‘Our work…must be brave:’ Fashion Week Rochester and supporting local youth in crisis
WXXI News |
By
Evan Dawson,
Published August 12, 2026 at 1:39 AM EDT
12:00: ‘Our work…must be brave:’ Fashion Week Rochester and supporting local youth in crisis
1:00:‘Connections Summer Sessions:’ Exploring Geneva
Fashion Week Rochester is back this fall, and it’s being reimagined a bit this year. What hasn’t changed is its mission: the event has always been about serving the Center for Youth. As the center’s executive director, Elaine Spaull writes, “With threats from our federal government and the needs growing every day, our work with youth facing homelessness, despair, and abandonment must be brave.” This hour, we talk with Spaull about that work. We also hear from local emerging designers who share their remarkable stories. In studio:
- Elaine Spaull, executive director for The Center for Youth
- Angela Nelson, vintage collector and stylist with Brown Girls Too
- Julia Sibley, personal stylist and founder of Storied
- Marcel “¢el” McCollough, designer and owner of NoBlam!
- NazMeir Lucas, youth leader and clothing designer
Then in our second hour, “Connections Summer Sessions” continues with our tour of the Finger Lakes. In this special rebroadcast, we visit Seneca Lake. Seneca is the deepest of the Finger Lakes and one of the most well-known, both for its natural features and for the communities along its shores. At its northern tip is Geneva. The city has deep Indigenous and agricultural roots, a complex history, and a diverse range of identities today. It’s been called the “Lake Trout Capital of the World,” and is also known for its arts scene, culinary offerings, and sustainability efforts. We explore it with our guests:
- Susie Monaghan, executive director of Smith Center for the Arts
- Jan Regan, photographer, board member of Geneva Industrial Development Agency and president of ReUse Systems, Inc.
- Steve Valentino, mayor of Geneva
- Jessica VanDeMar, marketing director for Visit Finger Lakes
“Connections” is livestreamed each day on the WXXI News YouTube channel. Watch here
