Unite Rochester Challenge: How to vote
The Democrat and Chronicle launched the Unite Rochester Challenge at the end of September. It was our way of inviting ordinary people to get involved in addressing what is arguably our community’s biggest problem: the serious racial and socioeconomic divide that has helped put Rochester, New York, on the map for so many of the wrong reasons.
The response to our challenge was inspiring. We would like to thank those who created the diverse ideas in the challenge. Taken individually, the ideas demonstrate the creativity, energy and faith that exists in our community. Taken collectively, the ideas show the power we have to make a difference. Imagine what our community would be like if all of these ideas were brought to life.
The Democrat and Chronicle is going to work with our partners to help make that happen. To begin with, we are asking your assistance in selecting 10 of the most exciting ideas. We will then help fine-tune the ideas before presenting them to our Unite Rochester judges in late February. The judges will pick the winner, who will receive $5,000 and professional support to put the idea into motion.
So please, take a moment to place your vote. Perhaps you will also spend a moment thinking about what you can do to help unite Rochester.
How to vote
Choose the idea that most inspires you. Then vote for it. Voting ends at 11:59 p.m. Jan. 27. You can cast one vote per day for a project, and can vote for more than one project over the contest period.
What happens next
On Jan. 28, we will announce our 10 finalists at the Expressions of King’s Legacy celebration, featuring Andrew Young, at Rochester Institute of Technology. We will also post the finalists online and publish them in the Jan. 29 newspaper.
And the winner is ...
The 10 finalists will be invited to appear before Unite Rochester Challenge judges at an award event in February. Stay tuned!