Urban-Suburban Alumni Association

01/06/2026

U-S Alumni — We Need Your Voice! 🎥

Were you part of the Urban-Suburban Program? Your story matters — and it can inspire future students and families.

We’re inviting U-S alumni to submit a short 30–60 second video sharing:
✨ Why someone should join the Urban-Suburban Program
✨ How the program impacted you as a student and how it continues to impact you today

These videos will be featured in a week-long digital campaign launching Monday, January 19, highlighting the lasting impact of U-S across our community.

📱 Videos can be recorded on your phone — no special equipment needed.
⏰ Please send your video as soon as possible and before the campaign launch to be included.

📩 Submit your video to:
[email protected]

Thank you for continuing to represent U-S and for helping uplift the next generation of students. We can’t wait to hear your story!

12/25/2025

Merry Christmas! What’s a Christmas activity you remember that we don’t practice anymore? Going to Sibley’s Bargain basement! Window shopping for toys at Woolworth’s, smelling the freshly roasted nuts smell from the peanut shop at Main and Clinton! Go!

12/02/2025

✨ Calling All Urban-Suburban Alumni! ✨
Were you part of the Urban-Suburban program? We want to hear from you!
Our alumni are an important part of the program’s story, and we’re excited to create new opportunities for you to reconnect, share your experiences, and get involved.
Whether you’d like to mentor current students, attend events, or simply stay connected, your voice matters. Please take a moment to fill out our quick survey and let us know how you’d like to be part of the Urban-Suburban community moving forward.
Urban-Suburban Alumni Survey Link:
https://forms.office.com/r/NQjSftBPgE

Thank you for continuing to shape the legacy of Urban-Suburban!

02/21/2025

🏆 Program Pioneers Announced!
We'll be recognizing three amazing Urban-Suburban champions who have had a lasting impact on the Program over its history.
💎Jessica Lewis
💎Lieselle Taylor
💎Theresa Woodson
Join us in celebrating their contributions at the event on March 20!
🎟️ Get your tickets today by visiting https://givebutter.com/U-S-60th-Event

02/21/2025

REMINDER! Tickets are on sale now for our 60 anniversary celebration on March 20 at the Memorial Art Gallery.
🎟️https://givebutter.com/U-S-60th-Event
🎟️ Get your tickets today, ticket sales close on March 7th!
🎟️Tickets include:
Reserved seat at the celebration
Three-course plated dinner
Admission to The Memorial Art Gallery before and after the event on March 20th, 2025
☞ Can't make the event? You can still donate to help us reach our fundraising goals: https://givebutter.com/U-S-60th-Event
Thank you to our sponsors!

03/15/2024

Rochester , NY: Freshen your front yards and gardens for the season. Remember to rotate annual crops to refreshen nutrients in the soil. FREE Seeds!

Our partners at 490 Farmers and Taproot Collective are hosting their 3rd Annual Seed Swap! This FREE event will be at the Edgerton R-Center in collaboration with the City of Rochester on Sat. March 30 from 2-4!

02/06/2024

Rochester NY: On Saturday October 3, 2024, The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Western NY Middle School Regional STEM competition returned to Rochester, NY after a 10 year absence! The local program sponsors were the University of Rochester, STAAR Leaders of Rochester, and City of Rochester’s Northwest Neighborhood Service Center for working to re-establish Rochester as the new home of DOE Western NY Regional Science Bowl. This DOE Middle School Science Bowl Regional program were previously centered in Buffalo, NY. In July 2023, City of Rochester Administrator Kelvin Knight was selected as the DOE Western NY Science Bowl Regional Coordinator. Knight moved the competition from Buffalo back to Rochester, NY. Kelvin Knight has over 20 years experience as a DOE Science Bowl Regional Moderator and local Science Bowl Team Coach. Mr. Knight, stated “Rochester is New York’s center of STEM innovation and creation and the geographic center to Western New York.” “I want to highlight the City of Rochester and all the great colleges and Universities in the area.” “I plan on doing more STEM events for students in the future!” Mr. Knight plans to add a high school Science Bowl competition next year. The DOE National Science Bowl competition’s focus is to encourage local youth to engage in STEM academics from middle school through high school graduation and on into college or a STEM career path. Multiple middle school teams from Western NY met up the University of Rochester’s River Campus to compete. Clarence Middle School of Buffalo won Saturday’s competition. The Clarence students and their coach have won an all-expense trip including paid flights, free lodging, and free city tours while the competing in Washington, D.C. at DOE’s National Science Bowl Finals this April.

07/30/2023

One of my favorite lines from one of my favorite movies “To Sir with Love” and its title song is “…taking me from crayons to perfume…”. I got a chance to see it play out in real life this summer as one of my former middle school STEM students came back to work with me and complete their college internship at my City of Rochester office this summer! She did a great job and learned some valuable work skills! She plans to be a lawyer! I’m so proud of her! Help me wish Janaa continued success!

01/24/2023

APPLY TODAY!
We're excited to announced that the Urban-Suburban Program application deadline has been extended to FEBRUARY 28! Visit https://www.monroe.edu/us or call (585) 249-7045 to get students in grades PreK4–8 signed up.

11/18/2021

As a research assistant, Samari Brown conducted archival research and helped create, write, produce, and perform in the HWC Theatre's production of "From Beyond: Geneva's Unheard Voices"

An Urban-Suburban alumna brought the untold stories of Geneva residents to the stage, in the first production to focus solely on the African American community.

10/22/2021

There are some experiences that only Urban-Suburban students can relate to. Check out this interview with West Irondequoit alum, Jessica Lewis, on Raising Rochester, a podcast with The Children's Agenda.

Jessica Lewis, ROC the Future’s Communications Specialist and Urban-Suburban program graduate, joins the show this week. She and host Pete Nabozny discuss her experiences in the Urban-Suburban Interdistrict Transfer program as a child, the origins and history of Urban-Suburban, her thoughts on var...

08/07/2021