Interview by Emily Hessney Lynch.

Published December 6, 2018.

Where are you originally from? What brought you to Rochester at this time in your life?

I’m from Sodus, NY. I went to Long Island for about eight months for college, and came back to Upstate afterwards. I’ve been back in Rochester for almost ten years now. I never really considered moving away. My friends and family are here, my job is here, and it’s home to me. We have such a vibrant culture and communities.

What is your favorite part of living in Rochester?

The food scene, for sure. The Gate House is my default. The Hideaway is right down the street from me. All the local wineries and breweries are great—Living Roots, Flight Wine Bar, and Swiftwater.

What are some of your favorite/secret Rochester spots? 

Down by Low Falls—that little trail near Lake Ave. There’s a stone platform in the center of these statues, right above Low Falls. I go there every couple years. That one spot is so quiet and interesting, it really stands out.

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

Image Out and Pride are two. It’s exciting to see how our town celebrates through film. Summer festivals, like Party in the Park. Restaurant Week is a lot of fun too. And I love kicking off the holidays season with the lighting of the Liberty Pole! Tuba Christmas at Eastman is amazing too, with 150+ tubas playing, a singalong, and it’s such a blast.

What are some of your favorite local nonprofits to support? 

The Center for Youth—they provide housing and other services for at-risk youth. They’re located on Upper Monroe. I got involved there this year for my 30th birthday—I held a fundraiser for them in January. They’re opening a house for homeless LGBTQ youth.

The Out Alliance is another great one—the cause is so important. They provide services for the LGBTQ+ community. I’ve helped organize events, fundraise, and more. They opened a community center recently and had a doggy fashion show.

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

I’d go to Abode and spend it all! It’s a cute shop. You can buy little holiday or birthday or housewarming gifts. They have unique candle lines too. Fahsye is another awesome one, located over in North Winton. They have cute Rochester ornaments for your Christmas tree!

What's your favorite neighborhood in the city? 

They’re all unique in their own ways. I lived in the 19th Ward when I first moved to Rochester, and I’m in the Park Ave/East Ave area now. All the neighborhoods have their own communities and fun things to see and do.

What's the best place to get a garbage plate?

Mark’s Texas Hots is my favorite—maybe it’s the 4am thing. Their meat sauce is just right, in terms of the power, flavor, and spice.

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

I spend a lot of time with friends; I like to get out and do stuff. We have plenty of events in Rochester all winter long! In the winter I’ll go bowling at L&M Lanes or Radio Social. And my other coping mechanism is just cooking all winter long.

What is your favorite Rochester memory? 

Running for City Council last year. It was exciting, invigorating, and challenging. You learn a lot. It helps you learn what you can do under pressure. I’m looking to represent a community in office; I love the idea of serving the public.

Awhile ago, I formed a nonpartisan voting coalition called RocVotes (that’s now disbanded). We would go to different events or festivals and get people registered to vote. The local level does matter and really affects you and your neighbors.

What makes Rochester unique? 

Our diversity. From all the groups in the city that are activists—March for Our Lives, the Women’s March, Black Lives Matter, and advocates for the homeless. Our people get out there and do something. They don’t just say they care. If you care about something, you can go out and do something about it.

Our history is what makes us strong. We’re a sanctuary city, we strive to help the homeless. That’s exciting—that we’re working to make things better for all. It’s who we are as a city, it’s in our blood. We care enough to get out and talk about it, and take action.

What do you think could be improved? 

We’re already facing numerous problems—like poverty (we’re third in the nation for childhood poverty), homelessness (which we’ve reduced among the veteran population), gentrification (we always have to think about the impact of development), our education system (the superintendent is leaving again at the end of 2018). But through a community-focused, collaborative effort, we can help make a plan, break through, and fix things. The burden isn’t solely on City Hall; it’s the community’s responsibility as well.

If Rochester was a drink, what would it be?

It would be an old fashioned. It’s flavorful, strong, and warms you up.

What are some small ways we can all get involved in making Rochester a better place?

Get involved in something you’re passionate about. A lot of times nonprofits need help with little things and it can make a world of difference. If you have time to spare, donate your time! I got involved in phone banking for a candidate that needed help. I also run social media for an LGBTQ+ networking group. Donating money isn’t the only way to help.

Also, don’t get burnt out—pick what you can do, do it, and if you like it, do it again.

What advice would you give to someone who is new to Rochester and looking to get to know the area?

Don’t be afraid to try new things. Whatever neighborhood you moved to—go check out the stores, coffee shops, restaurants, and events. You’ll find a group of people that enjoys the same things as you do pretty easily.