Engaging Rochester: A Symposium in Honor of Gene DePrez In-Person
Join us for a two-day symposium honoring the life and legacy of Gene DePrez, civic innovator and visionary founder of Rochester’s Urbanarium.
Day one activities will be held on the campus of the Rochester Institute of Technology. RIT Archives will present a pop-up exhibit on the history of the Urbanarium, a local organization founded by Gene DePrez that sought to increase citizen engagement in Rochester in the 1960s and 70s. The exhibit will correspond with a reception, followed by a keynote address and a screening of DePrez's 1968 film, Think About It.
Day two will be held at the Central Library of Rochester & Monroe County and features panel discussions exploring civic engagement and an action-oriented workshop.
Please register for each day separately using the links below.
Schedule:
Friday, January 30, 2026
Wegman's Theatre, MAGIC Spell Studios, Rochester Institute of Technology
4:30-6:00 pm - Reception & Pop-up exhibit
6:00-6:45 pm - Keynote address: Simeon Banister, President & CEO, Rochester Area Community Foundation
7:15-8:30 pm - Film screening and discussion: Think About It (1968)
Register for Day One here: Engaging Rochester: Pop-Up Exhibit, Keynote Address, and Film Screening - MCLS Events - Monroe County Library System Home.
Saturday, January 31, 2026
Kate Gleason Auditorium, 1st floor, Bausch & Lomb Building, Central Library of Rochester & Monroe County, 115 South Ave.
10:00-10:15 am - Welcome
10:15-11:30 am - Session 1: Design for a Greater Rochester: Past, Present, and Future
11:30-11:45 am - Break
11:45 am-1:00 pm - Session 2: Centering Citizens: Democratizing City Planning
1:00-1:45 pm - Lunch (included with registration)
2:00-4:00 pm - Workshop: Build a Better Rochester: Advocating for Inclusive Housing
Register for Day Two here: Engaging Rochester: Discussion Sessions and Workshop - MCLS Events - Monroe County Library System Home.
Presented by RIT Archives, RIT Department of History, Rochester History, Office of Rochester & Monroe County History, and the Rochester Public Library Local History & Genealogy Division.
- From:
- 4:30pm, Friday, January 30, 2026
- To:
- 4:30pm, Saturday, January 31, 2026
- Time Zone:
- Eastern Time - US & Canada (change)
- Location:
- Central - Kate Gleason Auditorium, RPL - Offsite
- Library:
- Central Library
- Audience:
- Adults
- Categories:
- Department - Local History & Genealogy Community Diversity, Equity and Inclusion History Local History Movies