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Connections

Coming up on Connections: Friday, September 20

 Downtown Rochester skyline view.
Max Schulte
/
WXXI News
Downtown Rochester skyline view.

First hour: Discussing the Racial Equity and Justice Initiative

Second hour: Debating the expansion of the CHOICE program

The Racial Equity and Justice Initiative (REJI) is making strides in addressing systemic racism in the community. The program – run through the St. Joseph's Neighborhood Center – is working with the Rochester-Monroe Anti-Poverty Initiative. Its teams work with local companies and organizations to begin or deeper conversations about race, review policies and procedures related to diversity and inclusion, and identify systemic barriers that need to be addressed. This hour, we sit down with leaders from the REJI to discuss their work, their progress to date, and the challenges they see in the community. In studio:

  • Candice A. Lucas, executive director of St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Center
  • Michael Boucher, co-director of counseling/community works at St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Center
  • Jerome Underwood, president and CEO of Action for a Better Community, and co-chair of the Rochester-Monroe Anti-Poverty Initiative

Then in our second hour, the City of Rochester is expanding a program designed to increase the number of owner-occupants living in the city. The CHOICE program was originally designed for downtown living opportunities, but not the city wants to take the program to all parts of Rochester. Supporters say it's effective; critics say it amounts to a tax giveaway to wealthy people. Our guests debate it. In studio:

  • Rachel Barnhart, member of the Monroe County Legislature
  • Matthew Denker, developer with LBLD Living
  • Blake Gianniny, principal at FGB Property
Connections
Evan Dawson is the host of "Connections with Evan Dawson." He joined WXXI in January 2014 after working at 13WHAM-TV, where he served as morning news anchor. He was hired as a reporter for 13WHAM-TV in 2003 before being promoted to anchor in 2007.
Megan Mack is the executive producer of "Connections with Evan Dawson" and live/televised engagement programming.