Interview by Emily Hessney Lynch.

Published April 4, 2019.

Where are you originally from? How did you end up in Rochester at this time in your life?

I grew up between Brighton and Corn Hill. I like to stay in Rochester because we have a lot of talent that lives here now. We have fresh water, really good food, and underserved communities.

What are some hidden gems you've discovered around Rochester?

The Rochester Savings Bank—RIT’s Center for Urban Entrepreneurship is there, and I like to take a lot of pictures of the architecture of the building. Meddlesome Labs—they have house shows, concerts, and yoga; it’s near the Bug Jar. Lamberton Conservatory—it’s fucking amazing, so warm and lush. I have meetings there and sometimes I’ll go to just sit there, it’s so nice. The lower level of the Metropolitan makes me feel like I’m in a subway. And anywhere that’s tall where you can look out is lovely, like parking garages. The South Ave parking garage is great for that. I also love Ugly Duck Coffee and Eat Me Ice Cream.

What's the most unique or interesting event you've attended in Rochester?

The Luminate Demo Day, called Light Tomorrow with Today, last June was amazing; I was crying, the winner was a woman entrepreneur, and it was all about helping people with emerging technologies. Also, the Becoming Boss events that Sarah Knight puts on with Roc Girl Gang are amazing and inspiring to me.

What are some of your favorite local nonprofits to support?

I have several that are very meaningful to me: the Sojourner Home for Battered Women, Rochester Refugee, the Center for Youth, Rochester Works, and Seedfolk City Farm.

If you had $100 and 2 hours to kill in Rochester, how would you spend the money/time? 

I’d go to Cure and get the foie gras, or maybe their awesome, country-style pate, or maybe the potatoes and camembert! I know the chef there and the food is just way too good. James and the team are truly masters in the kitchen. I enjoy all of Chuck Cerankosky’s restaurants; they’re generally the best.

What is your personal coping mechanism for cold/gray weather? 

I love the winter for sure, it’s awesome. Sometimes I’ll go for a hike, other times I love to cozy up with a warm drink, a book, or a quiet activity. I spend time with my loved ones. I try to embrace it. Winter is beautiful. I have this mentality of I must stay warm!

What is your favorite Rochester memory? 

Doing Bush Mango on Elton Street—Shawn Dunwoody had Four Walls Gallery below it. I remember being absorbed by African culture and dance. Shawn was downstairs teaching kids to screenprint or make their own graffiti tag, being a black guy with a thing, getting grants and making money. I remember that time of my life fondly.

What makes Rochester unique? 

If you look at economies like New York City, it’s more of a competitive, saturated market. I own my own design studio, Goose Design Co., and I’m friendly with other agencies, like Staach, Livesstyled, and This Good World. There’s a niche for each in Rochester, and it’s a more collaborative vibe. It’s very cool to see people and companies thriving. It’s a healthy ecosystem.

What could be improved about Rochester?

I would love to see more extended studies programs for the RCSD and ways for young people to get involved in things that inspire them. We need to address areas that are food deserts with businesses that provide workforce development and sustainable nutrition. We must break the divide more between rich and poor, black and white. It’s crucial to have a dialogue on making the city better for all of us.

Design thinking can help us serve the people that live here—and that includes everyone. We need to make sure people are getting what they need. It would be great to see more programming and utilization of green space. I’d like to see public transit that you can pay for with your phone. I foresee development coming our way in the city—and gentrification is what happens when we design without considering the needs of all current residents. We need to do it in a way that’s functional, sustainable, and beautiful.

Additionally, I’d like to see more touring speakers and thought leaders coming through Rochester. We should be on the map for those tours.

What are some small ways people can get involved in giving back in the community?

Listen to five people per day that you wouldn’t otherwise hear from. This is the way culture forms in society—the building blocks are formed collaboratively through micro-interactions. Through every action, we have the opportunity to design a better reality for us all. By taking others into consideration, we are better informed for interactionism.

Tell me a little bit about your work as an entrepreneur and the path you've taken so far.

Growing up, my most formative years, I was shaped by my parents doing work in women’s health and abolition, the presence of Shawn Dunwoody, crunchy women around me, and seeing Rent at age five. I learned about the climate crisis when I was little and came home and tried to build a windmill out of a 2x4 and some wire.

From an early age, I had many interests, including: modeling, acting, painting, music, cooking, physics, health food, filmmaking, musicals, special effects, fashion, designing systems of education, sociology, and entrepreneurship. And along the way, I was never satisfied with the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I learned about design thinking. My true passion is now being a steward of human rights, the earth, and all its inhabitants. I’m a people person, I’m empathetic, I’m a trans-disciplinary designer. Everything I do is for the benefit of the whole world—animals and people alike.

I am the Chief Design Officer at Goose Design Co., and am hard at work on one of our products that I invented, Updraft, the app for activism. Updraft allows organizations and individuals to collaborate on methods of making change in our world. Not just for advocacy and protest, but also resources, educating, organizing, and outreach. We are now seeking investment; you can learn more about us on our website.

What advice would you give to entrepreneurs/creatives who are just getting started in Rochester?

Listen to people with empathy. Be comfortable in being vulnerable. Have a clear vision of your desired outcome. Be relentlessly optimistic and fully pragmatic in making it happen. Get multiple mentors.

It’s part of your job as an entrepreneur to focus on self-care. If you don’t focus on your own wellness, it goes down from there. Listen to your emotions. Work with other people; surround yourself with people smarter than you. Collaboration is a means to greatness. Be shameless. Proactive habit forming is crucial—have your goal in mind, define it, and make sure your everyday actions are constantly carrying you towards it.