Our Vision
It is our vision to see connections take shape for the purposes of helping our community thrive. Through bridging the gap between disconnected communities in the Greater Rochester Area, we provide a comprehensive, holistic, and community-based approach to imagine a world without poverty or discrimination.
Our Mission
It is the mission of Save Rochester Inc. to develop and implement a comprehensive and holistic set of community-based programs designed to eliminate and/or alleviate challenges of poverty for people living in Rochester, N.Y. and its surrounding counties, as such fall under the areas described as the The Greater Rochester Area by The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, including: Monroe County, Genesee County, Livingston County, Ontario County, Orleans County, Seneca County, Wayne County, Wyoming County, and Yates County. Our goal is to implement a comprehensive and holistic set of community-based programs supported by our (5) Five pillars: Food and Nutrition, Housing and Employment, Academic Education (The Academy), Environmental Education (Clean World), and Social Advocacy.
Save Rochester Inc. believes that poverty is a multi-faceted problem and adversely impacts people of color in The Greater Rochester Area; so, each of our Five Pillars are designed to eliminate or alleviate what we consider the symptoms of poverty. We believe that systemic discrimination has perpetuated the social and economic conditions that make it nearly impossible for people to escape poverty. Additionally, those living just above the poverty line face similar challenges and are at-risk of returning to poverty. Therefore, we serve all people living below the poverty line as well as those whose total household income is up to 30 percent above the poverty line. Save Rochester Inc. will network and collaborate with businesses, professionals, and non-profit and government organizations in The Greater Rochester Area to ensure that we diligently pursue the objectives of our mission and that those who are able to rise above poverty are not at risk of returning to poverty.
Delaina Carraway is a founding member of the Board of Directors for Save Rochester Inc.. She is a Rochester native and a school teacher in the Rochester City School District. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Nazareth College with a minor in Youth Development. She has also earned a Master of Science in Education from Nazareth College with a certification to instruct children from birth through 2nd grade in both general education and special education.
Delaina has a passion for working with youth and growing up in the inner city has continued to inspire her to give back to her community. She has helped to facilitate and cook hot breakfast meals for church members and those in need in our community. She has put together Thanksgiving baskets with help from Food Link and has played a key role in delegating sign-ups and registering participants for volunteer roles in community engagement.
Delaina is currently advocating for a more culturally responsive curriculum in Rochester city schools to bring about a more equitable Teachers’ Union, with an emphasis on transparency and collaborative communication.
Timothy Ellis is a founding member of the Board of Directors for Save Rochester Inc.. He is a native of Rochester, N.Y. and a small business owner. He has successfully owned and operated his business since 2016, wherein he employs and empowers what he considers to be disenfranchised members of Rochester’s community.
New York State transport, Tim Ellis' moving company, primarily employs Black men, including those with criminal records and those without formal education or vocational training. While in High School, he realized that traditional academic education did not serve his personal goals, so he left school early to earn his General Equivalency Diploma from Monroe Community College and afterward studied Behavioral Science. Eventually, he found himself serving the needs of underrepresented youth in New York City while working for the St. Christopher-Ottilie organization.
While helping youth at St. Christopher-Ottilie with life skills and daily activities, Tim realized that exposing youth to education was essential in ensuring their success as productive citizens. His experience with youth motivated him to provide opportunities for underrepresented populations in his hometown of Rochester, N.Y.
Shadel Bradford is a Rochester, NY native and a Licensed Practical Nurse at St. Johns Living currently working as a Reimbursement Nurse. She earned her license at Isabella Graham Hart School of Nursing through Rochester Regional Health. She has also earned her Minimum Data Set Coordination certification through the American Association of Post-Acute Nursing.
The City of Rochester and its people is something that Shadel holds very dear to her heart. She has worked in the community as a nurse helping those in the inner city in their homes with their healthcare needs such as medication administration and dressing wounds, obtaining appropriate home health care services and overall management of their healthcare needs. She has also worked for the Rochester City School District as a long term substitute school nurse, working with children in multiple elementary, middle and high schools in the City of Rochester.
Shadel has participated in multiple fundraising events for members of the community and has a passion for helping the underserved people of the community. Spreading awareness of the problems that we are currently facing and being a part of the solution to revitalize and strengthen the City of Rochester.
Shadel is also currently attending Roberts Weslyan College working towards her bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration. She is married with two great kids that she makes sure are growing to be a part of this great community.
Brady Fergusson is a Rochester native and proud dad of two students in the Rochester City School District (RCSD). An alumnus of the RCSD, as well as the University of Pennsylvania, Mr. Fergusson previously worked with middle and high school students in the district as an Academic Advisor and Basketball Coach. Supporting the development of young people in our community has been, and remains, one of Brady's passions.
Brady is also passionate about climate change and climate justice for our community and for people around the world. He works as Director of Public Engagement of the Climate Solutions Accelerator of the Genesee-Finger Lakes Region, whose mission is to build a healthier, more equitable, and environmentally sustainable community. Mr. Fergusson is especially inspired in this work by his relatives in Kiribati, whose islands in the Central Pacific Ocean are severely threatened by the impacts of climate change. Brady hopes to involve more youth and more people overall in action on climate change that can bring multiple benefits to communities around our region.
Spending time with his wife and kids is important for Brady, as well as staying active in the Swillburg Neighborhood where they live, as well as with the Returned Peace Corps Volunteer community. He also enjoys exercising, exploring the outdoors, reading, movies, eating good food, and watching the Buffalo Bills.
Save Rochester Inc. will allocate a significant amount of time and resources to promote a more equitable world for all. Within the past year, our communities have suffered from instances of police violence, instances of racial injustice, and an overall visceral frustration with the way America has disenfranchised Black and Brown people.
Save Rochester Inc. will engage in developing and implementing innovative social services that will allow our case managers to identify and support specific cases of food insecurity, nutrition deficiency, and kinesthetic deficit. Currently, our food basket deliveries eliminate the challenges clients face in securing food due to transportation challenges.
In order to facilitate sustainable living for all clients we will utilize a network of donors, sponsors, and grants to provide vouchers and similar services for our clients, including home furnishings.
Sustainable Employment plays a vital role in sustainable housing. Save Rochester Inc. will, whenever feasible, provide employment opportunities in any of our Five Pillar outreach programs to clients who meet employment eligibility for any open position.
Save Rochester Inc. will utilize data from urban and suburban public school districts throughout The Greater Rochester Area, as well as other educational institutions, to assess the needs of eligible students for client-focused tutoring.
Save Rochester Inc. will engage in activities which promote the success of healthy and sustainable environmental markets for businesses by collaborating with municipalities within the Greater Rochester area.
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