17-year-old OlaRose Ndubuisi organized the Finding Scoliosis Kindly Educational Symposium, which was held on Saturday on June 29th from 2pm to 4pm at the Henrietta Public Library. This event was free and open to the general public. The purpose of the event was to raise awareness and educate the community about scoliosis.

The Finding Scoliosis Kindly (FiSK) Educational Symposium was incredible. Thank you to everyone who attended the event to learn about scoliosis and support the FiSK Project. 

Thank you so much to Mayor Malik D. Evans for his inspiring opening remarks and for proclaiming June as National Scoliosis Awareness Month in the City of Rochester in OlaRose Ndubuisi’s honor. OlaRose appreciates Mayor Evans’ support of her scoliosis advocacy. Thank you to Ms. Mikhaela Singleton, Sunrise Anchor for News 8 WROC-TV, for being a wonderful MC. 

Thank you to Dr. Carolyn Cleary, Dr. Andrew Dubina, Dr. Susan Nelson, Ms. Susanne Callan-Harris, Ms. Samana Lake, Ms. Tricia Coleman, and Dr. Emily Culliton for sharing their knowledge as panelists and workshop leaders. Thank you to Dr. Dubina and orthopedic surgeons from the University of Rochester for the scoliosis screening.

Thank you to 12-year-old UreAnjali Rose Patel and 15-year-old Youyou Wu for musical performances. Thank you to our sponsors – Rochester NY Wedding Cakes, ROC City Balloons, The UPS Victor, Dunkin Donuts on East Avenue, Wegmans on East Avenue, Staples on 1100 Jefferson Road, and Tropical Smoothie Cafe. Thank you to our partner – Mezu International Foundation. Thank you to the Henrietta Public Library for allowing the event to be held there. 

OlaRose appreciates her family for coming to help make this event a success, especially her mom for her loving support throughout OlaRose’s scoliosis journey. 

As the New York State Youth Poet Laureate and a 2024 Prudential Emerging Visionary, OlaRose hopes to continue to organize important events like the FiSK Symposium, raise awareness for scoliosis, and teach children to express themselves through positive outlets like writing, art, and music. Scoliosis is an invisible struggle, but through education and compassion for one another, we can make scoliosis visible and provide children and adults with the support they need to manage their condition and thrive. 

Click here for News 8 WROC-TV’s coverage of the event.