Rochester Central Library makes local history: First public library to send youth to nation’s capital
Nearly two dozen city youth traveled to Washington, D.C. this summer to explore historical sites and museums as part of the Rochester Public Library’s flagship program Safe to be Smart. The educational three-day trip was made possible by the Friends & Foundation of the Rochester Public Library (FFRPL), the Konar Foundation and Reynolds Library, making the Rochester Public Library the first in our area to send students to the nation’s capital, bridging what they learn in the classroom and the library to real life.
“Our libraries are essential community resources, providing cultural and educational opportunities for our young people and their families,” said Mayor Malik D. Evans. “The Safe to be Smart program provides tangible, real-life experiences that inspire hope and expand minds to greater possibilities. I sincerely thank the Friends and Foundation of the Rochester Public Library, Konar Foundation, Reynolds Library, and our library staff for supporting our children and their futures.”
Twenty students participated in the D.C. trip, which included visits to the National Museum of African American History and Culture; Library of Congress; U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum; Howard University, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU); and the Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr., and WWII veterans memorials.
“The Safe to Be Smart trip to D.C. was amazing,” said Zamaria Harmon. “The highlight of my trip was the Holocaust Museum. It taught me a lot and made me realize the hardships that many Jewish people endured. Now, I think about their experiences daily, and I’m inspired to pursue a career that supports other minority groups.”
The Safe to Be Smart field trip was planned before the COVID-19 pandemic and was postponed for several years. Despite the delay, the dedicated library staff remained committed to providing this valuable experience to program students. Their unwavering support has allowed the students to connect their school’s Global Studies class and library studies with historical sites in D.C.
“We are always seeking ways to expose teens to new experiences and help them build relationships, expand their horizons, ignite their imagination, and inspire hope,” said George Carter, Senior Youth Services Assistant at the Sully Branch Library, who spearheaded the educational field trip. “I’m a firm believer that if you don’t have a plan for your children, someone else does, and it may not be a good one. Today, teens read about museums in books, and then I take them on field trips to museums and other historical monuments. Tomorrow, they’ll read about stars, and I’ll take them to the Moon.”
The program provided youth between the ages of 13 to 17 with a positive, educational opportunity that they will remember forever.
The Safe to be Smart program provides programming opportunities for children and adolescents at the Wheatley, Lincoln, Sully, Maplewood and Arnett Branch Libraries as well as the Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County on South Avenue.