2025 INTERRUPT RACISM ™
IMPACT SUMMIT

Meet the Speakers

Keynote - The Healing Power of Hope

Dr. Ashley Cross - Dr. Ashley Cross is a nationally recognized leader, nonprofit executive, and practitioner of the Science of Hope. She is the Founding Executive Director of HOPE585, a Rochester-based nonprofit transforming the child welfare landscape in Monroe County by mobilizing the community to keep families together. Under her leadership, HOPE585 leads initiatives such as the CarePortal, which connects CPS involved families to urgently needed resources, and the Reimagine Initiative, which develops community-driven alternatives to narrow the front door to child welfare. Rooted in a relationship-centered approach, HOPE585 provides mentorship, case management, and wraparound support for youth and families impacted by poverty and child welfare.

For more than 15 years, Dr. Cross has worked alongside young people in the foster system and is a former foster parent. Her life’s work centers on building and sustaining hope, with a deep commitment to family preservation, youth empowerment, and justice. She is also an advocate for systemic change, addressing the needs of families whose circumstances bring them into contact with child welfare. Her recent piece in The Imprint, “Surveillance Won’t Resolve Unaddressed Poverty,” underscores her commitment to advancing equity and reform.

A sought-after trainer and speaker, Dr. Cross has equipped leaders, educators, and direct-service professionals across multiple sectors in applying the Science of Hope to organizational culture, staff wellness, and program outcomes. As Executive Director, she has implemented hope-centered frameworks that reduce burnout, strengthen engagement, and drive measurable impact for families and youth. She has also developed curriculum that integrates the principles of hope into daily practice and led workshops nationwide on applying hope science in real-world contexts.

Dr. Cross holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and a Master’s in Nonprofit Management from Oral Roberts University. She serves on the boards of Causewave Community Partners and is a member of the New York State Mandated Reporting Work Group. In recognition of her leadership and impact, she was named a 2023 Forty Under 40 Honoree by the Rochester Business Journal.

Session 1 – Interrupt: Wisdom of the Ages (Elders Circle) – Learning from our past to shape our future

Moderator Tom Mitchell- Retired President/CEO of engineering/architecture firm Bergmann Associates after 50+ years of practice. Co-Founder of ERG (Exploring, Engaging, Ending Racism), member of ROC Community Table and Board member of Rochester Area Community Foundation.

Essie Calhoun-McDavid- Essie Calhoun McDavid is a distinguished leader recognized for her extensive career in corporate diversity, community affairs, and education, most notably as the retired Chief Diversity and Community Affairs Officer and Corporate Vice President at Eastman Kodak Company. Ms. Calhoun McDavid has been a powerful force in Rochester's philanthropic landscape, serving as Chair of the United Way of Greater Rochester Campaign in 2011 and as an active member of the Urban League's board of directors. Her dedication to the arts and culture is evident through Geva Theatre's annual Essie Calhoun Diversity in the Arts Award, which was established and named in her honor in 2011, making her the inaugural recipient. She has received numerous honors for her dedication to the community, including the Rochester Business Journal's ICON Award (2018).

Dr. Frederick Jefferson, Jr- Dr. Frederick C. Jefferson, Jr., EdD was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and is married to June Greene, with whom he has three children and four grandchildren. He has built an extensive career as a behavioral scientist and coach, dedicated to the practice and teaching of positive change for individuals, groups, and organizations, with a specialty in the influence of human diversity on these changes. Dr. Jefferson’s work includes Organization and Human Development consultation for Work Environment Issues and Executive Coaching for organizations like Bell Atlantic, Verizon, and RCSD Principals. Notably, he developed and led seventeen “Americans in Africa for Teachers and Human Services Professionals” conferences over a nine-year period, co-sponsored by the University of Rochester and the RCSD, highlighting his focus on Cross-Cultural Immersion and institutional equity. Dr. Jefferson’s deep commitment to community is evidenced by his roles as Board Chair for Action for a Better Community (ABC), the United Way (1988-90), and the American Red Cross (2006-2009).

Stuart Mitchell- Stuart J. Mitchell served for decades as President/CEO of PathStone Corporation, a multi-state, nonprofit human service and community development corporation dedicated to empowering those served to become community builders. A strong proponent of servant leadership, Mitchell successfully leveraged human and financial capital through collaboration to establish impactful partnerships throughout his tenure. Mitchell's lifelong commitment to social justice began early; notably, in 1965, as a Cornell undergraduate, he volunteered with the Western Tennessee Voter Rights Project and CORE, actively participating in campaigns to register sharecroppers to vote and integrate segregated public schools.

James Norman- James Norman retired in 2018 as the President and CEO of Action for a Better Community (ABC) after twenty-five and a half years of service, having previously served as the Deputy Director for Administration for the Michigan Department of Labor. He later taught for two decades as an Adjunct Professor of Sociology at Monroe Community College, retiring in 2023. A highly sought-after speaker and consultant, Mr. Norman addresses critical issues such as structural inequality, systemic racism, and poverty. He is actively involved in the community, serving on boards including the Rochester Area Community Foundation and the Gateways Music Festival, and is a Life Member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. His decades of service and impact have been recognized with numerous honors, including the Key to the City of Rochester and induction into the inaugural class of the National Community Action Hall of Fame in 2024.

Dr. Hank Rubin- Dr. Hank Rubin grew up in Rochester; first in the shadow of Pinnacle Hill (School 35) and later participating in one of our first Urban-Suburban programs involving Madison and Brighton high schools. His experiences on Joseph Avenue in 1964 deeply influenced his worldview and professional priorities. Hank’s been a commissioner, superintendent, executive director, organizer and civil rights advocate, dean, professor, elected school board member and student of public leadership in Illinois, Ohio, South Dakota, Washington DC and here. The American Library Association wrote: … when it comes to collaborative leadership “Rubin wrote the book on this stuff.” That book became a bestseller.

Shirley Thompson- Shirley Stephens Thompson was born in Harlem Hospital and raised her first 10 years in New York City. Growing up during the turbulent Civil Rights era of the 50’s and 60’s, she attributes those years, childhood visits to the South, plus her experiences with racism in Long Island, with planting seeds of racial and social justice activism. A motto that guides her outlook is “Seven times down, eight times up,” meaning that in the fight for racial justice and in life, she’ll get knocked down, but she will always get back up.

Rodney Young- Rodney Allen Young is a highly recognized Rochester native with over two decades of leadership at the United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes. As Senior Community Relationship Manager, he primarily coordinates the award-winning African American Leadership Development Program (AALDP), where he recruits, trains, and places community members in non-profit board and policymaking roles. A 1995 alumnus of the AALDP, his roles also include managing the African American Leadership Giving Society. From 1995 to 2006, he co-coordinated the Students in Africa, Inc. educational study tours to West Africa. Mr. Young, an avid, self-taught photographer documenting Black excellence, has been honored with numerous community awards, including the Trent Jackson Community Leadership Award and the Urban League Legacy Honoree recognition.

Session 2 – Impact: Keeping Our Promise (President’s Panel) – Five years of community progress

Moderator Bob Duffy- Robert J. Duffy currently serves as the President and CEO of the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, following a distinguished career in public service and law enforcement. His political career included two terms as the Mayor of Rochester (2006-2010) and four years as the 57th Lieutenant Governor of New York State (2011-2014). Prior to elected office, Duffy spent 28 years with the Rochester Police Department, including four years as Chief of Police. He is recognized for his commitment to regional economic development, poverty reduction, and community collaboration, leveraging his extensive experience across government, law enforcement, and the private sector to advocate for the nine-county Rochester region.

Rev. Myra Brown- Reverend Myra Brown is Senior Pastor at Spiritus Christi Independent Catholic Church of Rochester. Rev. Brown has been in ministry for over 30 years and is the Executive Director and President of the Black Community Focus Fund Inc. She holds a BA in Religion and Social Justice from SUNY Empire College, a MA with a concentration in Theology from CRCDS (Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School) and was trained in anti-racism work through the Crossroads organization in 2005. Rev. Brown is an anti-racism educator and activist, a past member of Unite Rochester, Call to Action and UCLM. She is a current NAACP member with Rochester’s NY Branch # 2172 and a Member of the Faith Leaders Roundtable. Rev. Brown works nationally and locally around issues of racism. She has led many racial justice workshops and anti-racism trainings for regional and local groups, youth and other national organizations across the country.

Alex Castro- Alex Castro joined PathStone in 2015 and currently serves as President and CEO (since 2020). Operationally, Alex oversees Real Estate Development, Property Management, Housing Services, and Direct Services. In addition to administrative capacity, Alex brings extensive direct housing experience to the PathStone team. Previously, Alex was the Executive Director of the Rochester Housing Authority (RHA) and Executive Director of The Housing Council prior to that.

Marisa Geitner- Marisa Geitner has served as President and CEO of Heritage Christian Services since 2013. Under her leadership, HCS has grown its revenue by 154% since 2013, earning them a spot on the Rochester Chamber of Commerce Top 100 list. Geitner believes in offering meaningful life and work experiences to the people who choose HCS services and to their 4,000 employees. She lives out this belief by challenging the status quo – pushing to exceed quality standards for services and employment practices –honoring the dignity and worth of all people. Geitner is an industrious community collaborator who invites diverse perspectives to inform strategic expansion and address community needs. Geitner serves on several boards, including The Lifetime Health Care Companies, Mercy Flight Central, Person Centered Services Care Coordinating Organization, and the National Council of Christians of Renewal and Compassion. She is chair of the Home Care of Rochester Advisory Board and a member of the Excellus Rochester Regional Advisory Board. Geitner has been recognized by the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce Women’s Council as an ATHENA honoree and by the Rochester Business Journal as a Woman of Influence, Power 100 leader, Circle of Excellence inductee, Health Care Hero and more.

Dr. LaShunda Leslie-Smith- Dr. LaShunda Leslie-Smith is the Executive Director of Connected Communities, Inc., where she is a dynamic leader dedicated to building equitable, person-centered systems that empower communities affected by poverty through innovative solutions in education, health, and housing. With a Doctorate in Social Work from the University of Southern California and advanced certifications in nonprofit leadership, she blends academic rigor with her core values of equity and community-centered progress. Dr. Leslie-Smith previously led the Young Women’s College Prep Foundation, and as a motivational speaker, she inspires others by sharing her personal journey of resilience, having navigated teen motherhood to become a nationally recognized leader and recipient of honors such as 40 Under 40 and the Circle of Excellence.

Larry Marx- Larry Marx is the CEO of The Children’s Agenda, a Rochester-based organization that advocates both locally and statewide for effective, equitable policies, particularly for families and children most impacted by poverty, racism, health inequities, and trauma. Nationally, his influence is demonstrated by his three-year tenure as board co-chair of the Partnership for America’s Children, a network of advocacy groups across 44 states. Marx is a key policy advisor at the state level, having been appointed to the Governor’s Early Childhood Advisory Council, and locally, he serves on the Steering Committee of the Rochester-Monroe Anti-Poverty Initiative (RMAPI) and the Executive Committee of ROC the Future.

Angie Perez-Delgado- Angelica (Angie) Perez-Delgado is the President and CEO of the Ibero-American Action League, a position she was appointed to in 2019 after accumulating over 25 years of non-profit experience that began as a substance abuse therapist. A native of Rochester’s North Clinton neighborhoods, Angie possesses a powerful, personal connection to the community she serves; she attributes her ability to turn her life around—after experiencing poverty and dropping out of high school as a young teenage mother—to the very services she now leads. She holds a Master of Science in Health Administration and is an active grassroots Latino community organizer, leveraging her academic foundation and lived experience to participate in various community advisory groups.

Session 4– Inspire: From Doctrine to Disenfranchisement: High School Scholars Lead the Historical Reckoning of U.S. Racism – Wilson Magnet High School and ROC the Future Alliance 

Ro’Niyah Bentley - Grade 11 - Wilson Magnet High School - Hi, my name is Niyah Bentley, and I’m an 11th grader at Wilson Magnet High School . I’m part of the Antiracist Literature class, where we’ve been learning how writing connects to history, identity, and justice. My project focuses on how racism is the bedrock of America and how it continues to shape the world we live in today. This class really helps me understand how deeply racism is built into our systems and why it’s important to talk about it. In the future, I want to keep using my voice to bring awareness to issues like racism and inspire others to speak up for change.

Angel Manning - Grade 12 - Wilson Magnet High School - Allow me to introduce myself as Angel Manning. I attend Wilson Magnet High School and am enrolled as a senior. The course that I'm taking that has helped me get here is the ‘Antiracist Literature’ class. In the eight weeks that I've been in this class, I've learned so much about projecting my voice. Within the class, I was inspired to write my argumentative essay on the “bedrock of racism in the USA,” and it helped me project my own opinions. I have always been told I can’t do this or that, which made me shy and nervous about telling people how I really feel because I was afraid of their opinion about me. It seemed like it could never change, but I know now that opinions can change. My voice is powerful and persistent in ways that I couldn't even imagine. I want to be a Pharmacist. This huge goal will require patience and time management. In this case I would have to speak up about getting the resources that can help me get there.

Haji Noor - Grade 12 - Wilson Magnet High School - Hello, it is a pleasure to have the opportunity to be considered for such an important role at such an important event. My name is Haji Noor, and I am a senior attending Joseph C. Wilson High School. One of my many classes, Anti Racist Literature, has made this topic very interesting to me, and that led to me putting my all into the essay I wrote. Ms. Chitaphong recognized my writing talent and encouraged me to speak at this huge event with all these different people, and I am more than excited to do so. I'm hoping that my essay regarding ''Racism is the bedrock of the USA'' can inform and teach people what they might have never heard about the history around the U.S.A and how crucial a role slavery played in the making of our country. My future goals consist of being accepted into the University of Rochester and having the opportunity to help more people by becoming a doctor. That's what really drives me to do this and become a doctor: having the ability to help people regardless of the circumstances. 

Robert Holley - Grade 11 - Wilson Magnet High School - My name is Robert Holley.  I'm in 11th grade, and I go to WIlson Magnet High School. I take Anti-racist Literature, and at first I didn't want to be in this class, but it helps me grow as a student. What drives me to be interested and engaged in this topic is that I'm an African-American myself, and I've seen a lot of racism and discrimination and learned about it over the years. I found it intriguing that I could express it through an essay and get to talk about the topic. Ms.Chitapong, the amazing teacher she is, helps us learn about it in class and gain more knowledge about the foundation of racism and where it came from. I hope to reach an understanding with my voice, and I hope to reach out to other students to really understand our future and the hardships our ancestors went through to get us where we are today. 

Clay Nelson - Grade 12 - Wilson Magnet High School - Clay Nelson is an eccentric and creative high schooler with a knack for fashion. Nelson is 16 years old and experiencing senior year in the class of 2026 at Wilson Magnet High School. Regardless of the fact that the subject of Racism in America is generally studied in the class of Antiracist Literature that they attend at this school, controversial Racism has always been an interest of theirs, especially regarding the opinions of other African American people on racism. The following essay was greatly inspired by what was learned in said class of literature and the acknowledgment of the lack of knowledge Nelson actually had on how racism in the U.S has progressed. They hope that with this essay, they can broaden and educate the minds of those who also lack that knowledge and are willing to truly get to know their country and its real history. 

Afternoon Workshops

RASE: The Next Phase – Members of the RASE Commission Community Advancing Recommendation Teams

Education - Where Hope Grows: Equitable Education as a Catalyst for Systemic Change. 

Dr. Cait Loury - Dr. Cait Loury serves as the Chief Educational Officer of Renaissance Academy Charter School of the Arts in Rochester, New York. A founding member of the school, she has spent over a decade leading with vision and purpose to create an inclusive, arts-integrated, and academically rigorous environment where every child can thrive.  

Under her leadership, Renaissance Academy has become known for its innovative approach to teaching and learning, grounded in equity, creativity, and social-emotional development. Dr. Loury is deeply committed to empowering educators, fostering joyful school cultures, and ensuring that every student’s potential is seen and nurtured. 

Shae Singletary - Ms. Singletary has been a dedicated member of the Renaissance Academy Charter School of the Arts community since 2015. Beginning as an Associate Teacher and now serving as Assistant Principal of Student Support, she brings a wealth of experience as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, and mental health professional. 

With a Bachelor’s in Childhood and Special Education and a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Ms. Singletary leads with empathy, authenticity, and a deep belief in the power of community. Her work centers on creating environments where every child feels seen, valued, and supported—breaking barriers, nurturing belonging, and empowering students to imagine and achieve their fullest potential. 

 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - To DEI or Not to DEI- That is the Question.

Jamie Warren - Director of People & Culture, Heritage Christian Services 

Jamie Warren serves as the Director of People & Culture at Heritage Christian Services, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Western and Central New York. In her role, Jamie leads initiatives that strengthen organizational culture, employee engagement, and inclusive leadership. She also chairs the agency’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Committee and founded Empower HERitage, an employee resource group designed to elevate and empower women of color in the workplace. 

Before joining Heritage Christian Services, Jamie served as the Chief People Officer at Foodlink, where she advanced equity-centered workforce initiatives, and as the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources for Buffalo Public Schools for six years, where she led district-wide recruitment, labor relations, and leadership development efforts. 

With a background spanning education, labor relations, and human resources, Jamie is passionate about building workplaces rooted in dignity, belonging, and accountability. Her leadership centers on amplifying underrepresented voices and creating pathways for growth that honor both people and purpose. 

 Environmental Justice – AI in social change work - a double-edged sword

Abigail McHugh-Grifa, Ph.D. - Abigail McHugh-Grifa was a founding member of the Climate Solutions Accelerator of the Genesee-Finger Lakes Region and New York State’s first Mothers Out Front chapter. Her early climate advocacy work also included co-coordinating Rochester’s Citizens’ Climate Lobby chapter. She currently serves as the Accelerator’s Executive Director and is a member of New York State’s Climate Justice Working Group. Though she holds a Ph.D. in Music Education from the Eastman School of Music, she gave up her career in music to dedicate herself to climate advocacy work out of concern for her two young sons, whose futures depend on our collective efforts to maintain stable global temperatures. 

Todd Butler - President & CEO of Causewave Community Partners

Todd Butler is the President and CEO of Causewave Community Partners in Rochester, NY. At Causewave, Todd leads a team of talented changemakers on their quest to make nonprofits stronger and communities better through a suite of offerings in the areas of strategy, operations, and marketing. Prior to joining Causewave in 2005 (then called The Advertising Council of Rochester), Todd spent the majority of his career in communications roles for community-based organizations. Todd received his Bachelor of Science in Communications from the Park School at Ithaca College and his Master of Science in Strategic Leadership from Roberts Wesleyan College.

Todd currently serves on the board of the Rochester Area Community Foundation. He is the immediate past chair of the board of the Council of Agency Executives and is an elected member of the Board of Education for the Greece Central School District. He lives in Greece, NY with his wife, Andrea. They have three adult children.

Law and Politics - Planning for the Inevitable: Preparing the community for SNAP benefit cuts

Denise Read - Denise is the Deputy Commissioner for the Monroe County Department of Human Services (DHS). In this role,  Denise has oversight for all public benefit programs administered within the County, including the Child Care Assistance Program, as well as Finance/Accounting, Staff Development, the Office of Community Engagement and Partnerships and supports the Commissioner in all other Divisions of the Agency. Denise is the Department’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Liasion. In her role, Denise participates in various workgroups and projects related to the work of the Agency throughout the Rochester Community.