November 1, 2007

United Way Recognizes Graduates of Leadership Development Program

AALDP Trains and Promotes The Placement of Local African-Americans In Leadership Positions In Our Community

Rochester, NY — The United Way of Greater Rochester honored its 2007 graduates of the African American Leadership Development Program (AALDP). A formal commencement ceremony was held at the Hyatt Regency in Rochester on Thursday, November 1. The commencement ceremony featured a keynote address delivered Dr. Mary Francis Winters, Founder of The Winters Group – a local development and diversity consulting firm.

AALDP is a unique 10-day development program that identifies, trains and promotes the placement of African Americans in policy-making positions of community organizations in the Greater Rochester area. Participants receive guidance from community leaders in effective communication, leadership styles, board and committee responsibilities, team building, decision making and conflict resolution. A total of 522 individuals have graduated from AALDP since it began in 1992, and many now sit on local nonprofit boards.

“These graduates have truly demonstrated their dedication to bettering the Rochester community through their service and leadership, and I commend them for their efforts,” said Peter Carpino, President and CEO of United Way of Greater Rochester.

Members of the African American Leadership Development Program 2007 graduating class and their sponsoring employers include: Carl Wyatt Aaron - Rochester Housing Authority, Audrey Alexander- Eltrex Industries Tonya Barnes - Planned Parenthood of the Rochester, Condenessa Barron - Hillside Work-Scholarship, Clinton Bell - Rochester City School District, Sarah Billings - Eastman Kodak Company, Gregory Bouie - Willow Group Ltd., Malcolm Boyd - Veteran's Administration, John Breedy - Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Leonard Brock - The Community Place of Rochester, Charmaine Cohen - Rochester City School District, Shiera Coleman- City of Rochester, Isaac Collins - The Community Place of Rochester, Anice Davis-Saunders- Catholic Family Center, Tassie Demps - City of  Rochester-Human Resources, Donald Hardaway, Jr. - Rochester Fatherhood Resource Initiative, John Hood - New England Financial, Christian Jefferson - Charles Settlement House, Tiawana Jenkins – WXXI, Rolanda Johnson-Abney - Hillside Children's Center, Dorthea King-Simpson - Rochester Childfirst Network, Lillian Knight Faison - Jewish Home of Rochester, Joan Lee - City of Rochester-Public Library, Jennifer Lindsey-Kilburn - Sterling, Inc., Tameakia Little - Via Health -Rochester General Hospital, Stephanie Mack - Time Warner Cable, Gwendolyn Marshall – LDA, Natosha McDonald - Xerox Corporation, Joe McGee - Lifetime Assistance, Inc., Venessa Mitchell - University of Rochester, Camechia Nesmith – Lifespan, Jacqueline Pulsifer - City of Rochester-Police Department, Lorienda Smith, Deidre Taccone - City of Rochester-Police Department, Carol Terry - Eastman Kodak Company, Regenail Thomas - Hillside Family of Agencies, Michelle Thompson-Taylor  - University of Rochester, Gladys Vasciannie - Rochester City School District, Scotty Wall - Time Warner Cable, Larry Waller - Pfaudler Company, Alyssa Whitfield - Heritage In Action, Shenise Williams - ABVI Goodwill.

Thursday’s commencement program was Deborah Ham Whitt Insurance Agency, Inc.

For further information about AALDP, please contact Program Coordinator Rodney Young at (585) 242-6556.



United Way’s mission is to magnify and focus the power of community resources to address our most pressing social needs.