CapNY Entrepreneur Resources

The Capital Region is rich with resources for today’s budding entrepreneurs and business owners.

There are so many potential resources that it can feel tricky knowing where to start. As an ever-growing millennial business owner, I am interested and search for the same value you are. When I put together this list, I wanted to ensure that each and every one of the resources I’ve put together was responsive and actionable.

Whether you’re looking to join the local community of business owners or kickstart your own project, these CapNY entrepreneur resources are a perfect way to start. Each organization included on this list responded to inquiries in a timely and friendly manner. You should have a similar experience.

  • One Million Cups: Albany County

What do they do?

The national organization of One Million Cups is based on the idea that support, encouragement, and feedback over a cup of coffee is what most young entrepreneurs need. There are chapters that host these events all over the country. The Albany chapter hosts networking events on Wednesdays at 9am with meetings including a presentation by a selected speaker, a discussion and Q&A.

How can you work with them?

There are two ways to work with the local chapter. Besides attending the local meeting, the chapter also offers coaching to its presenters.

What free and paid services do they offer?

All of the services offered by One Million Cups are free. These include the meetings and coaching participants might see. 

Do they work with Millennials and Gen Z? What do they do to help? 

Yes, and the organization is looking to include more millennials. There are a couple of millennials currently in the organization.

Examples of companies/entrepreneurs they’ve worked with

Richard Lin is a millennial who is part of the local 1 Million Cups leadership team. He also recruits and coaches presenters, runs the weekly meetings, provides feedback and connects individuals within the meetup. 

Visit their website for more.

  • Business Improvement Districts (BID): Albany, Rensselaer, Warren Counties

What do they do?

Business improvement districts are organizations that aid businesses by offering a variety of support services. While the original idea of BIDs was likely centered on brick and mortar business, today’s BIDs are integrated with incubators, coworking spaces, mentoring and more for today’s HQ-less solopreneurs.  

During the events of 2020, the ways these organizations aided businesses changed in many ways. For example, the Central Ave BID repaired over 30 storefronts on Central Ave after more than 40 storefronts were damaged in June.

How can someone work with them?

If you’re looking for extra support for either a brick and mortar business, or another business, try your local BID. They are loaded with support mechanisms and community connections to help young entrepreneurs get what they need.  

What free and paid services do they offer?

When I asked one board member what services the BID offered, he told me, “Whatever is necessary.” Here some of the resources offered by the local BIDs:  

  • 7 day a week cleaning services for properties in that area 
  • Designated ServSafe training 
  • Accounting and booking lessons 
  • Mentor pool 
  • Cohorts 
  • Customized training for main street businesses  
  • Trade training  
  • Scholarships 
  • University incubator programs

Do they work with Millennials and Gen Z? What do they do to help? 

Yes! Local BIDs work with all generations, including those that come from local colleges and universities. I reached out to most of the Capital Region’s BIDs when working on this article and I found most highly responsive and helpful.  

Director of the Central Ave BID Anthony Capece says the organizations want to “help entrepreneurs before they get in over their head.”  We all know that can happen fast, so don’t wait to reach out.

Who is the main contact for entrepreneurs?  What is the best way to reach them?  

It depends on which BID you’re attempting to reach. Here are some of the local BIDs that were responsive to my inquiries: 

In addition, here are the links to the Downtown Troy BID (Rensselaer County) and Downtown Glens Falls BID (Warren County)

  • Capital Region Chamber: Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady Counties

What do they do?

The Capital Region Chamber provides leadership and resources to help grow member businesses and the local economy. They also encourage a strong community by connecting members to people, businesses, and issues important for business success. 

What free and paid services do they offer?

There’s a membership fee associated with joining. The organization’s rates aren’t listed on its website, so I asked about them and staff resounded: “We don’t publish rates on our website because there are multiple variables in determining one’s membership investment (i.e. if it’s a restaurant it’s based upon the number of seats).” You can fill out this form to learn more.  

There are a number of complementary and paid programs for members. There are also some programs for non-members. Some of the programs include: 

  • Entrepreneur Boot Camp 
  • BusinessU professional development programs 
  • Tech Valley Young Professionals Network  
  • Webinars

Do they work with Millennials and Gen Z? What do they do to help? 

Yes. Anyone is welcome to join the Capital Region Chamber. 

The Entrepreneur Boot Camp program is designed to assist younger entrepreneurs on the path toward running their own businesses.

More than 50 different instructors teach in this program. Students a have the opportunity to win more than $3k in grants for their business. 

Interested? Click here to learn more.

Author Noelle Gentile: Advocate, Educate, and Love

Updated: July 2025

Author, director, writer, acting coach, and educator Noelle Gentile draws on all her strengths as an advocate and educator supporting her daughters Lucia and Isla, who is autistic and has epilepsy.

A Family’s Journey

Noelle Gentile has two remarkable daughters–Isla and Lucia a.k.a. “Lulu”. Born and raised in Albany, NY, Noelle spent 13 years in Brooklyn before returning home to Albany with her family after Isla’s birth.

Isla’s Diagnosis

Noelle’s daughter Isla was diagnosed with epilepsy in February 2016 and on the autism spectrum in June 2018. (An estimated 30% of people diagnosed with autism have epilepsy, too.) Isla also has global delays. She struggles with side effects from the epilepsy medications. Yet, Isla “deeply connects with other people,” Noelle said. “She has incredible instincts about who other people are.”

It was a long journey. There were several diagnoses, starting with when Isla was 16 months old. An MRI showed non-specific brain damage. Noelle was devastated. “I didn’t understand it,” she said. “I didn’t know what it meant. Both the epilepsy and the autism diagnoses we had to fight for. We were relieved because we had a better picture of what was happening and how to support her.”

Noelle reiterated that a lot of the heartache of having a child with diverse abilities stems from the world falling short of embracing the child with adequate compassion and understanding.

Noelle’s husband has a lot of trauma surrounding Isla’s seizures, and related anxiety. Noelle remarked that it is different for her. She has done a great deal of processing Isla’s journey through her writing and art. Noelle said of herself and her husband, “We understand where each other are, but we’re not fully in the same place.”

Finding Schools and Resources

Noelle described how her family has navigated school, medical, and other systems for Isla’s well being. Noelle said, “I have had to sharpen my tools.” Naturally a people pleaser, she is now less so. “Isla has challenged me to let that part of me go,” Noelle said.

change in the world. “There’s a collective of us that wants to see this change,” Noelle said. Indeed, her dear friend Alyssa said, “Isla doesn’t need to change for the world; the world needs to change for Isla.” Through Make-a-Wish Northeast New York (with help from Make-a-Wish Southern Florida), Isla had her wish to swim with dolphins in Florida beautifully granted. (Make-a-Wish grants the wishes of children with critical illnesses.)

The Story of Two Sisters
An excerpt from the book

In her role as author, Noelle Gentile wrote the children’s book Isla and Lulu from the perspective of Lulu–Isla’s then-four year old sister. Love between sisters personalizes this book’s themes of inclusivity and open dialogue amongst people seeking to embrace those with diverse abilities. Noelle decided to write the book after finding out that Isla was at risk for SUDEP (sudden unexpected death in epilepsy). Noelle observed that some people were distancing themselves from her family. The book means “to bring people towards us instead of further away.”

Asked about challenges she has overcome as a parent, Noelle remembered a family vacation on Cape Cod. Her two daughters were playing on the beach when two little girls approached Isla. Noelle felt anxious. Often children who approached often left when they realized Isla was different. But the two little girls stayed on and played with Isla. It turned out that they had a classmate with diverse abilities. Perhaps the world is, little by little, changing for the better.

Living Out Loud

As an advocate, Noelle tries not to center on herself as “Isla’s Mom” in the experience. The book Isla and Lulu and the people it can touch play a large part in her advocacy. She is also “gearing up to do speaking” about Isla’s medical experiences.

I asked Noelle what inspires her advocacy work. She spoke of a miscarriage eight years ago, and how she was not encouraged to speak about the experience. “Where’s our story?” she found herself asking. Noelle emphasized how important it is to see yourself reflected in literature, film, TV. It’s important for the world to respect Isla’s journey. “I want my family to be able to live out loud,” Noelle said.

  • Written by: Effy Redman

LGBTQIA Resources: 6 Organizations Across CapNY

If you’re queer and considering moving to the Capital Region or just recently started living here, chances are you have encountered the familiar stats and info blurbs below on the inclusivity of this place…

Regional LGBTQIA Resources

On our list there are only one or two groups that are specifically built as LGBTQIA resources. Yet more service providers are creating space for the LGBTQ+ community. CapNY reached out to some of the Albany residents who are actually working at these organizations.

The Big Picture
  • Based on data from the 2000 Census, Albany ranks 66% above the national average for people who self-identify as gay or lesbian.  
  • Human Rights Campaign gave Albany a perfect score on its 2017 Municipal Equality Index. The index takes into account non-discrimination laws, hate crimes, pro-equality legislation and a number of other pro-LGBTQ+ indicators.
  • The Pride Center of the Capital Region is the oldest continuously operating LGBTQ center in the country. Based in Albany, the Pride Center has been meeting the diverse needs of the LGBTQ community since 1970. 
  • The Pride Center of the Capital Region hosts the Capital Pride Festival, one of the largest celebrations of pride in Upstate New York every June. 

Yet, numbers don’t paint a complete picture of the queer community in Albany. You might identify as gay, lesbian, bi, trans, gender nonconforming, pan, non-binary, intersex, ace, or are in the ‘Still figuring it out’, ‘It’s complicated’ or ‘No labels’ camps. The following LGBTQIA resources are ones you might turn to as queer individual.

HIV/AIDS Support and Other LGBTQ+ Centered Health Services

We see organizations are working to become more inclusive towards an increasingly diverse population of potential clients. A couple organizations specifically serve the unique needs of LGBTQ+ clients. And many more service providers have carved out space for the LGBTQ+ community. They focus beyond HIV/AIDS support, to include access to PrEP and other health screenings .

728 Madison Avenue – Suite 100, Albany, NY 12208
(518) 449-7119
info@albanydamiencenter.org

Founded in 1988, the Damien Center is offers resources designed to improve health, reduce stress and increase the quality of life. Damien Center is a supportive space for individuals and families living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Membership-based, they provide programs and services, free-of-charge, in a welcoming and culturally diverse environment. Their programs include housing for those with HIV who survived chronic homelessness. They provide pathways and guidance for employment, meals and nutrition assistance, pharmacy services, and even support with pet care. 88% of the Damien Center’s budget goes to its programs, overwhelmingly for people living below the poverty line.  

Multiple Offices in Albany, Glens Falls, Hudson, Plattsburgh, and Schenectady 

The Alliance for Positive Health provides a continuum of direct services to people living with HIV/AIDS and their family members. They offer care management to people with other chronic illnesses who are enrolled in Medicaid. Prevention programs offer effective, innovative solutions that make a significant impact on reducing new HIV infections. They connect clients to culturally competent LGBTQ+ friendly health services and resources. Among the care offerings is free and confidential HIV/STI/Hep C testing, PrEP assistance, and help accessing hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Staff advocates for your health needs with your providers. They also have an active Facebook page.

Known for its array of free to low-cost health services, Planned Parenthoods have the culturally competent markers of multiple gender identity options. The gender affirming staff know to ask your pronouns. They are more than comfortable listing every kind of partner and sex option under the sun. It doesn’t feel like you’re having to come out to your nurse or doctor. ‘Partner’ is an emergency contact option on their intake forms. Plus, gay or straight, they’re always happy to offer that to-go bag of condoms (and sometimes finger condoms!). Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood covers Albany, Troy, and Hudson. Planned Parenthood of Greater New York covers Saratoga Springs, Schenectady and beyond. Some centers will have specific days or hours to reserved for teens seeking services.

32 Hudson Avenue, Albany, NY 12210
(518) 462-6138
info@capitalpridecenter.org

The Pride Center of the Capital Region is a legacy institution that organizes the yearly Capital Pride event. The weeklong celebration in June features everything from Alt Prom to BBQ’s to a 5K run. The event culminates with a Pride Parade & Pride Festival that always falls on the 2nd Sunday in June. Price Center offers a number of programs including support groups for every age bracket. They have a load of professional trainings and educational programs for health providers, K-12 schools, colleges, businesses, organizations, and government agencies in their 10-county service area. The express purpose is to improve services for LGBTQ individuals and community through education and professional development training.

Saratoga Pride is an affiliate of the Pride Center of the Capital Region. The network of LGBTQ community members and allies are dedicated to fostering connections among Saratoga area LGBTQ community members and visitors. Their efforts improve the visibility of the LGBTQ community in Saratoga and the surrounding region. They recognize local businesses and organizations that welcome the LGBTQ community. Increasing awareness of LGBTQ-owned and inclusive businesses and services in the region is central to their mission. Check out their community directory for anything from LGBTQ+ friendly faith communities to hairdressers and bars. Communicate with Saratoga Pride by contact form, or through email at saratogapride@aol.com. Subscribe for notices of their events or find out what’s going on via their Facebook page.

Many organizations, nonprofits, groups, and service providers are based right in the state capital. However, there are plenty of other community-based LGBTQIA resources. OutHudson is one of them – a volunteer-led non-profit organization operating since 2016. Their mission is to improve the quality of life and advance the visibility of LGBTQ people in Columbia County. They organize the annual OutHudson Pride Festival, which includes about 12 events during Father’s Day Weekend.

 

Throughout the year, OutHudson organizes various social and educational LGBTQ events in Columbia County. This includes movie screenings, intergenerational programming, potlucks, discussion groups, youth/teen support groups and events, drag brunches, cabaret shows, author/poetry readings, Drag Queen Story Time, community town halls, boat cruises, educational workshops, family days at Chaseholm Farm, HIV/AIDS programming, and LGBTQ tourism events. OutHudson also sponsors an annual scholarship award for local high school seniors. Join their Facebook page or reach out via email at outhudson@hotmail.com. 

  • Written by: Mia Nilo

Mia Nilo is an overeducated, self-identified hustler hell bent on undermining the status quo through overly opinionated think pieces and reviews written from the perspective of a queer, woman of color Millennial. Attended Oxford about as long as Gatsby did and has settled for an Upstate New York life despite her Southern California heart. When not writing, hiking, or wine tasting, you can find her at book club or a local protest. Read more of her work on  www.miagnilo.com/blog. You can also find her cooking or latest scrabble game on her Insta @mia_bitesoflife and see what’s currently making her laugh the hardest on her Twitter @bitesize_rant. 

5 Great Resources for People with Disabilities: CapNY Discovering Ability

CDTA
Effy Redman reflects on life and resources for people with disabilities.

“On and off through my adult life, I have lived, worked, and spent time in New York City, where the sense of anonymity can be intoxicating. I’ve always returned to the Capital Region, where I have family and roots dating back to high school. Now I’m approaching middle age, in deeper touch with my vulnerabilities (and strengths) as a person with disabilities.”

Resources for People with Disabilities

There are diverse resources available to people with disabilities living in the Capital Region. From services to support and creative expression, Effy Redman explores some favorite resources for people with disabilities.

Effy writes, “I understand that people recognizing you as you walk down the street is not necessarily a bad thing. People in my upstate community have more time to spare, whether for a chat about the weather or personal revelations over cups of tea.”

Reading for a Brighter Tomorrow
Former U.S. serviceman, Luis Carlos Montalvan and his service dog with children at Saratoga Springs Public Library.

Saratoga Springs Public Library is wheelchair-accessible and has a large-print books section. They offer Outreach Services for individuals with disabilities who are homebound. There are online English language learning classes and adult basic literacy classes available. I have spent many hours wandering the SSPL stacks or writing in their study rooms. Disability-related titles on offer include Overcoming Dyslexia,  Accessible America: a History of Disability and Design, and From the Periphery: Real-Life Stories of Disability. All lending materials, services, and activities are free of charge.

Ageless in Saratoga

Author, licensed acupuncturist, energy healer, and wellness educator Bridgette Shea offers a variety of therapeutic services at Ageless Acupuncture, including acupuncture and Chinese medicine. She has written two books drawing from her experience–Handbook of Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda and Cultivating Your Microbiome.

Ageless Acupuncture owner Bridgette Shea

From my Chinese medicine appointments with her, I remember Bridgette’s gravitas and compassion. She has a background in ancient healing wisdom rooted in the study of dreams. She brings an individualistic perspective on health. “Perhaps the wisdom to live with optimal health has been within us all along, it’s as unique to each of us as our fingerprint,” Bridgette writes in Cultivating Your Microbiome.

A Touch of the Sacred at One Roof

One Roof was founded in a Victorian house in downtown Saratoga Springs by visionary psychotherapist Dr. Selma Nemer. This holistic health center offers integrative medicine and nutrition, meditation, psychotherapy, a stress reduction program, and more. The setting is serene, supporting deep reflection and healing. One Roof evolved over fifteen years, with the goal of uniting practitioners who wanted to work together. “Healing work can be very enlivening,” Nemer said. “It can also be exhausting and lonely.”

Driving past 58 Henry Street, she found the run down house whose loving restoration she would oversee. Its interior aesthetics reflect the comforting beauty of her vision, the opposite of clinical. Nemer said, “I just always wanted a healing center that felt like home.”

I left my shoes at the front door and padded across bright antique rugs. I sank into a velvet-upholstered chair. I was comforted by the sense of sanctuary. One Roof cross-references clients to related services in the Capital Region whenever appropriate. “Our mission is to be respectful and healing to anyone who crosses our threshold,” Nemer says. There’s an intentional, sacred feeling at One Roof. The price range for services is moderate. The Saratoga Stress Reduction Program and some psychologists/psychotherapists here accept insurance plans. Others offer sliding fee scales. You’ll find more info here.

Freedom by Bus

Among the crucial resources for people with disabilities is accessible, reliable transportation. Committed to sustainability and affordable, accessible transportation, the Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) serve Albany, Schenectady, Saratoga, and Rensselaer/Troy.

Due to disability, I do not drive. I rely heavily on CDTA buses. I love the mobility and independence riding CDTA buses gives me. Bus exteriors are clearly marked with route numbers and destinations. Inside, riders can look to LED display signs announcing each stop. CDTA’s STAR Program is a special transit program. It’s made available by request to individuals whose disabilities or impairments significantly limit their ability to ride buses on fixed routes. STAR Program operates within a ¾ mile radius of regularly routed buses. For bus riders who need assistance with navigation, trip planning, etc., CDTA offers Travel Training. This is one-on-one support and training for the initial transit experience and onward.

Capital Region Expressive Arts Transformation and Empowerment (C.R.E.A.T.E.)

C.R.E.A.T.E. Community Studios is a 501 c(3) non-profit with spaces in Saratoga and Schenectady. C.R.E.A.T.E.’s mission is to make the expressive arts available to all community members. Process rather than product is the focus.

Executive Director Heather Hutchison (MA, ATR-BC, LCAT) along with art therapists and art educators founded CR.E.A.T.E. to fill the absence of expressive arts in the region. “Historically,” Hutchison writes, “the arts have always been at the forefront of social change.”

Hutchison points out that people at protests often use visual art to demonstrate how they feel about issues. “We pride ourselves on being a safe space,” Hutchison says. “And [we] hear.. time and again from our attendees that when they come to CR.E.A.T.E., they feel accepted for who they are.” One goal is to make the arts widely accessible, particularly to marginalized communities.

The C.R.E.A.T.E. organization offers open-minds and empathy. Through C.R.E.A.T.E., people can tell their stories and be heard. Hutchison with Program Director Aili Lopez (LMHC, ATR) shaped the vision almost a decade ago. “We have a shared vision of believing in the intrinsic healing powers of art and creativity,” Hutchison writes. CR.E.A.T.E. has evolved through their expansion of offerings for people with and without disabilities. including open studio time and groups.

C.R.E.A.T.E in Action

C.R.E.A.T.E.has participated in community public arts projects in Schenectady. CR.E.A.T.E. Saratoga shares a space with Living Resources Arts in the thriving Beekman Street Arts District. Many programs are available online. To offer “sources of strength and hopefulness” early in the pandemic, CR.E.A.T.E. started a free YouTube series showing projects people could try at home. They also distributed art materials to community partners. Artists and community members were created lawn signs bearing hopeful art and messages. These were installed around Schenectady and Saratoga. “Making art together intrinsically gives us a sense of community and purpose which, in turn, combats feelings of isolation and depression,” Hutchison writes.

“And that’s not even getting into the neuroscience of how the expressive arts create new neuropathways in the brain, raise dopamine levels, and more.” Hutchison writes: “Playing with art materials is how we figure out how to do many things as toddlers and preschoolers. Art is deeply rooted in how we experience ourselves in the world around us. [During the pandemic] we’ve allowed ourselves to play again. This taps into that non-verbal part of ourselves and allows for healing. When we are able to make art collectively and safely, that will bring us back together as a community.” Classes, workshops, and events at CR.E.A.T.E. are either low-cost or free of charge.

  • Written by: Effy Redman

Effy Redman is a memoirist, educator, and disability advocate living in Ballston Spa, NY. She has published work in the New York Times, Vice, Ravishly, and Chronogram, among other places. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from CUNY Hunter College. Follow Effy on Twitter: @effyredman.

Capital Region Disability Leaders And Visionaries

Inclusion starts at home and, ideally, extends into one’s community. As a person with disabilities raised by parents who taught me I was capable of anything I could imagine, I sought freedom.

I ran wild with my able-bodied siblings in our childhood garden, ran track and cross country with my high school peers, and pulled all-nighters in undergraduate college.

When my physical disability seemed like a social barrier, I took up the study of dance. After diagnosis with a mental illness, I began writing a book and went to graduate college.

Capital Region Disability Leaders and Visionaries

Meet these four Capital Region disability leaders and influencers who have inspired me through their activism and resilient approaches to life.

Discovering Community with Disability Leader Shameka Andrews

Shameka Andrews, 43, is the first of my Capital Region disability leaders and influencers. She recently started the Pride Center of Albany’s Prideability support group for LGBTQ individuals with disabilities, meeting bi-weekly on Zoom. I met her there. Born and raised in Albany NY, she coordinates community outreach at the Self Advocacy Association of New York State. Additionally, Shameka coordinates the Ms Wheelchair NY program, an advocacy and empowerment program for women who use wheelchairs. She serves on the Developmental Disabilities Planning Council and the NYS OPWDD Developmental Disabilities Advisory Council, among other boards and committees.

Writing It Down

Shameka writes about her life as a person with disability, and disability issues. Her books include Butterfly on Wheels and Wisdom on Wheels Interviews. She started writing as a way to deal with issues she encountered in her life. “I see my role as making sure disability and accessibility are always part of the conversation no matter what the conversation is about,” Shameka writes. “And to make sure that people with disabilities are actually at the table having their voices heard.” Asked what community means to her, she responded, “To me, community means people that support one another, lift each other up, come together for a common cause, help each other grow to better themselves and those around them.”

Giving the Voiceless a Voice with Amanda Blodgett

Poet and mental health advocate Amanda Blodgett works as Secretary for the Saratoga County Citizens’ Committee for Mental Health (SCCCMH). I serve on SCCCMH’s Newsletter Committee. We first met on a bus from Saratoga to Albany for Mental Health Association in New York State’s 2019 Mental Health Matters Legislative Advocacy Day. With a group brought together by SCCCMH, we attended talks by mental health activists. We also met with NY state legislators, and rallied at the state Capitol. When I saw Amanda speaking about mental health rights into a megaphone offered by a reporter, her confidence and honesty impressed me. The pandemic prevented the 2020 Mental Health Matters Day from occurring. But our friendship has endured. Raised in Chicago, she moved to Saratoga County at 22.

Now 40, Amanda lives in Ballston Spa. As one of the Capital Region disability leaders, I asked how she began mental health/disability advocacy work. Amanda says: “First, I started just telling anyone who listened about my disability.” Her therapist told her about SCCCMH, which she joined in 2008. “SCCMH educates, supports, and informs to end stigma,” Amanda said. Through SCCCMH, she networked with other mental health advocacy groups. “I want to be a voice for the voiceless,” says Amanda. She aims to inform people in the Capital Region and beyond about mental illness. “That could be educating them as to what mental illness is and what it’s not,” Amanda writes.

Working for Saratoga’s Citizens

Amanda considers mentally ill people’s rights important, too. When the Saratoga County Mental Health Center moved from Saratoga Hospital’s grounds to 135 South Broadway, some people in Saratoga protested, claiming the center’s clients would deface the city’s gateway.

So Amanda wrote a letter to Saratoga County’s City Hall. She joined with SCCCMH to fight to allow the move to occur. “There is so much stigma,” she says. “It’s hard to get people to speak for our rights.”  Amanda remembers a volunteer position where the organization discriminated against her after she revealed her “invisible disability.” But, “most people are supportive,” she says. She believes communities have the power to come together to celebrate differences. As a writer, Amanda appreciates the opportunity to reach a larger audience. She chooses the poetry genre: “a great way to reach people.”

Becoming Mindful with Martel Catalano

Martel Catalano (age 31) and her friend Nell Pritchard founded their nonprofit Beyond My Battle in 2018. Their goal: to support people with serious illnesses, rare diseases, and disabilities. Rooted in mindfulness and psychology, BMB offers support groups and workshops. Also, they offer events such as a pop-up art show called Art with Heart and Hope.

Martel grew up in a small Manhattan suburb in northern New Jersey. She has lived in Saratoga since 2016. BMB originated in 2017 as an online support group, “providing a space where people with all kinds of illnesses and disabilities could find camaraderie and support.”

“Ultimately we want to be more resilient in the face of health-related uncertainty,” Martel writes. I asked how her work through BMB shapes her community perspective. Martel recalled that as a teenager, “when I was in a really bad place with my own rare disease, my mom kept telling me the best way to make myself feel better would be to help others.”

Martel’s Meditation Journey

In her mid-twenties, Martel began studying meditation. She got involved in service through some of her teachers. “My perspectives on community clicked in a new way,” she said. And as a result, BMB grew quickly. Through BMB, Martel met many people, who “provide [her] an immense sense of belonging.”

Martel’s studies have helped her “blend the principles of mindfulness, and the inner exploration and psychology, to create the approach we take at BMB. All of our programs help patients and caregivers cultivate a sense of awareness that leads to greater understanding and presence.”

Walking in Peace with Jeffrey Halpern

Jeffrey Halpern (age 63) is a Galway, NY-based peace activist and drummer. Jeffrey has Parkinson’s disease, and embodies the possibility that one can achieve a life honoring the well being of others. He always offered genuine, kind words when I saw him during difficult times in my life.

Originally from Queens, NY, Jeffrey began his career as an activist in 1970. At 13, he attended a Vietnam War protest in Washington, DC with his father. Since then, Jeffrey has participated in many peace and social justice issues, including No Nukes, immigrant rights, and climate change. He also supports Native American and African American rights.

Civil Disobedience

Jeffrey has participated in civil disobedience (CD) protests, and has been arrested five times. He writes: “Every time I have been arrested, I have felt that it was important. Non-violent CD is the way I can express my feelings and speak truth to power.”

As a member of the Saratoga Peace Alliance, Jeffrey has participated in peace vigils held in front of the post office in Saratoga Springs. They’ve met once a week for 12 years. “My activism has had a big influence on my world view,” he writes. “It shows me that it is important to follow my conscience and act according to my principles.” Jeffrey’s vision and commitment place him among the Capital Region’s amazing disability leaders.

  • Written by: Effy Redman

Effy Redman is a memoirist, educator, and disability advocate living in Ballston Spa, NY. She has published work in the New York Times, Vice, Ravishly, and Chronogram, among other places. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from CUNY Hunter College. Follow Effy on Twitter: @effyredman.

CapNY Creative: Richard Lin, Entrepreneur

Meet Community Builder & Entrepreneur, Richard Lin! Richard put together a very comprehensive list of information and resources for business owners, some tools he uses for productivity, and communities that have benefitted his growth…Check out more below!
  • Communities that are actively bringing together creatives and entrepreneurs:
  • Programs and Apps that Richard uses:
  • Connect With Richard
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  • Written by: Gabby Fisher

Gabby is a brand strategist, entrepreneur, real estate investor, matchmaker, & hypewoman. She is also the Lead Consultant on the CapNY Brand Initiative. She lives in Schenectady with her poodle Mochi and 60+ houseplants. Check out her website!