Rochester Reporter

Mayor Malik D. Evans hosted the Mayor’s Mentor Up Winter Gala on Saturday, December 14, 2024. The event aimed to connect young individuals from Rochester with community role models in a formal setting at the Rundel Memorial Building of the Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County.

The gala was part of a series of events under the Mentor Up program, designed to foster networking and career exploration for youth mentees aged 14 to 18. Attendees received guidance from Dale Carnegie before engaging with professionals from various fields such as engineering, medicine, law, finance, arts, and business.

Mayor Evans emphasized the mutual learning experience between mentors and mentees: “As our youth look toward their futures, we are fortunate to have so many role models willing to help guide and at the same time, learn from the fresh perspectives our youth have to offer,” he stated. “This is what the Mentor Up Gala is all about – celebrating what we can learn from one another and investing in the future of our city. From the youth I have met tonight, I can say that future is bright!”

The event was supported by local organizations including LaBella Associates, Rochester Regional Health, T Mobile, Deborah Stamps Consulting LLC., William & Shiela Konar Foundation, and Beta Chi Chi Inc. Volunteers from Alpha Phi Alpha and Sigma Gamma Rho also contributed to its success.

Rochester youth are encouraged to attend the next event in this series on April 12, 2025. Dubbed a "Mentor Up Experience," it will offer interactive workshops for skill development tailored for those aged 14 to 18.

For more details on upcoming events in this series visit https://cityofrochester.gov/mentorup.