Advertise on podcast: Rochester Speaks

Dr. Melvin Cross Jr., pastor of Amplify Church in downtown Rochester, joins the show for a wide ranging conversation about faith, community and the role the local church plays in the health of our city. Dr. Cross shares why he believes healthy churches build healthy communities, what the data actually shows about Gen Alpha returning to church and what they are looking for when they get there, and why Rochester's faith community, despite doing significant work, is operating about a decade behind cities of similar size. He also talks about the Care Portal, a technology that connects local churches directly to the Department of Human Services to meet real time family needs, and makes the case for why faith based organizations across denominational and even religious lines can collaborate around a common cause without compromising their own beliefs. For anyone who has experienced church hurt or simply drifted away, Dr. Cross has something honest and direct to say about trying again, and how to find a community that will actually meet you where you are. Find Dr. Cross on all social media platforms at Melvin Cross Jr. and find Amplify Church at Amplifyny.org. Sunday services are at 10:30am at 111 North Chestnut Street in Rochester.

Christina Thompson, Executive Director, and Shawn Futch, board member and breast cancer survivor, join the show during Breast Cancer Awareness Month to talk about what the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester does, why local giving matters more than most people realize and what the organization means to the people it serves. Christina shares something every consumer should know before buying a pink product this month, why 100% of every dollar donated to BCCR stays in the community, how the coalition funds two local research grants every year and what is changing in December when gynecologic cancer research gets added to the mix. Shawn shares what it felt like to walk through those doors at the beginning of her diagnosis and why she has never left. The single most valuable thing you can do before October ends does not have to cost a thing. Visit bccr.org or breastcancercoalition.org, share it with your network, or call 585.473.8177 to learn about volunteering, programs or how to support someone you know who may need them.

Jeremias Maneiro, associate broker at RE/MAX, joins the show to talk about one of the fastest growing threats facing Rochester renters and property owners, AI powered real estate scams, and how he accidentally became the local expert on stopping them. Jeremias walks through how rental scams have evolved from simple listing grabs to fully fabricated properties with AI generated photos and addresses, shares a jaw dropping local case where a scammer moved tenants into a vacant home for months without the owner knowing, and explains how vacant land is now being fraudulently listed and sold. He also shares the strategy he used to trace 380 fake rental accounts back to a single overseas scam operation using AI itself to find the pattern. The biggest takeaways: if a deal looks too good to be true in Rochester's low inventory market it almost certainly is, never wire money or send a deposit through Venmo or PayPal without verifying in person, and always find contact information yourself rather than trusting what someone sends you. Learn more at jmanai.com.

JoAnne Ryan, President and CEO of Ronald McDonald House Rochester, joins the show ahead of Bee a Hero Day this Friday to share what the day is all about and how the community can get involved. JoAnne shares what it looks like when a family arrives at the house, sometimes with nothing but the clothes on their back after a child has been mercy flighted to the hospital, and how Ronald McDonald House clears every logistical barrier so parents can focus entirely on their child. With 80% of funding coming from community generosity, events like Be a Hero Day are what keep those doors open for the 3,000 families the house serves every year. This year's goal is $165,000. You can call in, donate online or give via Venmo throughout the day from 5:30am to 7:00pm on BE 92.5 and News10 NBC. Tim and Susan Fournier and the Fournier Family Foundation will match every gift up to $25,000 between 4:00 and 7:00pm. Every pizza sold at Salvatore's on Friday October 16th will also return 10% to the house thanks to Soccer Sam. Visit ronaldmcdonaldhouserochester.org to donate or learn more.

Barry Howard, President and CEO of the Webster Chamber of Commerce, and Barb Baldwin join the show to walk through everything changing for 2027 during annual enrollment season, and remind Rochester area residents that expert guidance is available at no cost through RocEnroll Health. Barry explains which major carriers are leaving the Monroe County Medicare market for 2027, what the new $2,400 drug out of pocket maximum means for Medicare Advantage members, why working with a broker gives you a view of the full market that going direct to a carrier never will, and why anyone turning 65 in 2027 should be making a call right now. Barb walks through open enrollment for those under 65, running November 16th through December 15th, and what early retirees need to know before their coverage ends. Medicare annual enrollment runs October 15th through December 7th. Call 585.265.3851, visit rocenrollhealth.com or stop by the Webster Chamber office to schedule your free consultation with Barry or Barb.

Sheriff Todd Baxter and Ron Billitier, board member and pig roast chair of the Monroe County Sheriff's Foundation, join the show to talk about the annual pig roast coming up October 18th from noon to 4pm at Tony D's, and why the foundation's work matters more than most people realize. Sheriff Baxter shares what the foundation actually funds that taxpayers do not cover, including mental health and wellness staff embedded in the department, state of the art gym facilities at zone stations and the new Regional Investigation Operations Center, a first of its kind technology fusion center in Upstate New York that helped solve a homicide in four hours. He also shares his honest take on speed cameras and what good culture looks like inside a 1,200 person organization. Ron explains how the pig roast has grown into one of the community's most beloved events, with bagpipes, live entertainment from Claudia Heuser and a crowd that keeps asking to come back. Tickets are close to sold out. Register and learn more at monroecountysheriffsfoundation.org/events.

Katlyn Newberry, Community Outreach Coordinator at the Cancer Services Program of the Finger Lakes, returns to Rochester Speaks during Breast Cancer Awareness Month to talk about four upcoming Saturday screening opportunities and why getting a mammogram this fall could be one of the most important things you do all year. Katlyn shares why early detection changes everything, what to watch for between appointments, and why the anxiety around going is almost always worse than the appointment itself. She also explains how the Cancer Services Program covers the full cost of breast, cervical and colon cancer screenings for anyone in Monroe, Livingston, Seneca, Yates, Ontario or Wayne County without health insurance, including all diagnostic and follow-up care. Four Saturday screening days are coming up. October 10th at Elizabeth Wendy Breast Care on Sawgrass Drive, October 17th at Highland Breast Imaging on Red Creek Drive, November 7th at the brand new Thompson Health Breast Imaging Center in Canandaigua and December 13th back at Elizabeth Wendy. CSP staff will be on site at each event. To enroll or make an appointment call 585.224.3070, or visit their website.

Albert Nocciolino, producer and presenter for the Rochester Broadway Theater League, joins the show to talk about Boop!, the brand new Broadway musical making its national touring debut right here in Rochester October 3rd through 10th at West Herr Auditorium Theatre. Albert shares why Rochester was chosen to open the tour, what the economic impact looks like when 100 cast and crew members spend four weeks in the city, and what improvements to the West Herr Auditorium Theatre mean for the patron experience this season. He also walks through all seven shows in the 2026 to 2027 M&T Bank Broadway Season and makes the case for why this is one of the strongest lineups RBTL has put together in years. With over 9,000 season ticket holders already committed, single tickets for Boop! and season packages for all seven shows are still available. Get tickets and season packages at rbtl.org or through Ticketmaster.

Krista Jackson, board member of Embrace Your Sisters, joins the show to celebrate the organization's 20th anniversary and talk about the 15th annual Positively Pink in Pittsford Walk happening Sunday October 4th at Pittsford Sutherland High School. Krista shares how Embrace Your Sisters has quietly given away nearly $1 million in emergency financial assistance to breast cancer patients across 13 counties, all through a 100% volunteer board with no overhead, so every dollar donated goes directly to people in the community. She also shares her own experience as a breast cancer survivor and what it means to be able to focus on healing without the weight of financial stress. Check in starts at 9:00 AM with the walk kicking off at 10:00 AM. Raise $30 and receive a Positively Pink T-shirt. Girl Scouts will be on site for face painting, Lucky Duck Donuts and Blue Dog Drink Company from Victor will have refreshments available and walkers are encouraged to come solo, as a team, or in honor of a loved one. The goal this year is $25,000, and almost 40% of that has been raised so far. Register at embraceyoursisters.org or show up October 4th at 9:00 AM. To apply for assistance or learn more call or text 585.624.9690.

Brian Keene, Director of Facilities and Special Projects, and Whitney Snead, Director of Development at the House of Mercy, join the show to talk about a major new Medicaid program that is quietly changing the way Rochester's most vulnerable residents get help and why eligible people need to act now. Brian explains how the New York State Social Care Network came to be, why the House of Mercy was one of the first organizations the state approached to participate and what nearly $2 million in direct financial assistance distributed in just two years has looked like on the ground, from rental assistance to utility support to moving costs and security deposits for people transitioning out of shelter into housing. Whitney reminds listeners that while the Social Care Network serves Medicaid members specifically, the House of Mercy's doors are open to all people regardless of insurance status, and that mission of connection and care has not changed in over 40 years. If you are a Medicaid or Medicaid managed care member, getting screened into the Social Care Network should happen as soon as possible. You can walk into the House of Mercy, download the Find Help app at the Apple or Google Play Store, self-refer at forwardleadingindependentprovider.org or learn more about the House of Mercy itself at houseofmercy.org.

Debra Ross, founder of Kidsoutandabout.com and co-chair of the National Eclipse Task Force, joins the show to talk about her new book The Eclipse Effect and what the experience of organizing Rochester's total solar eclipse response taught her about community, leadership and what it means to seize an extraordinary moment. Debra shares how she went from eclipse skeptic to the woman who spent seven years rallying 175 active members and hundreds more around a single moment in the sky, how Rochester became the national gold standard for eclipse community organizing, and why cloudy skies on April 8th 2024 did not make the event a failure at all. She also makes the case that the same principles apply to anniversary parties, civic events, sports championships or any other catalyst that pulls people together. The Eclipse Effect is available at theeclipseeffect.com and wherever books are sold.

Julio Vazquez, Board Chair, and Eugenio Marlin, Vice Chair, of Eugenio Maria de Hostos Charter School join the show to share the story of Rochester's longest running and only bilingual charter school, and to talk about the brand new 54 million dollar campus now open on Joseph Avenue. Julio and Eugenio explain how the dual language model works from kindergarten through graduation, why being bilingual is an asset in virtually every career field, and what makes a charter school structure different from a traditional public school in ways that benefit students and families directly. They also share how the new building came together, what naming opportunities exist for community donors, and why the school is now a genuine anchor for the Joseph Avenue neighborhood. Tours are available for anyone interested in learning more or exploring whether the school is the right fit for their child. The lottery opens each spring and city school district students receive preference. Visit emhcharter.org to apply, donate or request a tour.

Erica Fee, CEO of the ESL Rochester Fringe Festival, joins the show to preview 12 days of performances across 45 venues running September 15th through 26th, and make the case for why Rochester showing up for this festival matters beyond just entertainment. Erica highlights a handful of must see shows including Tea Party at the End of the World with only 30 tickets, Just to Be Close to You with 60 tickets and 10 awards, the outdoor Circus in the City at Parcel 5 on September 18th and 19th and Pete Davidson at Eastman Theatre on September 25th. She also talks about the economic ripple effect of the festival, what it does for downtown venues long term and why getting younger Rochesterians comfortable downtown is one of the festival's quieter victories. There are five ways to get tickets. Buy online at rochesterfringe.com, through the app in the Apple or Google Play Store, by phone at 585.957.9857, at the main festival box office at Main and Gibbs starting September 13th or at any venue door one hour before showtime.

Tom O'Connor, President of Al Sigl Community of Agencies, joins the show to talk about two of their biggest fall events and what makes this 65 year old Rochester institution unlike anything else in the country. Tom shares how Al Sigl supports seven nonprofit member agencies by providing space, shared services and fundraising infrastructure so they can focus on serving over 55,000 children and adults with disabilities and special needs in our community. He also spotlights Medical Motor Service and Rochester Hearing and Speech Center as two member agencies doing especially critical work that many Rochesterians do not know about. Fine Tastings is September 24th at Monroe Golf Club featuring local restaurants, wineries, breweries and distilleries plus a new mocktail experience from Threads and Tonic. The Community Walkabout is a free accessible trick or treat and costume contest at Eastview Mall, wrapping up before the Bills kick off. Register and find sponsorship opportunities at alsigl.org/tastings and alsigl.org/events.

Colleen Parsons and Rob Poltrino, co-chairs of the Cancer Support Community Rochester Heroes Ball, join the show to talk about an organization that has been serving everyone touched by cancer since 1959 and the upcoming gala that helps make it all possible. Colleen shares what CSC Rochester actually offers, from one on one mental health counseling and support groups to yoga, art classes, a food pantry and a kitchen where community groups can come cook dinner for members. Everything is free to members. Rob shares what brought him to CSC and why he believes in it deeply enough to help lead their biggest fundraiser of the year. That fundraiser is the Heroes Ball on Friday October 9th at the Hyatt Regency downtown, featuring Buffalo Bills Hall of Famer Thurman Thomas as the keynote speaker. From 9:00 to 9:45pm attendees will have the chance to get a photo with Thomas. A VIP pre-event is also available while tickets last. Get tickets, learn about volunteer opportunities or reach out about community chefs nights at cscrochester.org/heroesball.