Uncrowned Community Builders

Ruby P. Lockhart is the Executive Director of Garth Fagan Dance, the Rochester, NY-based modern dance company founded by Tony and Bessie Award-winner Garth Fagan, the Companyââ?¬â?¢s Artistic Director and President. Currently in itââ?¬â?¢s 34 th year, the Company relishes its position as ââ?¬Ë?Rochesterââ?¬â?¢s premiere cultural ambassador to the worldââ?¬â?¢ presenting critically lauded dance on a local, national and global level.

Along with her husband, Gene, she owned All Day Sunday in Midtown, Plaza, (Rochester, NY) for 33 years. All Day Sunday became a cultural institution in Rochester specializing in African-American products that included books, clothing, jewelry, African art, statues and collectibles. In 1990 Lockhart created a program through All Day Sunday entitled School Comes First, which awarded high school students scholarships for service. The store hired students who were in at least the 10 th grade, who maintained a 3.0 GPA minimum and participated in school or community related activities and awarded them partial or full scholarship upon completion of high school. In most cases the students returned to work during breaks and holidays from college.

This program gave students real life experience with managing multiple responsibilities while maintaining the grades. Ironically, the majority of students who participated in the program graduated from college suma cum laude, as presidential scholars or in some way at the top of their class. Lockhart was the first African American president of the Midtown Tenants Association. She was responsible for the first African American Santa in Midtown Mall and she suggested the addition of first female security officers to the Mall force.

Lockhart spent 23 years as a Labor Relations Specialist with New York State United Teachers handling contract negotiations, arbitrations, organizing presentations and workshop development on sexual harassment, diversity, workplace discrimination, state and federal laws affecting employees including Fair Labor Standards, Age and Gender discrimination, Title IX and others. She was a member of the American Arbitration Association.

Lockhart served as a Trustee of Garth Fagan Dance and the Memorial Art Gallery. Currently she belongs to the United Way and the Mayorââ?¬â?¢s Stewardship Council and is a lifetime member of the National Association of Colored Womenââ?¬â?¢s Club. She is an advisory board member of the Bi-racial Partnership Program.

Lockhart has received many recognitions and awards, most notably the Rochester Area Community Foundation Philanthropy Award, the Unsung Heroes from the City of Rochester, Black History Month Gate Opener from the Rochester City School District for contributions to the vitality of Rochester, the Austin Steward Strive for Freedom Award, a High Falls Honor for outstanding contributions to Rochester, and was a 2004 Athena Award nominee
Lockhart is married with three children, ten grandchildren and one great-grand child.