Seeking the Best in City Living
Dan Gross from Channel 8 stopped by and did an interview with me (Mike Evans) about our new exciting Tool Shed program on Tuesday!
We are so excited that work is finally getting out and that people are discovering this great new resource for residents of the Greater Rochester Area!
Also in great news, WBEE did a segment on the Tool Shed that you can listen to here.
You can find the job description here.
City of Rochester
News Release
Mayor Unveils ROC MBK Engagement Center
(Thursday, April 21, 2022) – Mayor Malik D. Evans today joined City Council President Miguel Meléndez, Rochester City School District Superintendent Dr. Lesli Myers-Small, Department of Recreation and Human Services Commissioner Dr. Shirley Green, and other officials for a ribbon cutting ceremony to open the new ROC MBK Engagement Center, located at 57 St. Paul St. Downtown.
“The ROC MBK Engagement Center illustrates our continued commitment to investing in our youth to help them reach their full potential,” said Mayor Evans. “With this Center, we have a place where young people can gather together and meet with mentors to talk about their personal growth, their goals, and their futures. Through our collaboration with the Rochester City School District, we are working to close the gaps faced by young people of color. This is a critical component of our efforts to achieve a safe, equitable, and prosperous Rochester.”
“Creating a community engagement space for boys and young men of color in the heart of the city is critically important,” said Council President Meléndez. “The ROC MBK Engagement Center will bring collaboration and resources together to support and develop our youth. I am excited to launch this effort.”
“Our young men are so fortunate to have access to the valuable resources inside the MBK Engagement Center,” said Superintendent Lesli Myers-Small. “This will help them to stay connected and remain focused on their education. The Rochester City School District is fortunate to partner with the City of Rochester to provide multi-faceted programming that helps develop and enrich the lives of MBK participants.”
The ROC MBK Engagement Center is an ambient multi-media lounge space featuring colored LED lighting, Bluetooth speakers, gaming chairs, a Virtual Reality (VR) console, and gaming stations for youth participants to safely enjoy. The space will also serve as a venue for monthly meetings for MBK participants and mentors to cover a wide range of topics that will move youth toward their fullest potential.
ROC MBK was built on an initiative launched by President Barack Obama in 2014 with the goal to create opportunities for young men of color by connecting them to school based mentoring programs, support networks, job skills training, trade schools, and colleges.
To learn about becoming a ROC MBK fellow or mentor contact ROC MBK Coordinator George Warren at (585) 428-7938 or email ROCMBK@cityofrochester.gov.
A huge thank you to the Tool Shed’s newest sponsor, Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP! Your support ensures this program stays financially sustainable and allows the SEAC and the Tool Shed to deliver on its mission of giving our communities and neighborhoods access to the tools they need to create the changes they want to make.
News from City of Rochester
Notice is hereby given that the City of Rochester is seeking community comment regarding the use of federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in response to the coronavirus pandemic. A public meeting is being held TONIGHT April 20th. See below for more information.
As a provision of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) adopted in early 2021, the City is slated to receive $8,982,027 in additional Home Investment Partnership (HOME-ARP) funding to address issues of increased housing instability and homelessness that resulted from the coronavirus pandemic. The additional funding will be added in the form of a substantial amendment to the 2021-22 Annual Action Plan, Consolidated Community Development Plan, the budget for the City’s annual HUD allocation.
The draft plan amendment allocates the above referenced new HOME-ARP funding amongst six new projects to be added to the 2021-22 Annual Action Plan. These include: (1) Development and Support of Affordable Housing- HOME ARP, (2) Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA)- HOME ARP, (3) Provision of Supportive Services- HOME ARP, (4) Acquisition and Development of Non-Congregate Shelter Units- HOME ARP, (5) Non-profit Capacity Building and Operating Assistance- HOME-ARP; and (6) Administration and Planning- HOME-ARP, to reimburse City staff costs in overseeing implementation of the grant. Projects will primarily serve the needs of persons who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness, persons fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence, veterans, and other vulnerable populations including those identified to have the greatest risk of housing instability.
The draft plan amendment is available for public download here:
https://www.cityofrochester.gov/ConsolidatedPlan2020/
Printed copies of the draft plan will be made available for review at the following locations:
The City is providing a 30-day public comment period on the proposed amendment which begins April 4th and will conclude with a public hearing of the Rochester City Council to be held at 5 p.m. May 5th, 2022.
Comments on the amendment can be delivered by email to Henry Fitts at HUDFunding@cityofrochester.gov or by U.S. mail to Henry Fitts, c/o HOME-ARP Plan Amendment, City Hall Room 224B, 30 Church Street, Rochester, NY 14614.
The City will hold a virtual public input meeting TONIGHT April 20th, 2022 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm to present the draft plan and solicit feedback from attendees. Register here:
https://cityofrochester.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_r6g0n8CjSA20us0s07pFrQ
City Council will also hold a public hearing in advance of final approval of the plan. In order for a comment to be presented at the City Council public hearing, it must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 4th, 2022 and be prefaced by the name and address of the commenting individual or organization.
Each comment submitted in this manner will be read into the record for up to 3 minutes of time on the live cast of the public hearing that begins at 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 5th.The full text of the comment will be shared with each member of the Council prior to the hearing.
In addition, comments may be submitted during the City Council public hearing as described below:
The hearing format may be changed from on-line video conference to in-person format. The present plan is to conduct the public hearing remotely due to the coronavirus pandemic and pursuant to Chapter 1 of the 2022 Laws of New York State and the Governor’s disaster declaration issued and renewed by Executive Orders 11 and 11.3. However, if, prior to the hearing, the Governor terminates the disaster declaration or if Council decides that an improvement in health conditions justifies it, the public hearing will be conducted in-person at the Council Chambers in City Hall. Please check the Council’s public meeting access website at https://www.cityofrochester.gov/publicmeetings/ on or after April 13th to find out which format will be used.
Hearing participation via video conference will be streamed live for public viewing on City Council’s YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/RochesterCityCouncil/videos ) and shared on the Council’s Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/RochesterCityCouncil ). Those who wish to have their comments read into the record at the hearing can do so by emailing them to Council@Cityofrochester.gov, or by mail to: City Council Public Hearing, City Hall Room 301A, 30 Church Street, Rochester, NY 14614 for receipt no later than 1 p.m. on the hearing day. In order to be shared at the hearing, comments must include the individual’s name, address, and the name of the legislation on which they wish to comment.
Hearing participation if Council chooses the in-person format. The public may attend, observe and present oral comments in-person at the Council Chambers, Third Floor, City Hall Room 301A, 30 Church Street, Rochester, New York, 14614. Assisted listening devices and/or alternative formats, including American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters, are available upon request. To arrange for these services, please telephone the City Clerk at (585) 428-7421 (voice) or (585) 428-7600 (TTY) during regular business hours, by 4:00 PM on the day before the meeting. Later requests will be accommodated to the extent feasible.
The City provides bilingual services to the Hispanic community. To make arrangements for these services, please telephone (585) 428-8662 during regular business hours, at least three (3) business days prior to the City Council meeting.
Thank you,
Henry Fitts
City of Rochester
Grants Management and Research Coordinator
SEAC held our ribbon cutting celebrating the launch of our exciting new program, SEAC’s Tool Shed on April 1st, 2022! We had over 80 confirmed guests and several people stopped by to check it out!
We are now open for business and signing up people as members. We look forward to seeing you soon!
You can find the Tool Shed at:
1255 University Ave
C010 (Lower Level)
Rochester, NY 14607
Hours of Operation
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 3pm to 7pm
Wednesday: 3pm to 7pm
Thursday: Closed
Friday: 3pm to 7pm
Saturday: 10am to 2pm
Sunday: Closed
Senior Architect ($10k)
Toolbox Sponsor ($1k)
Toolbelt Sponsor ($500)
Nuts and Bolts Sponsor ($250)
Thanks to all of our local businesses that pulled out all the stops with tasty food and beverages for the event!
Jolie Cajun Takeout (link to their website and log coming soon!)
SEAC staff and volunteers went and hung out at Sager Beer Works on Friday, April 8th, canning our awesome charity beer! It was really a treat to see some of the intricacies of brewing and what are awesome local brew masters do!
If you ordered some, you can pick it up during Sager’s normal business hours. Just bring ID.
There are still a few 4packs for sale at Sager’s but supplies are limited!
Thanks again to Sager Beer Works for all their support to not only SEAC but our new Tool Shed as well!
SEAC is thrilled to welcome Jessica Williams to our Board of Directors.
My name is Jessica Williams, I am a Branch Manager at The Summit Federal Credit Union and I over 10 years’ experience within the banking industry. By being a part of the South East Area Coalition I want to utilize my skills to not only contribute to the financial success but the overall success of the South East Rochester Community. I grew up in the Rochester Community, I currently work in the North Winton neighborhood, and I have two kids that I enjoy spending time with. Also on my spare time I enjoy traveling, shopping, bowling as well watching the Buffalo Bills.
Good day all,
I just wanted to make everyone who attended our ribbon cutting on April 1st aware that Mayor Evans tested positive for COVID (see the below news release).
Your health and safety are our top priorities and we wanted to inform you so can take steps to get tested immediately and stay home and away from all activities until the test result is known.
We encourage you to review the CDC website for information about COVID-19, including its symptoms, how it spreads, and actions you can take to protect your health:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
COVID testing sites- https://www.monroecounty.gov/health-covid-19-testing
Thank you and be well,
Mike Evans
Executive Director
City of Rochester
News Release
Mayor Evans Tests Positive for COVID-19, Remains Asymptomatic, Working from Home
(Monday, April 4, 2022) – Rochester Mayor Malik D. Evans today tested positive for COVID-19. At this time he remains asymptomatic. He is working from home and following the appropriate protocols associated with a positive test result.
He urges the people of Rochester to continue following the Monroe County Health Department guidelines to minimize their own exposure to the virus.
South East Area Coalition 