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ROC Against Gun Violence Coalition

 

 

 ROC Against Gun Violence Coalition Logo 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.

ROC AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE COALITION SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

Application Submission (Logistics)

  1. Please complete the Microsoft form linked here and send any digital artwork/video submissions to Dassy.Kemedjio@CityofRochester.Gov.    All applicants must submit a Microsoft form application to be considered.
  2. For any physical art submissions, please submit them in-person to the City Council Office at City Hall, 30 Church Street, Room 301A, Rochester, NY 14614. 
  3. For any related questions and/or inquiries, call the City Council Office at 585-428-7538.
  4. Application Submission (Content)
    1. Submission Prompt: If you could implement one solution to address gun violence in the City of Rochester, what would you choose and how would you carry it out?
    2. Applicants can choose to submit a short essay (500-1000 words), a video (maximum 5 minutes), or a work of art (digital or physical).
    3. Criteria:
      1. Age: 17-24
      2. First-year college students
      3. RCSD Graduates
      4. City residents
  5. Review and Selection
  6. A selection committee comprised of RAGVC leadership will review applications, and submissions will be judged on criteria such as creativity, originality, relevance to the theme, and overall quality.
  7. All submissions will be reviewed during the week after the submission deadline (the week of February 10th), and the top 5 submissions will be selected as the scholarship recipients.
  8. Notification and Award Distribution
  9. The selected recipients will be notified by email or phone the week of February 10th and will be invited to the February 25th, 2025 Full City Council meeting to receive their scholarships.
  10. Timeline
  11. Application Submission Deadline: February 10th
  12. Review and Selection: Week of February 10th
  13. Notification of Recipients: Week of February 17th

Scholarship Recipient Ceremony: February 25th at the Full Council Meeting

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 22

May 13

June 10

July 15

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.