August 20, 2020
We write as leaders of institutions in Geneva dedicated to serving the public good, prompted by recent incidents in the City we love to look closely at the values we hold dear both personally and in the organizations we guide. We remain resolute in our denunciation of violence, racism, misogyny and intolerance in all its forms, and condemn any rhetoric that supports inequity. We believe that to be part of a community means to treat others with respect and kindness, to be accountable for our actions and words, and to hold one another and ourselves to the highest of standards. Despite the many benefits of social media, we deplore the ways in which some have used the medium to divide our community and create chasms of harm.
We stand together in our commitment to protect the well-being of all people that work and live in our great City. In times of turmoil and challenge, Genevans have always come together in dialogue, both to heal the wounds of the past and to join in fellowship to build a better tomorrow. We pledge to engage in dialogue and act within our capacity to build up our community together. Geneva deserves nothing less.
Join us.
President and Chief Executive Officer
Ability Partners Inc. (Happiness House)
Victor Nelson
Secretary
African American Men's AssociationJon D. Coykendall
Pastor
The Alliance Community Church
Chris Lavin
Executive Director
Boys and Girls Club and Geneva Community Center
Peter Dohr
Executive Director
Catholic Charities of the Finger Lakes
Sage Gerling
City Manager
City of Geneva
Steve Valentino
Mayor
City of Geneva
Jan Nyrop
Director
Cornell University AgriTech
Barbara Pierce-Morrow
Executive Director
Family Counseling Service of the Finger Lakes, Inc.
Robert K. Nye
President
Finger Lakes Community College
Dr. Jose Acevedo
President and CEO
Finger Lakes Health
Pastor
First United Methodist Church
Carol Urbaitis
Chair of Advisory Board
Geneva 2030
Miranda Odell
President
Geneva Area Chamber of Commerce
Michael Mills
Executive Director
Geneva Business Improvement District
Larry Campbell
Chair
Geneva City Democratic Committee
Don Cass
Vice Chair
Geneva City Republican Committee
Kerry Lippincott
Executive Director
Geneva Historical Society
Michele Barrett
Chair
Geneva Human Rights Commission
Chris Finger
Library Director
Geneva Public Library
Anne Schuhle
Executive Director
Geneva Reads Inc.
The Rev. Nita C. Johnson Byrd
Chaplain and Dean for Spiritual Engagement
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
President
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
The Rev. Don Golden
Pastor
Mt. Olive Baptist Church
Lucile Mallard
President
NAACP, Geneva Chapter
Juanita Aikens
President
Ontario County Justice Coalition
Father Thomas P. Mull
Pastor
Our Lady of Peace Parish
The Rev. Jim and Jane Gerling
Retired Pastor
The Presbyterian Church of Geneva
Susie Monagan
Executive Director
Smith Center for the Arts
The. Rev. James and Sue Adams
Rector, Head of School and Administrator
St. Peter's Episcopal Church and St. Peter's Community Arts Academy
Mark Venuti
Town Supervisor
Town of Geneva
The Rev. R. Cameron Miller
President
Trinity Church
Kari Buch
Regional Director
United Way of Ontario County