Mayor Evans and the ROC Resilience Roundtable unite to urge Rochester residents to stand ROC Solid in support of the city’s most vulnerable communities

Rochester, New York – Rochester is being asked to hold the line in difficult times. On Monday, Mayor Malik D. Evans stood outside City Hall, joined by members of the ROC Resilience Roundtable, to call on residents to rally behind the city’s most vulnerable populations. Their message was clear and emphatic: “Stand ROC Solid.”

The appeal comes amid rising concern over how federal policy changes and shifting government priorities are impacting communities already living with uncertainty. Mayor Evans framed the issue as one of both dignity and self-reliance, emphasizing that Rochester would not yield in the face of threats to the social safety net.

“When the federal government threatens to take our own taxpayer dollars away from the Rochester community, we’re not going to drop to our knees and beg for help,” Evans declared to the crowd. “When the most vulnerable among us are under attack, we won’t look away – we stand ROC Solid!”

A Response to Uncertainty

The ROC Resilience Roundtable was established this past April with the goal of strengthening Rochester’s human-services sector. The coalition acts as a forum where providers can quickly assess how new federal decisions are affecting the people they serve. In an era of constant information overload, from social media posts to lengthy federal legislation, organizers say a real-time communication system is essential to cut through the noise and identify the true consequences for families on the ground.

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The Roundtable’s work is rooted in collaboration. Members are creating a region-wide communications network to ensure that agencies and organizations are not working in isolation but instead sharing insights and responses as soon as problems arise. In doing so, they aim to protect disadvantaged communities from being blindsided by sudden policy shifts or legal reinterpretations coming out of Washington.

The Call to ‘Stand ROC Solid’

At the heart of this effort lies the phrase Stand ROC Solid. More than just a slogan, it is being described as a mantra and a rallying cry. The phrase represents Rochester’s decision to resist the cycles of outrage and confusion that often surround federal announcements. Instead, community leaders say the city will focus on its long-standing tradition of standing by those in need.

“The Executive Branch in Washington has adopted a strategy of creating chaos so they can ignore the principles of democracy and dictate changes that would never withstand the scrutiny of consensus-building or representative government,” Mayor Evans said. “Unfortunately, and tragically, the first to suffer amid chaos are the most vulnerable among us, who the Rochester, community has a long history of supporting with generous contributions of time, talent, and treasure.”

His remarks underscored a point that many in the crowd seemed to feel deeply—that Rochester’s history of compassion and resilience has long defined the city, and that this identity must be preserved even when higher levels of government appear unstable.

Unity as a Shield

Mayor Evans urged residents not to lose sight of what matters most. He described Stand ROC Solid as more than a campaign, but rather a guiding principle for people of conscience throughout Rochester.

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“Stand ROC Solid is the rallying cry for Rochester’s many and diverse communities of conscience to not be distracted by this chaos,” he continued. “Stand ROC Solid is our mantra to link arms and stand tall in unified support for those who Jesus called ‘the least of these.’”

The choice of words, invoking unity and moral responsibility, appeared designed to remind residents that community solidarity is often the best defense when external forces attempt to sow division.

Looking Ahead

With the ROC Resilience Roundtable now active, the city has a structure in place to monitor federal developments and prepare rapid responses. Organizers are encouraging residents, service providers, and community advocates to stay informed through the official Stand ROC Solid website, which will serve as a hub for updates and resources.

In times of uncertainty, the message from City Hall was unmistakable: Rochester will not be defined by the confusion or hostility of outside forces. Instead, it will stand firm, uphold its values, and defend the dignity of those who are most at risk.

For updates on the Roundtable’s work and opportunities to get involved, residents are encouraged to visit standrocsolid.org.