Interview by Emily Hessney Lynch.

Published November 13, 2020.

Some news: this is our 250th feature on the site, which is a huge milestone for us! Five years ago when we launched, we never could have imagined that we'd feature 250 Rochesterians. We have also decided that our 250th feature will be our last. All good things must come to an end, and we feel the time is right to say farewell. It's the end of an era. Since we couldn't pick just one person to be the last individual ever featured, we chose four! Without further ado, here are the Final Four.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Tiffany Nicholas

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

I was born in the city, grew up in Pittsford, and did my undergrad at U of R so I've been here pretty much my whole life (apart from when I lived in Illinois from ages 2-6 but I don't really count that). Towards the end of my senior year, as I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do in "the real world,” I realized I wasn't ready to leave Rochester just yet, so here I still am! 

What is your favorite part of living in Rochester?

It's super cheesy, but I love the people. Rochesterians are so passionate about whatever they do, and it's truly incredible to see how much they care about this city. Everyone finds their own little pockets and niches and so many humans are doing so much good work all the time. I'm so proud to call this place my home. 

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

There are so many memories to choose from, but one of my favorites that stands out is from last August. It was a beautiful upstate New York summer night, and I was at a local brewery with my two best friends from high school. There was a live band playing, great drinks, and overall good vibes all around. It was just an ordinary night, nothing special, but I think that's what made it so memorable. I've found that, for a place that has so many people doing really impactful work, Rochesterians also know how to celebrate the little victories and enjoy the little things in life.  

What's one thing you'd like to see change about our city?

As with any city, there's plenty of ways that Rochester could improve, but we obviously don't have time to get into all of that right now. One less significant thing that I'd like to see is people breaking out of their comfort zones more. As much as I love the little niches and pockets that I mentioned earlier, sometimes they can be a bit restricting. Trying out activities and exploring places that you wouldn't go to can be really hard, especially when you're an anxiety filled introvert like me, but it can also be incredibly rewarding. Obviously, in a world of social distancing, this is even harder to do, but I also think it's important now more than ever. 

Tell me about the art you create and its influences.

I kind of do a bit of everything. (I landed on @tiffanyofafewtrades as my IG handle for a reason!) I've always loved making art, especially as a creative break from my STEM-heavy courses. I do a lot of lettering and painting, and have recently been super into digital art, with a fun crafting or baking project sprinkled in every now and again. I try not to limit myself to one medium or style because that's just not who I am. I like lots of stuff, and my interests are always changing, so picking and sticking with one thing was never really an option. I'm mostly influenced by things that I like (movies, TV shows, and music) and topics that I'm passionate about (mental health, badass female role models, and celebrating individuality). 

How would you describe the arts community in Rochester?

The Rochester arts community is filled with the most wonderful humans I've had the pleasure of meeting (even though I just know most of them through my phone). Before I started sharing my art, I was kind of intimidated by them, because everyone seemed so close. But as I began putting myself and my art out there, I've gotten nothing but warm and welcoming responses. Creating art involves a certain amount of vulnerability, so I really love the authenticity and openness of it all. 

Where do you like to go to get inspired?

Pre-quarantine, I loved going to different coffee shops and parks around the area to people watch and just be in different settings to try and get some new ideas. In the world of COVID, I've found that the people in my life give me more inspiration than where I spend my time. A lot of my friends are artists and makers too, so if I'm having a creative block or something, I'll often text them to have a virtual art night, bounce ideas off of them, or just to hear about what they're working on.

Lanni Maszerowski 

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

I am a proud Rochester native. I grew up in Brighton, attended SUNY Geneseo for my B.S. in Childhood Education and my M.S. in Reading and Literacy, and currently reside in Irondequoit with my partner in our house in Seabreeze. I have adored everything about Rochester since I was young. My favorite childhood memories are Saturday weaving classes at MAG, learning to swim at the Monroe YMCA, running around the Strong Museum, and sitting at the counter of the Highland Dinner. I have always known that I will never leave Rochester. 

What's your favorite part of living in Rochester? 

The best part of Rochester, hands down, is our art scene. Our community of artists is incredibly diverse and inclusive, and being part of it is one of the biggest honors of my life. Did you know that Rochester has more hand letterers than many cities do? You would think that it would create tension, but our city truly lives and breathes "community over competition." I have felt supported by my fellow makers every single step of my creative journey.

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

My parents have always been big supporters of my voracious reading habits. As Stephen King said, "Books are uniquely portable magic." After swimming lessons at the Monroe YCMA my mom and I would head to Rick's Recycled Books. My mom would set up shop with a magazine to read and Rick would pull out a stack of books that he set aside for me to look through. He had a list of my favorite series — The Baby-Sitters Club, Goosebumps, Animorphs — and he had a great feel for my interests. I always walked away with more books than a 9-year-old could carry. I think this is a great image of what I love about Rochester – we are always thinking about our neighbors. Small businesses are genuinely and transparently run by hardworking people who care about their customers. 

What's one thing you'd like to see change about our city? 

My love for Rochester runs deep, but it is not without its caveats. Rochester has a patent problem with systemic (and personal) racism. I am learning to deal with the double-edged sword of loving a city for its people and hating a city for its policies. I would like to see the disbandment of the Rochester Police Department completely, increased investment in mental health, housing, and addiction programs, the firing of Mayor Warren, and increased funding to the Urban-Suburban Program with the goal of desegregating our schools.

Tell me about the art you create and its influences. 

I am a hand letterer and digital artist. Often I create art more for the process and less for the end result. For me, making is an act of joy. Much of my art over the past few years has served the purpose of social justice education. My art carries themes of acceptance, equity, and inclusion. I want people to see my art and feel that they have been seen. I am inspired by color and am completely enthralled by rainbows for both their color and their message. 

Where do you like to go to get inspired? 

If you need to find me during non-pandemic times, I am either at school or Rochester Brainery. While I have been working at the Brainery for over a year, I have been a student there for much longer, taking an average of six classes a month since 2016. I tend to stick to art classes, learning creative skills such as macrame, shibori, stamp carving, embroidery, and jewelry making. While I am primarily a letterer and digital artist, I find that making things outside of my craft is an excellent source of inspiration. And being surrounded by others during the process is equally helpful – I love the camaraderie of makers! Joy and laughter are essential for my process.

Rashad Smith 

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

I was born and raised on the Northeast side of Rochester. I grew up on Sullivan Street off of N. Clinton Ave. After graduating from East High School in 2006 I attended Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina where I studied communications. I had no intentions on moving back to Rochester. I only planned to visit immediately following college graduation while transitioning to graduate school in Stockton, California. However, the universe had different plans for me and directed me to help better my city as a public school teacher and as one of very few Black public relations professionals helping tell positive stories about Rochester's Black and Brown communities. 

What's your favorite part of living in Rochester? 

My favorite part of living in Rochester is witnessing homegrown entrepreneurs and talent thriving for success and creating their own lanes. 

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

Planning my 'Power Hour' networking events where I bring local leaders in media, education, entrepreneurship, community, entertainment, etc. to make new connections through the art of interactive networking. 

What's one thing you'd like to see change about our city? 

I’d like to see artists and creatives be substantially compensated for their God-given gifts and for businesses and grant providers to acknowledge the value of the creative talent in Rochester. 

Tell me about your work as a creative strategist. What are some of the exciting projects you're working on? 

I've worked on countless projects over the last ten years as a self-made creative strategist. One of my most favorite projects right now is serving as the primary communications consultant for Greater Rochester NY Black Agenda Group (BAG). As the primary communications consultant I collaborate with a collective of local Black leaders who have completed astonishing work to declare racism a public health crisis. My work consists of managing the entire branding campaign from website development to social media to press engagement. 

What advice would you give for someone who's looking to get more involved in the Rochester community but doesn't know where to start? 

I would advise Rochesterians to identify key leaders in the community and make an effort to get on their calendars to discuss the possibilities of supporting the countless causes available to help take Rochester to the next level. For those who may not know how to do this, a start would be a simple Google search (a sarcastic comment that has become a part of my communication when people are eager to learn about something and claim they don't know where to look). We are in such a critical time in this country. Connecting and learning via the World Wide Web is a beautiful privilege my ancestors probably never knew would exist.    

Tokeya C. Graham 

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

I am a native Rochesterian. I have lived here all of my life.

What's your favorite part of living in Rochester? 

I like living in the city because I am surrounded by many family and friends. I like that we have seasons and that city living is affordable with lots of excellent cultural experiences.

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

My family and I would always take long drives throughout the area when my children were younger. My husband would pile us all in the minivan, and we would have a blast on these Graham Family Drives, as they came to be known. Even now, our adult children still can spend hours driving around the city. Other young children in our extended circle also recall these rides with fondness.

What's one thing you'd like to see change about our city? 

We need to dismantle racist and classist structures so that we can usher in positive changes in our educational, criminal justice, food security, housing, and medical systems. We need to create equity so that our most vulnerable citizens can have a chance at success.

You were the voice of the "Let's Be Greater" video by Roc2025. How did that come about? What was that experience like? 

A friend who was working on the campaign sent me the audition information and suggested that I try out for it. She and I had served on a Board of Directors together and she knew that I was beginning a voiceover career so she reached out with an opportunity. I had also done work for her agency on a past NYS Fair campaign so she knew what my skills were. I actually recorded it from home. My husband (who has a home studio) connected with the sound engineer and they connected our system to the external studio and...magic was made. It was during COVID, so we had to complete it remotely. It was exciting to see it in real-time. My family cheered me through the hour-long process. It was exhausting. I don't think people realize how tiring voice work can be. To see the final product was AMAZING!

You are both a student and a teacher. What do you study, and what do you teach? How has the pandemic affected both? 

I am a tenured Associate Professor of English at MCC and I am a second-year EdD student at UR in the Educational Leadership program (specializing in Higher Education). Although I am very technologically savvy, remote learning has many nuances. As an educator, I want to make sure that my students can learn and access the material while in the midst of a pandemic. They have many things to juggle in their personal lives so I want to cause as little interruption as possible. I aim to be a beneficial presence while still teaching them and learning from them. As a student, I want the same intentionality and consideration from my professors.

Tell me about We All Write- how did it get started? How can people support it? 

We All Write is one of the initiatives I created under my Soulstainable Living LLC brand. I wanted a group of Black women to write with and so I reached out to some of my friends who are writers. There are currently five of us, including Selena Cochran, Kristen Gentry, Reenah L. Golden, and Lu Highsmith. We cover all writing styles and genres. We have performed on several stages and for many events. We present an unfiltered, creative look at Black women's lives with our writings. We pay homage to all of the Black women writers and activists on whose shoulders we stand. COVID-19 has really impacted our ability to gather and perform but if people go to www.soulstainableliving.com, they can subscribe to the mailing list to find out ways to help. I also would encourage people to visit the website to follow each of the women and support their various projects. Black writers need financial support and this is one way to do that. Hire us and pay us to be at your event (virtually, right now).

What advice would you give to someone who's looking to get more involved in the Rochester community but doesn't know where to start? 

I would say start where your interests are. What do you like to do? What is an area that you want to help with? Then see if you can find a way to be involved in the spaces that you occupy. We have a lot of resources, especially with social media. People are connected and sharing information about needs in many ways. I do "does anybody have a dollar" campaigns on FB where I pick a Black person with a need and ask my community to contribute to a fund to meet that need. We have raised about $10,000 since the beginning of the year. The money goes right to the creditor (I oversee that process). Our only request is that the person keep the assistance anonymous as we want to preserve their dignity. I use this example to say, I listened to my heart and let it lead me. Then I used my network to help others. It is often as simple as that. If you want to be helpful, do not advertise how great you are or post pictures of people you are helping. If you are looking for photo ops, then you do not need to do the work. If you are working in communities that are marginalized, do no harm, and work to dismantle your biases. When you help people, it is important to build them up, not center yourself.