Interview by Emily Hessney Lynch.

Published June 12, 2020.

Where are you from? How did you end up in Rochester?

I’m from D.C.; I followed my older brother to RIT. Afterwards, he went home and I stayed. When I was in college, I was always on campus so I never got to experience the city. At school, I met my husband Antwan, and I stayed in Rochester mostly because of him. I wanted to explore and see what Rochester was about. I fell in love with the food, the people, and the culture, and here I am, 10 years later.

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

The Sunken Garden is my favorite. I’d been on a hunt to find it for years! Antwan had a photoshoot there but couldn’t remember where it was to show me. About four or five years later, I found it and fell in love with it! I love being able to go there, think, meditate, and take in my surroundings. Antwan’s great aunt’s house is my second favorite--her home was part of the underground railroad. I feel honored to visit a space like that. She can give a tour of where the slaves used to go in the space, through these small doors in the basement. She’s located in the Susan B. Anthony neighborhood.

What are some of your favorite local nonprofits to support?

When I was seven years old, I only wanted to work for nonprofits. Since then, I’ve worked for the American Cancer Society, Flower City Habitat for Humanity, and now I’m at the Cause Collaborative. If I had to choose, I love the Urban League of Rochester. I love the work they do and the audience they help. I’m also very fond of Willow Domestic Violence Center and the YWCA.

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

I’d buy another Strong Museum membership! When I was pregnant with my daughter, I went and visited for the first time. It’s so cool! I love going there. Sesame Street is my area.

What's one memory you have that captures what Rochester means to you? 

Working on a project with the Gandhi Institute. I remember finding out what they do, and I was in college and helped them make a flyer for what they’re doing. It helped me enter a world where I saw Rochester for what it was. It’s so grassroots here, it’s very different than D.C. That first introduction to Rochester nonprofits was a game changer for me. It helped ground me and figure out what I wanted to do in Rochester. I’m always thinking, who can I help? Where can I help? How can I help?

What makes Rochester unique? 

The grassroots aspect and how it’s such a community here. There are many ways where the city seems divided. But at the same time, there’s so much unity here. Living here as an adult has helped me see what community means and what it’s about. I’ve met so many incredible people and have been able to work with and help so many mission-driven organizations. The potential that this city has to thrive is ridiculous. There’s so much potential for startups, grassroots efforts, and success overall. That’s part of why I stayed. I wanted to see this city thrive and help get it to what it could be, reaching its full potential.

What would you like to see change in Rochester in the next year? 

I would love to see equality. We’re the fourth poorest city in the nation. We know the issues of poverty and racism. I’d like to see real change in our city- real efforts, whether they’re grassroots or voting the right people into office. I’d like to see real change in the communities we live in. I want to see a real change in poverty. I want to see true unity and be a part of that change. 

I also want to see those stories told--that’s huge to me. I love storytelling. Real change begins with conversations from the heart. We can’t understand if we don’t listen to people’s stories. There are so many voices in the community that are unheard. I think that’s what I can do to help create that change--amplify the voices of people that feel unheard.

If Rochester was a person, who would it be? 

It would have to be Maya Angelou. When you think of Maya Angelou, she’s a very still, even-tempered person. There’s so much happening in the city of Rochester, but if I take a step back, I see a calm, even surface. When you really dig into Maya Angelou, there are so many storms happening. There’s complexity and she’s powerful. Rochester is like that. 

Tell me a little bit about the Museum of You project. What inspired you to start it? 

I thought of it in October 2019; it grew from recognizing my own value and love of storytelling. I love hearing people’s stories and want to give them a platform to share. I come from a line of mental illness and generational trauma that has been passed down and we never named it. I suffered from depression when I was pregnant with my daughter, but I was able to mask it at all times. I got to a point last year where I was starting to break--I didn’t know who I was, what my story was, or if I even had one. This was a place for me to tell my story, to be heard, and to learn who to share my story with. Some people aren’t worth the energy you put out.

Right now, I’m interviewing people and they’ll say “I don’t have a story.” My comeback is always, “We’re walking stories.” When you visit a museum, it’s always artwork from people who have died 300 years ago. I think the people of today are just as important! We’re as important as Beyonce. I want people to feel their value and know that their stories are worth hearing. Why wait until they pass to give them their roses?

How has COVID-19 impacted the Museum of You?

I can’t go interview people in person, so that’s really hard. We got a space in the Sibley building but haven’t been able to go in like we’d want to. That slowed me down a little bit. First, it’ll be a virtual museum where people can walk around exhibits and read stories and watch videos. There are still ways to capture stories.

What advice would you give to up-and-coming creatives and entrepreneurs in Rochester?

Be authentic. It’s so cliche, and you hear everyone say it. But my top three are: be authentic, be empathetic, and trust yourself. I’m learning to be who I am whenever and wherever I go. Being empathetic is about being caring towards yourself and others. We’re so hard on ourselves! We need to give ourselves grace, space, and empathy. Trust yourself is the last piece. I struggle with confidence and self-esteem issues and I know so many others do too. You know your life, your story, your experiences better than anyone else. You are an expert in you. If you can learn to lean on that, lean into your discomfort when you’re feeling nervous, lean into your joy when you’re feeling happy. Fully embrace any emotion that you feel. That can lead to incredible work, art, and lives.