The Rochester Black Young Professionals are launching the first-ever Rochester Black Restaurant Week. The initiative is aimed at helping businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic. 

The week goes from July 6 through the 12. Each day will feature a different restaurant. On July 12, people are encouraged to support any black-owned restaurant in the area. 

Marjorie Fitzgerald-Dowlatt, who owns Davinci of Greece, is gearing up for the inaugural Rochester Black Restaurant Week. 

"We have done a lot of advertising. We're taking reservations. We're hoping to get some dine-ins with the pandemic slowing down, as well as pre-orders for those who would like to curbside takeout or delivery," says Fitzgerald-Dowlatt.

Fitzgerald-Dowlatt says she and her husband purchased the restaurant in November. Due to the pandemic, they faced struggles just like many other businesses. 

"We have been affected by the pandemic. With us just purchasing the restaurant in November of 2019, timing couldn't been greater, so dealing with the pandemic we just pivoted the way that we offered our services, so we've done curbside pick up as well as delivery," says Fitzgerald-Dowlatt. 

The Rochester Black Young Professionals knew many black-owned restaurants were impacted by the pandemic and wanted to offer its support. 

"We also know that, because of the pandemic, about 40 percent of black-owned businesses are not expected to survive, so we wanted to do something, and do something quick, to support those businesses locally," says Taren Greenidge, president of the Rochester Black Young Professionals. 

Members of the organization know that the initiative may not sit well with some members of the community, who may see it as being divisive. but they say that's not the goal. 

"This isn't to disparage a group of people. it is to uplift a group of people who have been oppressed and who have been suffering injustices for a long time. We're looking to uplift them and we're looking at equity. It isn't a black or white thing. We're looking at how we can equal the playing field," says Veronica Dasher, vice president of the Rochester Black Young Professionals. 

For more information, visit http://www.rocbyp.org/.