Mayor Lovely Warren visits students at St. Marks/St. Johns

Rochester's Mayor Lovely Warren, along with the Department of Environmental Services Commissioner Norman H. Jones stopped by St. Mark's / St. John's (SMSJ) today to speak with students participating in the city's Summer of Opportunity Program (SOOP).  SOOP is an employment and training program for youth ages 14-20 and who are still in middle/high school.  The program is designed to provide training and employment opportunities to youth while making a direct connection to success in school.  SMSJ received a grant to hire 10 SOOP students to work in their E.D.E.N. gardens for seven weeks this summer. Leadership development is part of the SMSJ summer program and the mayor was invited to speak to the teens about city government. The Mayor shared with the students her education and professional career experiences and chatted with each of them about their career path hopes and dreams.  The meeting ended with a group photo and this open invitation - that her door is always open to the students if they ever need her help.