October Thursday Thinkers discussion series to focus on academic success
The 2024-2025 season for Thursday Thinkers: Insights into Rochester kicks off next week with the first of three discussion forums focused on helping parents support the academic success and college ambitions of their children.
The first of October’s Thursday Thinkers discussion forum, Deciphering RCSD School Choice and the Charter School Lottery, will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10 at the Rochester Community Sports Complex, 460 Oak St. The presenting partner will be Dr. Shanai Lee, executive director of Rochester Education and Development for Youth (READY).
Participants will learn to navigate the process to select the best possible public-school option for their child based on which Rochester City School District (RCSD) school serves their neighborhood; citywide schools with specialized programs and academic offerings; and the charter school lottery. Participants will also learn how to use the READY School Finder internet search engine, which provides available information on all public-school options in an accessible, easy-to-use format.
Thursday Thinkers is an adult- and family-enrichment series hosted by the City’s Department of Recreation and Human Services (DRHS). Each event will feature discussions with representatives from government and community agencies, programs, and other resources. Events will be held on at least two Thursday evenings each month at a City R-Center or recreation facility. A different theme will be covered each month.
After this Thursday, the remaining forum discussions will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Rochester Community Sports Complex, 460 Oak St., on the following dates on the following topics:
- Thursday, Oct. 17:Preparing Black Scholars for the College Application Season. This discussion will include an emphasis on the challenges and opportunities for Black students during the college application process. The Urban League of Rochester’s Black Scholars program is this session’s presenting partner, and Taurean Uthman, Vice President of Youth Education and Development, will lead the conversation.
- Thursday, Oct. 24: Uncovering the Mystery of Scholarships and Financial Aid During the College Application Season. Participants will learn about the many scholarship and financial aid opportunities available to students, including FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid); CSS Profile; the Excelsior Scholarship; Rochester Institute of Technology’s Destler/Johnson Rochester City Scholars; and the University of Rochester’s Rochester Promise. The presenting partner is the Rochester Education Foundation, and Tawana Jackson and Phil Hounshell will lead the conversation.
