Fairport students in grades 9-12 hosted the first in-person ROC2Change Student Summit since COVID-19, with partners from RCSD School Without Walls and  St. John Fisher College, with high school students from more than 30 high schools, Nov. 22 at SJFC.

This Fall 2021 ROC2Change Student Summit was organized and led by student planning committees with students from Fairport CSD (Minerva DeLand and Fairport High Schools) and School Without Walls. Sessions at this Summit focused on three topics: News & Journalism, Social Media Activism and Debunking & Stereotypes in Media.

Keynote Speaker Ms. Jayda Woodall joined the hundreds of students who attended the Summit. She is an undergraduate student at SUNY Oneonta who currently strives to enlighten others through her spoken word poems about social injustice. She is from the Poughkeepsie area but attended schools with a severe lack of diversity. Her schools shaped her experience in this world. Jayda is studying education and hopes to be an elementary teacher in the near future. Whether it is in an elementary classroom or on social media she uses her words, talents, and knowledge to educate people. She creates every line with a purpose and can’t wait for even more ears and heart to take in her words. 

“Our students have dedicated so much of their time to organize this important unifying event that will benefit the greater Monroe County community,” Fairport CSD Superintendent Brett Provenzano. “Our students are the future and have the opportunity to unite and problem solve pertinent issues that will impact their futures.”

ROC2Change was established in 2016 as students from across Monroe County began to come together to address race relations in the community. Hundreds of students from more than 30 schools have participated in the full-day summit in years past. These summits encourage dialogue about race through speakers, student-led activities and sessions. Each summit also includes time for students to collaborate on how to bring the ROC2Change progress and plans back to their respective schools and communities.

For more information about ROC2Change, visit: www.roc2change.com.