Urban League Of Rochester, Monroe County, City Of Rochester Host 5th Anniversary RASE Commission Annual Community Update

October 6th, 2025

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RASE Website

More than 200 community members, elected officials, and business and non-profit leaders attended the Commission on Racial and Structural Equity's (RASE) 5th Anniversary Community Update today at the Rochester Educational Opportunity Center.

The event included presentations from community members who benefited from the implementation of the recommendations, highlights from Community Advancing Recommendation Teams (CART) on their work to advance the recommendations, and roundtable discussions to plan the next 5 years of work.

"I was hopeful that by forming the RASE Commission in 2020, we would see real improvement in the systemic inequality that has plagued Rochester and Monroe County for so much of our past," said Monroe County Executive Adam J. Bello. "While we still have work to do, I could not have dreamed of how well our community would rise to the challenge-neighbors, leaders, and organizations all working side by side to create meaningful change. With gratitude to the Urban League, our partners and the many individuals who gave their time, talent, and heart, we stand here today with real progress to show for it. And as long as we remain united, we will continue to build a future that is fairer, healthier, and stronger for everyone."

"Five years ago, the RASE Commission embarked on an ambitious effort to develop recommendations that were detailed and extensive," said Mayor Malik D. Evans. "I am beyond proud at how Rochester and Monroe County's residents came together to remove barriers and build, step by step, a more inclusive community from those blueprints. With special thanks to the Urban League, we are here today because hundreds of caring and committed individuals and dozens of agencies and organizations embraced diversity, equity and inclusion, not as a passing fad but as a way to shape a healthy and more prosperous community. Today, we can see the benefits, which will only grow as long as we continue to put in the work and stand together, 'Roc Solid,' regardless of how our nation's political winds may blow."

"I want to thank the Mayor, the County Executive, and our community for entrusting the Urban League of Rochester to carry forward the important work of the RASE Commission," said Urban League of Rochester President & CEO, Dr. Seanelle Hawkins. "I am deeply grateful to our staff and CART facilitators for their steadfast dedication to advancing these recommendations and championing equity across Monroe County. While we honor the progress that has been made, we recognize there is still much to do. At a time when the national commitment to inclusion and justice is being rescinded, we call on our community leaders to continue standing with us as we work to fully realize the RASE recommendations and interrupt systems of inequity in our community."

The Commission on Racial and Structural Equity, established in 2020, delivered over 200 recommendations to the Mayor and County Executive. To date, city and county staff along with dozens of community members have worked together to implement or advance more than half of the recommendations, with much work still in progress. Reports from the Community Update will be posted on https://www.RocRASE.com and individuals and organizations who wish to join can sign up there as well.