City Launches New Community Discussion Series at Neighborhood R-Centers

Mayor Malik D. Evans announced today that Thursday Thinkers: Insights into Rochester, a new discussion series to help city residents learn about the many local programs and services available to them, will kick off Thursday, Feb. 1 with Strengthening Neighborhoods: Getting the Most Out of Your NSC (Neighborhood Service Center).

“Rochester is blessed with an abundance of resources that all share a common goal of helping people to reach their full potential,” said Mayor Evans. “Thursday Thinkers will serve as a recurring forum where residents can learn how they can take full advantage of those resources and be their own best advocate. By empowering people to help themselves, we are moving closer to creating a safe, equitable and prosperous Rochester by inspiring hope and delivering opportunity to everyone.”

Thursday Thinkers is an adult- and family-enrichment series hosted by the City’s Department of Recreation and Human Services (DRHS). Each event will feature discussions with representatives from government and community agencies, programs, and other resources. Events will be held on at least two Thursday evenings each month at a City R-Center.

Dr. Shirley Green, Commissioner of DRHS and a retired Rochester City School District teacher and administrator, said Thursday Thinkers has the complementary benefit of bringing adults into the R-Centers on a more frequent basis.

“I have been an educator for more than 30 years, and I know there is no better teacher than experience,” she said. “Opening the R-Centers up as neighborhood classrooms available to the entire family serves as an invitation for the community to see the tremendous value of these facilities for themselves. Whether it’s the courtesy of our staff, the caliber of our equipment, or the condition of our buildings and grounds, we want our neighbors to experience Rochester’s R-Centers as welcoming environments of growth and learning.”

The February Thursday Thinkers events will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Adams Street R-Center, 85 Adams St., on the following dates:

• Feb. 1: Getting the Most Out of Your NSC (Neighborhood Service Center): Learn how the NSC’s work with residents to preserve and improve the quality of life in city neighborhoods.

• Feb. 8: Crisis Support: You Are Not Alone: Learn about the network of human service providers who can help residents respond to and prevent moments of crisis. Presenting partners are the City Person In Crisis Team; and Goodwill of the Finger Lakes.

• Feb. 15: Healthy Eating on a Budget: Learn about the benefits of nutrition and the programs that help residents procure healthy food at minimum cost. The presenting partner is Foodlink.