Students and educators from nearly 50 schools across the city of Rochester, Monroe County and Finger Lakes region attended the 4th annual ROC With Your Hands career exploration event today at the Rochester Community Sports Complex. The event is the region’s largest single-day event of its kind in the region. ROC With Your Hands is organized by the Rochester Technology & Manufacturing Association (RTMA) in partnership with the city of Rochester, Monroe County, Monroe Community College, RochesterWorks, UNiCON Rochester and the Builders Exchange.
ROC With Your Hands featured more than 75 employers that showcased careers, offered hands-on demonstrations, and provided information in their respective industries. About 1,500 students in grades seven through 12 were exposed to careers and training programs in advanced manufacturing, skilled trades, automotive technology, heavy equipment and more. Students also received free merchandise and lunch. ROC With Your Hands is provided at no cost to schools, students and businesses thanks to the generosity of the organizers, community partners, and donors.
The RTMA developed ROC With Your Hands through discussions with local leaders, educators, businesses, and community members through the association’s Finger Lakes Youth Apprenticeship Program. The event supports the RTMA’s mission of promoting manufacturing innovation and growth in the greater Rochester and Finger Lakes region by partnering with industry, academia, and government.
“The RTMA created ROC With Your Hands to show all high school students the great opportunities in advanced manufacturing, skilled trades, heavy equipment, automotive technology and more,” said Bob Coyne, Executive Director of the RTMA. “By partnering with the government, academia and industry, ROC With Your Hands has become one of the largest and most successful single-day career exploration events in New York State.”
The city of Rochester and its Department of Recreation and Human Services have hosted ROC With Your Hands at the Rochester Community Sports Complex since its inception.
Monroe County and its Industrial Development Corporation and Planning & Development Department also support ROC With Your Hands. The county coordinates and provides a broad range of job retention and creation programs, and employment and training services.
Monroe Community College (MCC) and the RTMA have long partnered on educational programs for advanced manufacturing professionals, registered apprentices, and high school students. MCC’s Economic and Workforce Development Center and Applied Technologies Center have supported ROC With Your Hands from its inception.
RochesterWorks also serves on the ROC With Your Hands steering committee. The community’s Workforce Development Board and American Job Center also provides training and employment services for those in the city of Rochester and Monroe County. UNiCON Rochester and the Builder’s Exchange also assist with the organization of ROC With Your Hands and host similar career exploration events which are supported by the RTMA. Both provide a wide array of services and programs to local construction and union trades while advocating for our community’s economy and workforce.
Have all the Finger Lakes news from Finger Lakes News Radio delivered to your email every morning for FREE! Sign up by clicking here
