After meeting independently for more than a year the Rochester Association of Black Journalists was awarded a chapter by the Board of Directors of the National Association of Black Journalists on April 17, 2004.
   The charter ceremony was co-sponsored by the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, News10 NBC, R-News, News 8 Now, WHAM 1180, and WUHF Fox Rochester.

        RABJ Chapter Charter Ceremony
June 19, 2004 at PAETEC Communications Fairport, N.Y.

RABJ founding executives (L-R) Gary McLendon (Vice President / Print), Nicole Johnson (Vice President / Broadcast), Maidstone Mulenga (President)

WHAM-13 Meteorologist Richard McCullough

Former NABJ President Herbert Lowe

RABJ founding members (front row L-R) Elizabeth Medhin, Richard McCullough, Erica Bryant, Juanita Lane, Gary McLendon, Joanne Gordon, NABJ President Herbert Lowe, Nicole Johnson, Lynette Adams, Cynthia Benjamin, Guest Wyoma Best, Sheila Rayam, Maeleeke Lavan, Maidstone Mulenga, NABJ Regional Director Rachelle Dickerson Christie, Danese Kenon, James Johnson, Tonya Taylor, NABJ Treasurer John Yearwood, Kevin Hicks, Dolores Orman.

PAETEC Chairman and CEO Arunus Chesonis (l)

D&C Editor / VP News Karen Magnuson (c)

Kevin Hicks

RABJ receives charter

Former RABJ President Maidstone Mulenga

City Councilman Adam McFadden (l) looks on

RABJ Slideshow

Denese Kenon

Richard McCullough and Tonya Taylor

 Lynette Adams

Maidstone with the charter

Maeleeke Levan (l) and Shaunta Collier-Santos

Denese Kenon and Mariam Moore

Maryann Gallagher and Dolores Orman

Rachelle Dickerson Christie

Arunus Chesonis and Ty Chandler

Herb Lowe and James Lawrence

RABJ after the event

RABJ Milestones

Rochester Association of Black Journalists / P.O. Box 10620 Rochester, NY 14606