03/10/2026
Our hearts are heavy this afternoon.
Another young life in Rochester is fighting for survival after a shooting on Wellington Avenue Monday evening. A 17-year-old boy is currently in critical condition after being struck by gunfire. While the investigation remains ongoing and details are still unfolding, one thing is painfully clear: far too many of our young people are continuing to be caught in cycles of violence that no child should ever have to navigate.
Behind every headline like this is more than just a police investigation or a news story. There is a young person with dreams, goals, friendships, and a future that should be filled with opportunity. There is a family sitting in a hospital today praying for their child. There are friends, teachers, mentors, and community members who are struggling to process the fear, anger, and heartbreak that comes with incidents like this.
At ROC Youth Community Engagement (RYCE), moments like this remind us why our work matters so deeply.
Every day we work with young people who are navigating incredibly complex environments—school pressures, community violence, family struggles, mental health challenges, and systems that can sometimes feel overwhelming or difficult to access. Many of the youth we support are doing their best to find stability, guidance, and positive pathways forward despite the challenges around them.
That is why mentorship, safe spaces, and consistent support matter so much.
Our youth deserve adults in their lives who are willing to listen, guide, advocate, and stand beside them when things feel uncertain. They deserve programs that give them opportunities to grow, learn, and build confidence in who they are and who they can become.
Today, we are sending our thoughts and prayers to this young man and his family as they face an incredibly difficult and frightening moment. No family should ever have to receive that phone call. No parent should ever have to wait anxiously in a hospital hoping their child survives an act of violence.
But prayers alone are not enough.
As a community, we must continue doing the work—together. Preventing youth violence requires collaboration between families, schools, mentors, community organizations, public agencies, and neighbors who care about the future of our young people. It requires creating environments where youth feel supported rather than isolated, heard rather than ignored, and empowered rather than forgotten.
It also requires recognizing that our young people need more than discipline or punishment when they struggle. They need guidance, opportunity, and people who are willing to invest in their potential.
At RYCE, we remain committed to being part of that solution.
Our mission is to help bridge the gaps that often exist between youth, families, schools, and community systems. Through mentorship, advocacy, restorative practices, youth engagement programs, and resource coordination, we work to ensure that young people have access to the support they need before situations escalate into crisis.
If you are a young person who needs support, know that you are not alone.
If you are a parent or guardian worried about your child, please reach out.
RYCE585.org
If you are someone in the community who wants to help create safer spaces and stronger opportunities for our youth, we welcome your partnership.
It takes all of us working together to change the narrative.
Rochester’s youth deserve to feel safe in their neighborhoods.
They deserve access to mentors who believe in them.
They deserve opportunities to grow, lead, and succeed.
And most importantly, they deserve a future that is not defined by violence.
Today we stand with this young man and his family.
And tomorrow we continue the work of building a community where tragedies like this become far less common.
RYCE remains committed to standing with our community and supporting young people every step of the way.
Support the next generation of leaders by fostering community resources and empowering youth through effective advocacy for youth and the development of leadership skills.
