Speaker

Dr. Kathryn Grow Allen

Join us on Thursday, August 1st at 5:30pm for Reflections on the River, previously Dinner on the Bridge!

The Downtown Central Library and Hacker Hall
115 South Avenue, Rochester, NY

We are thrilled to be hosting our event inside at Rundel Memorial Building, located at 115 South Ave, Rochester, NY 14604, while the Pont De Rennes Bridge has ongoing construction. We are continuing to build our sustainably focused urban state park at High Falls. Enjoy an evening of cocktails, live music, wise words from Dr. Kathryn Grow Allen, live auction, delicious appetizers and grazing stations from Root Catering, desserts, and more!

This years event will be cocktail style, instead of seated tables, ensuring more space to mix and mingle! Rest assured, there will be lounge areas and cozy nooks to sit at as well. This event is rain or shine. Cocktail hour will be held on the terrace outside if weather permits.

Celebrate Our History Through Famous Rochestarians from the Past!

We will celebrate Rochester’s incredible history through an art project exploring history’s Heros of Rochester. Local artists have ordained these figures as a part of our reflection of history, past and present. Many of them are well-known – but many of them have also been mostly forgotten to history and time. This project intends to educate, illuminate, and delight Rochester’s citizens. The auction of the evening will highlight on these Rochester figures and the history that they carry with them. Have a chance to own a piece of Rochester history!

Rochester River History…on Parade!

In 2019, the City auctioned off the High Falls Visitor Center exhibits. Greentopia purchased the exhibit of 33 pressboard silhouettes of “Famous Rochesterians.”  This project seeks to engage local area artists to reimagine, interpret, and put into visual context the natural and cultural heritage surrounding Rochester’s history. We plan to publish a book highlighting the artist and the artwork and delving into the history and stories surrounding impactful Rochesterians.

The artwork will be displayed to the public from July 1-July 30. Artists will be compensated for their time and creativity. Greentopia will auction the figures at its major fundraiser on August 1st at the downtown Public Library. All proceeds will directly support the Green Visions Workforce Development Program and further our efforts to promote the Park.

All attendees will enjoy cocktails on the newly renovated Library North Terrace overlooking the mighty Genesee, delicious hors d’oeuvres and finger food by Root Catering, live music, and a live and silent auction.

High Falls State Park and Greentopia…

Greentopia has advocated for public access to the incredible natural assets in High Falls for over 13 years and championed the Green Visions Workforce Development Program that hires, pays, and trains neighborhood youth to install and care for cut flower gardens on acres of formerly vacant lots in downtown Rochester. In 2022, Governor Hochul announced that we are getting an Urban State Park on 20 acres at the bottom of the gorge at High Falls. We are leading the charge to engage the public in the development and design of the Park. 

Reflections on the River supports Greentopia’s Green Visions — our workforce development program for youth located in the City of Rochester’s JOSANA and Joseph Ave neighborhoods. By joining us for dinner, you’re helping to build a greener Rochester and combat urban blight, crime, youth unemployment, and poverty. Your support enables local youth the opportunity to create green spaces throughout our community with training and knowledge on how to run a small business. Green Visions has been strengthening Rochester neighborhoods for close to a decade and is now poised to support our urban state park, coming soon!

Sponsorship Opportunities Still Available!

Your sponsorship will kickstart a conversation about how our natural and cultural heritage will lead to building a Park that is meaningful, accessible, relevant, and inspiring for citizens now and in the future. 

Help plant the seeds to grow greener futures. Learn more and become a sponsor at greentopia.org or contact Lisa Baron at 585-721-0444 or lisa@greentopia.org