The Children's Agenda
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Racial Equity

Persistent structural racial inequities result in vulnerabilities and worse outcomes for minoritized children.

For almost every indicator, data shows that Black, African American, Latino, and Native American families in the greater Rochester area are struggling as compared to white families in New York. Childhood poverty, overall poverty, academic achievement, earnings and homeownership rates – the disparities are wide. These inequities harm children throughout their lives and will carry forward into future generations… unless we act now to change systems.

Racial equity and inclusion are major drivers of everything we do at The Children’s Agenda, from our mission statement and strategic plan to our policy priorities, from our research and analyses to our staff and Board development. We prioritize racial equity and inclusion within our organization and through our advocacy and partnerships. Our goal is to create a future free of structural racism, inequality and exclusion.

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Early Childhood

More Finger Lakes families gain access to pre-K under state expansion

Child advocacy organizations such as The Children’s Agenda said the increased pre-K access will provide more young learners with a chance to build foundational skills, including reading, identifying colors and simple math.

“About 90% of a child’s brain develops before they even enter the formal school system at age 5. So, the experiences they’re having at birth and 1, 2, 3, 4 are really foundational for their future success,” said Shannon Mullin, senior policy analyst for The Children’s Agenda.

However, both the organization and the school district agree there is still more work to be done.

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September 10, 2026 No Comments
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City of Rochester

RPD’s return to schools uncertain

Board commissioners who voted against the contracts expressed concerns about overpolicing students, the school-to-prison pipeline, and the cost of the programs, which total $968,800. To date, $3.3 million has been budgeted for the program.

“Fear isn’t always the best way to get to the right solution or to the solution that truly goes to the root. Fear, in many ways, can actually be more of a trigger than a support at some time,” says Santiago. “We’re investing a million dollars, but there might be more effective ways for us to provide safety, violence prevention, and accident prevention at our schools.”

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August 13, 2026 No Comments
Blog Posts

From Reaction to Prevention: Rethinking Our Response to Disruptive Behavior in Childhood Through Early Investment

Children who demonstrate disruptive behaviors, such as defiance, aggression, or frequent emotional outbursts, are frequently characterized as inherently difficult or oppositional. However, a substantial body of developmental research challenges our typical perceptions of these behaviors. By investing in systems that promote emotional regulation, relational security, and behavioral support from an early age, it is possible to reduce reliance on reactive, punitive responses and instead foster environments in which all children can thrive.

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August 8, 2025 No Comments
Blog Posts

Rochester & Child Poverty: What Can We Do?

Poverty is a pervasive issue in Rochester and New York State. In this blog, advocate and parent leader Jason Delooze gives an overview of the work being done to fight child poverty locally and statewide. Learn how you can get involved.

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January 22, 2025 No Comments
Blog Posts

Rochester Parents Speak Out On Child Poverty

Nearly half of Rochester’s children are living in poverty. At a recent City Council hearing on youth poverty, Qutisha Britt, a member of The Children’s Agenda’s Very Invested Parents group, shared her story and urged policymakers to make resources more accessible to families who need them.

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December 16, 2024 No Comments

Read the Latest Research from The Children's Agenda

Antiracism Commitment

To further our work for children, The Children’s Agenda adopted an Antiracism Workplan in 2021 and updated it in 2024. The workplan lays out specific goals and activities to achieve results in: organizational effectiveness, advocacy agenda, organizational partnerships and collaborations, Board development, and staff development.

Our commitment to antiracism work

Our Statements on Matters of Equity and Inclusion

A Book List for Children

A booklist of children’s literature compiled by our Antiracism Committee to foster empathy, understanding and respect through literature.