The Equity and Advocacy Division is integral in leading INTERRUPT RACISM™. This initiative was born in 2020 following renewed focus and awareness on unjust and deadly police practices as well as the systemic racism laid bare by the COVID-19 pandemic. INTERRUPT RACISM™ strives to be the leading regional racism interrupter, agitator, awakener, community leader and voice, educator, and curator of information. Ultimately, INTERRUPT RACISM™’s one goal is to Put Racism Out of Business.

In November 2020, we welcomed the Racial Equity and Justice Initiative (REJI) as part of INTERRUPT RACISM™. Formerly housed at St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Center, REJI addresses racism by focusing on organizational change at the individual, interpersonal, institutional, and structural levels and building community capacity for racial equity. With the transfer of this initiative, ULR intends to enhance the model based on lessons learned and best practices. The comprehensive training helps institutions, organizations, businesses, and agencies engage in anti-racism work by providing workshops for staff, senior executive leadership, and board development with: Managing the workplace through an Equitable Lens training; Racial Equity and Implicit Bias training, and Advocacy.

INTERRUPT RACISM™ Summit

The annual INTERRUPT RACISM™ Summit is an immersive learning experience designed for adults and youth alike to participate and come together to develop a deep understanding of what work needs to be done to dismantle systemic racism; develop pathways for learning and healing from race-related matters; and create realistic action plans for ensuring the health, wealth, and safety of BIPOC individuals.

INTERRUPT RACISM™ Cohort

The INTERRUPT RACISM™ Cohort is a one-year commitment to learning equitable and unlearning racist practices targeted at the self and the workplace. We use a cohort model to build bridges and share knowledge between our community’s leaders. Each participating organization or business has a "Change Team," a working committee of up to 10 members, ideally from all levels of the organization. The Change Team receives training and support to help their organization more deeply engage with race and racial equity in their specific context.

The Cohort model provides workshops, conferences, regular group sessions, and private one-on-one coaching for organizations that are guided by each Change Team. Participants take a deep dive into their internal work culture, policies, procedures, brand, and hiring practices in reflection of modern standards and antiracist practices. We have sliding scale costs for not-for-profit organizations.

All In ROC Community Health Outreach Partnership

The All In ROC Community Health Outreach Partnership is a coalition dedicated to reducing health disparities in Rochester by expanding access to essential health resources and services for vulnerable populations. We bring together healthcare providers, nonprofit agencies, government partners, and student volunteers to remove barriers to care and improve health outcomes in the most underserved areas of the city.

Our work focuses on eight ZIP codes in Rochester - 14605, 14606, 14608, 14609, 14611, 14613, 14619, and 14621 - where social drivers of health create disproportionate challenges. Through door-to-door canvassing, we engage residents directly in their homes, ensuring no one is overlooked. Even when individuals are unavailable, our outreach teams leave behind helpful materials and resources tailored to the community’s needs.

By listening to residents and building meaningful relationships, we address concerns, clarify misinformation in real time, and provide follow-up support when needed. When questions arise that require further expertise, we collaborate with trusted partners to ensure residents receive accurate and timely information.

Our approach prioritizes trust, understanding, and accessibility, empowering everyone in our community to make informed health decisions.

Interested in canvassing with us? Contact mndoole@ulr.org.

ROC Community Table

Since November 8, 2024, the Urban League of Rochester has convened the ROC Community Table, a nonpartisan civic engagement initiative designed to strengthen democratic participation, elevate community voice in policymaking, and improve public accountability across Monroe County.

The ROC Community Table was created in response to federal policy changes impacting education, healthcare, immigration, public safety, environmental justice, LGBTQ+ rights, women’s rights, Native sovereignty, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. This initiative provides a structured civic space where residents can review policy impacts, engage directly with public officials, and organize informed civic participation.

The ROC Community Table advances civic participation through four integrated strategies:

Review Policy Impacts
Identify and evaluate the negative effects of new policies on impacted communities, particularly those facing discrimination or systemic barriers.
Resist Unjust Policies
Mobilize the community through education on policy changes and their implications, while developing strategic advocacy campaigns to mitigate harm.
Repair Harm
Advocate for reparations and systemic reforms to address inequities exacerbated by existing and new policies, ensuring historically marginalized communities receive the support they deserve.
Rebuild and Create
Strengthen existing relationships, policies, programs, and services while fostering new ones to sustain equity across Monroe County.

Join Us!
The ROC Community Table meets most Fridays from 2:00 to 3:30 PM. Together, we can build a more just and inclusive community.

Contact mndoole@ulr.org for more information.