has accepted the position of “interim secretary” of the coalition.
“There really hasn't been a voice of the young people — at least not an organized and cohesive one,” he says. “This is a way for all of these organizations to come together and make a change or take action in the community.”
