Emerging Leaders Teen Program

 Applications Open

Leadership Rochester fosters a deeper understanding of our community and provides leadership development for a diverse cross-section of local leaders. Modeled off the success of its Signature Adult Program, this Emerging Leaders program will establish a cohort of 15-25 high school students and bring them together for seven program sessions. Teens build leadership skills while connecting directly with a wide range of leaders across greater Rochester.  

Participants learn to identify concrete ways they can positively engage as youth leaders in their communities. Program sessions will be hosted at downtown at near the Liberty Pole at the RIT Center for Urban Entrepreneurship (Franklin Street).  Students may then take adult led walking tours to visit key different sites across downtown. Experiential locations and community speakers help students actively expand their awareness and connection to Rochester.

Program Goals

• Develop relationships among a diverse group of local youth
• Connect with Rochester’s local neighborhoods and history.
• Provide applied education experiences and dialogue on timely topics and issues affecting the Greater Rochester area.
• Equip youth with leadership competencies and skills that can help empower them to positively affect change in their community.
• Connect students to opportunities to further their leadership, career and educational goals while building an civic engagement ethic.

Eligible Students

• Students in grades 9 – 12 in the greater Rochester region
• Attending an urban, suburban, private, parochial, or home school
•  Have leadership potential (but may not yet have held leadership positions.)
• Open to strengthening themselves and their community through personal leadership development and service to others.

Annual Program Calendar (Cohorts Available: Fall, Spring)

Fall 2023 Cohort

• Tuesday Evenings 4:30 – 7:00 pm
• October 10, 17, 24, 31 and November 7, 14, and 21
• Host Location:
  • RIT Center for Urban Entrepreneurship (Downtown Rochester)
  • 40 Franklin St Rochester NY 14604

 Past Collaborative Partners 

• Monroe County
• Monroe County Legislature
• Monroe County Sherriff’s Office
• The City of Rochester
• Rochester City Council
• Rochester Central Library
• Children Awaiting Parents
• Susan B Anthony House
• Rochester Police Department
• Rochester City School District
• Monroe County Urban Suburban Program
• Gallina Development
• Hillside Work Scholarship Connection
• 540WMain
• Rochester Central Library
• RGE Avangrid
• FoodLink
• St Marks and St Johns Episcopal Church

For questions please contact youth@leadershiprochester.org