Committees

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is made up of officers of the organization who are responsible for governance; to include human resources, legal and fiscal responsibilities of a not for profit 501(C)(3); recruitment and capacity building for individuals who will articulate the board’s vision and find individuals to execute it.

Meetings are held once per month.

Board of Directors President: Dave Seeley

DFC Steering Committee 

The DFC Steering committee oversees our Drug-Free Communities Action Plan to ensure that all projects are being completed as necessary. This grant focuses on underage nicotine and marijuana use via vape devices. We use the

Meetings are held once per month: Second Wednesday of the Month at 8:30 am via Zoom. 

Chair: Christina Bartusek

Evaluation & Assessment Committee

The assessment committee is charged with designing methodology and implantation for data collection, review and recommendations to the coalition based upon the findings. This data drives our strategic action plans.

Meetings are held once per month.

Chair: Finn Cohen

Uplift Irondequoit Coalition at Large

Members attend bi-monthly meetings and consist of partner agencies: schools, community & civic organizations, healthcare professionals, business, faith community, childcare agencies, law enforcement, local and county government, youth serving organizations, substance use prevention organizations, media, parents, and other community coalitions to share in the work of our vision and mission. The meetings allow our stakeholders to learn about what current projects are going on within respective committees. While also engaging Uplift’s stakeholders to take part in the projects being implemented. The meetings also invite partners to present their work and to network with one another.

Bi-Monthly meetings on the third Thursday from 8:30 to 9:30 am.

Chair: Melissa Safford

Youth Committee

The youth committee is responsible for having youth involvement and leadership representation in Uplift’s work. This committee works with Irondequoit middle and high schools, Town of Irondequoit Recreation, youth centered service/faith groups, and other youth-based organizations to achieve this. Future roles will include sponsoring youth-led activities and mentoring.

Meetings are TBD

Chair: Whitley Matthews

General Steering Committee

The Steering Committee are committee chairs who oversee and guide the work of the coalition in collaboration with the project director and coordinator. The committee is responsible for strategic planning and on-going planning & implementation of evidence-based prevention activities to reduce youth substance use. The committee will oversee the organization’s action plans and make changes to these plans when appropriate. Steering members are also asked to participate in the General Coalition Meetings which are held on a bi-monthly schedule.

Meetings are held once a month or on an as needed basis for collaboration.

Chair: Melissa Safford

Policy and Advocacy Committee

The policy and advocacy committee makes recommendations for local policy revisions and writing position papers which seek to inform local, state, and federal government. The committee informs the coalition at large on any other legislation and policy that may affect our work and change the current action plan. Works with local Town Board, Law Enforcement and Partners.

Meetings are scheduled as need.

Chair: Mary Grow/ Hannah Weltzer

Special Population General Committee

The LGBTQ+ Steering Committee oversees a project addressing disproportionate impacts of alcohol and cannabis use among LGBTQ+ youth in both Irondequoit and the city of Rochester. This project is funded through the NYS OASAS Special Populations grant. The committee will ensure that all processes – assessment, strategic planning, design and implementation, and evaluation – are conducted in a culturally appropriate manner that meets the needs of the LGBTQ+ community. Members of this committee represent various sectors of the community from both Irondequoit and Rochester as well as a range of lived experiences within and among the LGBTQ+ community.

Meetings are held once per month: First Thursday of the Month at 8:30 am via Zoom, with quarterly in-person meetings.

Chair: Melissa Safford

Development Committee (Inactive)

The development committee reviews best practices to build and maintain sustainability of the coalition by developing and implementing funding strategies. This also includes fundraising and donor management. 

Marketing & Communication Committee (Inactive)

The Marketing and Communications Committee is responsible for developing and managing Uplift's brand identity and creating & executing all external community communications (including social media content and oversight) based on content developed by the Education Committee.

Education Committee (Inactive)

The Education committee develops prevention strategies per the coalition action plan, and the DFC action plan. This involves research of other resources for data such as state and federal evidence based national trends. The focus is to determine what topics/substances Uplift wants to develop content and educate about. The education committee is not tasked with data specific content but will work with assessment for consistent data information.