"Downtown Community Forum has always been willing to tackle issues that others were reluctant to tackle. They have been at the forefront in bringing important issues to the community and they have provided a very cost-effective platform for other not-for-profits to bring important issues to the table." Richard Christopher Former President Coalition for Downtown Rochester Click here for more testimonials.			Events Archive Quick links Upcoming Events About DCF Programs Program/Event Evaluation   Past Programs/Events 2009 Events 2008 Events Voter Discernment Series PBS documentary, The Power of Forgiveness Back To The Future – Streetcars Return THE WALL - If You Build It Will They Come? 2007—If All of Rochester Read the Same Book Surviving the Holiday’s Series 2006: “The Experience of Interior Silence” Reading Between the Lines: Diners, Bowling Alleys and Trailer Parks: Chasing the American Dream in Postwar Consumer Culture Innovative Design Solutions for Upstate Neighborhoods: Lessons from Community Design Centers in Syracuse and Troy The Environmental Realities of the Current Drug Culture Reading Between the Lines: The Good Life Gangs and Youth Violence in Rochester Reading Between the Lines: The Transplanted: A History of Immigrants in Urban America Reading Between the Lines: The American Dream: A Short History of an Idea That Shaped a Nation An Ounce of Prevention: Emergency Preparedness in Monroe County Surviving the Holidays Series 2005: Managing the Grief, Stress & Anxiety of the Holidays the "Write" Way Voices in Wartime - The Movie Mentoring: A Positive Strategy to Reduce Crime in Rochester Aging in Place: Why "Smart Growth" Matters to Greater Rochester's Senior Citizens Why Should We Care About Health Care? Do Women Make a Difference in Government? Tell the Next Mayor What You Think Voices in Wartime: A Dialogue What Kind of Nation? Thomas Jefferson, John Marshall and the Epic Struggle to Create a United States Design Matters II: Revitalization Stories from Chattanooga & Pittsburgh Design Centers The Faces of Poverty The Other Founders: Anti-Federalism and the Dissenting Tradition in America, 1788-1828 Fix Albany Novus Ordo Seclorum: The Intellectual Origins of the Constitution "If All of Rochester Read the Same Book..." 2005 Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation Rochester Education Foundation: From Clarinets to Success (Annual Legislative Institute 2005) Politics of the Death Penalty Neighborhood Trust Fund: Investing in Rochester’s Future Religion In American Life: Religion and Politics in the United States Surviving the Holidays Series 2004, "Grief During the Holidays: Some Helpful Tips" Post Election 2004: Skills for Advocacy and Connection Program #5 Civil Conversation ... Not Civil War Religion In American Life: The New Age Movement in American Culture The Brennan Report - Zeroing In on New York's Dysfunctional Government Religion In American Life: Understanding Evangelicalism and Fundamentalism Can a Single Working Woman Make it in Rochester? Make Our Health Care System Healthy Religion In American Life: The Democratization of American Christianity Election 2004: Choosing Will Lead Us – "In It For the Long Haul – Maintaining Hope and Joy" Election 2004: Skills for Advocacy and Connection Part 3: What To Do When You Can't Stand What They're Saying The church as Employer The RUMP Group If All of Rochester Read the Same Book 2004 - Peace Like A River Design Matters: Revitalization Stories from Cleveland, Pittsburgh & Detroit Community Design Centers Health Care Reform Debate The Rise of the Religious Right In American Politics: Is Theocracy Coming to a Government Near You? Election 2004: Skills for Advocacy and Connection Part 2: "Can You Hear My Group's Voice?" The USA Patriot Act: Surveillance, Information Sharing and Civil Rights Free Speech and Ethics in Broadcasting Election 2004: Choosing Will Lead Us - Skills for Advocacy and Connection - "Your Candidate? Mine? or Ours?" Surviving the Holidays Series 2003: "The Way It Used to Be: Where is the Joy?" Lead Poisoning - A Rochester Epidemic Rochester Regional Forum on Funding for a Quality Education What's Goin' On - A Report of the African American Health Status Task Force HIV Vaccine Studies - Scientists Can't Do It Alone The Elements of Local Campaign Reform Long Term Care Insurance; Do I Really Need It? Sprawl Without Growth: The Paradox Obtaining a Decent Education For All Our Children The 2003 E. Garrett Cleary Lecture on Ethics and Values Religion and Politics in America: The Perennial Debate On the Road with Downtown Community Forum The Summit on Illegal Drugs: What Can You Do to Join the Fight? Louisville's Merger and the Hard Work Behind the Headlines — Metro Government Series Indianapolis: A City on the Rise — Metro Government Series Celebrating When Your Heart is Heavy — Surviving The Holidays Nashville: A City in Transition — Metro Government Series Candidates Forum: "Why Can't Everyone Have Health Care Coverage?" Leading the Way in Hard Times Urban Design & Lessons from 9/11 Freedom of Information and Open Meeting Law Forum Making Sense of the New York State Budget Process Getting There is Half the Job The Rochester City School District: Looking to the Future A Community Health Update: Health Care After the Closing of Genesee Hospital How to Survive the Holidays Murder in Smugtown: Understanding Homicide in Rochester ‘Civil Civics’ and the Environment: Preventing and Resolving Environmental Disputes Tolerance, Involvement and Trust in the Greater Rochester Community Eliminating Poverty in 10 Years 2009 Events March 3 7:00 PM The Faces of the Under and Uninsured Conversations with three community health outreach centers: Mercy Outreach Center, Spiritus Christi Mental Health, and St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Center. Sponsored by GRCC’s Interfaith Health Care Coalition. March 11 7:00 PM Urban Farming & Community Agriculture Think Spring and learn from the experts about community gardening, urban farming, container and backyard gardening. Take home a packet of seeds to get yourself started! With Rochester Roots, Cornell Cooperative Extension, South Wedge Farmers Marketing, Peace Work Organic Farm and the City of Rochester. March 24 6:45 PM “Traces of the Trade” PBS Documentary WXXI’s Campaign for Love and Forgiveness March 25 11: 30 AM and 4:00 PM Summer of Opportunity Employer Recruitment sessions A “One City Series” information session for prospective employers with the Summer of Opportunity Program. Registration recommended. 232-7140 x 16 April 22 Time: 7:00 PM Where: St. Mary’s Church 15 St. Mary’s Place Rochester, NY Details: Fighting Poverty in the Age of Obama: A COMMUNITY DIALOGUE with ETHEL LONG-SCOTT Ethel Long-Scott, Executive Director of The Women’s Economic Agenda Project based out of Oakland California, is known nationally and internationally for devoting her life to the education and leadership of people at the losing end of society, especially women of color. download PDF April 29 Time: 6:45 PM Where: St. Mary’s Church 15 St. Mary’s Place Rochester, NY Details: “Anyone and Everyone” PBS Documentary WXXI’s Campaign for Love and Forgiveness May 5 Time: 6:00 PM Where: Geva Theatre* Details:Evie’s Waltz Discounted tickets available for Downtown Community Forum patrons. Contact Geva directly for ticket purchase. May 6 Time: 7:00 PM Where:The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Details:Increase Your Employability! Do your job skills match the job opportunity picture in Rochester? Are you a job seeker whose skills could use some updating? Or do you have a job and still see the need to bolster your skills? If so, then this is the forum for you! Representatives from the Workforce Excellence Regional Center (WERC), a collaborative of Monroe, Genesee, and Finger Lakes Community Colleges, will share information about a new initiative to provide workforce education and training for jobs that really are available in the Greater Rochester Region including Monroe and the surrounding eight counties. Programs include certificate and degree bearing education, along with job skills training. Learn how to get connected with this important resource. The Dugan Center at St. Mary's 15 St. Mary's Place Rochester NY 14607 585-232-7140 Free and Open to the Public Free parking at the Excellus BC/BS garage. May 26 Time: 6:00 PM Where: Geva Theatre* Details:Fences Discounted tickets available for Downtown Community Forum patrons. Contact Geva directly for ticket purchase. *Programs are free and open to the public except where otherwise noted* Also coming soon: “Increase Your Employability” with Monroe Community College, Genesee Community College and Finger Lakes Community College “Financial Literacy” with Hon. John Ninfo 10/19/09 7PM: Secret Service Agent Joel Blackerby speaks on Identity Theft! Don’t be among the 10 million Americans each year who are victims of identity theft. Anyone can be a potential victim -- the deceased, poor, middle-class, rich, college students and even babies can be targeted by identity thieves who would like to have a "buy-now-pay-never" shopping binge at your expense. On October 19th, we will examine the types of identity theft, what you can do to protect yourself, warning signs that you may be a victim, and what to do if you become a victim of identity theft. Hear straight from an expert how you can protect against becoming the next victim of identity theft! This event is brought to you by Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Rochester as a part of the Greater Rochester Area Financial Literacy Initiative (GRAFLI). Free and open to the public. The Dugan Center is located at 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester 14607 Free parking is available at Excellus Blue Cross/ Blue Shield Garage on Woodbury Place. 585-232-7140 November 7, 5PM "Vintage! Downtown Community Forum" fundraiser honors Sr. Joan Sobala with the Worker In The Vineyard award. Download invitation [PDF] - Top of page - 2008 Events July/August 2008 Downtown Community Forum, in cooperation with the City of Rochester , will offer the One City Series of discussions covering the city's three focal areas: Economic Development, Education and Public Safety. The series begins on July 16 July 16 "Economic Development: What Lies Ahead for Rochester?" featuring Commissioner Carballada, the RBA's Sandy Parker and ESL CEO David Fiedler; moderated by RDDC executive Heidi Zimmer-Meyer. July 30 "Public Safety: Zero Tolerance and Beyond" will feature RPD Chief David Moore and Monroe County D.A. Michael Green; moderated by MCC Criminal Justice Professor Emeritus Larry Feasel. August 13 The series continues in August with "Education Perspectives: Reading , Writing and Retention" featuring RCSD Superintendent Brizard, City of Rochester Chief of Staff G. Jean Howard , and representatives from the Literacy Commission.Dr. Albert Simone, R.I.T. All sessions: 7:00 - 9:00 PM Free and open to the public. Sponsored by The City of Rochester, The Community Foundation and Rochester City Councilman Dana Miller. Co-Sponsored by Leadership Rochester September 18, 2008 7:00 PM Water for Sudan Former Lost Boy, Salva Dut, will tell the story of his founding of "Water for Sudan" and will update us on his ongoing mission of providing needed water resources in his homeland, Sudan. Location: Dugan Center Free of charge Open to the public October 5, 2008 DCF co-sponsors the Memorial Art Gallery’s Russian Iconography Exhibit. Take in this awesome display of religious art at any time on Sunday and hear a curator talk at 3:00. MAG admission does apply to this event. 3:00PM Memorial Art Gallery Russian Iconography exhibit on site at MAG Curator talk + tour DCF co-sponsors this exciting midday event. Memorial Art Gallery admission applies. Location: Memorial Art Gallery For details visit mag.rochester.edu October 28, 2008 DCF participates in Writers & Books’ “The Big Read”. This year’s book selection, Cynthia Ozick’s The Shawl , contains two stories; one of a Polish woman and her niece in Nazi Germany and later as survivors in the U.S. The Shawl is short but intense reading with challenging themes. The book is available for purchase directly at Writers & Books (University Avenue), at bookstores or on-line at a cover price of $10.50. “The Big Read” is supported by the National Endowment for the Arts. 6:00 PM The Big Read - The Shawl DCF co-sponsors Writers and Books 2008 Big Read. Location: Dugan Center For details visit www.wab.org December 8, 2008 DCF continues its Coping With the Holidays series with facilitator and mediator BJ Mann providing a forum entitled “The Holidays – You Can’t Live With Them and You Can’t Live Without Them.” This will be an interactive session, led by a superb presenter. 7:00 PM Coping With the Holidays Presenter BJ Mann will offer advice about coping with family issues during the holiday season. Location: Dugan Center Free of charge Open to the public

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Voter Discernment Series April 2008 4/10/08 Deciding Your Vote 2008 R.I.T. Professor Ivan Kenneally discusses the American political experience using examples from presidential politics. 4/17/08 The Two Party System in Theory and in Practice Monroe County Legistlators Jose Cruz (D) and Jeff Adair (R) discuss the workings of the two party system. Moderated by Joan Roby-Davison. 4/24/08 An Ethical Perspecitve City Councilperson Elaine Spaull, Rochester N.E.T. Director and party chairperson Molly Clifford and University of Rochester Susan B. Anthony Center Director Nora Bredes take a 360 degree view of ethics from public officials to the voter The series is free and open to the public All sessions: 7:00 - 9:00 PM Covering A Nation 5/8/08 We welcome Jeff Tieman, Director of the Catholic Health Association in Washington D.C.'s "Covering A Nation" program. Jeff will demystify universal health care. 7:00 - 9:00 PM This program is free and open to the public

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PBS documentary, The Power of Forgiveness March 11 and April 15 WXXI, The Upstate New York Chapter of the National Coalition Building Institute and The Downtown Community Forum hosted special screeningsof the upcoming PBS documentary, The Power of Forgiveness, followed by a discussion.The Power of Forgiveness explores the practice of forgiveness by revealing its complexities, its role in various religions and its physical and mental benefits. Compelling first-person narratives of people faced with betrayal, loss, grief and confusion put a human face on the varied reactions to transgression. This award-winning documentary highlights the part forgiveness played in alleviating the despair among the Amish in the wake of the school shootings and after September 11, 2001, when the wide-responses ranged from hatred and calls for retribution to understanding and absolution.

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Back To The Future – Streetcars Return Tuesday, May 22, 2007  / 7:00 – 8:30 PM FREE PROGRAM/Free Parking in front of St. Mary’s Church and in the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Garage. For over 40 years Jim Graebner has been an integral part of the Public Transit Industry. He is internationally recognized for his expertise in the Public Transit Industry. Jim’s technical expertise has helped community groups and political entities implement and operate major transportation systems including: light rail, bus, electric trolley bus and vintage trolley technology. As chair of the APTA’s Streetcar and Heritage Trolley Subcommittee Jim brings us “Back to the Future” as we look to the endless urban possibilities for the classic streetcar. According to the APTA Streetcar and Trolley’s mission statement: “…the urban streetcar can serve as a major catalyst for urban revival. As traditional neighborhoods in older cities become the location of choice for more American—singles, young couples, families, and empty-nesters alike—there is an emerging a need to provide good and attractive transit service to these areas.” Join us for this free “Trolley Talk”, part of the RRCDC’s “Reshaping Rochester Series”, at St. Mary’s Downtown Community Forum. Speaker: James H. Graebner, Founder and President of the Lombardo Group and Chair of the American Public Transit Association (APTA) Streetcar and Heritage Trolley Subcommittee Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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THE WALL - If You Build It Will They Come? U.S. Immigration Issues, Legislation & Debate Monday, March 12, 2007  / 6:00 – 7:30 PM There is no charge for this program. Co-sponsored by: The Interfaith Alliance of Rochester http://www.tia-roch.org Webster’s Dictionary defines Immigration as “the act of leaving one country and settling in another”. If only it were that simple. In 2007, we are faced with increasing controversy as we struggle with the values and principles regarding immigration. Our current struggle with illegal immigrants is not new. According to historian Donna Gabaccia “Studying the past reminds us that each restriction of immigration produced its own patterns of illegal entry. These immigration restrictions targeted Chinese laborers after 1882, anarchists after 1902, and Italians after 1924. The illegal immigrants of the past included all three groups- and others too.” Join us for an evening of education and discussion about Immigration, a subject that continues to be both controversial and contentious. Will a 700 mile “wall” along 2,000 miles of our southern border offer more problems or a renewed opportunity for civil, just and educated debate? Panelists: Sr. Gaye Moorhead, RSM, President of Sisters of Mercy of Rochester will discuss the global dimension of migration and address the legitimate concerns about undocumented workers and our national security interests. Walter H. Ruehle, Director of the Immigration Program at Legal Aide Society of Rochester will cite case histories of immigration clients and how difficult the current U.S. system is to navigate. Sr. Janet Korn, RSM, Catholic Charities Social Justice Awareness Coordinator/ will address how our faith, social and political traditions inform our thinking on the issue of immigration. Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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2007—If All of Rochester Read the Same Book Mon., Feb. 26 / 6:00 – 7:30 PM There is no charge for this program. Book discussion of The Buffalo Soldier with Karen vanMeenen, Coordinator of “If All of Rochester Read the Same Book…” Writers & Books’ “If All of Rochester Read the Same Book…” initiative connects people to the experience of literature and to others throughout our community, through reading and discussion. Writers & Books is proud to announce that the bestselling novel The Buffalo Soldier by Chris Bohjalian has been selected for the 2007 “If All of Rochester Read the Same Book…” community-wide reading program. The Buffalo Soldier by Chris Bohjalian is a moving and beautifully written work exploring many facets of love, loss, hope, and redemption as well as the complex nature of family. Two years after their twin daughters die in a flash flood, Terry and Laura Sheldon, a Vermont state trooper and his wife, take in a foster child. His name is Alfred; he is ten years old and African-American. He has passed through so many indifferent families that he can't believe that this new one will last. In the ensuing months Terry and Laura will struggle to emerge from their shell of grief only to face an unexpected threat to their marriage: Terry's involvement with another woman. Meanwhile, Alfred cautiously enters the family circle, and befriends an elderly neighbor who inspires him with the story of the buffalo soldiers, the black cavalrymen of the old West. Out of the entwining and unfolding of their lives, The Buffalo Soldier creates a suspenseful, moving portrait of an unconventional family—the ties that bind it and the strains that threaten to pull it apart. "If it's captivating literature you're after, The Buffalo Soldier earns a solid A." Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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Surviving the Holiday’s Series 2006: “The Experience of Interior Silence” Tuesday, December 12th, 2006  /  6:00PM – 7:30 PM There is no charge for this program. For those of us who are experiencing grief, disappointment, stress, loss of health or employment, the so-called “Happy Holidays” can be times of isolation and intensified pain. Please join us for an evening of reflection and meditation. Together, we will explore ways of consciously touching the presence of the Divine within our own being. Also, we will examine ways that help us to nurture interior silence and live from the depths of our soul. This experience of interior silence and contact with God is particularly important during the holiday season. To consciously live from the internal, ever-flowing stream of Divine grace is to know true freedom, lasting peace and authentic joy regardless of the external circumstances. We are looking forward to spending a quiet and inspirational evening together. Facilitators: Craig N. Bullock, M.A., M.A. has over 25 years experience as a psychotherapist in private practice. He is founder of the Assisi Institute, a non-profit organization that seeks to foster the integration of the mystical traditions of both Eastern and Western spirituality. Vickijo Campanero-Cummings, MSED NCC has been in practice as a psychotherapist for over 25 years. She is Associate Director of the Assisi Institute and co-facilitates many workshops and classes. Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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Reading Between the Lines: Diners, Bowling Alleys and Trailer Parks: Chasing the American Dream in Postwar Consumer Culture Tuesday, May 16, 2006  /  7:00PM - 9:00PM There is no charge for this program. Pre-registration required—space is limited. Once you are registered for the series, you can arrange to get the first book in the series prior to the first session. Call 585-232-7140 x16 or email dcf@dor.org to sign up and get your books now. Co-sponsored by: New York Council for the Humanities with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities and presented in collaboration with the Downtown Community Forum and the University of Rochester Department of History. American Dreams A free monthly reading group at the Downtown Community Forum Join us for a series of four lively conversations focused around books that explore the idea of the “American Dream” and how it has changed and evolved over time. Each conversation centers on a book selected by Jeremy Saucier, a graduate student in the History Department of the University of Rochester, who will also facilitate the discussions. Participants are asked to attend and contribute to all four sessions. All of the books in the series are available to borrow free of charge. The series concludes with a conversation about Diners, Bowling Alleys and Trailer Parks: Chasing the American Dream in Postwar Consumer Culture by Andrew Hurley, which looks at the ways in which the notion of the American Dream changed in the post World War II era. Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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Innovative Design Solutions for Upstate Neighborhoods: Lessons from Community Design Centers in Syracuse and Troy Thursday, May 18, 2006/Keynote Presentation 7:00PM Co-sponsored by: Rochester Regional Community Design Center Presenting Sponsor: Preferred Care Join us as three professional designers who lead Syracuse and Troy's community design centers share their solutions to common challenges faced by communities/neighborhoods in Upstate, NY. Presenters: Cheryl Doble, ASLA, Director of the Center for Community Research at the SUNY-ESF Faculty of Landscape Architecture in Syracuse Dean Biancavilla, AIA, founder and Director of the Urban Design Center at the Syracuse Universtiy School of Architecture Joe Fama, RA, Director of the Troy Architectural Program, a community design and development center serving the NYS Capitol Region. Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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The Environmental Realities of the Current Drug Culture April 12, 2006  /  5:30 – 7:00 PM There is no charge for this program. Co-sponsored by: MCC Damon City Campus Human Services Club Speaker: David Monk, is Program Coordinator/Instructor of Law Enforcement In-Service Programs at Monroe Community College With over 25 years of experience working in substance abuse strategies in the criminal justice system, David will share the most current information and research available on the trends of substance abuse in our society, patterns and stages of the substance abuser along with a comprehensive identification of drugs, drug paraphernalia and alcohol use/abuse. According to Job Performance and Chemical Dependency: A Guide for Supervisors and Managers: “The abuse of drugs and alcohol is a national problem of immense proportions. It permeates and impacts every level of business, social and governmental institutions. Substance abuse is estimated to cost employers more than $100 billion annually in terms of absenteeism, accidents, turnover, waste and health care expenses. Experts estimate that 10% to 20% of all workers in the United States use harmful drugs on the job.” Join us as we learn and dialogue about the environmental realities of the current drug culture’s destructive impact on our society. Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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Reading Between the Lines: The Good Life Tuesday, April 18, 2006  /  7:00PM - 9:00PM There is no charge for this program. Pre-registration required—space is limited. Once you are registered for the series, you can arrange to get the first book in the series prior to the first session. Call 585-232-7140 x16 or email dcf@dor.org to sign up and get your books now. Co-sponsored by: New York Council for the Humanities with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities and presented in collaboration with the Downtown Community Forum and the University of Rochester Department of History. American Dreams A free monthly reading group at the Downtown Community Forum Join us for a series of four lively conversations focused around books that explore the idea of the “American Dream” and how it has changed and evolved over time. Each conversation centers on a book selected by Jeremy Saucier, a graduate student in the History Department of the University of Rochester, who will also facilitate the discussions. Participants are asked to attend and contribute to all four sessions. All of the books in the series are available to borrow free of charge. A discussion of Helen and Scott Nearing’s The Good Life, a look at the “simple life” version of the American Dream as told by two of its foremost practitioners. Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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Reading Between the Lines: The Transplanted: A History of Immigrants in Urban America Tuesday, March 21, 2006  /  7:00PM - 9:00PM There is no charge for this program. Pre-registration required—space is limited. Once you are registered for the series, you can arrange to get the first book in the series prior to the first session. Call 585-232-7140 x16 or email dcf@dor.org to sign up and get your books now. Co-sponsored by: New York Council for the Humanities with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities and presented in collaboration with the Downtown Community Forum and the University of Rochester Department of History. American Dreams A free monthly reading group at the Downtown Community Forum Join us for a series of four lively conversations focused around books that explore the idea of the “American Dream” and how it has changed and evolved over time. Each conversation centers on a book selected by Jeremy Saucier, a graduate student in the History Department of the University of Rochester, who will also facilitate the discussions. Participants are asked to attend and contribute to all four sessions. All of the books in the series are available to borrow free of charge. This session focuses on The Transplanted: A History of Immigrants in Urban America, historian John Bodnar’s study of the dreams and ideals of the immigrants who came here in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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Gangs and Youth Violence in Rochester Wednesday, March 15, 2006  /  5:30 - 7:00 PM There is no charge for this program. Co-sponsored by: The Human Services Club at MCC Damon City Campus Speaker: Officer Moses Robinson, Rochester Police Department School Resource Officer and President of the Western New York Chapter of East Coast Gang Investigators Association At a January 2006 meeting of the New York State Commission of Investigation testimony confirmed that gang activity is no longer limited to the inner-city. In fact, gang activity is rampant both upstate and downstate in rural and suburban areas. Officer Moses Robinson, a local gang expert, indicates that at least 50 gangs operate in the Rochester area. Since 1999 the RPD has seen a marked increase in gang activity that finds gangs such as the Bloods and Crips recruiting youth as young as 13 years old. Gangs are about violence and thrive on crime. More that 50% of gang activity involves drug buyers who come from the suburbs of Rochester. Join us as Officer Robinson speaks about street gangs and youth violence in Rochester’s urban, suburban and rural areas. Officer Robinson states that community involvement is essential: “We need everyone involved…If you’re not part of the solution; you’re part of the problem.” Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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Reading Between the Lines: The American Dream: A Short History of an Idea That Shaped a Nation Tuesday, February 21, 2006  /  7:00PM - 9:00PM There is no charge for this program. Pre-registration required—space is limited. Once you are registered for the series, you can arrange to get the first book in the series prior to the first session. Call 585-232-7140 x16 or email dcf@dor.org to sign up and get your books now. Co-sponsored by: New York Council for the Humanities with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities and presented in collaboration with the Downtown Community Forum and the University of Rochester Department of History. American Dreams A free monthly reading group at the Downtown Community Forum Join us for a series of four lively conversations focused around books that explore the idea of the “American Dream” and how it has changed and evolved over time. Each conversation centers on a book selected by Jeremy Saucier, a graduate student in the History Department of the University of Rochester, who will also facilitate the discussions. Participants are asked to attend and contribute to all four sessions. All of the books in the series are available to borrow free of charge. The series opens with a discussion of The American Dream: A Short History of an Idea That Shaped a Nation by Jim Cullen, which sets the context for the other discussions by exploring the aspirations at the heart of our national identity. Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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An Ounce of Prevention: Emergency Preparedness in Monroe County Tuesday, January 10, 2006  /  5:30 – 7:00 PM FREE PROGRAM/Free Parking in front of St. Mary’s Church Co-sponsored by: League of Women Voters/Rochester Metropolitan Area Speaker: Muffy Meisenzahl, Emergency Manager, Monroe County Office of Emergency Preparedness Every emergency is local. This community has a Public Safety infrastructure that is operating effectively and efficiently every day. Our County Executive Maggie Brooks points out, “Emergencies are not a spectator sport.” Public safety begins with each of us. What is your role and how do you interface with the infrastructure in Monroe County? The office of Emergency Preparedness (OEP) executes the county plan for civil defense and disaster relief before, during and after any type of natural or man-made disaster or a wartime situation. The OEP develops and maintains a comprehensive emergency management plan to include preparedness, response and recovery. It plans and coordinates with government and non-government agencies for rapid response in an emergency, and assists towns and villages in the preparation of their emergency response plans. (www.monroecounty.gov) Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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Surviving the Holidays Series 2005: Managing the Grief, Stress & Anxiety of the Holidays the "Write" Way Wednesday, December 7, 2005  /  6:30 – 8:00 PM There is no charge for this program. Co-sponsored by: Gilda's Club Rochester Speaker: Janice Putrino is a licensed clinical social worker with over a decade of experience. As a support group facilitator and certified journal writing instructor she works with individuals touched by cancer at Gilda’s Club. She has witnessed first hand the benefits of journaling with those touched by cancer and found healing and personal growth with her own journal writing. Linda Sliwoski RN, MS is Senior Nurse Manager of the Lipson Cancer Center at Rochester General Hospital and a certified journal writing instructor. For the last 15 years she has experienced personal growth and healing through her journal writing and facilitates journal programs in numerous cancer support communities, faith communities and with people looking for personal growth and healing. Are you feeling overwhelmed? Dealing with illness? Are you, a loved one or friend dreading the upcoming Holiday Season? Please join us for an interactive program where we will learn about how journaling can help offer concrete strategies that will teach you to bring troubling thoughts and feelings to the surface. When pondering your thoughts and feelings as they surface you can begin to take control of your emotions, empower communication and allow yourself to organize your thoughts. Join us for an evening of support, comfort, quiet and time to learn how to better care for yourself during the upcoming holiday season and through the New Year. Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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Voices in Wartime - The Movie Saturday, November 19  /  2:00PM and 7:00PM THIS PROGRAM IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ($5.00 suggested donation) BUT SEATING IS LIMITED! Presented by: Opening of the Heart®, in association with: Compeer Monroe Community College Human Services Club National Coalition Building Institute and Veterans Outreach Center Inc. Voices in Wartime is a feature-length documentary that delves into the experience of war through powerful images and the words of poets – unknown and world-famous. Poets around the world, from the United States and Colombia to Britain and Nigeria to Iraq and India, share their poetry and experiences of war. Soldiers, journalists, historians and experts on combat interviewed in Voices in Wartime add diverse perspectives on war’s effects on soldiers, civilians and society. Voices In Wartime website Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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Mentoring: A Positive Strategy to Reduce Crime in Rochester November 17, 2005  /  5:30-7:00 PM There is no charge for this program. Co-sponsored by: Compeer/Catholic Family Center Cephas Attica, Inc. Judical Process Commission Step By Step of Rochester, Inc. Project C.O.P.E. A mentor is a role model who shows by example that it is possible to have a good life no matter where you are today. A mentor is a non-judgmental listener who is there to hear of your successes as well as your fears and frustrations. A mentor can also show you how to reach your personal and professional goals by helping you access every possible community resource. A mentor is a friend whom you can depend on to be there for you, every step of the way, until you find your way. All around our community, faithbased organizations, social agencies and even the City of Rochester are successfully using mentoring programs with people who have a lifelong history of crime and violence: incarcerated men and women, former inmates, children of incarcerated adults, urban at-risk youth and mentally challenged individuals. In these instances, the important one-on-one mentoring relationship has been shown to sharpen problem solving skills and provide strategies for avoiding the kind of peer pressure that leads to involvement with drugs, alcohol and crime. In short, mentoring has been shown to help anyone rise to a better, more productive life and may very well be a strategy for reducing crime in our region. Our Panel of Speakers Join us as we learn more about the many different mentoring programs in Rochester, and how they have been successful saving lives, one person at a time. Roger McNally, SUNY Brockport, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice, will start with a discussion of successful local mentoring programs. Efrain Rivera Jr. and former Step by Step mentee Tammy Hunter will discuss their personal experiences working with a mentor and the difference it has made in their lives. Peter Shaw is Program Director, Project COPE/Phoenix Mentoring Coalition, which services incarcerated individuals and their children. He will highlight the value of community-wide collaborations as a key success factor for mentoring programs. Michael B. Jordan, PhD is a consultant who will share empirical and anecdotal information about mentoring programs. Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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Aging in Place: Why "Smart Growth" Matters to Greater Rochester's Senior Citizens Thursday, November 3  /  7:00 – 8:45 PM There is no charge for this program. Sponsored by: The City of Rochester, Department of Community Development Partners for Livable Communities, Washington, D.C. (www.livable.com) United States Environmental Protection Agency Common Good Planning Center Speakers: Deborah Howe, PhD., Professor of Urban Studies and Planning, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon Robert McNulty, President, Partners for Livable Communities, Washington, D.C. Carlton Eley, Office of Policy, Economics, and Innovation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C. Three national experts will speak on the relationship between land use, community design, and the needs and desires of an aging population. The speakers will explain how regional “smart growth” is imperative to the health and happiness of senior citizens in all our urban, suburban, and rural communities. This program is part of the City of Rochester's participation in a national “Aging in Place” initiative. Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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Why Should We Care About Health Care? Monday, October 17, 2005  /  6:30 – 8:00 PM There is no charge for this program. Co-sponsored by: Rochester Interfaith Health Care Coalition National Coalition Building Institute Temple Sinai Federal Officials Attending: John R. Kuhl - On Calendar Louise Slaughter - HC Rep. Patty Larke attending Federal Officials Invited: Hillary Clinton Thomas Reynolds Charles Schumer James Walsh Panelists: Bill Armbruster, AARP, Associate State Director Trilby de Jung, Greater Upstate Law Project Patrick A. Domaratz, NYS United Teachers Lee Drake, Aztek Computer Solutions, Inc. Chris Hilderbrant, Center for Disability Rights Donna Hill, Rochester City School District Dr. Diane Morse, Assistant Professor/General Medicine at Rochester General Hospital In 2005, Health Care is among the major concerns for an increasing number of Americans. The new faces of the under and uninsured are coming from all towns, villages and rural communities in the greater Rochester area. Rochester is joining together with over 90 other cities and regions across the country to invite our elected officials to listen and dialogue about the future of Health Care. We will spend the evening learning about the new faces and voices of the under and uninsured and how constituents and elected officials can work together toward finding a solution to this pressing problem. Please join us to listen and dialogue with a panel of local speakers and Federal Officials. Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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Do Women Make a Difference in Government? Wednesday, September 14, 2005  /  6:30 - 8:00PM There is no charge for this program. Co-sponsored by: Friends of the Women’s Rights National Park, Inc. Speaker: Nora Bredes, Director of Susan B. Anthony Center for Women’s Leadership “Even when man’s intellectual convictions shall be sincerely and fully on the side of freedom and equality to woman, the force of long existing customs and laws shall impel him to exert authority over her.” Susan B. Anthony Today, women make up just 15% of the U.S. Congress, 22% of New York’s state legislature and 16.6% of its county legislatures. The U.S. ranks only 59th in the world for women in our national legislature behind South Africa, Germany, Costa Rica and many others. And though we gained women members of Congress throughout the 1980s and 90s, that increase has slowed to a near standstill since 2001. What do we lose when women are either excluded or opt out of the political sphere? Research finds that where women hold a “critical mass” of legislative seats - thirty percent or more - they tend to be more inclusive than their male colleagues. They tend to work harder to hear from diverse, even powerless voices and pay more attention to issues like domestic violence, childcare, the environment and public health. Join us as we discuss what is needed to ensure women’s values, beliefs and experience help guide and shape our future governments. Nora Bredes is director of the Susan B. Anthony Center for Women’s Leadership at the University of Rochester. The Center analyzes barriers to women’s progress and sponsors programs to inspire women’s leadership. Their newest project is the Women Leading Local Governments Initiative, an effort that links women elected to New York’s city and county governments to each other, to policy experts and resources. Ms. Bredes came to the Anthony Center in 1999, after more than twenty years spent working in government and for not-for-profit organizations. From 1992-1998, she served as a legislator in Suffolk County in New York. Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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Tell the Next Mayor What You Think Monday, August 22, 2005  /  6:00 – 8:30 PM There is no charge for this program. Co-sponsored by: Alumni of the Latino Political Campaign Academy, Monroe County Hispanic Democratic Committee, Puerto Rican Youth Development and Resource Center (PRYD), Rochester Hispanic Business Association, Ibero-American Action League, Latinas Unidas, ConXion Magazine, Alumni of the United Way Hispanic Leadership Development Program, Monroe County Hispanic Republican Committee, Latin Rhythms-WDCZ FM 102.7, Latina Del Swing-WGMC FM 90.1, Spanish Action Coalition and Latino Alliance. Come hear and participate in the issues effecting Rochester’s Latino Population: education, language rights, healthcare, business, economic development, childcare, public safety, jobs, housing, government access and much more. This interactive community forum will include Mayoral Candidates: Robert Duffy, Tim Mains, Wade Norwood, John Parrinello and Chris Maj. Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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Voices In Wartime: A Dialogue Wednesday, August 10th, 2005  /  6:30 - 8:00 PM There is no charge for this program. This documentary explores the history, heroism, terror and emotional impact of war through intense images of war, the views of war experts and the powerful words of poets. Please join us for a screening of an excerpt of “voices in wartime”, a film that is neither pro or anti war, but dedicated to using the arts to help heal the trauma caused by war. Following our screening we will discuss the effects of war and combat on soldiers, civilians, and society- including post-traumatic stress disorder. Gain insight... Connect with local resources... Share your ideas... Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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READING BETWEEN THE LINES FOR ADULTS: What Kind of Nation? Thomas Jefferson, John Marshall and the Epic Struggle to Create a United States Wednesday, May 18  /  5:30 - 7:00 PM There is no charge for this program. Pre-registration is required - space is limited. Co-sponsored by: New York Council for the Humanities READING BETWEEN THE LINES FOR ADULTS CONTENTION & DISSENT AT THE FOUNDING OF THE REPUBLIC A free monthly reading group at the Downtown Community Forum Join us for a series of four lively conversations exploring the period following the Revolution when our country’s founders helped to forge enduring democratic traditions, notions of constitutional authority and a new political culture. Each conversation centers on a book carefully selected by Shane Butterfield, a graduate student in the History Department of the University of Rochester, who will also facilitate the discussions. Participants are asked to attend and contribute to all four sessions. All of the books in the series are available to borrow free of charge. Wednesdays from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. The series concludes with a conversation about What Kind of Nation? Thomas Jefferson, John Marshall and the Epic Struggle to Create a United States, James Simon’s illuminating treatment of the clash of these two important figures over the direction of American governance. This series is sponsored by the New York Council for the Humanities with support from the We the People Initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities and presented in collaboration with the Downtown Community Forum and Rochester University. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of either the Council or the National Endowment for the Humanities. Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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Design Matters II: Revitalization Stories from Chattanooga & Pittsburgh Design Centers May 4, 2005  /  6:30 – 9:00 PM There is no charge for this program. Co-sponsored by: City of Rochester Common Good Planning Center Monroe County Planning Board Rochester Chapter, American Institute of Architects (AIA) Rochester Regional Community Design Center Speakers: Chattanooga: Stroud Watson, Director, Karen Hundt, Urban Planner, and Christian Rushing, Senior Planner all of the Planning and Design Studio; and Robert McNutt, Senior VP of Development, Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise Pittsburgh: Anne-Marie Lubenau, Executive Director, and Jason Vrabel, Program Manager of the Planning & Design Studio; Elizabeth R. Lynn, McCune Foundation; Rob Stephany, East Liberty Development Inc.; Jeff Dorsey, Penn Avenue Arts Initiative; and Ken Doyno, architect, Doyno, Rothschild Architects With more and more cities undertaking major revitalization projects, Community Design Centers have been emerging throughout the country. Today, there are more than 50 Community Design Centers nationwide, all having a similar common goal of design excellence in our built environment. The success they are having in shaping the way we build and revitalize our communities is nothing short of inspirational. Rochester has recently launched its own Community Design Center, which consists of a group of design professionals, planners and citizens with a common interest in defining, promoting and implementing design excellence for the City of Rochester and surrounding region. For more information about design efforts locally, visit the web site at www.rrcdc.org This year’s Design Matters Program will focus on best practices and lessons learned from two very different projects in two very different cities. Located in Southeast Tennessee near the border of Georgia, Chattanooga has received national recognition for the renaissance of its beautiful downtown and redevelopment of its riverfront. Their Downtown Plan 2005 sets the course of the city over the next 20 years with an integrated approach to the development of transportation, public spaces, buildings and natural systems. A century ago, East Liberty was one of the hottest real estate markets in Pittsburgh. Today the neighborhood is suffering from urban blight and the start and-stop of many good intentions on the part of private investors and public officials. The East Liberty Project addresses planning at the neighborhood level: revitalizing businesses, attracting new residents/consumers, improving public streets and recreational areas and leveraging the full potential of the area. Each design team will speak for 60 minutes followed by a 30-minute Q&A exchange with the audience. Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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The Faces of Poverty April 27, 2005  /  5:30 – 7:00 PM There is no charge for this program. Co-sponsored by: Let Justice Roll Presbytery Peacemaking Ministry Team The Interfaith Alliance of Rochester Panelists: Kathy Pearce, Executive Director, Cameron Community Ministries Poor People United, TBA Michael Boucher, Social Worker, St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Center Karyn Herman, Action For A Better Community, Director of Community Building in Action Poverty is an ongoing public policy issue. In 2001, The Interfaith Alliance of Rochester produced a video and study guide entitled: "The Faces of Poverty: Not Just Faces but, Our Neighbors". Their goal was to educate faith communities so they would be better informed about the day-to-day choices and challenges facing people who live in poverty. Four years later, we seek to expand this initiative to the Greater Rochester area. Please join us as we view "The Faces of Poverty" and hear how local agencies are trying to respond to the growing problem of poverty in our community. The faces of poverty are our friends, co-workers and neighbors. Join the dialogue and learn how you can be part of the solution as an advocate, volunteer or participant in the many programs in our region that work to fight poverty. On 5/12 - 5/13/2005 a coalition of faith communities and local non-profits including: Action for a Better Community, Foodlink and the Poor People's Coalition will convene an “Anti-Poverty Summit”. Registration forms and details will be available at this Downtown Community Forum program. Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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READING BETWEEN THE LINES FOR ADULTS: The Other Founders: Anti-Federalism and the Dissenting Tradition in America, 1788-1828 Wednesday, April 20  /  5:30 - 7:00 PM There is no charge for this program. Pre-registration is required - space is limited. Co-sponsored by: New York Council for the Humanities READING BETWEEN THE LINES FOR ADULTS CONTENTION & DISSENT AT THE FOUNDING OF THE REPUBLIC A free monthly reading group at the Downtown Community Forum Join us for a series of four lively conversations exploring the period following the Revolution when our country’s founders helped to forge enduring democratic traditions, notions of constitutional authority and a new political culture. Each conversation centers on a book carefully selected by Shane Butterfield, a graduate student in the History Department of the University of Rochester, who will also facilitate the discussions. Participants are asked to attend and contribute to all four sessions. All of the books in the series are available to borrow free of charge. Wednesdays from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. A discussion of The Other Founders: Anti-Federalism and the Dissenting Tradition in America, 1788-1828 by historian Saul Cornell, which examines the views of early political dissenters and shows their enduring influence in American political life. This series is sponsored by the New York Council for the Humanities with support from the We the People Initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities and presented in collaboration with the Downtown Community Forum and Rochester University. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of either the Council or the National Endowment for the Humanities. Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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Fix Albany Friday, April 15, 2005  /  6:30 - 8:00 PM There is no charge for this program. Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi founded the Fix Albany Political Committee, fixalbany.com, in March 2004 to educate people across New York State that the actions and inactions of our state legislators in Albany adversely affect our local property taxes. Many politicians and constituents talked about the dysfunction in Albany but Suozzi decided to take it into the political arena. The Fix Albany Committee targeted two incumbents in the state legislature and successfully supported their challengers, who ran on a reform platform, to defeat the incumbents. Join in the dialogue and learn how Suozzi was able to engineer change in Nassau County and how the statewide effort, Fix Albany, needs your help to address our dysfunctional state government. Thomas R. Souzzi was elected Nassau County Executive in 2001. He is an attorney, Certified Public Accountant, Former Mayor of Glen Cove, NY and a nationally recognized environmentalist. The New York Times called Fix Albany, “Thomas Suozzi’s Excellent Idea.” The Albany Times Union declared, “…this County Executive is charismatic, passionate and articulate.” Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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READING BETWEEN THE LINES FOR ADULTS: Novus Ordo Seclorum: The Intellectual Origins of the Constitution Wednesday, March 16  /  5:30 - 7:00 PM There is no charge for this program. Pre-registration is required - space is limited. Co-sponsored by: New York Council for the Humanities READING BETWEEN THE LINES FOR ADULTS CONTENTION & DISSENT AT THE FOUNDING OF THE REPUBLIC A free monthly reading group at the Downtown Community Forum Join us for a series of four lively conversations exploring the period following the Revolution when our country’s founders helped to forge enduring democratic traditions, notions of constitutional authority and a new political culture. Each conversation centers on a book carefully selected by Shane Butterfield, a graduate student in the History Department of the University of Rochester, who will also facilitate the discussions. Participants are asked to attend and contribute to all four sessions. All of the books in the series are available to borrow free of charge. Wednesdays from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. This session focuses on Novus Ordo Seclorum: The Intellectual Origins of the Constitution by Forrest McDonald, which reconstructs the founders’ understanding of law, history, political philosophy, and political economy and explores how it was brought to bear in building a “new order of the ages.” This series is sponsored by the New York Council for the Humanities with support from the We the People Initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities and presented in collaboration with the Downtown Community Forum and Rochester University. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of either the Council or the National Endowment for the Humanities. Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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"If All of Rochester Read the Same Book..." 2005 Servants of the Map by Andrea Barrett Tuesday March 15, 2005  /  7:00 - 8:00 PM There is no charge for this program. Facilitator: Karen vanMeenen, Director of Special Projects, Writers and Books No one limits the opposing pull of inner and outer worlds more eloquently than Andrea Barrett. Her naturalists, explorers, scientists, and healers are driven to work and above all to know; they categorize, theorize, and collect the phenomena of the natural world with an urgency that feels like physical need. But they are motivated equally by desire and loneliness, and the theme of domestic life runs like a counter-melody through each of the six lovely, deeply memorable stories in Servants of the Map. The narrator of the title story, a cartographer in the Grand Trigonometrical Survey of India, is a timid, home- and family-loving man, but the Himalayas strike him with the force of a revelation. The heroine of the lyrical "Theories of Rain" is a creature of strong feelings and appetites, driven to ask questions about the world around her in the same spirit as she longs for a neighbor and mourns the brother separated from her in childhood. Her scientific curiosity is scarcely different from her desire: "Through that channel of longing, the world enters me." (From www.amazon.com) Call 232.7140 x16 or e-mail, dcf@dor.org for information on how to purchase this book and receive a free readers guide. Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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READING BETWEEN THE LINES FOR ADULTS: Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation Wednesday, February 16  /  5:30 - 7:00 PM There is no charge for this program. Pre-registration is required - space is limited. Co-sponsored by: New York Council for the Humanities READING BETWEEN THE LINES FOR ADULTS CONTENTION & DISSENT AT THE FOUNDING OF THE REPUBLIC A free monthly reading group at the Downtown Community Forum Join us for a series of four lively conversations exploring the period following the Revolution when our country’s founders helped to forge enduring democratic traditions, notions of constitutional authority and a new political culture. Each conversation centers on a book carefully selected by Shane Butterfield, a graduate student in the History Department of the University of Rochester, who will also facilitate the discussions. Participants are asked to attend and contribute to all four sessions. All of the books in the series are available to borrow free of charge. Wednesdays from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. The series opens with a discussion of Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation, Joseph Ellis’ Pulitzer Prize-winning book that brings alive the bitter conflicts that threatened the new nation in the 1790s. This series is sponsored by the New York Council for the Humanities with support from the We the People Initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities and presented in collaboration with the Downtown Community Forum and Rochester University. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of either the Council or the National Endowment for the Humanities. Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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Rochester Education Foundation: From Clarinets to Success Annual Legislative Institute 2005 Friday February 4, 2005  /  10:00am - 1:00 pm There is no charge for this program. Co-sponsored by: Church Women United Speaker: Maria Behncke Ellen Leopold Patricia Braus In 2003 the Rochester Education Foundation (REF) was started with a focus on helping city school students and building partnerships between the community and these students. In Spring 2004 the city schools faced a crisis when funding for nurses was cut. The REF stepped in and helped raise funds and distribute them to keep the nurses in schools. Public schools in Rochester need help, too many lack resources, making it difficult for all children to receive the quality public education they deserve. Ninety local education funds around the country serve school districts with predominantly low-income children and now our community has the opportunity. Thankfully, Rochester has a tradition of creative innovation and solutions to intractable problems. We can help! Join us at the 2005 Annual Legislative Institute and learn what the REF hopes to accomplish and why community engagement in our schools is essential for the success of Rochester and city school children. Program: 10:00 – 11:45: Maria Behncke, Finger Lakes Coordinator for the Alliance for Quality Education, will discuss the current resources available to students in the Rochester City School District. Ellen Leopold, Adjunct Instructor, Monroe Community College, Damon Campus, will follow up with the Rochester Education Foundation’s response to these needs. Church Women United will provide sample letters, paper and stamps so participants can write to their Legislators about education issues in city schools. Keynote Address 12:10 – 1:00 PM: Patricia Braus, Executive Director of the Rochester Education Foundation, will highlight why Rochester needs the REF and how this group was formed. She will tell us what similar groups around the nation have accomplished and how the REF and the community can partner in the “Spring for Music” initiative to bring musical instruments to needy students. Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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Politics of the Death Penalty Tuesday February 1, 2005  /  5:30 - 7:00PM There is no charge for this program. Speaker: David Kaczynski, Executive Director of New Yorkers Against the Death Penalty “There are many things wrong with the death penalty, as evidenced by the alarming number of wrongful convictions, the thinly concealed racial and class bias, the fact that we regularly execute juvenile offenders and people with serious mental illness. To most thinking people, these reasons are sufficient to reject a system for imposing ultimate punishment that operates with limited rationality and fairness.” New York’s death penalty law was established in 1995. Now, ten years later, the law continues to have such serious flaws that on June 24, 2004, the New York State Court of Appeals ruled that the State’s Death Penalty law was unconstitutional. With that ruling, one would expect the legislature to choose that the law not be reinstated. Instead, it is looking to make changes that many believe will only postpone the eventual demise of a law that public opinion polls show the majority of New Yorkers oppose. “Should the legislature simply reinstate the law, it would be shirking its duty to ensure that our laws are based on sound public policy, while at the same time putting innocent lives at risk,” says David Kaczynski. David took the courageous step to help authorities locate and arrest his mentally ill brother, Ted, only to grapple with having his brother face the death penalty. David’s experience led him to become Executive Director of New Yorkers Against the Death Penalty (NYADP). The organization is committed to the abolition of capital punishment. NYADP advocates for public policy change through education, grass-roots organizing and lobbying. Death Penalty Facts Since 1973, at least 114 innocent people have been sentenced to death in the United States. New Yorkers have invested $170 million in the death penalty, yet no executions have been scheduled or carried out. Those who murder whites are twice as likely to face the death penalty as those who murder blacks. Statistics indicate that the death penalty does not act as a deterrent. Monroe County has sought the death penalty more than any other county, yet the city of Rochester has the highest murder rate in the state. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has not sought the death penalty since 1960 and yet their murder rate has decreased. Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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Neighborhood Trust Fund: Investing in Rochester’s Future January 11, 2005  /  6:30 – 8:00 PM There is no charge for this program. Speaker: Rev. Luis A. Perez, MSW Aimée D. Frederes These days, the failed fast ferry and all the haranguing over control of the boat, the port and the future of Rochester seems to be grabbing the headlines, but to really save Rochester, one must begin by saving the City’s declining neighborhoods according to Interfaith Action, a federation of churches and businesses in our community. They believe that the long-empty, boarded-up houses and dilapidated commercial buildings in our community breed not only crime but a hopelessness that now seems pervasive. This fall, Interfaith Action called for the creation of a neighborhood trust fund that would invest in our declining neighborhoods to the tune of $90 million over ten years. The idea represents a kind of “stretch vision” that could turn the tide of poverty, crime, lack of good housing and a declining tax base into a truly positive force in our community, creating safer neighborhoods, a more positive business environment, new jobs, and ultimately the renewal of vital resources throughout our communnity. More than 300 other trust funds currently exist in thirty-six states and many cities like New York City and Washington, DC. Each fund is tailored to the specific needs of the community. For example, in Vermont the fund is targeted as affordable housing as well as land preservation. St. Louis is committed to eliminating lead paint. Denver wants to repurpose its vacant buildings. The proposed Rochester trust fund would be overseen by a new, nonprofit agency that would derive revenue from a special government tax or surcharge. In the past, similar funds have been supported by monies from property taxes, sales taxes, real estate transfer taxes, hotel-motel taxes and even parking fees. In addition to government sources, these other trust funds have also seen additional financial support coming from individuals and private organizations. Interfaith Action has called upon both Mayor Bill Johnson and County Executive Maggie Brooks to get the process started with a feasibility study. Both support the creation of the fund, but with the City facing a significant deficit and Brooks opposing any new taxes, finding the seed funds could prove challenging. The creation of the fund would also require approval by the legislature. However, at a time when public monies are available for projects such as the fast ferry, soccer stadium and downtown bus terminal, there remains hope that funds also can be found for rebuilding deteriorating neighborhoods, improving the infrastructure, preserving architectural landmarks and creating a business-friendly environment where urban and suburban ring communities can thrive. We invite you to join the discussion and voice your opinion on the formation and priorities for a $90 million neighborhood trust fund. About the Speakers Rev. Luis A. Perez is a Rochester native who has served as Assistant Pastor of the Bethel Christian Fellowship since 1990. Currently he serves as City East/District Pastor and as Executive Director of HOPE Initiatives, CDC, an externally focused arm of Bethel seeking to positively impact the community through outreach. For the past five years, Aimée D. Frederes has been a leader with and now serves as Board President of Interfaith Action, which manages six redevelopment projects and other community strategies aimed at increasing home ownership, reducing crime and eliminating property code violations. Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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Religion In American Life: Religion and Politics in the United States Thursday, Dec. 16, 2004  /  5:30pm There is no charge for this program. Co-sponsored by: New York Council for the Humanities National Endowment for the Humanities Discussion led by: Loren Broc, University of Rochester Department of History Religion In American Life A free monthly reading group for Fall 2004 A series of four book discussions at the Downtown Community Forum From the influence of President Bush’s religious beliefs on the decision to invade Iraq, continuing debates about the separation of church and state, and arguments both for and against legalized abortion and gay marriage to the spiritual authority accorded to Oprah Winfrey and Madonna, religion continues to play a central role in public affairs and popular culture in America. The four books that will be discussed in this series explore the history of how and why religion gained such a prominent place in our lives. This Week's Discussion: Kenneth Wald explores the complex history of the relationship between church and state—the mobilization of religious organizations, their impact at the ballot box, and their influence on the framing of national agendas. Wald argues that no one can fully understand how America governs itself without recognizing the profound influence of religion. You must sign up in advance for this program - space is limited. Books are available to borrow free at the Downtown Community Forum, 15 St. Mary’s Place, Rochester. Group members are expected to have read a substantial portion of each title prior to the meetings and come prepared to contribute to the discussions. CALL 585-232-7140 x16 OR EMAIL dcf@dor.org TO SIGN UP & GET YOUR BOOKS NOW Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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Surviving the Holidays Series 2004 "Grief During the Holidays: Some Helpful Tips" Thursday, December 9, 2004  /  12:10-1:00 PM There is no charge for this program. NOONTIME PROGRAM / Brown Bags Welcome Speaker: Bonnie Anthony has been an important part of the Anthony Funeral Chapel Team as their Continuing Care Coordinator for the past six years. She has completed the Bereavement Facilitator Certificate Award Program from the American Academy of Bereavement. In this role, she develops support programs and facilitates support groups for families who have experienced the loss of a loved one. For the last twenty years, she has held a number of support positions as a Medical and Educational Paraprofessional. Bonnie resides in Brighton with her husband Chip, a funeral director at Anthony Funeral Chapel, and their two children. The holidays present challenges even when our lives are running smoothly. There is no other time of the year that evokes family togetherness more than the holidays. The first family gathering without a loved one can seem overwhelming. We do have some control over what happens on these days, if we choose to take it. This program will present some helpful tips that may make the holidays more manageable. Please join us and share this flyer with colleagues, family and friends who you think might benefit from time to listen, learn and talk about how to make this holiday season bearable. Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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Post Election 2004: Skills for Advocacy and Connection Program #5 Civil Discourse or Civil War Monday, December 6, 2004  /  7:00 – 9:30 PM There is a fee of $12 for this program Registration form Co-sponsored by: National Coalition Building Institute (Joyce Herman and Steve Jarose) With Support from: Downtown Community Forum (Kera Neylan) Sisters of St. Joseph of Rochester (Sr. Beth LeValley) Marie C. and Joseph C. Wilson Foundation (Christine Wilson) Election 2004 has left our country deeply divided, resentful and mistrustful. Yet our desire for a just and thriving democracy requires us to have the skills this series has been teaching. Now more than ever we need to find new ways to support each other and to communicate even when we "can't stand what they’re saying." Join other participants in this series who have been pleased, surprised and increasingly hopeful about the skills they have learned. Please join us in this exciting adventure, whether or not you have participated in the previous workshops in this series. Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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Religion In American Life: The New Age Movement in American Culture Thursday, Nov. 18, 2004  /  5:30pm There is no charge for this program. Co-sponsored by: New York Council for the Humanities National Endowment for the Humanities Discussion led by: Loren Broc, University of Rochester Department of History Religion In American Life A free monthly reading group for Fall 2004 A series of four book discussions at the Downtown Community Forum From the influence of President Bush’s religious beliefs on the decision to invade Iraq, continuing debates about the separation of church and state, and arguments both for and against legalized abortion and gay marriage to the spiritual authority accorded to Oprah Winfrey and Madonna, religion continues to play a central role in public affairs and popular culture in America. The four books that will be discussed in this series explore the history of how and why religion gained such a prominent place in our lives. This Week's Discussion: Richard Kyle portrays the New Age movement as the modern embodiment of a strain of spiritual individualism and mysticism that has existed since the early days of the republic as exemplified in such movements as transcendentalism and spiritualism. Like most alternative religions, the New Age movement reflects the surrounding culture, at times exaggerating current trends and at others rejecting them. You must sign up in advance for this program - space is limited. Books are available to borrow free at the Downtown Community Forum, 15 St. Mary’s Place, Rochester. Group members are expected to have read a substantial portion of each title prior to the meetings and come prepared to contribute to the discussions. CALL 585-232-7140 x16 OR EMAIL dcf@dor.org TO SIGN UP & GET YOUR BOOKS NOW Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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The Brennan Report - Zeroing In on New York's Dysfunctional Government Thursday, November 4, 2004  /  7:00 - 8:30 PM There is no charge for this program. Speaker: Richard A. Dollinger, Partner, Barrett Greisberger Dollinger Fletcher Peartree & Tallon LLP, Former New York State Senator "From Medicaid reform to school funding, the Albany record is one of inaction. Representative democracy in New York State is alive more in name than in reality, and we all suffer as a result." Scott Schell, Public Affairs Director, Brennan Center for Justice, NYU School of Law In 2002, New York legislature introduced 16,892 bills — more than of any other state — but enacted only four percent into law. What’s going on Albany? Why does it take so long for laws to be passed, even when they are favored by the Assembly and Senate? Is the unchecked power granted to the Senate Majority Leader causing major gridlock? What else is going wrong and how can we fix it? The answers to these questions and more are presented in a report by the Brennan Center at NYU School of Law. The report, entitled "The New York State Legislative Process: An Evaluation and Blueprint for Reform," concludes that New York has the most tightly controlled and "dysfunctional" state Legislature in the nation. It compares New York with other states and proposes changes to address five key problem areas: Dysfunctional legislative committees — committee expertise is rarely used. Barriers to consideration of legislation by the full senate or assembly — leaders’ control over the legislative calendar and restrictions on discharge motions unnecessarily "block" passing of bills. No debate, no amendments, inadequate reviews — unlike other states that require such activity, New York discourages legislators from reading, debating and amending bills before voting on them. Few conference committees — An asset that prevents gridlock is rarely used in New York but is widely used by other states to reconcile differences between the two houses. Legislative inefficiency and high costs — New York introduces more bills than any other state, yet enacts a lower percentage into law than all but two states. Join us as Richard Dollinger higlights the major shortcomings of today’s New York government and the solutions identified in the Brennan Report. About the Speaker Now a law firm partner, Richard Dollinger represented most of the City of Rochester and Towns of Greece and Brighton in the New York Senate from 1992-2002. He cochaired the Senate Demographic Committee on Legislative Reform. He was on the Monroe County Legislature from 1987-1992. He is also an active volunteer for several local not-for-profit organizations. An executive summary of the Brennan Report is available at www.brennancenter.org/programs/downloads/albanyreform_execsum.pdf Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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Religion In American Life: Understanding Evangelicalism and Fundamentalism Thursday, Oct. 21, 2004  /  5:30pm There is no charge for this program. Co-sponsored by: New York Council for the Humanities National Endowment for the Humanities Discussion led by: Loren Broc, University of Rochester Department of History Religion In American Life A free monthly reading group for Fall 2004 A series of four book discussions at the Downtown Community Forum From the influence of President Bush’s religious beliefs on the decision to invade Iraq, continuing debates about the separation of church and state, and arguments both for and against legalized abortion and gay marriage to the spiritual authority accorded to Oprah Winfrey and Madonna, religion continues to play a central role in public affairs and popular culture in America. The four books that will be discussed in this series explore the history of how and why religion gained such a prominent place in our lives. This Week's Discussion: George Marsden traces both the origins and the modern day consequences of the late 19th Century split between conservative and liberal Protestants and describes how the conservatives became the center of protest against the secularization of American life and culture. You must sign up in advance for this program - space is limited. Books are available to borrow free at the Downtown Community Forum, 15 St. Mary’s Place, Rochester. Group members are expected to have read a substantial portion of each title prior to the meetings and come prepared to contribute to the discussions. CALL 585-232-7140 x16 OR EMAIL dcf@dor.org TO SIGN UP & GET YOUR BOOKS NOW Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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Can a Single Working Woman Make it in Rochester? Wednesday, October 20, 2004  /  5:30 PM – 7:00 PM There is no charge for this program. Co-sponsored by: Friends of Women’s Rights National Park, Inc. The Women’s Foundation of Genesee Valley Speaker: Kathleen B. King, RN, PhD, FAAN, The Women’s Foundation of Genesee Valley When asked to define economic self-sufficiency, women, struggling to make ends meet in the seven countries of Upstate New York, said it was having enough money to cover expenses and acquire critical assets, being able to save for an emergency and not needing to rely on public assistance. When asked what is needed to achieve economic self-sufficiency, these same women listed education, a living wage, better transportation and training as top priorities. These are just some of the results of a landmark study conducted by The Women’s Foundation of Genesee Valley that identified issues of the poor, and for the first time analyzed need according to a Self-Sufficiency Standard that is considered a ground-breaking alternative to federal poverty standards. The standard is based upon housing, childcare, food, health care, transportation, taxes and other expenses as well as geographical cost of living differences and family compositions. This study clearly shows that estimates based on the federal poverty standard were missing thousands of individuals whom the study refers to as the “invisible poor.” Moreover, it points to the dramatic gap between what a minimum job pays and the minimum income one realistically needs to live in our region. Join us as Kathleen B. King, RN, PhD, FAAN, presents a summary of these dramatic survey results as well as solutions for reducing, and even eliminating poverty in our own backyard. The report entitled, Improving Economic Self-Sufficiency: Current Status, Future Goals and Intervention Strategies can be found at www.womensfoundation.org. About the Speaker A professor at the University of Rochester School of Nursing and a prolific writer and researcher whose work has focused on women and heart disease, Kathleen B. King, RN, PhD, FAAN, has been a longtime proponent of identifying and addressing the unique issues of women’s health. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of The Women’s Foundation of Genesee Valley and Chair of the research project. Other Key Findings: One out of 10 area families lives in poverty. 11.4% of females are living at or below the federal poverty threshold. 9% of women age 65+ live at or below poverty level. 25.9% of households headed by females are living at or below poverty level. In Yates County, 79.5% of households headed by women can’t afford basic living expenses. 93% of female head of households living in poverty have children under age 18. On average, area women are only paid 58 cents for every dollar paid to men. Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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On the Road with the Downtown Community Forum: Make Our Health Care System Healthy October 15, 2004  /  6:30 PM - 8:00 PM There is no charge for this program. Co-sponsored by: Greater Rochester Interfaith Health Care Coalition Greater Rochester Community of Churches Metro Justice Rochester Labor-Religion Coalition Sisters of St. Joseph Justice and Peace Committee Speakers: Mark Hannay is the vice-chair of the national Universal Health Care Action Network. He serves as co-chair of the New York State Health Care Campaign, a statewide umbrella coalition of health advocacy groups. Mark Dunlea is a community organizer and long-term welfare rights advocate. He served as the executive director of Hunger Action Network of New York State (1985-1999) and presently serves as its Associate Director. Hunger Action is a long time advocate of a single payer universal health care system and is working with hundreds of NYS organizations to establish a legislative commission to study how we can best establish a universal health care system. We all know someone who is uninsured, underinsured or about to lose his or her Health Care coverage. The seed of uncertainty has been planted with escalating Health Care costs and questions about future accessibility. What do we know about Health Care today? How can we put on the brakes and change the direction of this “slippery slope” called Health Care? Join us as Mark Hannay and Mark Dunlea discuss Health Care on the National and New York State level. They will share about the existing problems, how we got to this point of dysfunction and what we can do to promote change. There are various approaches to providing quality Health Care in our community. Let’s learn and discuss our options: multi-payer, single payer, tax credits, pay to play, medical savings accounts and managed competition. When we know more about the different options for Health Care we can advocate for our neighbors and ourselves. Please note the event location Location: The Sisters of St. Joseph Motherhouse, 150 French Road, Rochester, NY 14618, 585.641.8100 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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Religion In American Life: The Democratization of American Christianity Thursday, Sept. 23, 2004  /  5:30pm There is no charge for this program. Co-sponsored by: New York Council for the Humanities National Endowment for the Humanities Discussion led by: Loren Broc, University of Rochester Department of History Religion In American Life A free monthly reading group for Fall 2004 A series of four book discussions at the Downtown Community Forum From the influence of President Bush’s religious beliefs on the decision to invade Iraq, continuing debates about the separation of church and state, and arguments both for and against legalized abortion and gay marriage to the spiritual authority accorded to Oprah Winfrey and Madonna, religion continues to play a central role in public affairs and popular culture in America. The four books that will be discussed in this series explore the history of how and why religion gained such a prominent place in our lives. This Week's Discussion: Nathan Hatch’s lively account of the Second Great Awakening in early 19th Century America and the Methodists, Baptists, black churches, and Mormons who, he argues, together endowed American Protestantism with the democratic, egalitarian, and populist tendencies of the common people. You must sign up in advance for this program - space is limited. Books are available to borrow free at the Downtown Community Forum, 15 St. Mary’s Place, Rochester. Group members are expected to have read a substantial portion of each title prior to the meetings and come prepared to contribute to the discussions. CALL 585-232-7140 x16 OR EMAIL dcf@dor.org TO SIGN UP & GET YOUR BOOKS NOW Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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Election 2004: Choosing Will Lead Us – "In It For the Long Haul – Maintaining Hope and Joy" Monday, September 27, 2004  /  7:00 – 9:30 PM There is a fee of $12 for this program. Registration form Sponsored by: National Coalition Building Institute Joyce Herman and Steve Jarose With Support from: Downtown Community Forum (Kera Neylan) Sisters of St. Joseph of Rochester (Sr. Beth LaValley) Marie C. and Joseph C. Wilson Foundation (Christine Wilson) Rochester Regional Group of the Sierra Club (Hugh Mitchell) Purpose: As we get close to Election 2004, intensity mounts. No matter who wins, we will need to hone our skills as advocates for a world that honors human values. We will need to remember that we CAN make a difference. Participations in this series have already seen that communicating effectively with those whose views we cannot stand is a powerful antidote to despair and hopelessness. We will build on these skills and explore other ways to maintain hope and joy in these difficult times. Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information. Please join us in this exciting adventure, whether or not you have participated in the previous workshops in this series.

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Election 2004: Skills for Advocacy and Connection Part 3: What To Do When You Can't Stand What They're Saying Monday, June 7, 2004  /  7:00 - 9:30 PM Registration fee: $12.00 / Student Fee: $4.00 Click here for a registration form Sponsored by: National Coalition Building Institute (Joyce Herman and Steve Jarose) With Support from: Downtown Community Forum (Kera Neylan) Sisters of St. Joseph of Rochester (Sr. Beth LeValley) Marie C. and Joseph C. Wilson Foundation (Christine Wilson) Alliance for Democracy (Rome Celli) Just when feelings about the election are going sky high... And we are constantly told that the country is hopelessly divided... And when just talking with friends, colleagues, family members and neighbors is a challenge... It's time for #3 in the exciting series of workshops- Election 2004: Skills for Advocacy and Connection Come learn that we are not powerless at these moments, that we can apply principles and skills that will increase our ability to make the changes we seek. Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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The church as Employer Tuesday May 18, 2004  /  5:30 - 7:00 PM There is no charge for this program. Co-sponsored by: Rochester Labor-Religion Coalition - www.rlrc.org Speaker: Patrick A. Domaratz, Labor Relations Specialist, New York State United Teachers Carolyn A. Portanova, President and CEO, Catholic Family Center Reverend Alan G. Newton, Executive Minister, American Baptist Churches of the Rochester/Genesee Region Religious communities in Rochester share a general common goal of outreaching to those in need. Most also share common challenges as employers as they try to balance retaining the employees needed to effectively achieve their mission with financial limitations. High employee turnover drives up costs and compromises the continuity of services to those in need. Churches are especially vulnerable because they often lack the funds required to offer the competitive wages and benefits workers desire. Adding to the problem can be thelack of implementing employee satisfaction processes such as grievance and job evaluation procedures that provide clear communication between employers and employees. Some believe in unionizing as a solution, but only if it’s the right fit for the organization. Others believe employee problems can be solved internally by building solid relationships to preserve the rights of workers. Join us for a diverse discussion with varying points of view of the church as an employer. As a former employer for a religious based non-profit outreach organization, Patrick A. Domaratz understands the constraints of operating a religious organization. In his current role as a union organizer, he seeks justice for Rochester workers. He will explore the history of Rochester’s religious communities working with labor unions to achieve just working conditions and wages for their employees. Carolyn Portanova will present her point of view as the CEO of Catholic Family Center, a large diverse human services agency operating under the auspices of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Rochester. She will raise issues and give reasoning for implementing the "Living Wage" within the restraints of economic realities. She will also address labor concerns, unions and striving for the rights of workers. Reverend Alan Newton will focus on the obstacles employees of the church face, such as poor or no procedures for employee evaluation and grievances, inability to offer competitive wages and unreasonable time demands. Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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The RUMP Group Tuesday, May 4  /  12:10 PM - 1:00 PM There is no charge for this program. Refreshments Served/Brown Bag Lunches Welcome Speaker: David L. Hunke, Democrat and Chronicle, President/Publisher Join us as Mr. Hunke shares his thoughts and strategies for "Fighting for Rochester's Future". His strong commitment to promoting the greater Rochester Community is evidenced by his service as a trustee or board member for the Center for Governmental Research; Keuka College; Memorial Art Gallery; Rochester Business Alliance and Greater Rochester Enterprise. In addition, Mr. Hunke is a member of the Roberts Wesleyan Board of Managers and a member of The Rump Group. Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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If All of Rochester Read the Same Book 2004 - Peace Like A River Thursday, April 22, 2004  /  12:10 - 1:00 PM There is no charge for this program. Karen vanMeenen, Director of Special Projects at Writers and Books will facilitate this noontime discussion. Books are available at local libraries and are for sale at the Writers & Books bookstore, Moodmakers Books, Lift Bridge Books in Brockport, Greenwood Books, Greater Rochester Visitors' Association, Borders, Barnes & Noble, Wegmans stores and The Good Book Store. Reader's Guides and "I'm Reading Leif Enger" buttons are free and available at the Writers & Books bookstore (740 University Avenue/473.2590). For details on Leif Enger's visit to Rochester 3/24 -3/27 see www.wab.org or call 473.2590. Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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Design Matters: Revitalization Stories from Cleveland, Pittsburgh & Detroit Community Design Centers Wednesday, April 21, 2004  /  7:00 - 9:00 PM There is no charge for this program. Co-sponsored by: Rochester Regional Community Design Center American Institute of Architects American Planning Association Common Good Planning Center Monroe County Planning Department Speakers: Anne-Marie Lubenau, AIA, Executive Director, Community Design Center of Pittsburgh Ruth Durack, AICP, Director, Urban Design Center of Northeast Ohio Andrew Sturm, Associate Director, Detroit Collaborative Design Center Mention the word design and many of us think about painting and wallpapering our homes. But, design is so much more than that, especially when it involves the revitalization of a entire city or neighborhood — then it’s about our overall built environment and sense of community. With more cities undertaking major revitalization projects, Community Design Centers have been emerging throughout the country. The success they are having in shaping the way we build and revitalize our communities is inspirational. There are approximately 50 Community Design Centers nationwide, all having a similar common goal of design excellence in our built environment. Most of these centers are members of the Association for Community Design (ACD), an international network of individuals, organizations, and institutions committed to increasing the capacity of planning and design professions to better serve communities. Through collaboration, education and advocacy, Community Design Centers are helping to produce quality design solutions that respond to local concerns. They earn credibility with neighborhoods, architects and public officials, further enhancing their ability to achieve the shared goals for their community. Rochester has recently launched a Community Design Center that consists of a group of design professionals, planners and citizens with a common interest in defining, promoting and implementing design excellence for the City of Rochester and surrounding region. They serve as a design resource for Rochester’s urban, suburban and rural communities. Emphasis is on promoting design excellence, preservation of historic fabric and maximizing use of existing resources. Join us for intriguing and informative discussions about the impact Community Design Centers are having in Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Detroit. We will also focus on the many benefits the new Regional Community Design Center will bring to the Rochester area. For more information about the Rochester Regional Community Design Center visit their web site at www.rrcdc.org Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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Health Care Reform Debate Monday April 5, 2004  /  7:00 pm There is no charge for this program. Please RSVP: (585) 244-4817 Questions? Contact: corey_fehnel@urmc.rochester.edu Co-sponsored by: American Medical Student Association (AMSA) American Medical Association Student Section Interfaith Health Alliance Greater Rochester Community of Churches Downtown Community Forum Speaker: Steffie Woolhandler MD, MPH, of Harvard Medical School, Founding Member of Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP) William Dolan MD, Past President, Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY) and Monroe County Medical Society. What is the future of America’s health care system? Hear the opinions of the nation’s leading experts. Reception to follow the debate. Location: Rochester Academy of Medicine, 1441 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14610

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The Rise of the Religious Right In American Politics: Is Theocracy Coming to a Government Near You? Sunday March 7, 2004  /  3:30 pm There is no charge for this program. Sponsored by: The Social Responsibility Council, First Unitarian Church Co-sponsored by: Alliance for Democracy- Rochester American Civil Liberties Union - Rochester and Genesee Valley Chapter, NYCLU Americans United for Separation of Church and State - Rochester Chapter Citizens for a United Earth Commission of Christian Muslim Relations Downtown Community Forum Downtown United Presbyterian Church First Universalist Church - Social Action Committee Greater Rochester Community of Churches Interfaith Advocates for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People Lake Avenue Memorial Baptist Church Metro Justice Monroe Citizens for Public Education and Religious Liberty (MCPEARL) Muslim Catholic Alliance National Council of Jewish Women - Greater Rochester Section Planned Parenthood of the Rochester/Syracuse Region, Inc. Rochester Muslim Alliance Spiritus Christi - Rainbow Bridge Temple Sinai Social Action Committee The Interfaith Alliance of Rochester (TIAR) Women of Reform Judaism - B'rith Kodesh Sisterhood Speaker: Joan Bokaer, Director, Theocracy Watch Project, Center for Religion, Ethics and Social Policy at Cornell University Location: First Unitarian Church, 220 Winton Road South, Rochester NY 14610

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Election 2004: Skills for Advocacy and Connection Part 2: "Can You Hear My Group's Voice?" Monday, March 29, 2004  /  7:00 - 9:30 PM Registration fee: $12.00 / Student Fee: $4.00 Click here for a registration form Sponsored by: National Coalition Building Institute (Joyce Herman and Steve Jarose) With support from: Downtown Community Forum (Kera Neylan) Sisters of St. Joseph of Rochester (Sr. Beth LeValley) Marie C. and Joseph C. Wilson Foundation (Christine Wilson) Alliance for Democracy (Rome Celli) Rochester Regional Group of the Sierra Club (Hugh Mitchell) Purpose: The second in a series of workshops seeking to sharpen our skills to change the political climate to one that brings people together. We will use the 2004 Presidential Election as a vehicle. Coalitions, particularly those interested in justice issues, often fall apart because different groups have such varied experiences and hurts that it becomes difficult to have a common agenda. We will listen to the voices of many groups - including your voice - and look at how to build support across diverse concerns. Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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The USA Patriot Act: Surveillance, Information Sharing and Civil Rights Tuesday, February 24, 2004  /  7:00 - 8:30 PM There is no charge for this program. Co-sponsored by: ACLU of Rochester and Genesee Valley League of Women Voters - Rochester Metropolitan Area The Interfaith Alliance of Rochester Speaker: Dr. Tracy Mitrano, Director of Information Technology Policy, Computer Policy and Law Programs at Cornell University An informational session on the surveillance and sharing of information provisions of the USA Patriot Act, and the amendment it makes to the Family Education Rights Privacy Act, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and the Electronic Communications Privacy Act. Bring your questions and concerns as we dialogue on this important issue of our day. Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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Free Speech and Ethics in Broadcasting Thursday, January 22, 2004  /  7:00 - 8:30 PM There is no charge for this program. Co-sponsored by: Greater Rochester Community of Churches The Interfaith Alliance of Rochester Panel: Dr. Darryl Trimiew, Dean of the Program of Black Church Studies, John Price Crozer Professor of Christian Social Ethics and Director of the Program of Education and Action for Responsible Leadership (PEARL), Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School Norm Silverstein, President and CEO, WXXI Public Broadcasting Council Sharon Stiller, Esq., Partner, Underberg & Kessler LLP Steve Hausmann, News Director, Entercom Rochester and Local Broadcast Media Personality, WBEE Radio Freedom of speech is a constitutional right of every American — a right that is often abused in today’s world of 24/7 broadcast media. We expect networks to act responsibly in their reporting, but there is a fine line between what is acceptable and what is not. With modern talk radio, which thrives on controversy, becoming more popular, the issue of protecting freedom of speech while maintaining ethics in broadcasting is more important than ever. Media networks are motivated to act responsibly because they have to consider whether show content will offend their audience and ultimately, how their sponsors will react to any scrutiny that arises. When on-air personalities offend their audiences, the public outrage that follows forces media networks to take action — or suffer the consequences of poor ratings, cancelled sponsorships, etc. A network’s response to the outcry might be anything from a public apology to the firing of the offending on-air talent. While these types of actions may temporarily eliminate the problem, many feel they are not long-term solutions. Often, networks fail to set clear guidelines and ethics standards and the popular talk-show hosts are given free reign — as long as the public keeps listening and buying sponsors’ products. Should networks be held more accountable for the content of their shows and if so, who decides when freedom of speech has been abused? And, how do we use our power as listeners to force change when we think it’s needed? Join us as we discuss the competing understandings of free speech and ethics in broadcasting. Dr. Trimiew will provide an ethical perspective on how the fundamental value of free speech must be morally exercised. Norm Silverstein will present a media perspective and the challenges he faces in balancing free speech for WXXI broadcasters while maintaining ethics at the station. Sharon Stiller will talk about the law surrounding the first amendment, including New York State’s lawful activities bill and when you can be sued for what you say. Steve Hausmann will offer a first hand perspective from his experiences as an on-air personality. Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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Election 2004: Choosing Will Lead Us - Skills for Advocacy and Connection - "Your Candidate? Mine? or Ours?" Tuesday, January 6, 2004  /  7:00 - 9:30 PM There is a registration fee of $12 for this program. Click here for a registration form Sponsored by: National Coalition Building Institute (Joyce Herman and Steve Jarose) With Support from: Sisters of St. Joseph of Rochester (Sr. Beth LeValley) Downtown Community Forum (Kera Neylan) Marie C. and Joseph C. Wilson Foundation (Christine Wilson) This workshop seeks to sharpen our skills to change the political climate to one that puts people together. We will use the 2004 Presidential Election as a vehicle. "Your Candidate? Mine? or Ours?" will look at tough questions like: How do we decide whom to back? How do we talk to one another about our choices, especially when we disagree? And how can we win others to our point of view? We will listen to each other to find out who is backing whom and why. And we will continue the work of building an effective, mutually supportive core of activists in our community. Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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Surviving the Holidays Series 2003: "The Way It Used to Be: Where is the Joy?" Thursday, December 18, 2003  /  12:10-1:00 PM NOONTIME PROGRAM / Brown Bags Welcome There is no charge for this program. Speaker: Rev. Iris Banister, MSEd, is founder and lead counselor of NAMOW Ministries (Woman spelled backwards). She was an educator in the Rochester City School District for 33 years where she administrated SHAPE, an educational program for violent and disruptive youth. Rev. Banister is a frequent lecturer and workshop facilitator in the greater Rochester area. She acts as a community advocate for youth and parent rights and worked to develop and manage The Neighborhood Diplomatic Corps Program. Rev. Bannister is associate minister at St. Luke Tabernacle Community Church and serves on the board of directors of several community-based social and civic organizations. She is currently a Doctoral Candidate of Education at the University of Rochester. For those of us who are experiencing grief, disappointment, and loss of health or employment the so-called happy holidays can be times of isolation and intensified pain. Each year Downtown Community Forum presents a program especially for those of us who are trying to "put on a happy face". While there are no easy answers, being in community can ease the pain. Iris Banister will share how many of us have come to a place in time where we have a keen sense of vulnerability. Loss of security with war, terrorist threats and personal obstacles, along with a constant flow of threatening information has eroded our sense of safety and many of us are thrown into a fit of depression laced in fear and uncertainty. We long for "The Way It Used to Be". Please join us and share this flyer with colleagues, family and friends who you think might benefit from help finding peace and happiness at a dark time in their lives. Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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Lead Poisoning - A Rochester Epidemic Tuesday, November 18, 2003  /  7:00 - 8:30 PM There is no charge for this program. Panelists: Dr. Richard Kennedy, Director, Orchard Street Community Health Center Marion Walker, President, Jay and Orchard Street Area Neighborhood Association (JOSANA) Parent Perspective – Special guest to be announced. Bryan Hetherington, Chief Council, Public Interest Law Office of Rochester (PILOR) Rochester has a big lead problem and it’s poisoning our kids! In 1995, 37.5% of Rochester kids tested had lead levels over 10 micrograms per deciliter (ug/dl) —a level at which brain development is permanently impaired. In some communities up to 50% of kids tested had elevated lead levels. NY State law mandates testing of all children ages 12-24 months, yet only about half are actually being tested. Exposure to lead, even in extremely small amounts and for short periods of time, affects children’s brain development and causes serious, lifelong problems including lower IQs, decreased attention spans, learning disabilities and behavioral problems. Longer exposure results in permanent brain damage along with anemia, hearing loss, osteoporosis, kidney failure and other health problems. Lead poisoning’s devastating effects on our children is a real tragedy and it doesn’t stop there. Lead poisoning also impacts Rochester as a community. The City School District spends huge amounts of money on special education and remedial services for lead poisoned kids—money that would be better spent preventing lead poisoning in the first place. Lead poisoned kids have higher rates of school drop out and juvenile deliquency, resulting in the need for more public assistance and burdening our law enforcement and court systems. Lead poisoning is 100% preventable if we join together as a community and take action to protect our children. Everyone has a role, from parents and educators, to government officials, to housing industry workers and health care providers. Help get the lead out of Rochester! The Rochester Coalition to Prevent Lead Poisoning has set an aggressive goal — end lead poisoning by 2010. Join us as Bryan Hetherington discusses how this can be achieved. Dr. Robert Kennedy will present lead poisoning from a medical perspective and Marion Walker will talk about its impact on our community. A parent’s perspective will be provided by a special guest who will discuss coping with a child affected by lead poisoning. For more information about Rochester’s lead problem visit the Rochester Coalition to Prevent Lead Poisoning web site at www.leadfreerochester.org Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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Rochester Regional Forum on Funding for a Quality Education Wednesday, October 22, 2003  /  6:00 PM There is no charge for this program. Co-sponsored by: Ibero-American Action League, Hon. Sandra L. Frankel, Brighton Town Supervisor, Monroe County School Boards Association, Rochester Preschool-Parent Program, National Coalition Building Institute (Upstate chapter), Women of Reform Judaism - B'rith Kodesh Sisterhood, Grace Urban Ministries, Working Families Party, Metro Council for Teen Potential, Public Interest Law Office of Rochester, District Advisory Council to Title I,, Neighbors Building Neighborhoods, Sector 9, Geneseo Presbyterian Church Mission Commission, North East Area Development, Urban League of Rochester, The Interfaith Alliance of Rochester Are you tired of the yearly crisis that surrounds school budgets? Do you think schools should be able to make long term plans? Are you tired of sports, teaching positions and arts programs being put in jeopardy every year? Learn about the Campaign for Fiscal Equity Court Decision - and how it could mean fair and stable funding for area schools - tell us what your school needs to succeed. Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 RSVP & Information: Maria Behncke, Alliance for Quality Education, 360 Webster Avenue, Rochester. Ph: 288-4693, e-mail: mariab@aqeny.org Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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What's Goin' On - A Report of the African American Health Status Task Force Monday, October 20, 2003  /  5:30 PM - 7:00 PM There is no charge for this program. Speakers: Bonnie DeVinney, Executive Director Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency Wade S. Norwood, Rochester City Councilman and Chair, Housing & Economic Development Committee Since receiving a grant from the Office of Minority Health in 2001, the Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency has been meeting with researchers and providers of minority health care to collect and subsequently analyze data on racial and ethnic disparities that exist across illness and health care service regardless of insurance status, income, education and other factors influencing access to care. In particular, the Task Force wrestled with the question of mistrust and racism on health outcomes. After extensive analysis of local, regional and national data, the study found that African Americans are more likely than whites of the same socio-economic status to die of heart disease and many other illnesses. Why? Bonnie DeVinney, executive director of FLHSA, will present more of the study’s findings and discuss the dramatic implications for our region. Wade Norwood will highlight the process the Task Force used and help us understand the importance of creating community environments that build African American neighborhoods and support the families who live there. Bonnie DeVinney has 25 years of experience in community health services planning and delivery. Her background includes operational responsibility for a community health center as well as planning and programming responsibili-ties at the institutional and community level. She received a Bachelors degree from Trinity College and a Masters in Health Services Administration from RIT. Wade S. Norwood was reelected in November, 2001 to his fourth term as a Rochester City Councilmember-at-Large. As chair of the Council’s Housing and Community Development Committee, he has helped to craft numerous housing revitalization strategies, has led Council’s review of the City’s Comprehensive Plan and the Zoning Code and has been a leader in the effort to strengthen our commercial districts. Norwood has adegree in Political Science from the University of Rochester and is a life-long resident of Rochester. Fast Facts African Americans are more likely to live in housing that is overcrowded, dilapidated and therefore presents serious health risks. Their mortality rate has not declined in 20 years. 1 in 3 African Americans is obese compared with 20% of the white population. African Americans were hospitalized 350% more often for "avoidable" cardiac-related causes. Homicide causes 2.1% of all African American deaths. For an executive summary of the African American Health Task Force Report see Current Projects at www.flhsa.org Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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HIV Vaccine Studies - Scientists Can't Do It Alone Thursday, October 16, 2003  /  12:10 PM - 1:00 PM There is no charge for this program. Noontime Program / Brown Bags Welcome Speaker: Catherine Bunce, R.N. is the Clinical Coordinator for the HIV Vaccine Trials Unit, University of Rochester Medical Center Interactive Skit: Life Works Theater is a seven-member company that has dramatized real life issues for adult audiences for the past five years. They will perform a 15-minute interactive skit dealing with HIV/AIDS issues. Recent studies show an HIV vaccine is possible. However, a successful vaccine research effort requires greater community knowledge about HIV vaccines and wider participation from the private, business, NGO, college/university and Faith-based sectors. Please join us as we explore HIV/AIDS and learn how you can become involved in the HIV vaccine trials. Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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Campaign Reform in Monroe County - The Time is Now Wednesday, September 24, 2003  /  5:30-7:00 PM There is no charge for this program. Panelists: Rome Celli: Coordinator, The Demonstrate Democracy Project, Alliance for Democracy-Rochester Jennifer Leonard: President and Executive Director, Rochester Area Community Foundation Sally Brown: Vice President of Voter Service, League of Women Voters "With local government nearly broke and campaign spending at all time highs, priorities seem to be upside down," says Rome Celli. "Local campaign reform is urgently needed to get back on track and focus on the real task at hand — healing our community." The Demonstrate Democracy Project is a newly launched initiative of the Alliance for Democracy-Rochester (AFD-R). The project is based on three main principles: campaign spending is out of control; big, organized money and democracy are ill-suited to each other; and, to fulfill our Founders’ dream of a democratically elected government, all elements of society must work together. Rome believes the Demonstrate Democracy Project strategies for campaign finance reform must be put in place and local candidates, political parties, governments and media need to voluntarily adhere to those guidelines. Citizens have a role too, by rewarding candidates who participate with their votes. Join us as Rome Celli presents the rationale for local campaign reform along with AFD-R’s campaign reform agenda for 2003 and the elements of the Demonstrate Democracy Project initiative and why each of those elements are important to our community. Jennifer Leonard will add to the discussion by making a case for civic engagement and sharing local strategies that show promise. "Far too many young people aren’t voting, and worse, many don’t know they should," says Jennifer. "Since 1970, Americans have abandoned the voting booth in record numbers, especially young people. We need to work toward engaging citizens with each other and with government." In addition, Sally Brown will present a history of the League of Women Voters campaign reform, including Project Positive Campaign — an initiative in which candidates promise to conduct an honest, open and fair campaign. She will also discuss the importance of proper redistricting and HAVA (Help America Vote Act). About Rome Celli Rome Celli has been a real estate broker since 1979, first with his own company, Empire Realty, and currently as an affiliate with RE/MAX First. He serves as Coordinator of Alliance for Democracy-Rochester and is actively involved with the Center for Youth Services, the Green Party of Monroe County and the Lead Coalition representing Greater Rochester Association for Realtors. About Jennifer Leonard Since 1993, when Jennifer assumed her position as President and Executive Director at Rochester Area Community Foundation, the organization has more than quadrupled in size and last year distributed $16 million in grants for community purposes. Jennifer is involved in leadership roles with numerous community organizations. About Sally Brown As Vice President of Voter Service for the League of Women Voters, Sally Brown designed the Fair Election Campaign Practices Committee and organized the Fair Campaign Pledge. She is also the Action Vice President to the local Coalition to End Lead Poisoning. Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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Long Term Care Insurance; Do I Really Need It? Thursday, September 18, 2003  /  12:10-1:00 PM There is no charge for this program. Speakers: Kathy Mancini Moore R.N. has worked with patients in a variety of chronic care settings. She has served as a pastoral counselor to both individuals and groups. She serves on the Board of Directors of Kirkhaven Nursing Home and is a member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors and the Greater Rochester Area Partnership for the Elderly. Kathy is a Certified Senior Advisor, and provides public service presentations and seminars on long term care planning. Kathy is a graduate of the University of Rochester School of Nursing. Elaine D. Ashworth R.N. has extensive experience in both acute and chronic care facilities. Her nursing career affords her in-depth knowledge of our health care system. Elaine Assists business owners, attorneys, financial planners, individuals and couples with long term care planning. Elaine is a member of the Association of Health Insurance Advisors (AHIA). She is a graduate of St. Joseph's Hospital School of Nursing. Are you puzzled by the pros and cons of long term care insurance? Kathy Mancini Moore R.N. and Elaine Ashworth R.N. will discuss this timely issue. As our population ages, more and more of us are stepping into the role of caregiver for a parent, older relative, or a friend. This creates problems for all who face time and financial pressures. Kathy and Elaine will put the pieces of the long term care puzzle together by walking you through the maze of the changing roles of Medicare and Medicaid. They will help you discover alternatives for long term care and the most cost effective way to protect you assets. Join us as we look for solutions for the long term. Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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Sprawl Without Growth: The Paradox Wednesday, June 4, 2003  /  5:30 - 7:00 PM There is no charge for this program. Co-sponsors: American Planning Association Common Good Planning Center RIT Program of Environmental Science and Department of Public Policy Smart Growth Coalition Speaker: Rolf Pendall, Associate Professor, Cornell University Department of City and Regional Planning Respondent: David Riedman, President, Rochester Home Builders Association Sprawl occurs when the spread of development to suburban areas outpaces population growth, causing populations to become widely dispersed, homes, shops and workplaces to be rigidly separated, with poor street connectivity and less public transportation choices. Also, sprawling communities lack well-defined, thriving activity centers, such as downtowns and town centers. In the Fall of 2002, Smart Growth America released an important report, “Measuring Sprawl and Its Impact”, co-authored by Pendall, that was the first to quantify and measure the characteristics of sprawl discussed above. Of the 83 U.S. metropolitan areas evaluated, the Rochester area was ranked 12th worst for inefficient land use and development. The impact of sprawl can easily be seen in the abandoned buildings along Main Street, the empty stores on West Henrietta Road and the attempts in Brighton, Penfield and Webster to hold onto disappearing farms and parks. The report found that people in sprawling areas tend to drive greater distances, own more cars, breathe more polluted air and face a greater risk of traffic fatalities. In addition, sprawl lacks even the one benefit defenders most often attribute to it: lower congestion. People in sprawling areas endure no less traffic-related delay than those in more compact places, and in fact, they have fewer alternatives in travel routes and modes. Sprawl is a real, measurable phenomenon with serious implications for our every day lives. Join us as Professor Rolf Pendall discusses how sprawl affects the Rochester area and how we compare to other regions in Upstate NY and beyond. About Professor Rolf Pendall As Associate Professor in the Department of City and Regional Planning at Cornell University, Rolf Pendall teaches courses in land use planning, growth measurement, environmental planning, affordable housing, infrastructure planning, and quantitative methods. Pendall holds a PhD in City and Regional Planning from the University of California at Berkeley, a MS in Community and Regional Planning, an MA in Latin American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin and a BA in Sociology from Kenyon College in Ohio. About David Riedman David Riedman, President of Riedman Development Corporation and @home Builders, LLC, is currently serving as President of Rochester Home Builders Association. He received his degree in Landscape Architecture from Purdue University and has worked in real estate development throughout upstate New York for 15 years. Riedman serves on the board of the New York State Builders Association and Housing Opportunities, Inc., a non-profit low-income housing developer. He is also President of the Victor Local Development Corporation, which is charged with revitalizing Victor’s central business district. Location: The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church, 15 St. Mary's Place, Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 232-7140 x16 Click here for map, directions and parking information.

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Obtaining a Decent Education For All Our Children Tuesday, May 20, 2003  /  5:30 - 7:00 PM There is no charge for this program. "Systems that keep most of our poor students in one district do not work. All of the problems that people talk about in education are concentrated in these high-poverty schools. In high-poverty districts, parental involvement is low, discipline problems are high, and teachers are more often under qualified. Providing a middle-class environment is probably the most effective thing we can do to give our low-income kids a chance."     Richard D. Kahlenber, Senior Fellow     The Century Foundation, Washington, DC Speaker: Bryan Hetherington, Chief Counsel, Public Interest Law Office of Rochester The Rochester City School District's stated mission is "to educate all students to their highest levels of performance, in effectively managed learning environments that are safe, inclusive, and student-centered, in collaboration with parents and major community part- ners." However, this mission is far from being accomplished today. Urban student performance is consistently below the State average and the performance gap between urban and suburban students continues to widen. Here are some startling facts about student performance today in Rochester's City School District: 62% of fourth graders did not meet the Mathematics standards. 75% of fourth graders failed the State English test. 88% of eighth graders did not meet the Grade 8 Mathematics standards. Only 5% of city school students received a Regent's Diploma in 1999; compared with 50% of suburban students. Bryan Hetherington believes that a student's ability to succeed shouldn't be tied to their address. Rather, every student should have the same right to succeed in school and that by placing students into schools with a very high concentration of poverty, we are in effect maintaining a type of racial segregation. In fact, today's schools are more racially divided now than they were in the 1950s, as a Harvard University study recently concluded. In 1998, Bryan was involved in filing a lawsuit for the Greater Rochester Area Coalition for Education (GRACE) charging the State with a type of economic segregation that keeps city students from getting an adequate education. The case holds the State accountable because it has traditionally mandated that students attend school in the city or town in which they live. After its first hearing, the case is now slated to be heard in the Court of Appeals possibly followed by a trial in the State Supreme Court before being resolved. The goal of the lawsuit is to get the State to adjust its funding policies or even reconfigure school districts to give all students a fair chance at a quality education. "We're very pleased by the Court of Appeals decision to accept review," says Bryan. "A victory will help protect the needs of kids in Rochester." By any measure, the vast majority of students are not obtaining a decent education. Join us as Bryan Hetherington talks about the GRACE suit and the fastest, most effective and least expensive solution to this problem. About the Speaker Bryan D. Hetherington is Chief Counsel of Public Interest Law Office of Rochester, a not-for-profit law firm serving low-income clients. A graduate Cornell Law School, Bryan came to Rochester in 1980 to serve as Litigation Director of Monroe County Legal Assistance Corporation. He remained in that position until 1996, when he founded the Public Interest Law Office of Rochester. Much of Bryan's career has involved litigation and other advocacy with regard to social services programs.

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The 2003 E. Garrett Cleary Lecture on Ethics and Values Trust, Honesty and Leadership in American Business: Should I Put My Money Under The Mattress and Move Back to The Farm? Monday, April 28, 2003  /  5:30 - 7:00 PM There is no charge for this program. Enron. Global Crossing. Worldcom. Arthur Andersen. Each of these corporate scandals sent shock waves through the business and financial community. Starting with the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center, this country has witnessed a domino effect of scandal and mismanagement that has shattered consumer confidence, stalled business expansion, eliminated thousands of jobs and cost the U. S. economy several hundred billion dollars. At a distance these "blue chip" companies all had strong management teams, good reputations, impressive corporate boards and audit committees. Clearly, their corporate cultures were devoid of the legal, ethical and moral rules that should and must govern the way companies operate. The 2003 Cleary Lecture will examine the impact of business ethics and leadership on these events and discuss what the future might hold. About Thomas S. Richards Tom Richards is currently serving as the volunteer chairman of the Greater Rochester Enterprise, a public/private partnership dedicated to improving economic performance in our region. He was most recently the chairman, president and chief executive officer of RGS Energy Group, the parent company of Rochester Gas & Electric, from January 1998 until his resignation in June 2002. After joining RG&E in 1991 as general counsel, he was also senior vice president for finance and senior vice president for corporate services. Mr. Richards was a partner in the Nixon, Hargrave, Devans & Doyle (now Nixon Peabody) law firm. During his 20 years with the firm he specialized in civil litigation and served at various times as the managing partner and chairman of the management committee. A graduate of Bucknell University and Cornell University Law School, Mr. Richards is currently serving on the boards of the United Way, Rochester Institute of Technology, Cornell Law School Advisory Council, Otetiana Council Boy Scouts of America, Greater Rochester Housing Partnership, Strong Partners Health System, University of Rochester Medical Center, Visiting Nurse Service, Center for Governmental Research, Greater Rochester Enterprise and Rundel Library Foundation. The E. Garrett Cleary Lecture Series on Ethics and Values E. Garrett Cleary (1928-1996) was a prominent Rochester attorney, a tireless civic leader and a devoted family man. His personal commitment to a life shaped by ethical convictions inspired his family to create this annual lecture series under the auspices of the Downtown Community Forum. Each year, we bring you interesting speakers who can offer fresh insights into contemporary ethical issues.

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Religion and Politics in America: The Perennial Debate Wednesday, April 9, 2003  /  7:00 - 8:30 PM There is no charge for this program. Co-sponsored by: Monroe Citizens for Public Education and Religious Liberty (MCPEARL) The Interfaith Alliance of Rochester Speaker: Professor Isaac Kramnick, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, Cornell University Respondent: Dr. Chris Evans, Colgate Rochester Divinity School If Americans have learned to make constitutional mountains out of religious molehills, it is because crucial principles may become endangered. The crèche or the menorah on public property becomes the nose of the camel sneaking into the tent where Americans have carefully enshrined separation of church and state.     Dr. Isaac Kramnick     The Godless Constitution: The Case Against Religious Correctness From America's founding to the most recent presidential election, we have disagreed over the place of religion in our politics. The Constitution settled matters by rejecting a God-centered politics, though ever since many Americans have worried that our secular political system implies that our society has abandoned God. During this event, this ambivalence toward religion in politics will be traced in an historical survey that ends with an examination of contemporary issues like the President's faith-based initiative, school vouchers and the furor over God in the Pledge of Allegiance. With the voice of conservatives and the Religious Right growing louder, so, too, are their claims that American government was founded with Christian governance in mind. Our speakers will address an argument that is clearly more than 200 years old and still going strong. A Q&A period will follow. About Our Speaker Dr. Isaac Kramnick was educated at Harvard and Cambridge University. He has taught at Harvard, Brandeis and Yale, and has written principally in the area of English and American political thought and history. Currently he is Vice Provost for the Undergraduate Education at Cornell. Dr. Kramnick's most recent book, Godless Constitution: The Case Against Religious Correctness argues that the founding fathers deliberately wanted our government to be created with a separation of church and state because they believed that this was the only way to obtain a balanced liberty. The publisher, WW Norton & Company, found this book to be so provocative that prepublication copies were sent to members of Congress, the Supreme Court and the Executive Branch, including the president, vice president and attorney general. About Our Respondent Dr. Christopher Evans is currently is the Associate Professor of American Church History and Director of United Methodist Studies at Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School. Dr. Evans regularly preaches and teaches in many of Rochester's area churches. He was educated at Syracuse University, Boston University and Northwestern University.

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On the Road with Downtown Community Forum Thursday, March 20, 2003  /  7:30 PM There is no charge for this program. "TALKING FROM THE HEART" with Thandi Mbo, J.L. Zwane Uniting Presbyterian Church- Guguletu, South Africa joined by Xia Jin, Ph.D. and Catherine Bunce, R.N., Co-investigator and Clinic Coordinator for the HIV Vaccine Trials Unit at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Thandi Mbo will share the problems of the community and church in South Africa, especially HIV/AIDS, from her perspective as a health care professional. Dr. Jin and Ms. Bunce will provide an update on recent progress and goals for international HIV vaccine research studies. Please join us to learn more about the devastation and human suffering caused by HIV Disease in Africa in the 21st century. Learn about HIV vaccine research and how you may be able to help in this human struggle, right here in Rochester, as caring and compassionate global neighbors. For more information on this free program call 232-7140 x16.

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The Summit on Illegal Drugs What Can You Do to Join the Fight? Monday, March 10, 2003 / 5:30 - 7:00 PM There is no charge for this program. Co-sponsored by: Families and Friends of Murdered Children and Victims of Violence St. Mary's Social Justice Committee Speaker: Rochester Police Chief Robert Duffy We have very few random acts of violence in Rochester. The (random) ones we do see are directly attributed to the drug trade. Overwhelmingly, a person’s lifestyle and their actions become great contributing factors to their deaths or involvement in homicides. —Chief Robert Duffy Rochester recorded 41 homicides in 2002, the same number as in 2001. That's the good news. But the bad news, and it is probably not news to many people, is that we have twice the murder rate of other "Thruway" towns and one of the highest in the state. Many of these murders occur in an area of poor neighborhoods stretching from the northeast to the southeast sections of the city, known as The Crescent. And almost all were attributed to the increasingly violent drug trade in Rochester. After three decades and hundreds of millions of local tax dollars, the war on drugs has been deemed a failure by top political, business and community leaders. Enter The Drug Summit, a local consortium of 120 police, drug treatment professionals, prosecutors, clergy, neighborhood and business leaders, focused on developing short-term strategies that will make a dent in the problem over the next 12 months. So, what's happened since that summit took place in December 2001? Lifelong Rochester native, Chief Robert Duffy, will present his "in the trenches" perspective of where we are today and where he thinks we need to go to turn this situation around and preserve the future of our community. About Chief Robert Duffy A graduate of Aquinas Institute, Chief Robert Duffy holds Associate degrees from Monroe Community College, including one in Criminal Justice. He also graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology with a Bachelors Degree in Business Management, Criminal Justice and Communications. He also received his Masters Degree in Public Administration from Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. Additionally, he is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) National Academy. He was appointed to the Rochester Police Department in 1976 and after a number of operational and administrative commands within the Department was named Chief in 1999.

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Louisville's Merger and the Hard Work Behind the Headlines Metro Government Series Thursday, January 16, 2003 / 7:00 - 8:30 PM There is no charge for this program. Co-sponsored by: Common Good Planning Center League of Women Voters Rochester Business Alliance Speaker: B. Riggs Lewis, Founder of Lewis & Corrigan, PLLC The region, in sum, has before it the opportunity to 'get it right' to shape its metropolitan destiny at a crucial moment...The new Regional City of Louisville has an outstanding chance to gain strong traction in the national economy while maintaining its distinctiveness and its quality of life. Beyond Merger: A Competitive Vision for the Regional City of Louisville The Brookings Institution For many in Louisville, the merger seemed impossible. Consider the fact that a state law prohibited another local referendum, voters rejected the merger twice in the 80's, a majority of current elected officials opposed the merger, fundraising would be difficult and life was good, so don't fix what isn't broken. But after several narrow defeats at the polls, which left the community divided, Louisville's leaders learned from past mistakes and rededicated their effort to win the public's approval to become the first major municipal consolidation in a generation. This presentation will take you behind the national headlines to the twists and turns that eventually led to the merger of the City of Louisville, KY and Jefferson County, forming the 16th largest city in the country in early 2003. About Our Speaker, B. Riggs Lewis Riggs Lewis, founder of Lewis & Corrigan, PLLC, managed the historic Unity campaign—which was underwritten by the business community— to merge Louisville and Jefferson County governments. His government relations experience spans seven sessions of the Kentucky General Assembly, where he served as the Director of Government Affairs for Greater Louisville Inc., the Metro Chamber of Commerce. In that position, Riggs also directed the Louisville business community's legislative agenda from concept to final passage. In 1992 and 1996 Riggs was a consultant to the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) and was chosen for the Advance Team for the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. Prior to that, he served as a media consultant for over 50 Congressional races throughout the country. Riggs is licensed to practice law in Kentucky and earned his J.D. in Law from the University of Louisville, Brandeis School of Law, in May 2001 and his undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of Kentucky in 1991.

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Indianapolis: A City on the Rise Metro Government Series Monday, December 9, 2002 There is no charge for this program. Co-sponsored by: Common Good Planning Center and League of Women Voters Speaker: Bart Peterson, Mayor of Indianapolis Big numbers, big talk, big dreams. When we hit stride, the sky will be the limit. And our lives, and the lives of people everywhere, will be better for it. During his 1999 campaign for mayor, Bart Peterson presented The Peterson Plan, a bold and detailed vision for Indianapolis in the new millennium. In the plan, he outlined his blueprint for "fighting the scourge of drugs and violent crime, lifting up public education, improving the quality of life in our neighborhoods, delivering on the promise of a high-tech economy, bridging the perceived gaps between races, religions and cultures, placing more emphasis on the arts and culture, and addressing the most disadvantaged among us." Three years after he took over as the 47th mayor of Indianapolis, the city, despite their many remaining challenges, is poised for greatness. The area is drawing praise for its vibrant downtown, outstanding quality of life, increasingly diverse economy and innovative metropolitan government. About Mayor Peterson From 1989 to 1995, Mayor Bart Peterson was a member of former Indiana Governor (now U.S. Senator) Evan Bayh's leadership team, working first as his aide for environmental affairs, and later, as chief of staff. Before running for this office, Mayor Peterson had a distinguished career in the private sector, as well as in public service. With his family, he built The Precedent Companies, a group of eleven development and financial services companies that created hundreds of good paying jobs in central Indiana. He was named president in 1995. Mayor Peterson is a lifelong resident of Indianapolis. He graduated from Purdue University and the University of Michigan, School of Law.

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Celebrating When Your Heart is Heavy Surviving The Holidays Series Monday, November 25, 2002 There is no charge for this program. We tend to think of the holiday season as a joyous time for everyone. While this is true for some, for others, this upcoming season presents real challenges. If you or someone you know is coping with the death of a loved one or grappling with the diagnosis of a serious illness, this event will offer practical suggestions for surviving the holidays. Stress is often an obstacle to celebration. This year, many people in our community have lost their jobs or are waiting for layoffs to be announced. Still others may face the loss of critical services due to the multimillion dollar Monroe County budget cuts. And all of us continue to deal with concerns about the violence in our streets as well as the threat of war with Iraq and terrorist acts around the globe. Our speaker, Kathy Weider, will speak about how to approach the holidays in the face of loss, chronic illness or stress of any kind. She will focus on looking to God and taping into your spiritual resources for help. Further, she will look at ways to refocus the holidays and consider other practical solutions for coping and even celebrating. There will also be time for questions. About Kathy Weider, SSJ A Sister of St. Joseph, Kathy Weider is a sought after speaker and active community volunteer who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1995. She had served as Director of Campus Ministry at Nazareth College for 16 years before leaving in 2000 for health reasons. She also taught high school theology for ten years. Weider holds a BA from Nazareth and received a MS in Theology from St. John's University in Minnesota. She has served on the board for the Multiple Sclerosis Society (Upstate Chapter) and as Vice President of the board of Hope Hall. She is also on the planning committee for the annual Workshop for Women with Disabilities and Chronic Illnesses.

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Metro Government Series Nashville: A City in Transition Monday, October 14, 2002 There is no charge for this program. Co-sponsored by: Common Good Planning Center and League of Women Voters Speaker: Mayor Bill Purcell, Nashvillle Over the last 20 years, Nashville has transformed itself from the Country Music Capital to a serious player in all facets of the music industry and much more. Today, the region's bustling business community and quality of life make it one of the most desirable destinations for families as well as businesses looking to relocate or expand. Home to Vanderbilt University & Medical Center, the Grand Ole Opry and Opryland's dazzling new convention center (Gaylord Entertainment) and Cracker Barrel restaurants (CRBL Group Inc.), Nashville's economy benefits from low unemployment, consistent job growth, substantial outside investments and a well-trained, growing labor force. At a time when our city and county are facing serious cutbacks in services, Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell just this month unveiled a $286 million capital improvement package for education, public safety and quality of life. Incredibly, Purcel's administration has announced a Strategic Plan for Sidewalks and Bikeways and a $27 million Parks Master plan to improve parks and playgrounds as well as expand greenways. They have even managed a $5 million zoo expansion in their quest to create the best zoo in the nation. No wonder their area has become a model of what metropolitan government can achieve. At this first forum event in our series about metropolitan governments, you will hear more about how forty years of a regional approach to government and related services has impacted this bustling southern city. An attorney by profession, Nashville mayor Bill Purcell graduated from Vanderbilt Law School and spent some time in our area as an undergraduate at Hamilton College in Clinton, NY. He first entered public service in 1986 when he was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives. A former House Majority Leader and Chair of the Select Committee on Children and Youth, Purcell has always been a strong proponent of reform in education, criminal sentencing, health care and workers compensation. During his legislative leadership, Tennessee was twice ranked as "the best managed state" in the country and earned distinction as the lowest taxed state in America. After serving five terms, Purcell left the state legislature to devote more attention to issues affecting families and children. He also served as director of Children and Family Policy Center at the Vanderbilt Institute for Public Policy Studies (VIPPS), a nationally recognized center building a bridge between academic research, politics and best practices. In 1999, the 49-year-old Bill Purcell became the fifth mayor of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County since its formation in 1963.

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Candidates Forum: "Why Can't Everyone Have Health Care Coverage?" Tuesday, October 1, 2002 There is no charge for this program. Co-sponsored by: Rochester Interfaith Health Care Coalition, Greater Rochester Community Churches A Question for All 2003 Candidates & Current Representatives: Why Can’t Everyone Have Health Care Coverage? Affordable health insurance is an issue that affects all people in our community and despite exhaustive media attention and analysis-paralysis, this problem has grown geometrically. We now have a serious nursing shortage, rising infant mortality rates, clogged emergency rooms and overburdened clinics despite having the most expensive health care system in the world. In Greater Rochester, we have seen the impact of this problem on all fronts: Corporate layoffs leaving unemployed workers with very expensive individual plans. Increased employment in part-time and service sector jobs where health benefits are not offered. The imprisonment of some workers who stay in difficult jobs only because of their benefits package. The inability of small businesses to afford to offer employees health care benefits. Cut-backs in retirement health care benefits for seniors. The growing tendency to exclude coverage for more and more "pre-existing" conditions. The flight of doctors, the firing of "surplus" specialists, the closing of hospitals and the reduction in health care delivery options. The significant access barriers to state programs like Child Health Plus and Family Health Plus. This problem is much bigger than getting sick or injured people better. The high cost of health care insurance impacts virtually every facet of our lives: the ability of children to succeed in school, the vibrancy of our aging workforce and the loss of disposable income that could be spent on housing, higher education, travel and/or business development. We must reverse this trend once and for all by making sure that we vote for candidates who are committed to delivering quality health care to everyone. All current office holders and political candidates from all parties and for all federal, state, county and local offices representing Western New York will be invited to attend this forum and respond to some basic questions (in writing) about their position regarding securing coverage for all of the under- and uninsured in our community. Peter Mott, M.D. a medical doctor and retired associate professor of preventive and community medicine at the University of Rochester, School of Medicine, will open the forum with a 15-minute presentation of key concepts and misinformation surrounding health care coverage. He will also discuss the viability of a single payer system of health care, which some estimate could save this nation $200 billion annually. The rest of the Forum will be devoted to your questions. This is an important and possibly unique opportunity to hear what these candidates and current office holders have to say about pending health care legislation and the possibility of delivering on the promise of health care for all. WXXI News and Public Affairs Director Michael Caputo, former D&C political reporter and columnist, will moderate the discussion to ensure that all voices can and will be heard. Speakers: Peter Mott, M.D. / Michael Caputo, Moderator

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Leading the Way in Hard Times Wednesday, September 25, 2002 / 5:30 - 7:00 PM There is no charge for this program. Speaker: Joyce Herman Rochester has been blessed with many leaders of vision from all sectors of the not-for-profit world and a number of very committed grassroots activists. Together they represent our best chance for driving important changes in this community. However in the face of our post 9/11 trauma, drastic government cuts, shifting focus onto the bottom line and shrinking volunteer pools, this critical collaboration is facing new and important challenges. Moreover, many of us are feeling powerless to create the kind of community we want. Here's your chance to change the paradigm. Joyce Herman will begin with a brief situational analysis, and then drawing on the unique perspective of attendees, she will lead a discussion of how people can rise above this hopelessness, followed by our four panelists reflecting on their own experiences with activism. In the end, we hope to give you a fresh vision and renewed power to drive important changes in the coming decade. Joyce S. Herman is a founding national associate of the National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI), an international organization that trains grassroots activists working to eliminate all forms of oppression. She is currently a commissioner and former chair of the Commission for Christian and Jewish Relations; serves on the steering committee of the InterFaith Forum and is on the board of the Labor Religion Coalition. Previously, she had worked at Rochester Institute of Technology for 17 years, conducting workshops, providing coaching and counseling services and researching the power of mentoring. Sister Beth LaValley, SSJ is president of the board of the Greater Rochester Council of Churches, founder of the Rochester Interfaith Health Care Coalition and organizer of the Ecumenical Interfaith Community for Social Change. She was also one of the founders of Partners through Food and the Community Microenterprise Center, Inc.; and is currently serving as board vice president for the Progressive Neighborhood Federal Credit Union which she also founded. She holds a MA in Theology from University of Notre Dame. Elaine Spaull is executive director at The Center for Youth Services. Previously, she was an attorney at Nixon Peabody LLP specializing in not-for-profit, education and corporate law. She also worked at Rochester Institute of Technology and served as its associate vice president for student affairs. A Fullbright scholar, Ms Spaull earned a Ph.D. in Educational Organization, Administration and Policy a J.D. from University of Buffalo. Thomas Warfield is the founder & artistic director of PeaceArt, director of dance and faculty member at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf at the Rochester Institute of Technology and associate director of Kaleidoscope Dance Theatre at the New York Institute of Dance. Mr. Warfield earned a BFA in Dance from SUNY Purchase, receiving the President's Award for Excellence. Tim Weider is on the faculty of Nazareth College and the Greater Rochester Collaborative Masters in Social Work (MSW) Program. He was the past executive director of the Regional Center for Independent Living and has played a leadership role at both the Taskforce to Reduce Violence and Finger Lakes Restorative Justice Center. He also participated in the early development of various community-based programs serving persons with developmental disabilities and those with traumatic brain injuries. He holds a MSW from the University of Buffalo and a Masters in Divinity from St. Bernard's Institute. As a follow-up to this Downtown Community Forum program, "Leading the Way in Hard Times," Joyce Herman will offer a class on reevaluation counseling, a peer support process to help social activists reclaim their hope and power and build a caring community. For more information, contact her directly at (585) 385-1155.

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Urban Design & Lessons from 9/11 Tuesday, April 30, 2002 / 5:30-7:00PM There is no charge for this program. Co-sponsored by: The Common Good Planning Center This past year, we saw many events that challenged our prevailing assumptions about the context in which we plan and develop our communities. While the attacks on the World Trade Center dominate this reflection, others, such as economic stability, the dot com bust, community fragmentation and our energy future should not be overlooked. We will no doubt recover from some of these events, but the effect on our psyche will have long-term effects on the risks and type of community development we are willing to undertake. Come hear our panel of experts speak about the impact of this past year’s key events on the future of our community. Economic Stability: The Bull Market of the 90s created a false sense that everything would continue to grow indefinitely. At one time, stock markets were viewed as a safer place for retirement investments than Social Security. The government was eyeing ever-growing surpluses. And families had no qualms about incurring greater debt for bigger houses, energy inefficient SUVs and more exotic leisure activities. Community Fragmentation: Over the last decade, we’ve also seen an explosion of sprawl in the face of little or even negative population growth. This suburban expansion and disinterest in the central city has led to sharper differentiation among the population and a troubling concentration of poverty. As a result, we are now faced with a domino effect of more and more vacant commercial space, more frequent business closings and an abandoned downtown in decay. Energy Future: Energy has always been on the planner’s plate, especially within the context of transportation. Our dependence on foreign oil has only caused Americans to turn away from energy-saving initiatives. Deregulation, the California energy crisis that never materialized and the collapse of Enron all represent a nexus of issues that few people truly understand. Now, with war raging in the Middle East and Iran calling for an oil boycott, will we see a return to the rationing of the 1970s? Panelists: Bruce G. Boncke, PE is president of BME Associates in Fairport. For over 30 years, his firm has done extensive work on private development and municipal projects—many of which have involved significant public involvement. He has earned a reputation for well-designed projects that balance the developer’s needs with community concerns. He earned a BS degree in Civil Engineering from Clarkson College. Don Naetzker, with his roots in New England planning, has been a strong proponent for sustained development within a social, environmental and historic context for almost 20 years. Since returning to Rochester, he has focused on re-imaging the Erie Canal, helping create viable village "Main Streets" and defining urban villages in a manner that suggests a regional vision. Don is acting business development director for the Toronto Fast Ferry and managing director of its sister company, Maplestar Development. Heidi N. Zimmer-Meyer is currently executive vice president of the Rochester Downtown Development Corporation (RDDC), a not-for-profit business leadership association and proactive change agent mobilizing resources for the city’s redevelopment projects. She holds a Masters in City and Regional Planning and a BA degree from the University of Rochester with a double major in Anthropology and Urban Sociology. Linda Staalman, manager of strategic projects for RG&E, has 26 years of experience with the company managing energy, demand-side and integrated resource planning. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Geology and an MBA in Operations from University of Rochester.

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Freedom of Information and Open Meeting Law Forum FREE PROGRAM: Wednesday, April 10, 2002 / 7:00-9:00 PM Co-sponsored by: The League of Women Voters As state and local government services increase and public problems become more sophisticated and complex and therefore harder to solve, and with the resultant increase in revenues and expenditures, it is incumbent upon the state and its localities to extend public accountability wherever and whenever feasible. —Section 84, Freedom of Information Law As New York State citizens, we have perhaps become complacent about our longstanding freedoms. By learning more about the balance of rights that exists between government agencies and citizens, we gain an understanding of just how important it is to preserve these freedoms. In this forum, our speaker will introduce us to three important laws: The Freedom of Information Law, The Open Meetings Law and the Personal Privacy Protection Law. This Forum is a perfect opportunity for town board members, school board members, municipal employees and the public to gather to better understand their mutual rights and responsibilities. Following his presentation, Mr. Freeman will open the floor open to your questions. The Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) pertains to the public's right to all government records, unless an exception permits an agency to deny access, and guarantees access to desired records within five days of your request. The Open Meetings Law takes up where the FOIL leaves off to give citizens the right to attend any official convening of a public body for the purpose of conducting public business. Over time, state agencies can collect personal and private information needed to do their job. The Personal Privacy Protection Law prohibits the disclosure of this personal information without your consent, unless the Law authorizes disclosure. Not surprisingly, all of these laws have undergone significant changes since their initial enactment due in large part to the work of Albany-based Committee on Open Government (COOG) and its executive director Robert J. Freeman. The COOG has prepared more than 13,000 written advisory opinions in response to inquiries regarding these three laws. They are also actively involved in adapting these laws to evolving technology. The Committee and the laws it oversees have gained national and international recognition as models for other jurisdictions. Robert Freeman obtained a BS in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and his JD at New York University Law School. As a noted expert on these laws, his position papers and opinions have been widely published. He recently denounced former New York City Mayor Rudolph Guilianni’s plan to keep many of his official papers away from public view. Before becoming Executive Director of the Committee in 1976, Mr. Freeman had been its legal counsel.

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Making Sense of the New York State Budget Process FREE PROGRAM: Thursday, March 21, 2002 / 5:30-7:00 PM Co-sponsored by: The League of Women Voters and The Interfaith Alliance of Rochester Each year, the New York State budget, which is supposed to be passed with legislative approval by April, drags on for months, amid an array of political sparring and special interest lobbying. In 2001, the state began its new fiscal year without a budget for the 17 th year in a row. This year the debate is louder and more heated than ever. Governor George Pataki has proposed a new $88.6 billion budget that raises spending by 4.7 percent. However, this budget includes no increase in aid to public schools and holds funding for local governments to last year’s levels. Claiming he was grappling with a “financial nightmare” from the September 11th attacks, Pataki is calling for $2.25 billion in borrowing and the draining of state reserves built up over the last eight years. Learn about the budget process from someone who has been on the inside and now makes his living looking at the process with the critical eye of an out-sider. Our speaker, Frank Mauro, will discuss the inner workings of the NYS budget process and how it has changed. He will discuss the roles played by the Governor and his Budget Division, the legislative leaders and their staffs, rank-and-file members of the legislature, advocacy organizations and special interest groups. He will also cover recent court decisions and pending cases that change or complicate the NYS budget process. In addition, participants will learn how even the smallest grassroots organizations can impact the state’s budget process. Speaker: Frank Mauro is the Executive Director of the Fiscal Policy Institute, (FPI) a nonpartisan research and education organization that focuses on the broad range of tax, budget, economic and related public policy issues that affect the quality of life and the economic well-being of New York State residents. Prior to joining FPI in 1993, Mauro was Deputy Director of the State University of New York’s Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government. He previously served as Director of Research for the last major revision of the New York City Charter and, before that, as Secretary of the NYS Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee. He was also the founding director of Assembly Speaker Stanley Fink’s Program Development Group and, in 1975, of the Assembly Office of Research and Analysis. He is a graduate of Union College in Schenectady and of Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.

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Getting There is Half the Job FREE PROGRAM: Tuesday, March 19, 2002 / 8:00 - 10:00 am Co-sponsored by: The Common Good Planning Center As more and more service employers are reaching out to an inner city-based workforce, both employers and employees must be sensitive to the challenge of how these new lower-wage workers will get to their jobs, on time, and with a minimum of hassle. The lack of inexpensive, accessible and flexible transportation is a growing national concern as more and more employers leave the inner city for suburban and even rural locations. However, there are a variety of local resources to help both employers and employees tackle this critical barrier to work. And everyone has everything to gain by working through this issue. By helping to solve employee transportation problems, employers will see improved productivity, lower absenteeism and better morale, while gaining an easier recruitment and retention tool. Employees, choosing alternative transportation options, will see a dramatic cost-savings plus gain productive time before and after work. With the increased mobility of an urban workforce, our community benefits from lower unemployment rates and enhanced economic vitality. This program will feature two panels: one helping to define the problem and the other responding with solutions to the issues raised. Throughout this program, you will hear specific examples of how transportation problems were resolved by plugging into government and community resources. A resource listing with local and national contacts for further assistance will be available to all attendees. Moderator: Karen Oliveri, Senior Director of Staffing at The IMC Problem Identification Panel: Ms. Tanjarnea McKowen, Wilson Commencement Park Rick Spencer, Division of Social Services Solution Identification Panel: Donald Riley, CEO, Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority (RGRTA) Matt Hurlbutt, Rochester Works Scott Joseph, Doan Family of Dealerships

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"The Rochester City School District: Looking to the Future" FREE PROGRAM: Thursday, February 28, 2002 / 5:30 - 7:00 pm Speaker: Joanne Giuffrida, President of the Rochester Board of Education. Six months after the first warnings of the Rochester City School District's budget problems surfaced, Joanne Giuffrida took her seat as President of the Rochester Board of Education amid rumors of teacher and staff layoffs, school closings and program cancellations. With the challenge of tackling the $23.8 million deficit behind them, Giuffrida and her board must now turn their attention to improving the budgeting process, expanding the oversight function and grappling with a future of spiraling costs with dwindling aid. Most importantly, the board is keenly aware that they must work very hard to regain the trust of the community. While the role of the Rochester Board of Education remains unchanged-to set district policy, hire and supervising the Superintendent and many district staff members; and approve the budget-how they accomplish their responsibilities could certainly change. Find out what changes are in store for the Rochester Board of Education and what plans are being put into place to create a secure future for the Rochester City School District from its president Joanne Giuffrida.

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A Community Health Update: Health Care After the Closing of Genesee Hospital FREE PROGRAM: Thursday, January 10, 2002 / 12:10 - 1:30 PM Speakers: Bonnie DeVinney, Acting Executive Director of the Finger Lakes Health Systems. Carol Deinhardt, Deputy Director for Medical Assistance, Monroe County Department of Social Services. In this report to the community, our speakers will address how local access to health care has changed since the closing of the 114-year old Genesee Hospital. An estimated 100,000 former Genesee patients must now be served by other institutions, we'll look at the implications of this shift and how well the hospitals are handling the rush of thousands of new patients to their doors. At the time of it's closing, Genesee Hospital accounted for one-third of all emergency room visits in the area. The burden of caring for Genesee's caseload comes on top of a trend, locally and nationally, of increasing emergency room use. Many now fear that the situation may deteriorate further as the community heads into what typically is the peak season for emergencies. As Rochester's only urban hospital, Genesee was one of the few hospitals that, for many specialties, accepted Medicaid reimbursement. Obviously, this has a dramatic impact on access to health care for the area's poor and uninsured. Recently, New York State announced two new initiatives: Child Health Plus and Family Health Plus. This update will include a discussion of how well the health care safety nets are working.

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How to Survive the Holidays FREE PROGRAM: Wednesday, December 5, 2001 / 12:10 - 1:00 PM Speaker: Pamela Rodgers, counselor in private practice and corporate consultant specializing in stress management strategies. About this time of year, the stresses of the upcoming holiday season begin to hit us. Even in the best of times, the holidays present a challenge. For those who are grieving, it is especially hard. Decorations are seemingly everywhere. Music is heard on most street corners. And people rush about you with a sense of purpose that is alien to you. It is hard not to be upset or even angry at being surrounded by celebration when you are consumed by grief and stress. This year, as our nation is focused on grief, anger and retaliation, our spirits are especially darkened and getting back to normalcy may be an even bigger challenge. If you are feeling a sense of doom or filled with constant anxiety, you need a way to handle both your personal as well as these larger, more profound losses. How do you light a candle of hope and good cheer when you feel so personally depleted? For more information on Surviving the Holidays see Griefnet at http://griefnet.org/library/coping.html

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Murder in Smugtown: Understanding Homicide in Rochester FREE PROGRAM: Wednesday, November 28, 2001 / 5:30 - 7:00 PM Co-sponsored by: The Social Justice Committee of St. Mary's Church Speaker: Dr. John Klofas, Chair of the Department of Criminal Justice; At RIT and the 1999 recepient of the Aldof J. Rodenbeck; Award from the Monroe County Bar Association. Since the 1970's, Rochester has had experiences similar to those of other American cities: middle-class flight and sprawling suburban development. Decades of a dwindling urban population and a shrinking industrial/commercial base have left our city with an increasing percentage of minorities and a greater concentration of poverty as well as higher rates of infant mortality, teen pregnancy and violence in the community. Despite the fact that murder rates are down across the state, Rochester still has the highest homicide rate of all New York cities and almost twice that of New York City. In fact, the violence is so concentrated that homicide risk for young African American men, living in these high poverty areas of our city, is 65 times that of the rest of the nation as a whole. Come learn more about the causes of homicide in Rochester, the characteristics of local murder victims and suspects, and the nature of the events leading to these violent acts. This discussion will cover and analysis of ten years of murder cases, with a detailed examination of recent incidents and attitudes, framed by a comparison with other cities across the country.

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‘Civil Civics’ and the Environment: Preventing and Resolving Environmental Disputes FREE PROGRAM: Monday, November 12, 2001 / 7:30 - 9:30 PM Co-sponsored by: Rochester Area Community Foundation Speaker: Dr. Susan Senecah, Associate Professor at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse and Special Assistant for Environmental Policy to New York State Senator George Maziarz. All around this region, there are examples of both contention and cooperation on environmental matters, from land use to clean up and reuse to economic development. When the decision-making turns contentious, unnecessary resources may be expended and negative residues may persist long after the issue is resolved. The toll that can take on the fabric of community vitality can impede or outright eliminate the possibility of future collaboration and positive civic engagement. Before and even during the conflict, however, lies great potential for building trust, cooperation, and sound environmental decisions. Learn how from an expert.

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Tolerance, Involvement and Trust in the Greater Rochester Community FREE PROGRAM: Wednesday, October 24, 2001 / 12:10 - 1:00 PM Keynote Speaker: Jennifer Leonard, president and executive director Rochester Area Community Foundation. How we connect and interact with others in our community, or our "Social capital," is a barometer of our community's health. When family, neighbors and co-workers trust each other and reciprocate with information and support, we get more done and make better decisions. Nearly 30,000 people in 40 regions across the country were surveyed recently about their feelings of trust, their social involvement and their connection to the community. An initiative of Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, the survey was sponsored locally by the Rochester Area Community Foundation (RACF), whose support allowed nearly 1,000 Rochester area residents to participate. In general, the survey found that Rochesterians trust each other a bit more and appear more tolerant of people's differences, including immigrants. Not surprisingly, these trust levels vary sharply among the different groups and tend to correlate to disparities in race/ethnicity, income, education and age. While Rochesterians typically have a more ethnically and racially diverse set of friends, we tend to shy away from community involvement and volunteerism as much as the rest of the country. These and other survey results will be presented by our featured speaker, Jennifer Leonard. As president of the Rochester Area Community Foundation, Leonard is responsible for administering more than $145 million and some 750 philanthropic funds. Under her leadership, RACF has more than quadrupled since 1993.

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Eliminating Poverty in 10 Years FREE PROGRAM: Wednesday, October 10, 2001 / 5:15 PM Keynote Speech There are sobering signs for the bottom 30% of this country's population. More than 34 million Americans are poor. One in six children in America-and one in every four children or color-now live below the poverty line. More than 13 million children lack health care coverage and millions more lack adequate nutrition. Last November, the National Council of Churches announced a resolution to "overcome poverty and its corrosive impact upon individuals and our society" in conjunction with its 36 member denominations and such national partners as Habitat for Humanity, Children's Defense Fund, Families USA, and Call to Renewal. Together, this powerful coalition is seeking to improve the quality of life for the poor through the provision of affordable housing and more housing options, education, job training, health care, child care, dependent care, employment opportunities and restoration of the community.

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