CapNY Changemakers: Deshanna Wiggins, CEO of the Albany Black Chamber of Commerce  

Updated: July 2025

In the Capital District we have many individuals who are looking to improve our larger community in terms of mental and physical health, wealth, and connectivity. Here at CapNY we call those champions of advancement changemakers.
One champion of change we’d like to highlight is returning Upstate NY native Deshanna Wiggins, CEO of the Albany Black Chamber of Commerce (ABCC).
  • About Deshanna

Deshanna is accomplished and driven, having secured her undergraduate degree and professional development certificate at Clark Atlanta University and Emory University respectively, and working in various Black-led mayoral offices and judicial offices  in the years thereafter. Deshanna is currently based in Troy and returned to the area after her phenomenal work in Atlanta to bring a fresh new perspective on Black and Brown entrepreneurship. “I think upstate is great, and people seem to think New York is just New York City. I’ve long wanted to pop that myth to let everyone know, including people here, that there are a lot of resources here. There’s a lot of opportunity here, it’s just about connecting the dots. Connecting the right people to the right companies and organizations.” With Deshanna at the helm of the ABCC the dots of preparation and opportunity will surely connect. The Capital Region is ready for entrepreneurship and ownership to reflect the community it engages in. We’re ready for a revitalized and renewed Albany, NY.

  • How She Services Our Local Community

“Our whole idea with the ABCC is to pay close attention to Black and minority businesses. Contrary to popular belief, although there’s a huge wage gap when it comes to people of color in this country at large, and Black and minority businesses are often overlooked, we do have some Federal legislation, we do have a lot more support coming in. However there is a cultural difference in terms of how we go about starting our businesses. We have to start from scratch in all figures of speech– in finances, resources and in mentorship. So the whole idea behind the BCC is to provide these business owners with resources and the connections they need to take care of business further.”

  • How Her Work Impacts the Cap Region

The ABCC offers space for the community to congregate, learn about economic sustainability, and provide advocacy for Black and brown business owners. In this coming year the ABCC will provide programming open to all to engage and empower the local ecosystem. In addition to that,  Deshanna doesn’t limit herself nor the ABCC to working with millennials and older generations of business, they recognize the importance of getting youth involved to make a sustaining impact. “We’re really getting into the student body here. We have a huge collegiate population here and in some ways they’re overlooked in terms of being able to take those students right out of school and match them with companies and organizations, or sell and pitch to them about keeping the businesses they do start here and keeping them local.” It’s no one person’s or organization’s responsibility but it’s all of ours to make sure this community and the larger Black and minority businesses are at the table and they are part of the conversation.”

  • Why She’s Passionate About Her Work

“I’m a native of here, my parents both worked in the school district, so educations always been very important to me in my household. I felt I got the best support and access to education here, but I did not have direct examples of what I wanted to do and who I wanted to be professionally. When I went on those field trips or I started working part-time in high school those people in those positions did not look like me, nor was I called in. I was supported because I was smart and it afforded me a lot of opportunity but I wasn’t necessarily welcomed. So I knew emphatically that I needed to leave here to find out who I was going to be, but the goal was always to bring what I learned back to this area. I’m very happy to say that’s exactly what I did.” Her experience in Black owned or Black-led entertainment, politics, and legal offices speaks to this. She has learned what it takes to build, strengthen and sustain a community such as this. As Deshanna says it has afforded her a new lens on what’s possible.

  • Hopes for The Future & How to Get Involved

Deshanna understands that true progress “It’s no one person’s or organization’s responsibility but it’s all of ours to make sure this community and the larger Black and minority businesses are at the table and they are part of the conversation.” With this mentality we’re sure to see rapid success and growth in this area in both culture and community. 

If Deshanna’s mission aligns with you, click to stay connected with the Albany Black Chamber of Commerce. There will be ample opportunity to both serve and be a part of this tour de force.

  • Written by: Arielle Steele

CapNY Changemakers: Introducing J’Vanay Santos

Updated: July 2025

Being known affectionately (or maybe sardonically depending on the mood) as Smallbany, the Capital District is known for having a close-knit community with limited offerings but those of us in the know know that this is a misconception. Millennials have been working overtime to give this region a much needed reboot, bolstering niche communities rife with culture. These individuals leading the charge are changemakers– advocates of cultural, spiritual, and mental progress that are leaders in any given space.
  • Forging a New Path in Maternal Care

One Changemaker is making her disruptive entrance into the maternal care space. Albany native J’Vanay Santos is forging a new path in maternal care and she’ll be sharing her gift with the tri-state area soon. Co-founded by J’Vanay, MyLÚA Health is an emerging maternal health platform that specializes in support for birthing persons and their care teams through personalized education, connection to resources, and health insights to improve quality and equitable decision-making. MyLÚA Health is an AI-powered early risk detection service that identifies & manages the risk of pregnancy-related complications.

In J’Vanay’s words, “MyLÚA Health supports allied health professionals to ensure birthing persons have access to knowledge and resources to achieve a safe and healthy pregnancy for themselves and their babies. With predictive analytics, automation tools, and a robust network or partners, the company determines needs at the individual level and matches them to localized resources. After answering a brief intake, MyLÚA will provide a personalized risk assessment; along with evidence-based, actionable education and connections to both clinical and non-clinical resources to address care needs. Additionally, MyLÚA partners with community-based organizations to enhance support systems at the local level. “The goal here,” J’Vanay says,” is to focus on missed and delayed diagnoses that stem from poor screening and lack of data, which hinders a provider’s understanding of a birthing person’s lived experience.”

  • The Inspiration

J’Vanay’s inspiration for the creation of MyLÚA lies in her up-close experience with the racial gap in maternal care, “U-Leea Santos, our Chief Experience Officer, and my sister, was denied medical intervention despite establishing a code word for wanting intervention. The mental and emotional tool of such an experience was challenging and left us wondering why we could not advocate for U-Leea’s wishes. As one of 8 [children] and the glorified doula of my family after being a part of 5 prior births, I knew something was wrong. So, we decided to dive into the literature and unearthed many issues with the maternal care system.” And that she did. J’Vanay and U-Leea partnered with a group of like minded health care providers, data scientists, and engineers to bring their dream to fruition.

J’Vanay’s passion for equity in the maternal health care space lies in the desire to give voice and agency to those that have been stripped of it, “We are amplifying the voices of birthing persons/mothers that have historically been left out of the narrative. When speaking with birthing folks, we continuously hear that they feel rushed, unheard, and express concerns about their pain being ignored. Trust has been in the maternal care system as structural racism has led to outcome disparities and inequities. We provide a platform that equips birthing persons with knowledge, resources, care advocates, and risk detection so all birthing persons can access their right to a quality and safe birthing experience for themselves and their babies.” Though this is a weighty call to task, it’s one worth striving for. Per NPR the maternal death rate for Black Americans was 69.9 per 100,000 in 2021 alone, which is 2.6 times higher the rate for white women.

  • Bridging the Gap

Bridging the gap in any way we can means increasing access to quality care, identifying diagnoses early and finding community care to help address those needs where busy hospitals and health care centers cannot. MyLÚA Health is one of the many organizations trying to push us in the right direction. They are changemakers and the community is ready to receive them with open arms. From panel opportunities to partnerships with doula and community based organizations to funding, the community at large has embraced them– and soon NY State at large will be too.

At this time MyLÚA is focused on securing further partnerships before they go live later this year. If you’d like to get involved or receive support, reach out to the team here

  • Written by: Arielle Steele

Juneteenth in CapNY: 4 Changemakers Paving the Way

“Juneteenth is important because it is the beginning of our history.”
– Lashawn Hawkins, Founder of the I Can Breathe and I Will Speak organization in Fulton County New York
  • CapNY Celebrations

June 19th. Many Americans know that date as Juneteenth, a federal holiday that acknowledges and commemorates the legal ending of slavery in the United States of America. For Black Americans across the country, Juneteenth is our independence day as we honor the end of suffering for those who endured the hardships of slavery. Juneteenth became a federal holiday in the United States June 17, 2021, after President Biden signed it into a federal law. On Juneteenth weekend, organizations throughout CapNY hosted events where people can get together and celebrate the holiday.

  • Amplifying Voices in Albany

In Albany, there were many events celebrating the holiday. The Underground Railroad Education Center, a nonprofit in Albany located on Livingston Avenue, hosted the JuneTEENth Freedom Day Celebration. The celebration was put together by the center’s Young Abolitionist Leadership group, who planned the event, invited numerous vendors including Allie B’s Kitchen, and held activities and presentations for the community.

When asked about the event, cofounder of the center Paul Stewart stated, “Juneteenth is important to this organization because it celebrates the freedom of the African American people in the United States. I am delighted that the young people from the Young Abolitionist Group stepped up and did the work for this event. It had such a great turnout.”

The Underground Railroad Education Center’s mission is to rediscover the full complex history around the Underground Railroad and share it with the community. The center focuses not only on the routes that were taken with the railroad but also the journey of people who made those choices to take the route. Since the nonprofit was established in 2003, the center was able to uncover the railroad’s relationship with other places outside of America including places like Britain, Mexico, and Canada. “This is important work and we need to do this. We need to act on this,” says Stewart.

In addition to this event, families in Albany were able to participate in the Juneteenth celebration held at Ten Broeck Mansion. Located in Arbor Hill, the second oldest neighborhood in Albany, Ten Broeck Mansion held an arts and garden program that honored the holiday by sharing the history of African plants. These plants were then planted into the Mansion’s community garden. “There is such a rich beautiful history associated with these plants that not many know about. Having the opportunity to share this on Juneteenth is very special and important for us to do,” says executive Director of Ten Broeck Mansion, Kathryn Kosto.

Kosto further states, “Ten Broeck Mansion is part of a neighborhood with a lot of children and seniors. We love having the opportunities to give back to them. To make the museum more welcoming. We get the best reviews from our families who come to our events, they’ll invite others to come and join in on the fun.”

The nonprofit focuses on the initiative of sharing the history of Ten Broeck with the Arbor Hill neighborhood and the Capital Region. Ten Broeck Mansion offers many ways for everyone in the community to get involved. They host a free teen camp that supports the arts in the form of making movies, they hold free tours of the mansion where the share the history of it and will be hosting free children’s programs in the summer. “We are trying to be more inclusive and serve the needs of the community. We do a lot, but I still feel there is more we can do,” Kosto states.

  • Giving Back in Gloversville

Not directly in CapNY, but just adjacent to the west, in Gloversville, the I Can Breathe and I Will Speak nonprofit held an event at a local café. Lashawn Hawkins, founder of the organization states, “I knew nothing was going to happen here for Juneteenth, there is such a lack of education or care about it here. It being now a federal holiday, I knew we needed to bring more awareness and celebrate.”

At the event, Hawkins screened a documentary about the organization and had support from the mayor in Gloversville and the Gloversville Police Department. I Can Breathe and I Will Speak is a nonprofit that was created to bridge the gap between community and law enforcement, ultimately strengthening the relationship the people have with one another.

Hawkins, the founder of the organization, made it her personal goal to give back to the young people in her area after having her own difficult time in Gloversville. “Gloversville and Fulton County was the most racist place I’ve ever been when I first moved here. It was non- inclusive, and I knew I wanted to say something, but I didn’t know how then.” When social injustices began to arise during 2020, including the unjust murder of George Floyd, Hawkins went out to protest peacefully. “Young people reached out to protest with me, but me being a mother, I knew I didn’t want to lead them that way. So, I chose to start the nonprofit instead, “she says.

Since creating the nonprofit, Hawkins has given back to her community in many ways. She hosted a job fair, held a back-to-school event for people in need of supplies, and organized a Halloween event during the pandemic where the nonprofit would go to registered houses and deliver candy to kids safely, so that they can still enjoy the Halloween experience. She even put together a “Christmas Eve Car Sleigh” where parents can register how many kids they had, and she would bring toys to the families on Christmas Eve to give to their kids. When asked what motivates her Hawkins states, “The future of the Children here in my community. The kids.”

  • Creating Supportive Spaces in Saratoga

The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation celebrated Juneteenth with a “Summer Stroll” event over Juneteenth weekend. The Summer Strolls series is an event that happens every Sunday in the summer season and is hosted by the foundation; this event invites community members to take walking tours around historical areas in Saratoga. On Juneteenth, the foundation hosted a special stroll, led by author Carol Daggs who was able to share more history about the holiday and its relationship with Saratoga.

Membership and program director Nicole Babie believes Juneteenth is important to the foundation stating, “Juneteenth brings important conversations that this country needs to have. The history of Slavery, it can get swept under the rug but that’s important to talk about and recognize.”

The foundation works to strengthen the voices of the community. They hold black history month programs and women’s history month programs. The foundation also uses the history of the buildings in Saratoga to help the community learn and build together with one another. “What drives me everyday is being able to tell the stories of Saratoga Springs that people find both relatable and interesting. We are so much more than the racecourse and there is so much history here and that’s what our organizations preserves. It’s very exciting,” Babie says.

Sunday Summer Stroll spotlights Brandtville community for Juneteenth (WRGB), Credit: CBS 6
  • Written by: Naava Dae

CapNY Eats: Independent Korean Restaurant Spotlight

Updated: July 2025

It wasn’t that long ago in the CapNY where you would either have to have a Korean friend or personally know a Korean family to enjoy Korean Food in Upstate NY. ..(no longer)!

They’d invite you over for a sit down style family meal consisting of white rice, kimchi, and all of the other favored Korean dishes that are served in almost every Korean home. The classic bulgogi dish, or a kimbap roll were not always mentioned between friends looking for a place to meet out for lunch, or in the office discussion as a food option for a group order for delivery.

I was born in Seoul, South Korea, raised in a Korean home with a Korean mother making the most delicious Korean food I’ve ever had… and of course no one makes food the way your own mother does. Going to the market place in Seoul as a child, I still remember the smells of the food being made by street cart vendors and the aromas coming from the restaurants as we walked for blocks and blocks shopping while looking for a place for my family to eat dinner at.

I first moved to Upstate NY when I was a teenager, and since then I’ve always longed for this region to embrace and appreciate Korean food. Today, you can easily find about a half dozen Korean food restaurants offering traditional and newer Korean style foods to CapNY.

This article is presented through a content collaboration with ACE and CapNY. Visit them on Instagram at @upstatecreative!

  • SON OF EGG | ALBANY (second location in Rensselaer)
SON OF EGG | Photo: Bon Vivant Photographe

Bringing Korean influence to Albany in 2020, Mincho Ko and her son & co-owner, Justin Ko, opened Son of Egg around the corner from Lark Street. The narrow cafe and wall counter seating reminds me of my visits to K-town in NYC, as we walked to different restaurants and grabbed a quick order of mandoo to eat on the go. Son Of Egg offers one of my favorite Korean foods, a traditional kimbap roll. They offer a more contemporary menu with Korean inspired flavors and ingredients, fused into a street food concept that you can eat in-house or while walking around town. They’ve switched up Korean family meals a bit with their Bulgogi Burger… and the Tornado Potato, which is a deep fried spiral cut potato on a bamboo skewer served with a variety of sauces on the side.

As a small locally owned business that cares about their community and those in it, Son Of Egg created “The Good Egg Initiative”, which allows you to purchase a meal in person or online for a homeless individual in need of a meal. The meal tickets are left in a designated location and made available for the homeless and or those with food insecurities to receive a free meal. At any time during business hours, this individual can discreetly come visit, grab an available meal ticket, and present it to the cashier. 

IG: @son_of_egg | web: sonofegg.com

  • BESPOKI BOWL | TROY
Bespoki Bowl | Photo: Bon Vivant Photographe

An authentic Hawaiian & Asian eatery in the heart of downtown Troy, the Bespoki Bowl started in the Troy Kitchen in 2016, and opened around the corner on 4th Street in 2017. Paul Park, owner of the Bespoki Bowl, has artful murals covering the walls around the dining room, and asking thoughtful questions such as “how do you feel?”

Making their own kimchi in house, and mixing their bulgogi marinade from scratch, you will absolutely find authentic Korean flavors in the Korean foods served in this neighborhood restaurant. You can order traditional bulgogi & rice here, or get a more modern Bulgogi Taco. The Spam Musubi, spam on rice with teriyaki sauce wrapped in a nori sheet, is one of my favorites here. Whether you grab a bulgogi bowl to go, or sit and enjoy a plate of spicy pork and rice, you’ll experience a taste of Korea each time.

IG: @bespokibowl | web: bespokibowl.com

  • SEOUL KOREAN RESTAURANT | LATHAM
Seoul Korean Restaurant | Photo: Bon Vivant Photographe

One of the longest operating Korean restaurants in CapNY, Seoul Korean restaurant offers authentic traditional Korean foods as well as street foods. Opened in 2013 in Latham, was purchased three years ago by Mijung Kim and her husband, both from Seoul. You’ll walk past shelves of Korean pantry items and products as you enter the restaurant leading you into a large dining area, which accommodates bigger parties and families looking to dine out together.

The foods and flavors at this restaurant remind me of downtown Seoul and the many family meals of my childhood in Korea. Their traditional Korean food makes this restaurant appealing to anyone looking to be introduced to authentic Korean foods for the very first time or who is in town looking for a good Korean meal. The extensive dinner menu ensures that there is something for everyone to enjoy. You can enjoy unique asian bottled sodas for the kid in all of us, and a variety of Soju, Plum wines and asian beers are available for the adults.

IG: @seoulkorean_restaurant | web: seoulkoreanlathamny.com

  • SUNHEE’S FARM AND KITCHEN | TROY
Sunhee’s Farm and Kitchen | Photo: Bon Vivant Photographe

Jinah Ahn came onto the downtown Troy food scene in 2016, opening her Korean restaurant with a big vision and a huge love for her community. Sunhee’s is a farmhouse style restaurant with a small shop in the back offering some shelves filled with Korean market items, stationary products, and a small fridge with jars of their homemade kimchi for sale. Wooden farm tables, rustic pitchers & glass vases filled with dried wild flowers welcome you to sit in their dining room. In addition to the Troy location, Sunhee’s operates a small family farm in Cambridge, New York, raising chickens and ducks while cultivating a mix of organically grown Korean and domestic vegetables.

Serving traditional Korean favorites such as Bibimpap and Japchae, Sunhee’s goes above and beyond the delicious Korean cuisine they serve by also offering free English classes for adult immigrants, from beginner to advanced via zoom or in person in downtown Troy. Classes are open to all immigrants, and all are welcome.

IG: @sunhees95ferry | Web: sunhees.com

  • Written by: Nellie Ackerman-Vellano

CapNY Eats: 5 Droolworthy Vegan/Vegetarian Restaurants

Updated: July 2025

The plant-based food industry has boomed in recent years with myco-protein chik’n and beet burgers that bleed, branded with names like Beyond and Impossible suggesting we’re scaling new heights.
  • Hello, Meatless Mondays

The pandemic only sharpened growth with renewed interest in health conscious eating, efforts to reduce animal consumption (hello, meatless Mondays), and awareness of strained farm-to-table supply chains coupled with new direct-to-consumer options. Suddenly, plant-based options surged on mainstream restaurants’ simplified, post-pandemic menus and customers continue to feed the demand for meatless options when dining out.

Downstate, we’ve seen a Michelin star and James Beard award nominations for a vegan restaurant, chef and veg-driven hospitality group. Upstate, CapNY is enjoying its own share of the action with more growth in the vegan/vegetarian dining scene in two years than the last ten. And they aren’t they aren’t doing it lightly. From the growing vegan list, we’ve picked five eateries putting flavor, fermentation and local farms at the forefront of their plant-based creations.

This article is presented through a content collaboration with ACE and CapNY. Visit them on Instagram at @upstatecreative!

  • BAR VEGAN | Center Square | Albany
Bar Vegan

From Lark St. Poke to the Loft 205, sibling owners Will and Mary Phan have opened downtown spots that earn a loyal crowd. But after closing their popular college bar, LAX, during the pandemic, Will was inspired by vegan restaurant Avant Garden in Manhattan and reinvented the LAX space as a vegan restaurant, including an entirely vegan bar. Partnering with a local florist, the place has been beautifully transformed with shiny white subway tiles, leafy planters and trailing vines, and the menu offers shareable plates that won’t break the bank. From a kitchen carefully separated to avoid cross contamination with the Loft restaurant upstairs, try the sweet potato tempura sushi roll, edamame potstickers filled with a luxurious edamame puree (choose steamed or fried), stuffed avocado and bang bang cauliflower florets. All wines and spirits are vegan or organic.

Bar Vegan | 205 Lark Street | Albany | IG

  • TAKE TWO CAFE | Schenectady
Take Two Cafe, Photos: Susie Davidson Powell

Take Two picks up where much missed Shades of Green on Lark Street left off years ago. Owner Chelsea Heilman has created a gorgeous garden-inspired oasis on Schenectady’s State Street where foot traffic is high and it’s hard to miss her hand-painted sidewalk tables. An avid traveler, Heilman serves a chickpea curry, inspired by one from Iceland, along with a replica avocado-pesto-feta-walnut toast and a tofu scramble breakfast burrito with chorizo, chile, and homefries both inspired by cafes in Melbourne, Australia, and Colorado.

Among the most labor intensive ingredients is Heilman’s faux lox salmon. Carrots are given a 32-hour bath in a seaweed, soy and caper brine for umami bite – perfect to pile on a bagel with vegan cream cheese. Stop by and join an all-day crowd pouring in for sandwiches and vegan pastries. Fix your coffee as you like: A counter refrigerator is jammed with all the plant milks from oat to almond.

Take Two Cafe | 433 State Street | Schenectady | IG

  • MEADOWLARK @ TAKK HOUSE | Troy

Meadowlark Catering – from the team behind Wizard Burger and Burrito Burrito (Albany) and Takk House (Troy) – is now hosting their tasteful plant-based cuisine at pop-up events at the Takk House.

These Dining at Takk experiences give the owners an opportunity to craft new menus based on the most current harvest, and gives guests a taste of what they’re all about! Head to the Meadowlark website to check out details for their next experience.

Meadowlark Catering | Troy

  • WIZARD BURGER | Downtown Albany
Wizard Burger, Photos: Susie Davidson Powell

It’s hard to overstate the craftiness behind the Wizard’s vegan creations. If you visit the Wiz on social media, you’ll find burger abominations flying off on intergalactic, space odysseys. Go in person and this purple-hued counter service spot has added a line up of boozy and non-alcoholic cocktails and an additional room in which to enjoy them surrounded with curios from plant terrariums to crystal balls.

Whether you go for lunch or happy hour, the team behind Wizard Burger has all their nighttime cravings on the menu. Get the Mumbo Jumbo – an Impossible burger topped with house chili, battered onion rings, tater tots and jalapeno-garlic crema – or a crispy chik’n Raptor, but don’t forget battered pickles on the side. Those with a sweet tooth might choose the Impossible Strawberry Snail with an Impossible patty and raspberry jelly on a glazed donut by tiny Strawberry Snail vegan bakery. 

Wizard Burger | 74 N. Pearl Street | Albany l IG

  • THE JUICE BRANCH | Catskill & Hudson | Black-Owned Business
The Juice Branch, Photos: Susie Davidson Powell

Painted all the colors of a tropical island, it’s no surprise George Salter’s juice bar is an uplifting place to hang out whether you visit his Warren Street, Hudson location for an antioxidant packed smoothie or hop the Hudson river to Catskill. In Catskill, you’ll find Salter whipping up his lunch du jour, teased a day ahead on social media. It might be crisply fried oyster mushroom sandwich or plant-based Smack-n’Cheez. Sink into a barrel chair in the window, dip into a book on juicing or the benefits of tea, and Salter will hand deliver plates. Pick from more than twenty-four smoothie combos, add boosts from ginger, elderberry or MCT shots. Munch on nutella and banana or avocado toast topped with hard-boiled egg, hemp and chia or fuel up with an acai or peanut butter banana bowl. (Note: Cash or Venmo only in Catskill)

The Juice Branch | 65 W Bridge Street | Catskill | Phone: 518.947.0920
The Juice Branch | 719 Columbia Street | Hudson | Phone: 518.291.2612

Written by: Susie Davidson Powell

Making an Impact: 3 Black Entrepreneurs in CapNY

Updated: July 2025

Despite systemic barriers in place for marginalized communities, there are countless thriving Black-owned businesses in CapNY. Many use their resources to pay it forward, bettering the communities around them.
  • Leaving a Legacy

Whether it’s by combating poverty through transportation, supporting new business owners from marginalized groups, or creating a gym that welcomes those often left out of the fitness world, these three Black entrepreneurs have made an impact in CapNY.

  • Trent Griffin-Braaf, Tech Valley Hospitality Shuttle & GB Logistics

Trent Griffin-Braaf is the founder and CEO of transportation companies Tech Valley Hospitality Shuttle and GB Logistics. In 2021, the 37-year-old was named one of Forbes’ Next 1,000 Entrepreneurs. GB Logistics is currently partnered with Amazon, making deliveries out of the tech giant’s Colonie base. Tech Valley Shuttle offers a variety of modes of transportation, with a special focus on the community. Their main mission is to combat poverty through transportation. According to Griffin-Braaf, “Transportation and poverty go hand in hand, and we’re trying to change that, to flip the switch.” Tech Valley Shuttle offers shuttles to aid those living in local food deserts, commuter rides to work, as well as transportation to the New York State’s correctional facilities, allowing people in the community to visit loved ones, which is found to lower recidivism rates.

We asked, why are you passionate about what you do?

“Two things. I think the biggest thing is that I’ve had times in my life when I wasn’t able to drive, so I understand the barriers. And then I was someone who was previously incarcerated in my youth. So I lived all of these things, from not being able to get a job, to having to utilize public transportation, which minimized my work opportunities, to being in prison. I lived in food insecure areas, I grew up on Hamilton Hill, in Schenectady, and the Heights in Troy, where there are no grocery stores nearby. So, I’ve actually had to deal with these same issues. And now being able to help others in the Capital Region get past those barriers, I feel good. I feel like I have a mission every day. I know my purpose. I know I’m helping change lives, and that allows me to keep going.”

What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs?

“The best advice that I would give to anybody who wants to be an entrepreneur is one, to believe in yourself. I believe that so many times people don’t have the true belief in themselves that they can accomplish what it is they set out to do, or that they can make the kind of money they say they want to make. I say belief starts with belief, and knowing that you really can accomplish anything. We all have greatness within us. It’s just identifying that greatness, and pulling it out and working on it. You have to make the time to work on yourself. No one can be successful without being the best version of themselves. And if they do, it’s just luck and then that would be squandered. But for anything that’s sustainable, and for the long term, it takes education and in the know how. Take courses, or if you’re not the best in school, utilize YouTube and read books. Take advantage of networks that help small businesses entrepreneurs.”

  • Cori Rodriguez, Cussin’s Nails

Cori Rodriguez is the owner of Cussin’s Nails in Downtown Schenectady. The 34-year-old moved to the Capital Region in 1997, and has lived in the hamlet of Delmar ever since. Cussin’s Nails focuses on keeping nails healthy, and clients safe, as well as being an inclusive space where all feel welcome. Rodriguez opened the nail salon in 2018, and now hosts the space “for six micro-businesses,” as Rodriguez likes to call it, that operate independently inside of her salon. The six micro-businesses currently working out of her salon are all women-owned, and include minority and disabled owners as well. The salon has a popular following on social media, and Rodriguez herself has a waiting list for future clients. 

We asked, why are you passionate about what you do?

“I like that I have the freedom to make my business the space that I want it to be. I’m also able to help my renters out, by mentoring them as they create their businesses, get their licensing and insurance, just overall mentorship. Being nail technicians, most of my renters came to me straight from school, so they’re starting from scratch, with no clientele, and that can be very jarring and alarming. You kind of just jump in, and hope that you can swim. I create a lifeboat, where any question they have, I can hopefully provide an answer. What is also really important to me, is that a lot of Black women spend money on beauty services, and while the hair industry and waxing industry are very diverse, the nail industry is a bit less so. While there are nail salons that are owned by other marginalized community members, many are not Black-owned, so Black women can often find themselves being mistreated in another environment. So I wanted to make a space that’s safe for everybody.”

What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs?

“The best advice that I could give, and what I give my new renters as they’re coming in, is that we are capable. We are programmed to think that there is one way to do everything, and one way to live. You go to high school, you get your diploma, you go to college, you get your diploma, you get the job, and you work, and then you retire. But that doesn’t work for a lot of people. Instead of struggling for years to live happy later, what can I do now? Realize that you do have the potential, and the resources available, where anybody has the ability to start something new today.”

  • Trinel Mcdermott, Synergy Albany

Trinel Mcdermott is the owner of Synergy Albany, located on Everett Road. The 29-year-old Long Island-native opened Synergy Albany in 2018. Mcdermott says he chose Albany as Synergy’s location because of its diverse demographic, and affordability compared to the pricier Long Island, allowing him to start his business with less initial overhead. Whereas many gyms operate as a one-size-fits-all model, Synergy provides a personalized fitness experience at a group value. Mcdermott’s approach allows patrons to “get that community feel, but also get a personalized experience that caters to [them], and whatever [their] goals are.”  

We asked, why are you passionate about what you do?

“I’m passionate about what I do because I get to help people on a consistent basis. I think oftentimes, a lot of people get caught up or consumed with the everyday hustle and bustle, and you get pulled into just making money and just surviving for the most part. For me to be able to do what I love in terms of helping people, and help someone who may be struggling with hypertension, or struggling with fibromyalgia, is super fulfilling. When someone is struggling with their weight loss journey, and they’ve tried everything, it’s fulfilling to see them get from point A to point B, when things finally click. The feeling you get, knowing that you’ve helped someone, and it doesn’t have to be a ton of people, it always starts small, but before you know it, the compounding effect of just helping people and being able to bring a smile every day keeps me passionate about what I do.”

What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs?

“Make sure you have a plan of action, and you execute that plan. A lot of times, we will create a plan, but we won’t execute it for a lot of different reasons. And we’ll always tell ourselves, “Well, I need to do this before I can do that.” Sometimes it’s just about finding a way to execute your dream, knowing it’s okay to fail. And if you fail, fail fast and move on fast. If you’re passionate and genuine about what you do, in the long run, it will always pay off, because it’s more so about relationships. And from those relationships, you can cultivate better success. When I was starting Synergy, I was knocking on doors, and saying, “My name is Trinel, and I’m opening up a gym not too far from here. I’d love for you to come down and check it out.” Just creating some sort of rapport, so that I’m able to know them on a first name basis, and create some type of relationship. It doesn’t always work, of course, but if you do that consistently, you’ll get maybe five people that will come down and check out your business or give you a call back. And before you know it, they have a friend and you can start to create a community just simply off of one or two meaningful connections.”

  • Written by: Victoria Diana

4 Millennial Changemakers in CapNY Housing

Updated: July 2025

If you’ve spent time in Albany, there’s a chance that you’ve noticed a bright red ‘X’ on multiple buildings. Albany has a lot of homes that are currently vacant, dilapidated, and not up to safety codes. Seeing all of those properties that have great potential, you can’t help but to dream of all the possibilities, to think of it’s potential to be transformed into adequate housing or become multi-purpose centers for our community…

  • Changing the Landscape of Homeownership

Outside of the possibility you’re also faced with what is: that the presence of those abandoned homes indicate that there are more unhoused neighbors than you think. Furthermore it begs the question what does affordable housing actually look like in CapNY.

While no one person has all the answers, we do have a bevy of individuals of all ages and groups committed to finding solutions. Leadership is not a one-size fits all endeavor, it does not have a particular look and feel. There are more and more young people in CapNY who are taking up the mantle to be actors of change. It’s important to believe in the power of younger generations. These millennials are changing the landscape of homeownership and what it means to have housing in our region.

  • Virginia Rawlins

Meet Virginia Rawlins, President and CEO of Building Blocks Together (BBT), an organization dedicated to the education of Black and Brown potential homeowners. The 31-year-old Bronx native started out as a Housing Services Counselor at the Albany County Land Bank but then realized that members of the community had a lot of misconceptions about the home buying process. 

“Working at the Land Bank I realized that people didn’t know the basic home buying process. They were excited [to receive grants] for the $5,000 houses, but they didn’t know which legal documents to submit to the bank had they gone the traditional route.” Seeing that disconnect, Rawlins founded Building Blocks Together as a way to bridge that gap. Founded in 2018, BBT is equal parts a consulting and advocacy group which holds workshops and helps connect members of the community with funding opportunities. In addition to the creation of BBT, Rawlins works with the Touhey Foundation and their Restorative Justice fund, which gives African-American homebuyers up to $10,000 to purchase a home in CapNY.

“I wanted to be a connector. I think everyone can agree that the opportunities for affordable home ownership for minorities are present with entities like the Land Bank and the Land Trust in the area. However some of these organizations that are not Black-led don’t have the resources or have the same sense of care to do community outreach in the way that Black people would.”

Working for the community and being of the community is a distinction that Virginia is keenly aware of. It can mean the difference between feeling seen, heard and understood and condescension. It can also be a barrier to beginning the endeavor of home ownership. It is due to this understanding that various housing groups have welcomed Virginia’s presence with open arms. Virginia has been lifted up by Albany’s housing community and has created long lasting connections.

Ultimately Virginia Rawlins is passionate about the work she does because she believes that everyone is entitled to own a home and build a deeper connection to the community around them.

  • Josh Koss

Meet Josh Koss, General Counsel for The Vecino Group, a multidimensional collective dedicated to creating “lasting and socially-impactful” work. Before relocating to Troy, Josh practiced law  at a real estate law firm in NY helping close $3 billion worth of deals while there but he wanted something a bit more “hands on.” After gaining his broker’s license, he fell in love with the area and began his journey with the Vecino Group. The 29-year-old lawyer’s work is centered on affordable housing within the region. 

Josh Koss, left, courtesy of Albany Business Review’s article “Vecino Group wants to build more affordable housing developments in upstate New York.”

The Vecino Group works in tandem with social programs such as Asteri, a supportive community for persons with developmental and physical challenges based in Utica, to provide housing. The Vecino Group owns and operates over $700 million dollars of affordable housing development across this country, and owns 4 properties in Upstate NY. 

Josh believes that there is more to housing than availability and affordability, “The supportive housing aspect is important to what we do. We’ve partnered with daycares, CVS to distribute vaccines, among other things in the community. It’s based on this notion that it’s important to deliver not just affordable housing but high quality affordable housing to people of all different income levels and social statuses. We believe that if we can help people capitalize on the benefits that come with that– better education, better support for mental and physical health– then we’re doing a small part in the world to make our communities a better place.”

Being housed is a basic need that drastically alters our course in life. It is the foundation from which our faculties grow. Josh understands that people not only have a right to shelter but a right to quality of life. To even begin to approach social equity, we need well rounded responses to the inequalities that plague our communities.

Josh is ultimately passionate about this work because it simply feels good. “I think that human beings were meant to feel good about doing good work. I look for work that makes me feel good. If I’m doing that and I’m helping the people around me, then it’s a good day.” Being able to achieve goals with like-minded individuals is what keeps Josh going. Upon moving here he knew one person, now he knows 100. Josh feels that there are great people in this area dedicated to this work.

  • Ray Turner & Kim Wallace

Last but certainly not least are the founding partners of the Wallace Turner Law Firm, Ray Turner and Kim Wallace. Their main areas of practice are real estate, business and personal injury, and estate planning.

Ray Turner initially went to undergrad for theater and dance but when personal tragedy struck she wanted to figure out what she could do to take control of her life, so she enrolled in law school. A move that proved to be life changing. Ray worked in the public defender’s office for a while but still felt that she wasn’t creating the change that she had hoped in her community, “I had an epiphany. I was helping people but it wasn’t long lasting. I thought, ‘How can I make an impact and help people?’ I need to open up a law firm. CapNY needs to see a law firm that looks like them. What services do we need to offer? We need to offer home ownership because that’s going to create generational wealth. It was about how I can help people establish themselves further.”

Turner and Wallace, courtesy of Times Union article “Partners overcome hurdles facing lawyers of color”

Ray’s approach to community building moves beyond the initial moment of gaining housing, instead figuring out ways for Black and Brown communities to retain their homes and businesses and turn them into assets that can be passed down to their children. Having a law firm that reflects the community and a firm that the community trusts is an invaluable asset. Ray and Kim find that more often than not clients come to them because of who they are and how they can relate to them. People find comfort in seeing people like them.

What motivates Ray and Kim most is knowing that they are presenting members of our community that often don’t get the representation they deserve. Moving forward they aim to expand their business to become a full service law firm, hire from inside the community, and to grow as a practice.

  • Written by: Arielle Steele

Arts on the Move: CapNY Creative Transplants

Updated: July 2025

The myth of Upstate New York being a place where art and culture is lacking is officially over.

In the last couple of years, not only have our own residents paved the way for arts to take the forefront, but the recent influx of urban creatives have helped the growth of arts communities.
  • An Uptick in Relocations

Over the course of the last year Upstate New York has seen an uptick in relocations. According to the The Daily Gazette, Albany County alone has seen a near 2,000 increase in requests for relocation services from NYC transplants. The pandemic allowed for our urban neighbors to rethink their relationship to their surroundings and to community.

The end result being New Yorkers exploring those renewed relationships in Hudson, Saratoga, the Adirondacks, Albany, and Troy. Along with their rediscoveries they’ve brought their love for studio art, film, writing, and nature. Below, you’ll meet four creatives in our community who have a newfound love for CapNY.

  • Sam Jones

Meet outrageously funny and quick-witted Brooklynite Sam Jones. Self described as someone who has always climbed through windows to open doors, Sam is a creative who has had to work from the ground up for her career. While she currently works as a Creative Director at Viacom, Sam has made a name for herself as a comedy writer and actor. Sam’s comedy is defined by cutting satire aimed on societal expectations of women; her first viral moment being spoof commercials for feminine products.

Desiring a change of pace after the pandemic, Sam has found a new home in Greene County. “When the pandemic hit our friends moved up here and we were like ‘How the f— are you going to live up here all winter long?!’ But then we kept visiting and we were like ‘Maybe they have the right idea, I like this life!’ After a while I had a vision to buy a quaint house that I can afford, that’s less than my f–ing rent and here I am and it’s one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life.” Sam loves the connection to nature that Greene County provides. Lush and full of beautiful scenery, the Catskills offer an atmosphere unlike any other.

The CapNY Community

One thing that surprised Sam is the hub of creatives residing in CapNY. “It truly is surprising how many fellow creatives moved up here! Every week there’s a get-together at someone’s house. There are so many creatives who’ve moved to Colonie, Albany, Chatham. I was nervous, but there are all these creative people here to have conversations with. These conversations are creative and innovative.” 

The slower pace of the Catskills also provides Sam, and other creative transplants, with a chance to connect to themselves. “We’re so disconnected in NYC. We don’t pay attention to nature. The pace is slower here, I think it lets us all take a pause. I think the pandemic forced us, especially me, to slow down and be like what is my purpose here? I love that I get to be more centered and quiet.” And it’s that very quiet that allowed Sam to think of her next evolution. While comedy will always be a natural talent and calling card, Sam has taken the time to expand on other genres of writing, including screenplays, a memoir, and eventually performance art. She wants to find a way to fund the funny in her new reality.

It’s for this reason she feels as if she was called here to engage in her next phase of life. 
If you want to follow Sam’s journey, check out her website at https://www.therealsamjones.com/.

  • Oscar Bográn

“In the constitution, the Adirondacks were declared to be forever wild. When I saw the Adirondacks at a young age I knew that I would have to make my way back here one day.” Enchanted with our forests due in part to his passionate expansive nature, Oscar Bográn has always had the heart of a creative.

Hailing from Honduras by way of Brooklyn, Oscar Bográn of Bográn Productions located in Schenectady. He is a sculptor, performance, conceptual and visual artist who has studied and taught at Tufts School of the Museum of Fine Arts, and has worked for the Schenectady City School District. 

ust as Oscar knew that he was destined to be in this region, he’s always known that art was essential to his life. “I grew up in Bushwick in the ‘80s. I came in, didn’t speak English and I saw graffiti art for the very first time at seven years old.” He lived right next to a train and used to watch the older kids climb and spray the trains. This is when he knew he wanted to be an artist. Oscar has honed his skills to include multiple forms of art – writing, rapping, and studio art – his passion knowing no bounds.

An Artist Community in Schenectady

Partial winner of a Schenectady downtown grant, Oscar is now focused on bringing all forms of art to CapNY. “I was inspired by an artist based in Chicago who turned some abandoned houses and buildings into literal art installations. I thought to myself how great it would be if we had actual spaces artists in this area could use. So, I applied for grants for years and years and then after getting a mentor-supporter, received a $300,000 grant to create my own version of it.” 

When complete, Oscar will run an art house site called Alchemy Urban Playground. It will host all artists but primarily Black and brown artists and entrepreneurs in the area. As creatives in this space we should always be looking for a diversity of perspective. Oscar is doing just that. You can keep an eye out for the Alchemy Urban Playground sometime next year.

  • Gabe Ling

Meet Gabe Ling, a Junior Narrative Designer at Vicarious Visions game development company. If you’re familiar with Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series or Guitar Hero you’re familiar with their work. As a game writer, Gabe builds the narrative and dialogue for various games with a team of individuals. Though writing is a solo pursuit traditionally, Gabe enjoys the collaboration it requires, as well as the delicate balance writing for games needs.

“When you’re writing for the screen there’s a big emphasis on what is not said and what is left implied by the absence of dialogue. In games, you can’t have that, you have to load the dialogue with important information. Gamers typically skip through cutscenes and narrative content. So you have to find a way to pace out key information like character traits or quest lore in a way that is immediately clear and digestible for the player.” A difficult feat indeed, but an essential part of building story and gameplay.

A Stereotype Overturned

Coming to us from New Jersey by way of Seattle, Gabe didn’t know what to initially think about Troy. “I wasn’t really hyped to go back to the east coast if I’m being honest. I was looking on Glassdoor for my job and everyone was kind of dour about the area, talking about how Albany is barren and there’s nothing here. But now that I’ve been here for 9 months and I love the area. It’s full of life and people have much more personality here than given credit for. I’ve done some exploring since I’ve been vaccinated and I’m pleasantly surprised.” I could not have said it better! There is a rich tapestry of people here and CapNY doesn’t get enough shine.

For Gabe, his vehicle to finding community was Pride Month in CapNY. “There were so many pride events. I met so many of my friends and got to see more of the city. Something that really struck me about this area is that even though the queer presence here is small, everyone knows everyone. The atmosphere of the community here feels intimate and warm in that way. There is a lot of overlap in the queer and creative community.” The intimacy that smaller regions such as Albany, Schenectady and Troy provide is unmatched. Being in close proximity with one another can afford opportunities such as these to build stronger connections, as Gabe has found.

Ultimately for Gabe a move to CapNY has become a move for growth in his creative pursuits and a chance to reconnect with others in his community intentionally.

  • Amy Hausmann

Coming to us from Brooklyn is Amy Hausmann, the new Director of the Olana State Historic Site. The Olana site is an earthwork created by 19th century artist Fredric Church that sits on a high point in Columbia County. The artist contoured the land over a period of 40 years to create a near cinematic experience of Columbia County, from which the Hudson River, the Catskill mountains, and the Taconic Range can be seen.

With over 20 years of curating experience specifically with the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) and the New York Transit museum, Amy was a natural fit for Director. “I am a curator. My whole career has been in the arts. I’ve worked for non-profit organizations and eventually worked for NYS in the MTA Arts and Design which produces all the public art for the subway system. It was amazing to bring different music, graphic arts, and poetry into the everyday life of 8.5 million people.”

Like so many long distance commuters, Amy loved working in the city while being able to enjoy her second home in a rural area, but the commute wore on her. “It got a bit old. I really fell in love with all the green here. I loved being up in the mountains and being around the trees, and the river, and the open sky. Every morning I would drive with my husband across the Rip Van Winkle bridge and I would see Olana glittering on the hill as I was getting ready to get on the train for work. I would say to myself, ‘Gosh I really would love to find something to be up here full time.’” That she did! NYS Parks had an opening at the Olana site and the rest was history.  

Abundant with Arts & Culture

One thing Amy would like the world to know is that this region is abundant with arts and culture. “I like to think of the idea that this region is full of art, culture, and really rich history. We’re all working together, symbiotically, to encourage people to be here and participate in all that this region has to offer. Olana is a great part of this as well as so many small and bigger businesses, great art institutions, cultural institutions, and artists who help to make a gorgeous mosaic that always existed in the city, live here as well.” 

If you’d like to learn more about the Olana Historic site and meet Amy, check out the website and book a tour! You can learn more about visiting Olana with kids here!

  • Written by: Arielle Steele

5 CapNY Creative Side Hustlers You Need to Know About

Updated: July 2025

COVID-19 has drastically altered the way we approach life and the ways in which we inhabit the world. For some it has made them more cautious, feeling the precarity of each passing moment. Others have become more appreciative of the present, embracing the opportunity to take an extended pause. Living in a space of ambiguity provided the chance for some to reconnect with their passions and pursue them as a side hustle. If this is you, you’re not alone!
  • Rethinking Career Paths

All over CapNY, Upstate New Yorkers have been rethinking their career paths, choosing to maintain their 9-5’s while pursuing their passions on the side. With COVID giving them more downtime, these five individuals have been able to maintain their creative side hustles while putting in a 40 work week. These “hustles” have been both a re-connection to self and an outlet for creative expression. The world around us remains as uncertain as ever. From fashion, to screenwriting and directing, and music, these creatives shared what has given them courage to choose both.

  • ANTONETTE LEWIS | AKL Studios

Meet Antonette Lewis from Albany, the Creator-Director of AKL Studios. By day Antonette works at a lobbying firm, but by night she runs a beautiful luxury sunglass line. ”Since I was little I’ve been in love with fashion,” Antonette said. “One thing I always remembered was when my mom drew a wedding dress on a napkin. It was the most beautiful dress I’ve ever seen. I was like ‘I want to make that!’” She eventually wants to develop a clothing line, but for now, sunglasses are a good start.

So how exactly does Antonette balance it all? “I have a special routine I do. I wake up at 5 in the morning, I draft my social media posts for AKL Studios and send those drafts to my team. Then, I get ready to go to my day job. Once work is over I start working again with AKL. That’s the time I reach out to my manufacturers and my team. I prep a lot of emails.” 

Antonette Lewis

Since launching the line during COVID, Antonette feels she’s learned a lot about herself. “I’ve learned to trust myself more, to have more confidence. You don’t need to go to fashion school to run your own line. The only difference is that they have more money and access. You can do it on your own.” Since building that confidence, Antonette has expanded her line and plans to do more fashion shows, more photo shoots, more collaborations, and pop up shops in the future.

Fashion is booming here

Above all, Antonette believes that, despite popular belief, the fashion community is booming here. “There’s always so much going on. Watch Spectrum News! There’s always a gala, a fashion show, an event. There are a lot of unique people here!” Albany’s creative economy is growing and it’s here to stay. 

Click here to check out the AKL Studios IG.

  • NNEKA MORGINI | Tall Luxé

Meet Nneka Morgini, Creator-Director of Tall Luxé fashion line and Niskayuna native. When Nneka is not working on Tall Luxé, she works in Human Resources for a community college. She took advantage of the extra time the pandemic created and launched Tall Luxé this year. “It’s always been something I’ve been thinking about. I want to make clothes for taller women. It’s always a struggle because I’m 6’1 myself; it’s hard to find clothes that fit me well. Amid the pandemic I had more time to do what I needed to do to start my clothing line.”

Models for Tall Luxé

Through the creation of Tall Luxé, Nneka feels that she’s learned a lot about herself, “I never thought I was capable of doing something like this, to be honest. I’ve never taken that leap of faith to start this idea I have. I’ve always been shy and low key. I didn’t think about becoming an entrepreneur. When the pandemic happened, I thought to myself, this is the time to start. This line will be mine and I’ll be able to do something I’m actually passionate about. I’ve learned that I’m much stronger and resilient than I give myself credit for and that I need to get out of my own way. It takes believing in yourself to make things happen.” 

A rich creative community in Albany

Nneka feels there is a rich creative community in Albany, and that there’s so much to discover here as opportunities pop up each day. As her business grows, her goal for the next year is to network more and to be immersed in the Upstate fashion community. Nneka, similar to Antonette, wants to participate in more pop up shops and fashion shows. Until then if you’re a taller woman and you’re looking for some luxe looks, check out her site! Click for IG and FB.

  • KENNA HYNES | Director-Screenwriter, Musician

Meet Kenna Hynes, a director-screenwriter from Chicago who has found her stride with music video direction. When she’s not creating rich narratives with indie rock star Nandi Rose, she works at a recruitment agency. “I’ve always been interested in music. Before I got into film, I was a musician. I started out as a Camera Operator, Director of Photography, and then started making documentaries of artists on tour. From there I began to direct music videos. My job at the recruitment agency gives me the flexibility to continue my work in film.” 

Kenna Hynes

Kenna has been active in the film and music scene since 2012. But when COVID hit, she had to go back to the drawing board, because she wasn’t able to shoot film. “Having such a close relationship with Nandi Rose really got me through a big chunk of COVID. We started thinking of big ideas, and when it was safe to meet up, we started planning for future videos. It really gave us an outlet to be able to work on those projects together. Planning our next steps gave us something to look forward to and carried us mentally.”

Kenna Hynes

Outside of building upon her personal-professional relationship with Half Waif, Kenna took the extended pause to reorient herself in her goals, “The biggest takeaway I’ve had is that you need goals. You need to have a mission for yourself while still trying to be present and deliberate. I was getting into ‘good old days’ syndrome, where I was thinking ‘should I go back to Chicago? I’m not making movies.’ But I needed to see what’s in front of me. Being present here and focusing on who you’re with something magical will happen.”

You do not need to be in big city to make great art

Experiencing film in both a big city and upstate Kenna feels that Upstate NY still has so much to offer. “There’s less ego here. The Upstate community is forming and you’re a part of something here, creating a creative community together. You do not need to be in a big city to make great art.” There is a wealth of community here, if you find it. If you’re interested in seeing Kenna’s work, click here!

  • SPENCER SHERRY | Actor-Screenwriter

Meet Spencer Sherry of Saratoga Springs, landscaper by day, actor-screenwriter by night. Both his traditional job and his filmmaking are done in collaboration with his friend-business partner, which gives him the flexibility to shift gears.

Currently (and always) Spencer is writing. He has a very exciting Stephen King-inspired short film on the way, which he began writing for a student scholarship. It was initially rejected because it wasn’t on King’s approved short list, but “I wound up reaching out to his agent with nothing to lose, asking for a commercial contract to option it. He responded saying that I wasn’t a big enough name. I went back again for a non-commercial contract because I really believed in the story and then he said okay, and gave me a special contract. I’m psyched! Now I’m trying to put a crew together to take a swing at this.”

Spencer Sherry

COVID has given Spencer the chance to dig in and develop projects to shoot in the fall. “We’ve been really fortunate because business on the landscaping side didn’t slow down at all, and we’ve been able to push each other to work on film projects. I’ve written more than I ever wrote in a year. The pandemic made me get the confidence to write for the sake of writing.  For me personally, I’ve had this trepidation of wanting to save a project when I have the technology, funds, and the means to make a film. Now I just want to crank out stories with very little fear of it being made. The nebulousness of Covid helped with my trepidation.”

The Upstate community is invaluable

Outside of honing his craft and leaning into exploring writing, Spencer has been delving more into the local film community. To Spencer, the Upstate community is invaluable. “It’s so much tighter here than it is in bigger cities. No one in New York wants to help a lowly PA on their passion projects. But here people are willing to help, getting locations is easier, people are so much more accommodating. It outweighs the potential money that can be made.” 

If you want to see Spencer’s work check out his IMDB here, otherwise stay tuned for his projects to be filmed this fall!

  • SYMONE NOELLE | Singer-Songwriter

Last but certainly not least, meet Symone Noelle a singer-songwriter who has used the pandemic to fully launch her creative path. Formerly an interior designer, Symone is no stranger to a creative career, but music has always been her passion. “Covid provided a big push for me to follow my music. It was a challenging time for my mental health but it encouraged me to not sit around and let things happen. With my music it was a now or never kind of thing.”

That encouragement pushed Symone right into the studio. She’s releasing her new single and video entitled “All for You” in August, and is preparing for her EP’s release in spring of 2022. She describes her music as New Wave R&B in the same vein as Kehlani, SZA, and 6LACK, but doesn’t limit herself to one genre. “My EP will be more than just R&B. It will have a little bit of everything. Neo-soul, Alternative, Rock and New Wave R&B.  I don’t want to be just one thing.”

Symone Noelle
Upstate is like a family

As Symone is exploring her sound and making her mark in the music world, she has also been exploring the music scene both Upstate and in New York City. “I think that New York and Upstate have a lot to offer, but what sets Upstate apart from the hustle and competitiveness of New York is the network here. It’s almost like a family, people help each other out on projects and work together.” She is happy to get her start here. 

You can check out Symone’s music on Spotify. Click here for her IG.

  • Written by: Arielle Steele

Six Rising Stars in the CapNY Fashion Industry

Updated: July 2025

If you ask, or simply look, around – it wouldn’t shock you to learn there hasn’t been much of a fashion scene here in the Upstate New York area. But if you sought out any of the up-and-comers who are paving a fashion path of their own, they’d tell you there is a lot going on to actively change how Upstate New Yorkers dress, shop and express personal style.

  • An Industry On the Rise

From retail shop owners, to designers, vintage thrifters and personal stylists, we rounded up six rising stars in fashion from across CapNY and beyond. While creating job opportunities and new outlets for people to shop and support the local fashion industry, this group is focused on boosting the narrative about Upstate fashion in their own individual ways. Allow me to introduce you to…

  • Taissha LaReau, Wardrobe Consultant and Stylist

Age: 33
Raised in: New York City
Living in: Albany

How did you get interested in fashion?

After college, I moved back to NYC and held a few positions with media agencies and digital publishers. During my time there, content creation and influencer marketing grew fairly quickly. I realized I wanted to pursue a career in fashion. I knew it would be challenging because I didn’t have much experience, so I started a blog and leveraged social media to showcase my creativity. Fast forward to present day, my approach has shifted to help people build functional wardrobes that will last.

What are the services you offer?

As a wardrobe consultant and stylist, my goal is to help people achieve their desired look by recommending styles and curating a wardrobe that is functional, fits their needs, and tailors to their lifestyle. I’m a firm believer that less is more, so while working with clients, my mission is to educate them on the benefits of buying smart and letting go of items that no longer suit them so they can make room for new ones. I work with a diverse range of clients and various body types while offering virtual and in-person style sessions. My services range from closet editing and repurposing, to personal shopping, building a sustainable wardrobe, closet organization, photoshoot styling, and more.

How has the CapNY community supported you?

I was recently part of an interview with local media entertainment company, Two Buttons Deep, for an episode of fashion-focused podcast, Buttonista. We chatted about my transition from NYC, my business, and how to build a functional wardrobe. I’ve been able to make new connections with local photographers and small local businesses. For anyone aspiring to pursue a career in fashion, I would recommend networking within your local community. It could potentially give you access to opportunities and provide you with insight on how to grow your business.

  • Nicole Nicholas and Randi Poillon, Haute Messes in Dresses

Name: Nicole Nicholas
Age: 40
Raised In: Niskayuna
Currently Live: Clifton Park

Name: Randi Poillon
Age: 38
Raised In: Stony Brook
Currently Live: Clifton Park

How did Haute Messes in Dresses get started?

Growing up, we both had a love for fashion. When we met as adults, we instantly connected through our love for fashion and became fast friends. After years of talking trends, stalking sales, and many shopping trips while pushing baby strollers, we decided to share our knowledge and expertise as personal stylists.

We started offering various session-based styling services, designing graphic tees and custom tie dye sets to be sold online. Once the pandemic hit, we saw an opportunity to change the way we share our love for fashion…We purchased a tiny house that we turned into a mobile shopping and styling boutique!

What are the services you offer?

On the racks customers can find Haute Messes In Dresses’ signature graphic tee-shirts and fashionable face masks as well as sweaters, dresses, jackets and denim. We felt it was important to move beyond our graphic tees and offer staple pieces, versatile outfits with great quality and fit.

Haute Messes In Dresses believes the mobile shopping and styling boutique will provide a great alternative for those who prefer to avoid crowded shopping malls and plazas.  

How has the CapNY community supported your efforts?

From the time we announced the mobile shopping and styling boutique, we have seen support from people who have been following us from the inception of Haute Messes In Dresses, and from those who just found out about us. Our customer base is all local. We would not be as successful as we are now without the support of these local women.

  • Tory Minkel, Supernatural

Age: 32
Raised in: Saratoga Springs
Currently living: Saratoga Springs

What’s your background, and how did you arrive at opening your own boutique?

My first official “fashion” job was in high school as a sales associate in the women’s department of a local landmark – the Saratoga Shoe Depot. After graduating college, I moved to New York City and worked in the industry. I quickly learned New York wasn’t for me, so when my lease was up, I packed up and headed to Los Angeles. Throughout my time working in the industry, my long-term career goals became much more clear: I needed my own shop. After a couple years in L.A. I came back to Saratoga.

I’ve always had a progressive view of the industry, and I used that to create the concept for my boutique. I was deeply affected by a fashion sustainability course I took during my senior year. My biggest takeaway was that if a consumer is getting something for a low price, someone or something somewhere is being exploited.

What are the services you offer?

I opened my shop, Supernatural, in October 2020 (yes, during a pandemic, social justice movement, and highly polarized political climate). Supernatural is a consciously curated lifestyle shop tucked away in the heart of downtown Saratoga Springs. We feature eco-friendly and sweatshop-free womenswear, ethically produced accessories, and plant-based, clean beauty and wellness products. I aim to connect like-minded shoppers with brands that care more about the product they produce than the profit they make.

Where would you recommend someone interested in fashion locally goes for advice or inspiration?

My best advice for anyone wanting to break into the local fashion scene is to get a job in boutique retail. Due to the nature of Saratoga being a summertime tourist destination, we have a unique fashion and retail market that I feel requires hands on experience to understand. Most shopkeepers have acquired unique skills and experiences over the years and are happy to share their knowledge with you.

  • David Reali, LYF Supply

Age: 35
Raised in: Schenectady
Currently living: Troy

How did you get into fashion?

Fashion has always been part of my being. I tend to be more inspired by style, how one uses style as a tool to express themselves –and I take inspiration from everywhere, including pop culture, hip hop and music and from my own friends and family. I always felt like how you presented yourself was very important especially as it pertains to first impression and reputation.

What is LYF SUPPLY and what does your brand offer?

LYF SUPPLY (LYF is an acronym for, “Love Yourself First”) is an embroidery company that supplies quality, custom embroidery to brands, companies and creatives. We offer high quality pieces ranging from hats, BLEACH’D 1 of 1s, UPLYFTED (upcycled customs) to full cut and sew pieces with slogans and images embroidered to reinforce the self love message, which is our brand’s foundation. We take pride in using colors to curate a mood.

How has the CapNY community supported your efforts?

Many local, small businesses use LYF SUPPLY for their embroidery services and recommend us to other people they work with. Superior Merchandise in Troy has been a huge supporter of ours as well as Phases (formerly known as AMC Jewelry).

Where would you recommend someone go to educate themselves on fashion locally?

While there isn’t much of a true fashion industry here locally (yet), I think it is important for people to find other ways to educate themselves. Mission Accomplished has a fashion program, but most of mine have come from self-education AKA Youtube University and Skillshare.

  • Kara Curtin, DINER

Age: 26
Raised in: Rotterdam
Living in: Albany

How did you decide to start DINER?

I’ve always been interested in fashion as a general idea, but in 2017 I combined a love of clothes with a hunting-for-treasure obsession and started my vintage business, DINER. DINER is an online shop focusing on all things vintage.

I say that half the reason it’s called DINER is because there’s something for everyone! The shop offers clothes mostly, but bags, books, jewelry, shoes, housewares, etc., are occasionally given a time to shine on the site.

How has the CapNY community supported or been part of your efforts?

There are some local girls that have been repeat shoppers from day one; that kind of continued love and support means so much to a small business owner. I’m also lucky to feature DINER items at Olive & June Floral Co. in Albany, year round, and during seasonal pop-up shops. It’s always nice to collaborate with another local female-owned shop and get support from others in the community that way, too.

  • Aniah Rose, Model

Age: 25
Raised in: Latham
Living in: Guilderland

How did you become interested in fashion and modeling?

Modeling and fashion wasn’t my dream until four years ago, after I made my way through high school and earned a Bachelors and Masters degree in accounting. Modeling was always a topic of discussion [what girl didn’t either watch or want to be on America’s Next Top Model] but I never pursued it until the perfect opportunity crossed my path when a local photographer asked me to do a photo shoot, which ended up coming out great! I was approached by a photographer from CapNY who was already active in the fashion community. We set up a three look shoot in Washington Park (Albany) and it came out surprisingly great. The exhilaration of shooting and seeing the outcome made me want to learn about the fashion industry, and I wanted to see my face on the cover of magazines. There’s no turning back on that goal now!

What modeling have you done and what are you available for?

After that initial experience, I’ve walked in New York Fashion Week, Atlantic City Fashion Week, Miss NY USA, landed paid advertisement gigs, and even became a published model. It’s so beautiful how much my passion for fashion and creative directing has grown. Right now, my goal is to sharpen my talent, freshen my portfolio, and pinpoint my long term motive in modeling. It has been a side hustle, since I’m an accountant as well, but I don’t plan on letting up anytime soon. It’s been tough with the pandemic but my motto is #alwaysworking. Whether it’s thinking of a new theme, helping a girl break through her camera fright, or scheduling future shoots, I’m always working on how to further brand “Aniah Rose” while setting a footprint wherever I go.

How has our local community supported your dream of modeling professionally?

My supporters, as well as the long term colleagues that I’ve met throughout CapNY, have been who keep me in this hustle. All we want to do is eat, sleep, create. With that being said, I do remain available during these times for bookings! I love to help businesses and individuals in any way that I can whether it’s me being in front of the camera or directing a photoshoot.

Photographer credit: Tyler Ki-re, Dan Shade, KPhotoZ
Make up artists: Tali Made Beauty
Hair: Lurissa Lawson

  • Written by: Taylor Rao