Community in Action: The Power of Cultivation and Grassroots Collaboration
By Helana Shumway, Public Relations Coordinator
To cultivate community among those affected by breast or gynecologic cancers.
This is how the Breast Cancer Coalition’s mission statement begins. Cultivating community is a key tenet of the work that we do, but what does this “cultivation” look like in action?
Currently, the Coalition is in the midst of a three-year strategic plan that prioritizes equity and inclusion in our outreach and programming. Through in-depth focus groups, listening to and learning from our survivor community, and engaging with community partners, our vision is to nurture an organization where every voice impacted by breast and gynecologic cancers is valued and empowered.
We strive to create this empowered environment in every aspect of our work and through grassroots organizing. Working from the ground up, we connect and collaborate with survivors, community members, partner organizations, universities, and elected officials. This cultivation of resources and care allows us to prioritize our four pillars of service – Support, Education, Advocacy, and Research – and encourages growth as we work toward a deeper level of equity and inclusion.
Rooted in the Work
Our grassroots efforts take form in a few important ways. First, we acknowledge that a cancer diagnosis does not exist in a vacuum; it exists in the context of a life filled with joys and celebrations, but also with challenges and stressors. Receiving a breast or gynecologic cancer diagnosis can come amidst the years of raising young children, pursuing a career, caring for loved ones who are aging, or in the years of retirement.
No matter the circumstance, our goal is to ensure that information about our services is easily accessible and available so that when someone is ready to reach out, they know where to turn. Removing barriers to accessing support is of vital importance to our mission. Programs and services are available at no cost, because one’s finances should not be a factor in whether someone can receive support.
We focus on sharing our resources at outreach and engagement events throughout the year, to include a variety of health and wellness fairs, community events, and faith-based gatherings. In 2025, the Coalition participated in more than 60 outreach events throughout the Greater Rochester Area. Each event provided us with an opportunity to engage with community members, answer questions, and actively listen to their needs.
These conversations help to guide efforts in our strategic plan and inform us of important next steps. They also provide opportunities to connect with other organizations in the area that support the psychosocial wellbeing of those we serve.
Ibero-American Action League
One such organization is the Ibero-American Action League, a dual-language multi-service agency that works to support Latinos and underserved members of our community. Ibero offers care management services, community resources, health home care management, migrant services, family support services, and much more.
We are fortunate to have Maria Dominguez, Community Health Worker Coordinator at Ibero, as a member of the Coalition’s Board of Directors. She has cultivated our partnership with Ibero, which is an integral part of our strategic plan as we endeavor to better serve the Latino population in our region.
We have worked with Ibero’s language services department to translate many of our program materials into Spanish and plan to offer bilingual programming in the near future. Additionally, Ibero helped to facilitate a focus group in the Latino community that has helped shape our vision and goals for serving Latinos in Rochester and Monroe County.
Ibero’s President and CEO, Angelica Perez-Delgado, was featured as our Personal Journey in the Summer 2024 edition of Voices of the Ribbon. As a breast cancer survivor, she shared her commitment to her community, empowering others to advocate for their health and wellbeing.
There is much work to do to address racial and ethnic disparities that impact the Latino community and other communities of color when faced with a cancer diagnosis. It is paramount to cultivate equity in breast and gynecologic cancer treatment and care, focusing on diversity and inclusion through every step. As Angelica shared, “Diverse voices rising in unison to enact meaningful change are a force to be reckoned with.”
Maria Dominguez
Angelica Perez-Delgado
Urban League of Rochester
Another nonprofit organization committed to grassroots work is the Urban League of Rochester (ULR). Founded in 1965 following the Rochester riots in the height of the civil rights movement, ULR works to enable African Americans, Latinos, impoverished individuals, and other underserved community members to access economic self-sufficiency, equity, and civil rights.
Dr. Candice Lucas, Senior Vice President of Equity and Advocacy at the Urban League of Rochester, recently joined the Coalition’s Board of Directors. She is a champion of equity and is deeply dedicated to all aspects of community wellbeing.
Recently, the Coalition had the opportunity to join Dr. Lucas and the Urban League for a community canvassing initiative. Our Grants and Community Liaison, Tori Toliver Powers, joined Dr. Lucas and other nonprofit organizations to share community-based resources and information throughout the City of Rochester.
“Canvassing allows us to get out into the community and meet people where they are,” said Dr. Lucas. “This allows us to provide health information in a simple and safe way for our residents.”
Tori was an integral part of the team and met with residents of different neighborhoods around the city to discuss the Coalition’s services. Canvassing not only helps to disseminate information in real time – it also helps to establish trust and build rapport. Our hope is that no one needs to walk through the doors of the Coalition, but if they do, we want to create a safe and welcoming environment for everyone.
Candice Lucas
What Community Looks Like
If we polled ten people and asked for their definition of “community,” we would likely get ten distinct answers. It looks and feels different from person to person, but at its heart, community is an ever-evolving practice. At the Coalition, we are dedicated to learning and growing our definition of community as we listen with open hearts and curious minds.
Our commitment to serving those impacted by breast and gynecologic cancers through a lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion will remain central to our work. If you are interested in supporting our mission, please reach out at info@bccr.org. We welcome your feedback to strengthen our services and outreach efforts.
This article appeared in the Winter 2026 newsletter, “Voices of the Ribbon.”
