(March 14, 2025) Students across Monroe County gathered to discuss race, resilience, and relationships at the ROC2Change Student Summit on Friday, March 14, at BOCES in Spencerport. Representing School of the Arts (RCSD), Brighton, and LeRoy High Schools, they worked together to build bridges and break down barriers through open dialogue and shared experiences. The Wilson Pearls, the dynamic step team from Joseph C. Wilson Magnet High School Commencement Academy, kicked off the event with an energetic performance that set the tone for the day, inspiring the students and setting the stage for the discussions to come.
Throughout the summit, students participated in breakout sessions designed to build empathy and resilience, navigate differing perspectives, and explore the role of race, conflict, and social media in communication. Discussions focused on maintaining dialogue in disagreement, understanding social media’s impact, and developing self-awareness.
“I wanted to be here because I have a strong perspective on important issues, and I want to share that with others,” said Chesa-Renee Cooper, a School of the Arts junior. “I love talking to people about topics they feel strongly about. I hope to become more open-minded, but I also want to encourage and educate others to speak up and confidently express their opinions.”
Ruth Turner, Deputy Superintendent of Schools, emphasized the importance of preparing students to engage in meaningful discussions about race and diversity. “We want our young people to be engaged, to recognize that we live in a global society with diversity of thoughts and backgrounds,” said Turner. “It is important for them to come to a point of understanding and be able to discuss race and inclusion.”
ROC2Change was established in 2016 as students across Monroe County began to come together to address race relations. 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 bringing ROC2Change progress and plans back to their respective schools and communities. For more information, please visit www.roc2change.org.
