“Congratulations to all of our 2024 graduates. Like our founders, your stories are about your depth of creativity, intellectual rigor, adaptation, determination, joy, love, and resilience. You completed your degree through some of the most difficult years in our history, and today, we celebrate all you have become,“ said College of Saint Rose President Marcia J. White.

The speakers were selected, and the program was developed with input from a committee comprised of faculty, students, Trustees, and administration representatives. The Committee felt it was important that this commencement be a joyous celebration of the achievements of the Class of 2024 and that the speakers should be individuals who are known to the students and live the 91̽�� mission.

White, also a 91̽�� alumna, remarked, “This is the College’s final Commencement; it is, therefore, fitting that we hear from members of our 91̽�� community who understand the transformative nature of the 91̽�� experience and honor those who epitomize our mission and values.”

Joan Horgan, Director of Spiritual Life, a much respected and admired leader across all segments of the campus community, will deliver the commencement address. Horgan has been an integral part of The College of Saint Rose community for 30 years, linking the values of the College’s founders, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, to the day-to-day academic and student life of the College. Since 1993, she has been a guiding force in fostering faith, community service, and social justice initiatives. A native of Schenectady, Horgan holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from 91̽�� and a master’s in social work from the University at Albany.

“Joan embodies the College’s mission of fostering a diverse and inclusive environment, embracing perspectives from various faith traditions, and encouraging interfaith dialogue,” added White. “Joan’s dedication to service, social justice, and holistic well-being has left an indelible mark on the 91̽�� community, inspiring countless students to pursue lives dedicated to advocacy and change addressing some of our society’s most pressing needs.”

In addition, two Class of 2024 student leaders will speak at the commencement ceremony. They were both members of the Commencement Planning Committee and were unanimously nominated to speak by the Committee.

● D’Andre Little ’23, G’24, will receive a master’s degree in computer science this year. He is a Student Association officer and student-athlete on the track and field team. He has also served as a resident assistant, orientation leader, and admissions tour guide. Little earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from 91̽�� in 2023.

● Laura Uribe G’24, who will receive a bachelor of social work (minors in sociology and public health) and an English-to-Spanish translation certificate, is the president of the Student Association, a BOLD Women’s Leadership Network Scholar and has served as an orientation leader and admissions tour guide. Laura will attend the University at Albany, pursuing her master’s in social work with advanced standing.

“D’Andre and Laura exemplify academic excellence and a profound dedication to community service and leadership,” said Dr. Margaret McLane, provost and vice president of academic affairs. “Their unwavering commitment to both their studies and making a positive impact with their fellow students makes them inspirational choices to represent the class of 2024.”

The College will honor Sister Honora Margaret Kinney CSJ, G ‘66, ’61, professor emeritus of history, and Dr. Mary Ann Schultz McLoughlin, ’63, professor of mathematics, with the Cardondelet Medal for their commitment to the 91̽�� tradition of the liberal arts and dedicated service to The College of Saint Rose. The Carondelet Medal is the highest honor the College bestows and recognizes the individual for exceptional contributions to education, which, in the broadest sense of the word, is the passing on to others that one has received.

Sister Honora has steadfastly pursued social justice and systemic reform since she arrived on campus in 1957. Having earned a bachelor’s degree in social studies and French, a master’s degree in history from 91̽��, and a Ph.D. in history from Syracuse University, Sister Honora began a lifelong journey dedicated to enlightening minds. During that time, Sister Honora has undertaken multiple roles beyond her decades in the classroom, including working in the College’s Neil Hellman Library, being part of the initiative that brought Michelle Alexander to campus, and participating in the College’s recent Middle States Self-Study process. Her active campus presence long after retirement as a faculty member underscores her dedication to the College’s institutional enhancement and demonstrates her grassroots approach to fostering substantive improvements. Central to Sister Honora’s social advocacy is her profound belief in the transformative influence of community engagement.

Professor Mary Ann McLoughlin, the longest-serving faculty member actively teaching at 91̽��, has dedicated 59 years to her role as a mathematics educator. With a formidable array of degrees in mathematics – a bachelor of arts from The College of Saint Rose, a master of arts from Washington University, and a master of science and a Ph.D. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – her tenure epitomizes an unwavering commitment to learning. She has been awarded the College’s prestigious Thomas A. Manion Distinguished Faculty Award for her outstanding professional accomplishments and concern for students. Beyond her academic pursuits, McLoughlin fervently advocates for STEM education and inspires future innovators. She generously volunteers as a judge for the annual Joseph Henry Science Fair for elementary students and has served as chair of the mathematics department and the rank and tenure committee, underscoring her dedication to maintaining high standards and fostering academic excellence.

For more information about the 2024 commencement ceremony, please visit the commencement page on the College’s website.

91̽�� The College of Saint Rose: The College of Saint Rose was founded in 1920 by the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet as a Catholic college for women in the New York state capital of Albany, New York. Today, The College of Saint Rose is a private, independent, coeducational college serving approximately 2,500 students in 31 bachelor’s degrees, 23 master’s degrees, 23 accelerated dual degree programs, 5 undergraduate certificates, and 16 advanced certificate programs.

From its first graduating class of 19 women in 1924, more than 50,000 students have graduated from the College in the past 100 years, including those earning degrees at today’s commencement. The College’s diverse alumni live worldwide, impacting and serving their communities while permanently connected by their 91̽�� experience.

Although The College of Saint Rose will cease academic instruction in June 2024, its mission and values of serving the dear neighbor, creating diverse and inclusive communities, and meeting the needs of the times will live on through the work and lives of its alumni and dedicated faculty and staff.

The post The College of Saint Rose Will Celebrate Final Graduation Ceremony, Marking 100 Years Since First Graduation Ceremony in 1924 appeared first on The College of Saint Rose.

This must be completed by August 31, 2024.

These instructions will ensure a smooth transition:

• Go to .
• Select the data you want to export, including “Gmail.”
• Choose the file format and delivery method.
• Click “Create export.”
• You will receive a download link once the export is complete.
• You can then import your emails into your personal email client or convert them to a different format using a third-party tool.

Additional information about how to .
If you run into any issues, please call Google Takeout directly using their toll-free number: 1-855-548-2777.

The post Important news about your <strong>@strose.edu</strong> accounts. appeared first on The College of Saint Rose.

From left to right: Kristen Delaney, Jada Brown, Lexie Grassia, and Dr. John Dion strike a pose during the annual speed sell competition.

Two 91̽�� students successfully competed in the National Shore Sales Challenge at Salsbury University in Maryland from April 4 to April 6. Hosted by Salisbury’s Mid-Atlantic Sales and Marketing Institute (MASMI), eighty students from 38 universities participated in a simulated sales environment (role play) and gave employers their own version of a 90-second elevator pitch.

Jada Brown, a biology major, and Lexie Grassia, a business administration major, who will graduate in May, did well in the competition. Jada advanced to the semi-finals in the role-play competition.

“We met twice a week with our coaches, Professor Delaney and Dr. Dion,” Grassia said. “We focused on learning all of the information in depth so we would be able to answer any question thrown at us. Jada and I bounced ideas off each other to better our original material.”

The competition also included a job fair, allowing students to connect with hiring managers seeking entry-level positions.

“Regardless of the outcome, the students learned so much that they will be able to carry forward,” stated Kristen Delaney. “They learned how to hone a pitch about themselves, highlighting characteristics that would make them a good candidate for a position with a company, and practiced networking with other students and professors/coaches from around the country. They learned that preparation and practice are key to performance, and asking the right questions can help you probe deeper to gather insights. I think participating in the competition helps boost their confidence.”

The three-day competition featured colleges and universities nationwide, including  Penn State, Purdue University, Temple University, University of Massachusetts Lowell, and Virginia Tech.

“It was such a great experience competing against other schools,” Brown said. “It showed me that even though we have a tiny university, we truly have exceptional professors who educate us enough to compete with universities with over 50,000 students. It doesn’t matter how small of a school you attend it matters the type of professor you have and the passion they show to develop their students.”

Dion emphasized that he’s very proud that Jada and Lexi represented the institution incredibly well in the College’s final sales competition.

The post Students Showcase Sales Skills in Speed Sell Showdown appeared first on The College of Saint Rose.

Full-time undergraduate students who complete a minimum of 12 graded credit hours and who achieve a semester average of 3.5 without a D, F, or Incomplete grade are eligible for the Dean’s List. Students who earned Dean’s List status but asked that their information be kept confidential are not included in this listing.

Students are listed by school and in alphabetical order by last name.

If you believe that you qualified for the Dean’s List but do not see your name listed, please contact the Registrar’s Office at registrar@strose.edu.

The list of students named to the President’s List for the Fall 2023 semester can be found here.

The post 91̽�� announces Dean’s List recipients for Fall 2023 appeared first on The College of Saint Rose.

Full-time undergraduate students who complete a minimum of 12 graded credit hours and who achieve a semester average of 3.9 without a D, F, or Incomplete grade are eligible for the President’s List. Students who earned President’s List status but asked that their information be kept confidential are not included in this listing.

Students are listed by school and in alphabetical order by last name.

If you believe that you qualified for the President’s List but do not see your name listed, please contact the Registrar’s Office at registrar@strose.edu.

The list of students named to the Dean’s List for the Fall 2023 semester can be found here.

The post 91̽�� announces President’s List recipients for Fall 2023 appeared first on The College of Saint Rose.

An Albany native, she is the first woman and the first African American individual to lead the highway agency. She grew up near the 91̽�� campus, attending the Vincentian Institute, and then earning her undergraduate degree at St. John Fisher University in Rochester. She returned to Albany to receive her master’s in English at 91̽�� – going on to earn degrees from Albany Law School and Georgetown University Law Center .

A longtime public servant, Shepherd sees infrastructure as a powerful tool for equity and environmental stewardship. Her FHA team won the public service award for using Biden’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to modernize our roads, railroads, tunnels, bridges, and ports.

“Their diligence and hard work have resulted in equitable and sustainable programs that will improve our ability to compete globally and renew Americans’ faith that their government can deliver,” said Carlos Monje, DOT undersecretary.

She discusses her experiences here.

You have always wanted to serve the country – how did transportation become, pardon the pun, your route?

Transportation is much broader than my initial understanding of it was.  It is more than just steel and concrete.  I learned it is important to have mobility and accessibility, but is also essential to esteem the importance of people. For example, looking at the past and seeing how some roads and bridges separated communities and the previous cohesiveness of those communities made me understand there is a better and more inclusive way to build infrastructure without disrupting and disbanding communities.  I also learned there are ways to use highway transportation to reconnect communities.

Climate is also an essential consideration when constructing roads and bridges because automobiles produce greenhouse gases (GHG). These gases trap heat and cause the earth’s surface temperature to increase.  It is incumbent on all auto users to consider using cleaner technology that will reduce GHG.

This administration has dedicated an unprecedented amount of federal dollars to programs aimed to reverse this trend, including establishing a National Electric Vehicle Program, administering the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program, and the Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-saving Transportation Program. FHWA has also designated alternative fuel corridors to support the installation of EV charging, hydrogen, propane, and natural gas fueling infrastructure at strategic locations along major national highways.

How, if at all, does your identity as an African American woman shape your leadership role?

I think, as an African woman who has studied history, it makes me more aware of constructing highway transportation that is inclusive and not disruptive.  As a leader, I understand the importance of the people throughout this large agency and the work they perform.

I understand the need to keep my hands on the pulse of the agency to ensure the mental and physical stability of our staff.  I also understand the importance of succession planning, including equity, and preparing the workforce to assume senior-level positions, through training, mentoring, and rotation assignments.

You are a serious runner who takes part in 5Ks, 10Ks, and half marathons. Please share your regimen and how you fit it into your responsibilities at the FHWA.

In the past, I ran as much as 40+ miles a week. I also have run 20 marathons, and numerous 5ks, 10ks, and half-marathons.  However, I also have had three lumbar fusions, so I am on a much more modest pace and schedule these days than in the past.  Now, I try to get in 30+ miles of running weekly along with walking. I believe that there is a synergy between physical and mental stability and balance and that a person needs both to function well.

By Jane Gottlieb

The post Gloria D. Shepherd G ’80: Transportation system as an equalizer appeared first on The College of Saint Rose.

The closure of Saint Rose is truly heartbreaking for all of us who care deeply about the history and legacy of this institution and the extraordinary students we serve and have served for 103 years.

As Board Chair Jeffrey Stone and I shared with you at our Community Gathering today, there were many overlapping factors that led to the Board of Trustees’ vote yesterday to cease academic instruction after the end of the 2023-2024 academic year.  We are grateful for the impressive turnout and the opportunity to speak with you directly, and in person, as we had intended.

Students are our highest priority as are our dedicated faculty and staff, and we are announcing this now, months in advance of the actual closure, to give you as much time as possible because of our strongly felt commitment to you. We know that students and their families, along with faculty, staff and their families, are those most impacted by that decision and you have my word that we will do everything possible to support you.

The Board and my administration have been public about the College’s financial challenges for some time and, of course, 91̽�� is not alone. The same challenges plague many small independent colleges, particularly those here in the Northeast: a more than decade-long decline in enrollment due the shrinking population of college-bound students, the lingering impact of COVID, and other factors that were not only beyond our control, but to a great extent beyond our ability to influence.

The Board and my leadership team have been laser-focused on sustaining the institution. In recent years, the Board eliminated high-cost academic programs, instituted faculty and staff layoffs, and reduced pension contributions, cut administrator salaries, re-financed the College’s debt, requested donors to unrestrict endowed funds, sold non-essential buildings, raised scholarship funds, and implemented a variety of new recruitment initiatives and strategies.

The Board engaged national consultants as we sought to identify a potential higher education partner to strengthen the College’s financial position and continue its educational mission. Similarly, leadership aggressively pursued every opportunity to fundraise and secure significant philanthropic support, including efforts to gain financial support from the state legislature and other elected officials in the Capital Region. No stone was left unturned.

Despite our leadership team’s tireless efforts to address the ongoing deficit, the Board was unable to ensure the College could operate throughout the entire 2024-2025 academic year.

The Board’s decision is heartbreaking, but it was a responsible and necessary step given the Board’s duty to act in the best interests of our students, faculty, and staff — and to do so in the least disruptive manner possible. The decision was also driven by the College’s obligations to regulators, accreditors, lenders, bondholders and its other business and academic partners. The Board had to balance its effort in exhausting every option to keep its doors open with the need of our students, faculty and staff to plan for the future.

For that reason, the College leadership team is preparing a teach-out plan, as required by regulators and accreditors, to facilitate a smooth transition for College of Saint Rose students to pursue degrees at other colleges and universities without interruption. The plan sets forth agreements with higher education institutions that offer academic courses and degree programs aligned with those in which 91̽�� students are currently enrolled. More detailed information will be shared with our college community in the coming weeks.

Our commitment to the College of Saint Rose family is unwavering. As we proceed through this academic year, the College will continue to do everything possible to support our students and our dedicated faculty, staff and administrators and will provide information and resources that will aid them in their decisions about next steps.

To begin, we will host a series of meetings with faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate students, parents, and alumni.  We will share the specific details of those meetings in separate communications.

A press release announcing the closure was distributed on December 1.

If you have any questions about this, please visit our FAQ page or email questions@strose.edu.

Sincerely,

Marcia White
President

The post President White’s Message to the 91̽�� Community appeared first on The College of Saint Rose.

Albany, NY – The College of Saint Rose Board of Trustees voted yesterday to cease academic instruction after the end of the 2023-2024 academic year. The College will continue to serve its undergraduate and graduate students, and offer a full Spring 2024 course schedule.

“It is with a heavy heart that the Board decided to close the college at the end of this academic year,” Board Chair Jeffrey D. Stone said.  The Board determined that the College does not have the financial resources to operate for the full 2024-2025 academic year and therefore cannot remain a standalone institution.”

Like many small, private higher-education institutions in the Northeast, the College has struggled to manage operating expenses in the face of declining enrollment caused by both a shrinking pool of high school graduates and the prolonged negative impact of COVID-19, said Stone.

“We are devastated that despite all our efforts we were unable to avoid closure,” Stone said. “Our goal now is to ease the transition for our students, faculty, and staff.”

The College will assist students to graduate in May or continue their studies elsewhere and will outline a clear pathway for them to earn their degrees. That transition will be guided by a formal institutional teach-out plan, as required by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and the New York State Education Department. The plan will enable the closure to proceed in an orderly manner to minimize its impact on the students and College community, officials said.

Officials added that the College’s Human Resource department will be available as a resource to assist faculty, administrators and staff with their career transition.

More information is on the College website including a set of FAQs about the decision and the process going forward.

College President Marcia White told students, staff and faculty at an emotional community gathering today that the 103-year-old independent college, founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, would not reopen in the Fall of 2024. “We are heartbroken to have to share this devastating news with the students and our community,” she said. “The Trustees and I are profoundly grateful to the College’s faculty and staff who have remained committed to 91̽�� and have dedicated their lives to fulfilling its mission.”

White said the Board has been laser-focused on sustaining the institution. In recent years, she said, the Board eliminated high-cost academic programs, instituted administrator, staff and faculty layoffs, reduced pension contributions, cut administrator salaries, re-financed the College’s debt, requested donors to unrestrict endowed funds, sold non-essential buildings, raised scholarship funds, and implemented a variety of new recruitment initiatives and strategies. The Board also engaged national consultants and, with the President, worked with a number of institutions to identify a strategic long-term partnership.

Those efforts were unable to offset the ongoing deficit, White told the community. The projected operating cash deficit for this year is $11.3 million she said.

“For more than a century, 91̽�� has transformed the lives of countless students, and our students continue to be our highest priority,” said White. “We understand the profound impact this announcement will have on them and their families, as well as our faculty, staff and community members in the City of Albany, the greater Capital Region, and beyond.”

“The College is an institution of higher learning that offers students access to a quality education and a pathway to a successful future,” White said, noting that one third of Saint Rose’s undergraduates are first generation and nearly 40 percent come from low-income, Pell-eligible households. More than 40 percent of the College’s students are students of color and two thirds are women.

White said that about 80% of the College’s students hail from New York State, and many graduates remain in-state where they continue to contribute to their respective communities.

“This closure does not diminish the incredible impact that the College’s 50,000 alumni have had on the world, and in particular, this area of New York state. They are changing lives in education, health care, the law, social work, and in public service – as well as innovating as business leaders,” White said.

Sister Joan Mary Hartigan, Province Director of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet,  Albany Province, said, “The Sisters of Saint Joseph founded the College in 1920 with the motto, “In Thy light, we shall see light.” The light of Saint Rose will continue to shine brightly in the lives of its graduates, especially in the many thousands of Saint Rose-educated teachers shaping future leaders in schools across the nation. Though we are saddened by this news, we recognize that the needs of society change and that human institutions must adapt. We are profoundly grateful to the leadership and trustees of St. Rose for their extraordinary dedication to the College, to the faculty and staff for their loyal service and encouragement, and to our many friends and supporters who have so generously supported this very special institution.”

White concluded, “We know the College’s indelible impact, mission and legacy will live on through the contributions of each member of the 91̽�� community, past and present.”

# # #

91̽�� The College of Saint Rose: Founded in 1920, The College of Saint Rose is a private independent college in the state capital of Albany, New York. The College is home to nearly 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students across 77 bachelor’s, master’s, certificate, dual and accelerated programs, including those who are enrolled in graduate leadership and administration courses offered to New York State educators in partnership with the Center for Integrated Training and Education (CITE). Students experience a Theory in Action approach to learning in their undergraduate and graduate studies, and the College lives its founding mission of serving the dear neighbor and meeting the needs of the times. The College will hold its 101st and final commencement in May 2024 when the graduates will join nearly 50,000 91̽�� alumni nationwide.

The post The College of Saint Rose Announces It Will Close appeared first on The College of Saint Rose.

Meghan Mallon ’17 is currently working on her new album along with several fellow alumni including Judybelle Camangyan ’18, Taylor Rossi ’16, Grace Annunziato ’20 and Joe Benevento ‘19. To check out their music, visit their Spotify artist page https://open.spotify.com/artist/29fvrgKgEYLMDS9pqR63Av?si=1d2V53V3Tb23ItQL3ZcbJQ  or to check out their socials.

Elizabeth Schneider ’13, G’22 has joined the Board of Directors at Upstage Productions Inc. Upstage is an organization dedicated to providing “an educational and creative environment for collaboration by producing high caliber theatrical productions.”  

Schuyler Bull ’10, G’10 was featured in the Times Union for the Fort Orange General Store. The shop showcases area artisans and local makers, including décor, apparel and food. To learn more, visit .

Michelle Fritts ’05, G’07, a 17-year music educator who currently serves as the Edmeston Central School band director, participated in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade playing clarinet with the Band Directors Marching Band. The band is part of the Saluting America’s Band Directors project.

Amanda Hopkins ’02 earned her doctorate in Executive Leadership from St. John Fisher College. Her Educational Leadership began as a principal of a small Elementary School. In 2017, Hopkins a Special Education Coordinator at Madison-Oneida BOCES, before becoming Elementary Principal. In 2022, she was promoted to the position of Director of Elementary Programs where she is able to influence and shape the educational landscape, ensuring that elementary programs continue to thrive.

Gina Sainato Tronco ’97, G’98 authored the book ­Why is this happening to me? How to trust God when your world is falling apart. Her first book, Tronco writes about true hope and healing and creating a better future for yourself. Books can be purchased through her website or amazon.

Patrick Neal ‘89 is having his second solo show, entitled Anonymous Oasis, at the Joyce Goldstein Gallery. It features 14 new paintings in watercolor, pastel and mixed media on panel. The show ran from October 22 through November 25. For more information, visit .

In Memorium

• Albert E. Ferradino Jr. ‘98
• Susan Dush ‘84
• Richard Pauley ‘75
• Stephen “Steve” Dennison G’72
• Patricia Burns Cote ‘66
• Helene Patlen Adler Gordon G’65
• Carol Jankunas-Duggan ‘64
• Francia ‘Fran’ Gott McCashion G’63
• Sister Mary Lois Goldner, CSJ G’59
• Sheila Ryan ‘57
• Annette Stierle Schreck ‘42

Friends of Saint Rose

• John Buckley, former faculty
• Grayce Susan Burian, former faculty
• Jerald Mason, former faculty

The post Class Notes for November 2023 appeared first on The College of Saint Rose.

“Suburban Long Island isn’t the best place for a closeted queer and non-binary youth,” understates C Romeo ‘17. “Heck, I didn’t even know why I felt so different from my peers because you never talked about the LGBTQ+ community there.”

During a college fair, however, Romeo, 28, gained hope that life after high school would improve, thanks to an open and warm-hearted conversation with a representative from 91̽��. The College ultimately helped Romeo build strong community ties and strong writing skills that morphed into their activism and entrepreneurship.

“I am very grateful for having my formative years, where I came into my identity, at 91̽��,” they say, a decade after starting at the College and six years after graduating.

In 2022, they started to provide a safe and social place for members of their community to sell and buy goods. It has now taken place 4 times across New York, drawing locals and vendors from Vermont, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. The next Market is set for December 10 in Albany’s Washington Park Lake House.

Here, Romeo talks about community, identity, and the politics of shopping:

What impact did your time at 91̽�� have on you?

The English faculty took me in during a time that was truly traumatic – from losing my father to starting to ex-communicate my mother since she joined a Christian cult. I learned how to speak truth to power. I was also encouraged to study beyond the core curriculum. The faculty knew I was fascinated by the intersections of literary theory, political theory, sociology, and philosophy. They encouraged me to be an interdisciplinary writer and thinker. That has translated into my advocacy work, my writing, and my organizing.

The most memorable classes were literary theory with Dr. Vaneeta Palecanda and Melville seminar with Dr. Brian Sweeney. And I still have a plethora of friends from the English program!

How do you apply what you learned to your work today?

I learned that we are nothing without our community [at 91̽��]. We learn by listening to those around us and acting on their needs. Also, I learned how to truly speak truth to power, which has resonated in my professional and advocacy work.

Libraries are under attack, from book bans and intellectual freedom challenges. In  , we discuss how we seek knowledge without bounds and how libraries are a guiding light in a frayed democracy. At I teach youth to use their experiences as expertise and to demand that their perspectives are heard by legislators. All that I do can be traced back to the lessons 91̽�� taught me.

Why are you committed to organizing and advocacy?

We all need to be the adults our childhood selves needed. That is what really drives me – in my case advocacy for queer and trans youth liberation. When you listen to those you advocate on behalf of, you naturally become an organizer.

For Queer Youth Advocacy Retreat, where I am a mentor and teach, young people say that all they want are spaces in this world where they can be their authentic selves. It’s that simple. But our world makes everything much more complicated because of power and ego. So my passion is driven by my incessant persistence to create the world we need to be truly free.

Tell us about A Big Gay Market.

Since I was eight, I worked for my mom’s art business. It was born out of necessity since my dad was a victim of the predatory credit lending crisis in the early 2000s, which put us a million dollars in debt. I spent weekends working 12-hour shifts at art shows in Connecticut, New Jersey, downstate New York, and Long Island. I learned a LOT about the creative economy until I “retired” to go to college.

I also learned how gatherings are made inaccessible for marginalized makers, bakers, and everything in between. I decided to create safe, intentional, and affirmative spaces for marginalized vendors. Queer and trans joy are the greatest tools towards liberation. Our vendors have donated close to $10,000 to Camp Unirondack to help keep it free for queer and trans youth.

This market was also a direct response to what I always heard: LGBTQ+ people are only represented if it is Pride Month, when we exist everywhere, every day.

How are shopping and buying a political act?

Society commodifies those who are marginalized by making our differences palatable. Our society is so comfortable slapping a rainbow on merchandise and changing their social media icons to [a] rainbow during Pride Month, but no one truly sticks their necks out when we are being murdered for simply existing.

Even in New York, over 90 percent of gender-expansive youth have been verbally harassed in school. So, it is a political act to cater to a market solely showcasing queer and trans makers – and it is a SUCCESS.

But, my safety team is always on standby if we, God forbid, ever have to deal with harassment or attack.

What has the impact of A Big Gay Market been so far?

I would love to use some quotes to answer this:

“It was so lively and welcoming. I was amazed by the large scale of the event and the wide variety of art. It is so nice to have these opportunities outside of Pride Month to just be with, and support, the LGBTQIA+ community.” – Customer

“Being a loud, colorful, and queer maker, I’m definitely not accepted in every space. Not just was I accepted and supported completely as I am but I also met SO many AMAZING queer creators/makers on the same wavelength as me.” – Baker

“My partner and I had a great time; lots of intersectional representation from the vendors and the products. The biggest issue is that there weren’t more cool stalls to spend my money in!” – Customer

The post C Romeo ’17 is in the market for change appeared first on The College of Saint Rose.