We are so excited to welcome two new staff members to the Reconnect team, Henry Litsky and Lourdes Sharp.
Henry Litsky, Policy and Advocacy Coordinator, will work closely with our Director of Policy and Advocacy, Cody Donahue, to coordinate Reconnect Rochester’s growing advocacy activities and community mobilization efforts. This includes tracking legislative policy, maintaining our Monroe County Crash Map and Upcoming Street Projects Map, and educating community leaders to boldly advocate for a transportation system that provides mobility options and resource access for everyone through our Mobility Action Alerts.
Lourdes Sharp, Project Manager, will fill a newly created role at Reconnect Rochester as we continue to grow and expand our programs and events to support our mission for sustainable, equitable and accessible mobility in Monroe County. She will manage current core programs including our Complete Streets Makeover, and a new Downtown Curb Extension Mural project, as well as other administrative and imaginative projects.
There’s a lot happening in the world of mobility and transportation, and we could not be more grateful to have two new staff members on the team to bring their skills and talents to this work.
Read on to learn what inspired Henry and Lourdes to join Reconnect Rochester!
Henry Litsky (he/him/his)
I am thrilled to join Reconnect Rochester’s staff as the new Policy and Advocacy Coordinator. I have always been fascinated by our nation’s transportation system and the opportunity to advocate for more inclusive and robust streets is a dream come true.
I recently graduated from the University of Rochester after completing an e5 tuition free fifth year focusing on transportation at UR and City of Rochester. I helped to co-found the Students for Equitable Transportation club and frequently attended public meetings and submitted comments on proposed street design changes. Reconnect’s Mobility Action Alerts allowed me to put what I was learning into action to try and make our streets safer.
At Reconnect, I am excited to continue advocating for a robust transportation system that allows everyone access to amenities regardless of your zip code. With the recent city and county Active Transportation Plans, a commitment to vision zero, and a federal DOT supporting initiatives to build safer streets, it is an exciting time to be an advocate. Continuing the work of my colleagues to ensure community voices are heard is an incredibly rewarding experience. I look forward to working with you all!
Lourdes Sharp (she/her/they)
Hello everyone! My name is Lourdes and I am so grateful to join Reconnect Rochester’s growing team as the new Project Manager! The majority of my background is in health-equity and I am happy to explore new ways to address the expanse of population health through Reconnect.
While there are many different definitions of the term “health”, I lean towards a holistic approach that bridges together the structures that influence the spectrum of the human experience and how that impacts our ability to lead healthy lives. Transportation initiatives and mobility justice are incredible routes (bad pun) that can be used to reframe some of these influential structures that impact the quality of our lives. Being able to get around the city safely and with ease is pivotal in allowing some of our most underserved people a means to get to work and have greater financial stability, make it on-time to health-related appointments, and have meaningful social interactions- all which can vastly increase life satisfaction. Together, we can dismantle the historical remnants of things like redlining and division of communities one step at a time and I consider myself lucky to band together with an amazing team to do so!
Born and raised in Rochester, NY, I’m looking forward to connecting with this city and its people in new and meaningful ways. Whether on the road, in the Reconnect office, or at a community event, I hope to see you soon!