ROC the Future Alliance is excited to announce our call for award nominations for the 12th Annual State of Our Children Address & Report Card Release! Mark your calendar for Friday, January 17, 2025, for this year’s event.
We are seeking nominations for the following awards:
- The Jacque Cady Annual Advocacy for Children Award
- Parent Leader Award
- Systems Change Award
- Youth Leadership Award
How Can I Nominate an Individual or Organization?
Read through each award description below and nominate a person or organization connected to the ROC the Future Alliance network whose work most aligns with our collective impact approach and lifts up this year’s theme: 11,000 Futures.
Nominations must be submitted by 5:00pm, Thursday, October 31, 2024.
Winners will be announced during the 12th Annual State of Our Children Address & Report Card Release.
If you have any questions, contact Jessica Lewis at jlewis@rocthefuture.org.
The Jacque Cady Annual Advocacy for Children Award
This award recognizes an individual for extraordinary accomplishment in advancing public policy or funding decisions for the benefit of our community’s children, in furtherance of ROC the Future Alliance’s mission to improve cradle-to-career outcomes for Rochester’s children.
As part of the award, the recipient selects a child-serving agency, ages 0-8, to receive a $5,000 donation, courtesy of Rochester’s Child, an initiative of the Rochester Area Community Foundation, in honor of Jacque Cady.
Past Jacque Cady Advocacy Award Winners:
- 2023 – Dr. Tokeya Graham, beneficiary: The Avenue Blackbox Theatre
- 2022 – Dina Faticone, beneficiary: Marvelous Minds Academy
- 2021 – Tonia Burton, beneficiary: Friends & Foundation of Rochester Public Library
- 2020 – Dr. Lisa Hiley, beneficiary: Rochester Hearing & Speech Center
- 2019 – Dr. A. Dirk Hightower, beneficiary: Children’s Institute, Inc.
- 2018 – Dr. Jeff Kaczorowski, beneficiary: All Kids Thrive
- 2017 – Jacque Cady, beneficiary Friendship: Children’s Center (Joi McMurtry, Executive Director)
The Parent Leader Award
The Parent Leader Award recognizes a parent/family member who engages and partners with other parents/families in support of ROC the Future Alliance’s mission to improve cradle-to-career outcomes for Rochester’s children.
Past Parent Leader Award Winners:
2023:
- Jasmin Vega, ROC the Future Alliance
- Shamika Fusco, Common Ground Health
- Chrissy Miller, The Children’s Agenda
2022:
- Maurice Haskins, PECAN
- Tina Carney, PECAN and Whole Child Initiative
- Latasha Pomerantz, School #23
- Lydia Rivera, Healthi Kids Coalition
2021:
- Allen Jackson, Healthi Kids Coalition
- Cherriese Bufis, Healthi Kids Coalition
- Heather Feinman, Healthi Kids Coalition
- Patricia McKinney, School #23
- Michaela Wall, Healthy & Equitable Futures Resources Learning Collaborative
2020:
- Jennifer Ghidiu, Civic Partnership Designer, National Parent Leadership Institute
- Toyin Anderson, PECAN Parent Leader, The Children’s Agenda board member
- Shaniela Lewis, PECAN Parent Leader
- Luva Alvarez, Parent Leadership Training Institute
- Walida Monroe-Sims, City of Rochester
2019:
- Catherine Wilson, Co-Chair of the Family and Community Engagement Committee at East
- Nahmese Bacot, PTA Treasurer at School No. 46
- Lisa Alexander, Parent Liaison, School No. 43
- Yohana Gonzalez, PTA member at School No. 33
The Systems Change Award
This award recognizes an organization that embodies our guiding principles – Strengthening Relationships, Community Engagement, Racial Equity and Continuous Improvement – in support of ROC the Future Alliance’s mission to improve cradle-to-career outcomes for Rochester’s children.
Past Systems Change Award Winners:
- 2023 – The Children’s Agenda
- 2022 – Teen Empowerment
- 2021 – Greater Rochester Parent Leadership Training Institute
- 2020 – Department of Recreation and Human Services, City of Rochester
- 2019 – Greater Rochester Summer Learning Association (GRSLA)
Youth Leadership Award
The Youth Leadership Award recognizes a young leader who inspires other youth to use their voice – to make a change in the Rochester community – in support of ROC the Future Alliance’s mission to improve cradle-to-career outcomes for Rochester’s children.
Past Youth Leadership Award Winners:
- 2023 – Sarah Adams