Rochester black-owned businesses host event
Mary Chao – Rochester Democrat and Chronicle USA TODAY NETWORK – in the D&C on 6/9/2020 on page A3
The class of 2020 had to deal with a most unusual year with the coronavirus. THe pandemic shut schools down with a quarantine order in place for over two months during what is to be the best time of a student’s life. The senior prom was canceled as were other school and sports activities.
Walter Larkin, CEO of University Prep Charter School for Young Men on Lake Avenue in Rochester, wanted to do something special. He decided to reach out to minority owned-businesses to put together a surprise virtual graduation that students would never forget. Together with Christopher Cardwell, Quentin Gause, Justin Ortiz and Chris Washington, Larkin and the UPrep staff organized the event for the 54 young men.