Dr. Nichols’ hallmark paradigm: The Philosophical Aspects of Cultural Difference affords insights into the essence of ethnic difference from the philosophical disciplines of Axiology, Epistemology, and Logic. The awareness of self and others facilitates cultural competence in leadership, which fully utilizes their multiethnic, pluralistic, and linguistically diverse workforce. This 21st Century's team-orientated workforce is the value added; it restores the competitive edge and increases the market share. He has provided these services to Fortune 500 Corporations, foreign governments, national government agencies, parastatals, associations, and health and mental health systems. 

International Organization Development consultation has been to the British Commonwealth of Nations Centre for Management Development in Canada, Guyana, Nigeria, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. Other foreign engagements include Germany, Austria, Switzerland; Mexico, Columbia, Argentina, Venezuela; Japan, Malaysia, and China. Dr. Nichols offers Executive Coaching per Ernst Kretschmer's (German) and Ivo Kohler (Austrian) models. 

  Dr. Nichols retired from the National Institute of Mental Health, where he held various clinical administrative positions. He was the first African American to serve at the level of Center Chief – Child and Family Mental Health. Directed Technology Transfer, he used meta-analysis to convert myriad research findings to a matrix for applied clinical practice, which was the first video teleconferencing to Community Mental Health Centers as distance learning seminars. He was a Visiting Professor at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. After developing norms for Nigerian children, he established a Child’s Clinic for psychological assessment and evaluation.  As Associate Director, of Cleveland Job Corps Center for Women, he introduced the concept of place as a totally therapeutic milieu. He taught Psychiatry at Meharry Medical College, Nashville. There, he developed the nation’s first Adolescent Day Hospital where clients were mainstreamed into the public junior high school. At the Kansas Neurological Institute, an affiliate of the Menninger Foundation, Topeka, he demonstrated dance therapy as an intervention model for the severely intellectually disabled and the extremely physically challenged. He is the District of Columbia licensed and served two terms on the DC Board of Examiners for Psychology. Maintained a psychotherapy practice and taught at local colleges. 

Dr. Nichols was educated at Assumption College, Windsor/Canada; Eberhardt-Karls Universität, Tübingen/Germany, unter Kretschmer; Das C.G. Jung Institut – Zürich; Leopold-Franzens Universität, Innsbruck/Austria where he received his Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology and Psychiatry, cum laude, unter Kohler. Psychoanalytiker – Innsbrucker Arbeitskreis für Tiefenpsychologie unter Grünewald. His awards include being a Fellow of the Austrian Minister of Education; a Visiting Scholar for the Rockefeller Foundation at the Bellagio Study Center, Italy; Harvard University Foundation, Distinguished Clinical Psychologist; Universidade Estadual do Piauí, Brazil - Distinguished Psychologist;  University of Toronto Lifetime Achievement Award for Cross-Cultural Psychology; Public Service Awards from the United States General Service Administration, the Department of Justice and the Social Security Administration. He is a founding member of the Association of Black Psychologists, a life member, an Elder, a Diplomate, and a Distinguished Psychologist. University of the District of Columbia, Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa. Dr. Nichols served in the Army during the Korean War. He has two adult children and two grandchildren. 

Herb has a lead role in developing and implementing Cayuga Health's strategic plan for achieving health equity through community engagement and coordinated population health initiatives. The comprehensive strategy developed by Herb and his team has a far-reaching impact, affecting more than 3,000 employees and the entire Tompkins, Schuyler and Cortland County areas.

Herb currently serves on several boards, including the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce and Roberts Wesleyan University, reflecting his commitment to community engagement and leadership. In his spare time, he is also a co-host of the nationally syndicated podcast, "Young, Black and Figuring It Out," where he explores various topics related to personal and professional growth.

She also works to establish partnerships with community organizations, health care providers, and other stakeholders to drive impactful initiatives, and collaborate with internal teams to integrate health equity principles into the health plan’s products, services, and operations. In her prior role, she led efforts in advancing health equity in maternal child health and addressed social determinants of health among the Medicaid and Commercial membership through partnerships and collaboration with NJ state legislators, providers, health systems and community-based organizations. 

She is a master’s level public health professor who previously sat on the board of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, the Empire State Medical Association, and the American Heart Association Go Red for Women Executive Leadership Team.  

Dr. Edwards acquired her bachelor’s degree in biology from Stony Brook University and continued to New York Medical College where she received both her Master and Doctor of Public Health degrees. She received a certificate in Leadership Development to Advance Equity in Health Care from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Additionally, during her academic career, she has had publications, awards, and active memberships in healthcare executive organizations. Among those involvements, she played an active role in organizations that conduct medical missions in foreign countries where there is evidence of unsustainable healthcare for vulnerable populations.    

Dr. Edwards has dedicated her over 15-year career in the healthcare field to advancing the health and well-being of the underserved population. She continues to feed her insatiable interest in community and population health by being an instrumental contributor to community-based initiatives, mentorship programs and academia.  

He also spearheaded the organization’s efforts to engage underserved populations in health improvement, championing the creation of the African American Health Coalition, the Latino Health Coalition, and the Partnership for Access to Healthcare, and providing ongoing support for these and other engagement initiatives.

His leadership roles at the state and local level include co-chairing the New York State Health Department’s workgroup on health care workforce and co-chairing with Congressman Joseph Morelle the region’s Systems Integration initiative, a cross-sector effort to integrate services and data for families affected by poverty. As a member of the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Commission, Norwood helps to guide funding for economic development, job development, and anti-poverty efforts across the region.

From 1990 to 2005, Norwood served as a Rochester City Council member and chair of the council’s Committee on Housing and Community Development. During his tenure, he proposed and developed several new programs in housing, neighborhood development and police oversight.

Currently, Norwood serves on the board of the national Civitas Networks for Health, which is a national collaborative comprised of member organizations working to use health information exchange, health data, and multi-stakeholder, cross-sector approaches to improve health. Since 2009, he has served as an at-large member of the New York State Board of Regents. Responsible for the general supervision of all educational activities within the state, the Regents preside over the University and the New York State Education Department.

A leader in Rochester’s faith community, Norwood is also president and senior pastor at the Holy Jerusalem Spiritual Church.

Wade Norwood is a graduate of the University of Rochester, where he received his bachelor’s degree in political science. He and his wife, Lisa Hardy Norwood, reside in Rochester’s 19th Ward neighborhood. They have two adult children.

Lucia has 23 years of experience in Community Health and worked for Rochester Regional Health, where she led the Community Health Worker-DSRIP initiative, the National Health Service Corps, supported several FQHCs projects and was responsible for the creation and transformation of the Multicultural Resource Center project at the Wilson Multicultural Medical Campus.  Lucia has a B.S. in Social Science-Sociology from SUNY College at Brockport and a Master of Healthcare Administration from Roberts Wesleyan College. She also holds a Family Development Credential from Cornell University.

Lucia was the Executive Director of the Community Health Workers Association of Rochester, Inc., and Chief Project Officer. Lucia is a Community Health Worker Leader of the National Association of Community Health Workers (NACHW) member.

Her commitment to Higher Education is illustrated by her current service on the boards of Monroe Community College Foundation and Rochester Institute of Technology (where she was elected Trustee Emeritus in 2022), and past service on the boards of Roberts Wesleyan University and the University of Toledo Foundation. She has had the privilege of being commencement speaker at Bowie State University (MD), Monroe Community College, Nazareth University and Roberts Wesleyan University. Dr. Calhoun McDavid also has the distinction of receiving honorary doctorates from Nazareth University and Roberts Wesleyan University. 

A highlight of her community service is 2011 United Way Campaign Chair, a successful campaign which yielded $28M to address community needs. She has served on numerous boards, including Rochester Area Community Foundation, United Way of Greater Rochester, Girl Scouts of Western NY, Greater Rochester Enterprise (founding board), Greater Rochester Health Foundation (founding board; past chair), and the Chamber of Commerce, to name a few. She currently serves on the boards of Beyond the Sanctuary, Inc. (Chair), Geva Theatre, Monroe Community College Foundation, Rochester Institute of Technology, and Urban League of Rochester (past chair). 

Awards and recognitions for her leadership and service, include the 2023 Burton S. August Community Leadership Award; RBJ’s Women of Excellence Circle of Excellence Award;  RBJ’s ICON Award; Geva Theatre’s Diversity in the Arts Award (subsequently named in her honor); inclusion in the Rochester Museum & Science Center’s exhibit CHANGEMAKERS:  Rochester Women Who Changed the World; and the University of Toledo’s College of Education Outstanding Alumna Award. 

She and husband, Bernard McDavid, have three sons and one grandson. 

She has contributed to the success of educational institutions in Michigan, Minnesota and New York, including those that are two- and four-year, union and non-union, public and private, multi-campus and statewide systems. Her leadership has advanced strategic priorities in support of student success, operational efficiency, and organizational culture change. She has also held various positions in business and industry.

Dr. Burt-Nanna holds doctoral, master’s, and bachelor’s degrees, all from Western Michigan University (Kalamazoo, Michigan).

Prior to his career in higher education, Hayles served in the United States Air Force as an officer before transitioning to the private sector to support organizations with strategic management, organizational development and advancement, and executive coaching for more than 25 years. 

President Hayles earned his PhD in organizational leadership from Regent University in Virginia, specializing in leadership, change management and emotional intelligence. He also holds an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Science in management information systems and accounting from Seton Hall University. 

Adrian's life in public service began in the United States Marine Corps. Adrian was an active-duty Marine for five years. As a Marine, he made two combat deployments to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). After his honorable discharge from the Marines, Adrian re-enlisted in the U.S. Air Force Reserves, where he served for three years.          

Adrian started his collegiate education at SUNY Monroe Community College (MCC), where he graduated with an A.S. in Liberal Arts, with distinction, while concentrating his coursework in the Social Sciences. While at MCC, Adrian became a leader in student government and maintained a 4.0 GPA, earning him the 2014 SUNY Chancellors Award for Student Excellence before transferring to Yale University to earn a B.A. in Political Science and studied politics. 

As a Chamber of Commerce executive, Adrian worked to improve the educational outcomes for greater Rochester's youth, enhance the quality of its regional workforce, and promote a more inclusive economic development strategy. For his efforts at the Chamber of Commerce in 2019, he was awarded the Center for Teen Empowerment's Champion for Youth Leadership award, and in 2020, Adrian was recognized by Rochester Business Journal (RBJ) and the Association for Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) as a member of their 40 Under 40. 

In December 2021, Adrian began his current role at Foundry. Adrian joined the Foundry team because he believes in the socio-economic problem-solving power of decentralized infrastructure technologies, particularly for communities such as Rochester. At Foundry, Adrian is building community relationships and leading efforts to enable users and democratize access to future-focused technologies. 

As a thought leader, Adrian has and continues to serve on committees throughout the community, such as co-chairing the NYS FLREDC Regional Economic Development Council's Downtown Revitalization Initiative, the NYS Governor's Workforce Development Initiative Committee, the Democrat and Chronicle Editorial Board, and currently the New York State Board of Regents. 

As a Regent, Adrian represents the 72 school districts of New York's 7th judicial district, which includes the city of Rochester and the eight-county greater Rochester and Finger Lakes region. Regent Hale serves on Cultural Education, Professional Practice, P-12 Education, Adult Career and Continuing Education Services (ACCES) committees, and the USNY Technology Policy and Practice Council. The New York State Board of Regents are responsible for governing and supervising all educational activities within New York State, presiding over The University and the New York State Education Department, and administering professional regulations for approx—one million practitioners and over 30 thousand professional practice business entities in more than 50 professions. 

 For Adrian's contributions toward the progress in greater Rochester, Adrian was the recipient of the 2023 Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce Ignite Award, City & State’s Power of Diversity: Pride 100, Honoree, and inductee in the Chi Alpha Epsilon (XAE) National Honor Society, by SUNY Brockport. Adrian lives by the ethos of "Do what you can today until you can do more tomorrow." 

As an educator and director, Shanterra has empowered young men and women to utilize their voices to create peace, equity, and justice in their communities. She travels the country presenting on youth voice, power, and engagement. Her most recent work has been on the Clarissa Uprooted project, an intergenerational partnership and award-winning documentary entitled Clarissa Uprooted: The Truth Behind Black Rochester. 

 She is a member of the BOD for The Children's Agenda and Connected Communities and vice chair of Rochester's Black Heritage committee. All speak to Shan's love, passion, and investment in youth, our most disconnected and marginalized communities, and Rochester. 

 Having received several awards and recognitions for her long-time work in this community, including the Leadership Ladder Award for the Center for Teen Empowerment, recognition as one of Rochester's Change Makers in Action by the RACF, A finalist for the Ignite Rochester Award from the Rochester Chamber of Commerce, and named One of Rochester's 2023 forty under forty by RBJ, she continues her work with youth and community members to break down stereotypes and barriers that limit access and equity in a city rich with resources. Raised in a marginalized and impoverished community fuels Shan's passion for transforming the lives of people from these communities and the systems that maintain them.

Prior employment includes working at the Urban League of Rochester as their Coordinator for a community-based, staffed housing program and a Community Planning Specialist.  Also worked for Allstate Insurance Company as an Agent responsible for property, casualty and life insurance.    

Currently serves as Vice-president of the Rochester Land Bank Corporation and is the past president of the Rochester Monroe County Continuum of Care.  Served on the Board of the YWCA and the Executive Committee of the United Way’s African American Leadership Development Program (AALDP).  The current president of the Frederick Douglass Toastmasters Club.   

Educated in the Oklahoma and Rochester City School Districts. She attended undergraduate studies at Shaw University in Raleigh, NC, and graduate studies at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY.  She recently completed a Divinity degree at First Zion Bible College here in Rochester, NY. 

Her formative years were spent in Vernon, Oklahoma and she has lived the majority of her life in Rochester, New York. She is married to Robert K. Wheeler.  Though she has no biological children, she is “Auntie Carol” to many nieces, nephews, Godchildren, and kids in the neighborhood. She enjoys traveling, exercising, reading, and spending time with family and friends.   

She is a woman of excellence and wants to make sure that the world has been made better because of her presence. 

Ms. Wilt is a founding Board Member of the Dartmouth Women’s Rugby Club, she Co-Chairs the Organizing Committee for Local Progress New York, is a member of the Leadership Committee for the Local Progress Women’s Caucus, is on the Advisory Committee for STAND.earth’s Network of Elected Officials and Staff (NEOS), serves on the Leadership Committee for Elected Officials to Protect America, as well as being a member of the Brighton PTSA, Brighton Chamber of Commerce, and Brighton Believes Council. Ms. Wilt is an alumna of Dartmouth College, where she studied Government, and a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Academic Honor Society.

Robin’s entrée into politics was as the co-founder of the Genesee Valley chapter of Progressive Democrats of America, a grassroots organization dedicated to working inside and outside the Democratic Party to advance progressive causes.  PDA-GV organized voter registration drives; town halls; candidate meet-and-greets; and petition drives. Robin’s efforts were recognized by Metro Justice at their 2009 Annual Dinner. More recently, Progressive Democrats of America was instrumental in recruiting Bernie Sanders to run for President in 2016. Ms. Wilt served as an elected Delegate for Sen. Bernie Sanders to the Democratic National Convention in 2020.

Robin hopes to leverage her background as a progressive activist within the Rochester community to continue to increase civic engagement and enhance access to government and programming for all Brighton residents, the Greater Rochester community, and beyond.

She has a broad and varied work background. She spent several years working for The Nielsen Company as a Marketing Research Field Rep. Upon her return to Rochester after spending many years away in Philadelphia and California she worked as a part-time consultant to the Rochester City School District Adult Continuing Ed Program: coordinating and teaching entrepreneurial classes for small businesses on developing a marketing plan, advertising and general business management; for the Urban League of Rochester as an Employment Counselor with the CEOSC (Comprehensive Employment Opportunities Program) and as the Educational Programs Coordinator. In 1991 she left the Urban League to go to work for INROADS, Inc. as the City Manager, then Operations Manager then Acting Director for INROADS/Upstate New York one of 50 affiliate offices represented at that time.

In this diverse role, she served as a mentor, advisor, and coach to 100’s of students and as a human resources and diversity consultant to major corporations. INROADS is an international career development organization that places talented minority college students into corporate internships in business and technology and prepares them for corporate and community leadership roles upon graduation. INROADS develops consultative relationships with major companies and aids them in developing diversity recruiting strategies. The end result, to incorporate a pipeline of high-potential diversity talent that would be able to hit the ground running upon graduation and be promotable to middle management within the first year after graduation. After nine rewarding years, she left INROADS in 2000 to go to work for one of her corporate clients. She still gets thank-you notes from students she mentored and advised, each of whom has excelled in their respective careers to C Level status.

From 2000 to 2005 she worked for the New York-Penn Regional Office of the American Red Cross Blood Services in various positions: Assistant to the CEO for Strategic and Administrative Services, Diversity Employment Associate, Regional Diversity Consultant, and Manager of Diversity Marketing. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, she was one of 30 individuals chosen to represent the American Red Cross as a National Diversity Consultant, to Disaster Relief working in Louisiana and Texas. While employed with Red Cross she attended Roberts Wesleyan College and obtained her Masters of Science in Organizational Management and graduated Magna Cum Laude and received the colleges “Distinguished Leadership Award”, She was asked by her advisor if he could excerpt some of her graduate thesis “Diversity…Business Unusual…Thinking Outside the Box” for his Ph.D. Her thesis stated that diversity has been an ingrained part of the life cycle from ecological, biological, and societal perspectives since the inception of the world and that societal ills and pressures have allowed people to move away from the concept... thus business unusual.

In 2005 she ventured out on her own and began CMJ Business Solutions where she provided management and business consulting services to small businesses and nonprofits. Her services covered marketing, HR, training, strategic planning, and business development. Her company motto was “We engage clients in collaborative relationships to maintain focus on strategy, process, people, programs, and services.” After six years, she was forced to close her business as life got in the way. After twenty-five years of marriage, she was divorcing and had a sick parent that required her assistance.

After several years of part-time jobs to fill the financial gap she volunteered to work on then City Council President Lovely Warren’s campaign for Mayor. In 2014, Mayor Warren appointed her to the position of MWBE (Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise) Officer. In this role, Constance flourished. She redesigned and reignited the fire of the MWBE program within the City of Rochester and has been able to establish herself as a knowledgeable resource for small business owners while connecting herself regionally and statewide with some of the key players in the MWBE and small business arena. She developed a four-pronged approach to procurement which ensured that MWBE goals would be infused and required at every procurement level the city implements: Public Work Construction, Public Work Consulting, Professional Services Consulting, and Commodity: Goods and Services. This makes the City of Rochester the only local municipality outside of NYS that requires goals at all levels of procurement. In the past five years, she has personally managed to move the City's MWBE spending from barely $5 million per year to over $31 million this last year.

In 2016 she started the MWBE Consortium of Upstate New York and served as an advocate and spokesperson. The consortium, now defunct (2019) was designed to operate as a “think-tank” to identify and create solutions to some of the challenges minority and women-owned businesses face in doing business within NY State. The Consortium had members from Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse, and Albany. Constance stated: “NYS is a large state and Upstate has its unique and regional challenges that many times are not addressed by our downstate-based representatives. The Consortium was the collective voice needed to represent the interest of the many MWBE businesses that call Upstate NY home”. Although the Consortium is no longer in existence Constance has continued being a spokesperson and advocate for MWBE businesses in the Upstate arena. She currently is working on a committee with several others throughout the state to have Article 15A extended into state law. This is the executive order that makes MWBE practices a part of NYS procurement.

In 2019 at the recommendation of her predecessor, Constance became the Purchasing Agent for the City of Rochester. Under her direction the Bureau of Purchasing has been redefined and revamped into a consultative arm of the City for public work construction, public work compliance, MWBE, and commodity procurement; Taking advantage of cooperative procurement options and maximizing solicitation to encourage competition and price advantages.

As you can see Constance has a long and varied history and she has worked in and around the diversity arena and has tried in all cases to be an example to women and minorities that through preparedness and knowledge, along with determination and advocacy, they can excel and progress. She has volunteered to serve on this panel today and volunteers with many organizations to participate in small business training and discussion.

Among her honors and awards are: the Distinguished Leadership Award, Roberts Wesleyan College; Rochester Women’s Network, W Award Honoree; Women in Economic Development and Civic Leadership Award from Walker’s Legacy; Recently received a Certificate of Achievement and Recognition from the Rochester City Council for the work she did in producing a 3-day Upstate New York MWBE Conference and lastly she was the recent recipient of the Rochester Business Journal Icon Award for the work she does in representing Upstate Minority and Women-Owned small businesses.

Other areas of experience include training development, conducting training and organization assessments in cultural competence. She is committed to raising awareness of cultural diversity and cultural competence as crucial elements to create communities where peace instead of discrimination and oppression are the norm.  She believes that the journey through cultural diversity and cultural competence starts very near, it starts with you and me.

She has a Bachelor's in Human Services from the University of Puerto Rico, a Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Rochester, a Diversity and Inclusion Certificate from Cornell University, and is a Trained Spanish Interpreter.

She is a member of the Latino Health Coalition in Rochester, NY. She is a founding member of Latinas Unidas, an organization that supports and acknowledges the accomplishments and contributions of Latina women in the community.   She is a charter of the Rochester Latino Rotary Club and twice past president of the club.

My career took a transformative turn when I ventured into the realm of e-commerce entrepreneurship, where I tasted success and honed my skills as a business leader. Building and scaling successful ventures became second nature, and I discovered the thrill of translating ideas into thriving enterprises. 

 Currently, I serve as the Director of the Entrepreneur Assistance Center at the Urban League of Rochester, a role that perfectly aligns with my passion for fostering entrepreneurship and community development. In this capacity, I leverage my diverse skill set to empower aspiring entrepreneurs, providing guidance, resources, and mentorship to facilitate their journey toward business success. 

 My professional trajectory reflects a commitment to continuous learning, innovation, and community impact. As a dynamic individual with a penchant for strategic thinking and a proven track record in both corporate and entrepreneurial landscapes, I remain dedicated to driving positive change and contributing to the growth of individuals and businesses alike. 

Jackson began his printing career with his first job as a pressman at age 14 and was honored with the prestigious Craftsman Printing Week Award while still a student at Rochester’s Edison Tech. After attending Hobart College, Jackson continued to build his career in printing. He worked for many years on the trade side of the business, ultimately moving on to administration.

In 1993, Jackson founded Panther Graphics. Panther’s track record is impressive; posting sales increases ranging from 20% to more than 100% annually since its inception.

Jackson maintains a strong commitment to not-for-profits, especially those serving children. He is the former chair of the Youth Council of the Rochester/Monroe County Workforce
Investment Board, the Urban League of Rochester’s Black Scholars Program and served as an honorary chair of the Urban League of Rochester’s Golf Tournament. He currently sits on the University of Rochester Medical Center Board and is a member of the Finger Lakes Regional Economics Development Council.

Jackson is the recipient of the Urban League of Rochester’s Outstanding Business Person Award, ABVI’s Community Partnership Award, Baden Street Settlement’s Outstanding Service Award and the Omega Psi Phi Community Service Award, and has been recognized as an Adult Achiever by the YMCA Minority Achievers Program.

Anthony served eight years as a Youth Intervention Gang Specialist for Pathways to Peace in Rochester (NY). Feeling called to expand his service, Anthony left Pathways to Peace to take an opportunity in the K-12 education system as a Dean at Vertus High School. As Dean, he had a closer view into the lives of his students, which gave him the experience that led him to run for an at-large elected seat on Rochester's City Council. He pursued a seat on City Council because he knew it would take collective action of Government and Community members to move the needle against any of Rochester’s challenges. After his run, Anthony then returned the City of Rochester’s Pathways to Peace program as the program’s Director. 

Anthony has continued to serve on the front lines by helping to build a safer city for Rochester's young people and believes his role is critical to promote love and justice during times of civil unrest. With a mission to enhance the quality of life for all of Rochester, Anthony has proudly taken on the role of Chief Executive Officer for Community Resource Collaborative, Inc. He leads efforts of directing at-risk individuals to a healthier lifestyle and feeding the homeless, relocating families, and providing jobs and sustainable opportunities for Rochester residents. 

Throughout his career, Anthony has received many recognitions and awards which recognize his high level of commitment and community work. He has received the 2023 ABC James M. McCullers Award of Excellence, the 2023 Forty under Forty Leadership Award, the 2022 Teen Empowerment Peacemaker in Action Award, the 2022 Monroe County Legislature Leader of the Year Award, the 2021 Vertus Charter School of Young Men’s Community Leadership Award, the 2021 NAACP Special Recognition of Community Leadership Award, the 2020 Community Leader of the Year Roc Award, and the 2017 City of Rochester Commissioner Award for Outstanding Service Award. 
 
Amongst Anthony’s recipient honors, he has been featured on the front page of the D&C, 105.5 The Beat Radio, WXXI News, Tocsin Magazine, and the Final Call Newspapers. Anthony continues to take on a variety of community leadership roles and serves as a Board Member for the organization A.B.O.V.E. (Achieving &Bringing Our Vision to Excellence). 

Known as a fierce advocate for Rochester, Wanda’s determination to address Rochester’s homicide problem started when her nephew, Herschal Scriven, was murdered on March 14, 2006.

Wanda graduated from East High School and studied at Monroe Community College. She has worked in the human services field for over two decades. She has been a daycare provider, a secured treatment aide for the State of New York, and a Rehabilitation Certified Nursing Assistant at St. Ann’s Nursing Home. She also was a dedicated team mom with the Rochester Rams Youth Football League for 10 years. At present, Wanda is the Executive Director for Rise Up Rochester, Inc.

The mother of three and grandmother of nine, Wanda is an active member of Baber African Methodist Episcopal Church. At Baber, she is a Junior Usher Board Advisor, director of the Community Meal for the homeless, and member of the Pastor’s Advocacy.

She is a recipient of President Barack Obama’s Lifetime Achievement Award and received a Certificate of Special Mayoral Recognition from Mayor Lovely Warren of the City of Rochester, New York, the Terry Melvin Special Recognition Award for the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, a proclamation from Monroe County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo. In 2020 she received the ESL Centennial Award. 2023 received the Peacemaker in Action award from Teen Empowerment.

He brings extensive experience in crisis prevention strategies, youth intervention, gang specialization, dispute mapping, and trauma-informed interventions. His previous work with the City of Rochester and its Pathways to Peace program received international recognition and visits from officials from France, Spain and Bangkok, Thailand to learn more about Rochester’s dispute mapping system.

In his current role, Saunders oversees all City of Rochester Violence Prevention initiatives, including Pathways to Peace, the Office of Neighborhood Safety, and the Peacemaker Fellowship.

He graduated from Bishop Kearney High School, attended Corning Community College, and received certificates in leadership and communications from Bryant & Stratton College, Roberts Wesleyan College, and the United Latino Students Association. He is an alumni of the FBI Citizens Academy and is a regular speaker on the topics of gangs, youth development, and violence prevention.

Saunders grew up in the 14621 Neighborhood in the City of Rochester, where he still lives with his wife. His grown son and daughter – and his five grandchildren – all live in Rochester.

In addition to her professional achievements, Aqua is an active member and advocate of various organizations. Aqua currently holds the position of President in the Rochester Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, where she has displayed exemplary leadership in several key roles throughout her service. Aqua's commitment to the community is further enhanced by her role as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Susan B. Anthony Museum and House, Inc.  Aqua is a longstanding member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., the first Greek Sorority established by African-American college-educated women.

Beyond her professional and community endeavors, Aqua finds joy and relaxation in her hobbies. Reading, shopping, and traveling are activities that bring her immense pleasure.  She is the proud mother of an adult son, Jordan.

Aqua is an alumnus of Kettering University, graduating with a BS in Mechanical Engineering, and the Rochester Institute of Technology, where she earned an Executive MBA.

With her extensive experience, leadership ability, and commitment to the community, Aqua continues to make significant contributions as RMAPI Executive Director, enhancing the lives of countless individuals in the City of Rochester and Monroe County.

To achieve this vision, Ajamu and the Community Impact team manage key initiatives of expanding individual opportunity, building strong neighborhoods, and strengthening organizations and systems. The Foundation provides grants to many community initiatives driving meaningful and measurable change in the Great Rochester area.

Ajamu originally joined ESL Federal Credit Union in fall 2013 as the manager of the new ESL Consumer Prosperity Program, established to enhance community solutions for financial inclusion. In January 2016, Ajamu was promoted to Executive Director of the ESL Charitable Foundation (Foundation), and to Vice President in 2018.

Prior to joining ESL, Ajamu was a management consultant with FSR Social Impact Advisors and worked on a variety of collective impact, shared value and social justice initiatives.

Ajamu received a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and holds both his Bachelor and Master of Science Degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Stanford University. He presently serves on the WXXI Board of Trustees.