
Application for 2023 will be available in the spring.
The Leadership-Equity-Advancement-Development (LEAD) Mentoring and Coaching Program has been established and is the first-ever mentoring and coaching program exclusively for alumni of United Way’s AALDP and LLDP.
LEAD is to build community, capacity, and leadership opportunities for Black and Latino leaders through coaching, mentoring, networking, and sponsorship.
Participants will be paired with an experienced community leader who has the capacity to give constructive advice on professional and personal career goals, the potential to network, and makes connections within community boards and throughout the region's workforce.

2021 LEAD Mentors and Mentees Graduation Ceremony
Congrats to the first graduating class of United Way's LEAD Mentoring and Coaching Program! This program supports Black and Brown individuals in our African American and Latino Leadership Development Programs. Thanks to Dr. Sheila Strong, United Way's Director of Leadership Development and Equity, and Dr. Tomicka Wagstaff and Stephanie Paredes from Beyond Boundaries Consulting, for leading this effort. Special thanks to the Greater Rochester Health Foundation for the grant to support this project and for extending the grant for another two years.
Mentee Alumni
Shannon Henderson
AALDP
Brittany Miles
AALDP 2019
Director
Excellus Blue Cross/Blue Shield
Nelida Torres
LLDP 2011
The Housing Council at Pathstone
Housing Counselor
Additional Participants
Jason Kajet
LLDP 2021
Lonnie Reaves
AALDP 2017
VMA Director/Leadership Team Member,
Rochester Society for the Protection and Care of Children
LaRhonda Leonard
AALDP
Viatta Tolbert-Carter
AALDP 2011
Rochester Works Inc
Career Center Manager
Jazzmyn Ivery-Robinson
AALDP 2017
Assistant Director for Advocacy and Social Justice Education
Nazareth College
Chris Fraguada
LLDP 2017
Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection
Youth Advocate II
Shalym O. Náter
LLDP 2015
Director of Youth and Community Engagement
Ibero American Action League
Monica Graham
AALDP 2014
Financial Liaison
St. Ann’s Community Home
Yalitza Rodriguez Torres
LLDP 2019
Pinewild Mental Health
Bilingual Primary Therapist
Dr. Sim Covington
AALDP 2019
Finger Lakes Community College (SUNY)
Chief Diversity Officer
Tamara Wilson-Cisnero
LLDP 2014
NextGen Healthcare
Sr. Consultant, Professional Services
Marisol Galarza-Ruiz
LLDP 2011
Associate Professor of Spanish, Art History Adjunct, Arts and Humanities Faculty Liaison & Spanish Club Advisor
Monroe Community College
Lydia Alston-Murphy
AALDP 2010
Asset Development Specialist
Action for a Better Community, Inc.
Shetara Bigham
AALDP 2011
Adjunct Faculty
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rhonda Walker
AALDP 2017
Manager II of Evidenced Based Practiced Learning
Hillside Family of Agencies