City/County Declare: October to Re-Mentor

Rochester City Council leadership and Monroe County Legislators are designating October as the “Month to Re-Mentor,” in observance of the National Lights On Afterschool celebration on Oct. 22 and National Mentoring Day on Oct. 27.

“Children spend the majority of their waking hours outside of the classroom, and what happens during those hours shapes who they become. Every young person needs healthy, stable adults in their life, and local mentorship and out-of-school time programs are where many of those connections are made,” said Rochester City Council President Miguel A. Meléndez, Jr. “All of our young people possess incredible potential, but they need reliable anchors, and right now there are not enough program seats to reach every child who needs one. City Council will work with our County partners, providers and the community to advocate for change at the state level, so every young person in Rochester has access to a safe place and a caring adult after the school day ends.”

In an effort to strengthen youth development, economic mobility and community safety, local lawmakers are calling on area non-profits and leaders to join them in recruiting a new wave of volunteers dedicated to mentoring local youth, neighbors and families, and to elevate existing after- school programs.

“After-school programs are where many of our children find a safe place, a trusted adult and a reason to keep showing up,” said County Legislature President Yversha Román. “Lights On Afterschool has always been a chance for our community to celebrate that work. Even without a formal local celebration this year, we cannot let the moment pass quietly. We are asking our colleagues across Monroe County to light their landmarks in blue and gold, walk into a program, and see for themselves what these providers make possible for our young people.”

The campaign focuses on connecting residents with established regional organizations including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Rochester, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Rochester, COMPEER, the City’s R- Centers and the Mayor’s Mentor Up! Initiative. Leaders emphasize that just a few hours a month can reshape a young person’s trajectory, offering academic support, career networking, mental health support and personal guidance.

These programs are also stretched thin. Monroe County has lost 1,166 after-school slots since the creation of New York State’s Learning and Enrichment After-School Program Supports (LEAPS), and local providers do not currently have the capacity to serve every child who needs a safe space to learn and grow after the school day ends.

In light of a lack of official Lights On Afterschool events in Rochester this year, which in previous years have coincided with the national Lights On Afterschool celebration on Oct. 22, Rochester City Council President Meléndez., Vice President LaShay D. Harris, Monroe County Legislature President Román and County Legislator Ricky Frazier are calling on their fellow legislators and leaders in municipalities across Monroe County to:

City of Rochester, NY

Rochester City Council

City Hall Room 301A • 30 Church Street • Rochester, New York 14614-1290

NEWS RELEASE – For Immediate Release: Tuesday, October 20, 2026

- Light it up blue and gold. Lights on ROC is scheduled to light local landmarks blue and gold for Lights On Afterschool on Oct. 22 in support of after-school and mentoring programs.

- Show up for local programs. Visit an after-school program to celebrate its success, see the work community members are doing to make sure students are safe, learning and enriched every day, and hear directly from young people about what matters to them.

- Model mentorship. Between now and National Mentoring Day on Oct. 27, do something that reflects mentorship and share photos so partners can amplify the effort on social media.

Rochester parents are also encouraged to connect their children with after-school and mentoring programs and to involve themselves in any way they can.

“Our community has always been at its strongest when young people had positive people and positive places to turn to,” said County Legislator Ricky Frazier. “Generations of Rochester kids were supported not only by their parents, but by coaches, neighbors, rec center staff and church members who looked out for them. Through initiatives like our Steps to Success program, we see daily how dedicated mentors support entire families. I am asking my fellow legislators to come together and do more on mentorship starting this month, and to show our young people that the adults who represent them are willing to show up for them.”

“Every single child in Rochester deserves a champion who guides them through life’s complexities,” said Vice President Harris. “Our work on childhood poverty has made clear that the gap our children face is not a gap in talent; it is a gap in opportunity. After-school and mentoring programs help close that gap by giving young people access to the enrichment, relationships and networks that too many families cannot afford on their own. Investing in these programs is one of the most direct ways we can address childhood poverty in our city.”

To make these programs easier to find, the City of Rochester and Monroe County have launched a new Youth Services Directory, a single place for families to access youth development programs across the community. Families looking for after-school and mentoring opportunities for their children, and residents interested in becoming a mentor, can visit 211lifeline.org/youthservices.