John F. Lightfoot

John Lightfoot is a City Councilmember At-Large. He is a graduate of Edison Technical and Occupational School and a 15 year employee of the Monroe County Department of Environmental Services, where he works as a Pure Waters Technician. He has a long history of community involvement, which he attributes to his parents, Frederick and Mary Ann Lightfoot, his late brother, Steven, and late uncle and former County Legislator, Willie W. Lightfoot.
Lightfoot began his journey as a community activist in 1990, when he was still a teenager. He worked with community leaders to successfully raise voter registration in southwest Rochester by 30%, advocate for the present location of James Madison School of Excellence (now Wilson Academy), and secure the Southwest Area Neighborhood Association's role as the lead agency in the City's southwest.
Lightfoot is a founder of Changing of the Scenes, a neighborhood association dedicated to empowering residents of the community and creating programs for positive change. Changing of the Scenes offered summer camps for six consecutive years that served over sixty neighborhood youths per year and provided community jobs. This active group has created block clubs, provided services to families and seniors, and participated in the Anthony Square housing development which resulted in the demolition of drug-infested housing at Fight Square, and the birth of 45 new housing units and 23 single family homes, at a cost of $11.3 million.
As President of Sector 4 from 2003 through 2004, Lightfoot managed and mobilized five neighborhood associations and six committees. He encouraged and facilitated open dialog through community forums, utilizing the processes and goals outlined in Renaissance 2010, the City?s comprehensive plan. Under his leadership, Sector 4 launched its web site, www.sector4.org, created the Southwest health fair, which drew over 1,000 participants, helped secure $3 million for improved community space for seniors and $24 million for 219 new housing units. Mr. Lightfoot also participated in the Plymouth Avenue street revitalization project and negotiated a new community center to serve both Sector 4 and the PLEX neighborhood association.
A proponent of what he terms the "Cross-Net System", Lightfoot believes that open communication between service agencies, churches, residents, government, and businesses, is crucial to setting priorities and meeting goals. Collaboration is key to addressing problems affecting Rochester, particularly those revolving around youth and schools, seniors, families, and job development. A unified community is essential to create lasting positive change, and an organized process toward improvement is the only way to move forward.
A Rochester native, Lightfoot is a life-long, active member of Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, where he serves as the chairperson of the audiovisual ministry and coordinator for the Boy Scouts. He has led many youth through the Scouting program, and proudly boasts that six African American youth completed the highest level in scouting, achieving Eagle Scout rank and making Mt. Olivet's Boy Scout troop the first in Monroe County history to have as many as six African American Eagle Scouts.
Lightfoot's dedication to community service has been recognized by former Monroe County Executive Jack Doyle, former Rochester Mayor William A. Johnson, Jr., the Urban League, and About Time magazine. He is the recipient of numerous awards including the Outstanding Dedication Award from Changing of the Scenes Neighborhood Association (1998), Commitment and Dedication Award from the Jefferson Avenue Business Association (1998), and the Faith in Action Award from the Greater Rochester Community of Churches (2004).
Lightfoot has a son and is an owner/occupant of a multi-family building.