Hubs

Albany Barn, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Schenectady, and the Sanctuary for Independent Media in Troy served as the Breathing Lights neighborhood hubs because of their track records of successful programming and their locations in communities with high levels of vacancy. The hubs served as the project’s storefronts, a familiar location in each city where project information, resources and events could be found leading up to and during the Breathing Lights installation.

Albany Community Hub

Albany Barn

The mission of the Albany Barn is to provide a permanent creative arts incubator and community arts space in Arbor Hill – a place for artists to live, work and inspire. As an incubator for the arts, Albany Barn provides creatives with quality, affordable space for art making and business development, as well as opportunities for skill sharing and collaboration. As Arbor Hill’s center for arts, culture and heritage, Albany Barn is dedicated to connecting our neighbors to meaningful arts and cultural programming, including those reflective of the African American experience. [Photo: T.R. Laz Photography]  www.albanybarn.org

Albany BarnEvents Archive
“I really didn’t realize the impact of having all the houses lit until they weren’t there anymore. And I have yet to find anyone on the street that has said anything negative about Breathing Lights, and what can we do to get these lights back on kind of response to anything negative… which I just think is terrific.” –Hub Leader

Schenectady Community Hub

Boys & Girls Clubs of Schenectady

The mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Schenectady is to help youths of all backgrounds with special concern for those from disadvantaged circumstances, develop the qualities needed to become responsible citizens and leaders. The Craig Street Clubhouse was in the Hamilton Hill neighborhood in Schenectady. This Club featured three floors of programming for youth ages 6-18. In addition to acting as a hub for Breathing Lights, the Craig Street site offered a full-size gymnasium, a game room, computer lab and a learning center dedicated to education.

Boys & Girls ClubEvents Archive
“I had a hundred conversations with people. I love living across the streets from these buildings and I do not want it to go away.” –Hub Leader

Troy Community Hub

The Sanctuary for Independent Media,

The Sanctuary for Independent Media is a century-old former church that has been re-purposed into a telecommunications production facility dedicated to community media arts. The Sanctuary for Independent Media is owned and operated by the Media Alliance. The mission of Media Alliance is to address common needs of nonprofit organizations providing electronic media programs and services to artists, organizations and the public in areas including production, distribution, exhibition, research, preservation and appreciation, and to further the development of this field.

The SanctuaryEvents Archive
“The amount of times I have been asked what’s next. That shows a demand for public art. Constant asking is tremendous.” –Hub Leader

Neighborhood Ambassadors

Shawn MacLean

Shawn MacLean | Troy

Shawn has lived in North Central Troy for 10 years. He arrived by way of The Bronx, New York, when he relocated to Upstate New York 16 years ago.
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Jeanette Nicholson

Jeanette Nicholson | Troy

Jeanette has lived in North Central Troy for 24 years, after purchasing a vacant house in 1992.
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Jerry Ford

Jerry Ford | Troy

Jerry is a deacon at United Ordained Church and an organizer of the Block Program at the Boys & Girls Club of Troy.
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Joycelyn Henderson

Jocelyn Henderson | Troy

Joyce is a community organizer and lives to make change in her neighborhood and beyond. She started Our Plate Runneth Over,
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Mac Henderson

Mac Henderson | Troy

Mac lives in North Troy, where he dedicates himself to creating positive opportunities for all.
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Lisa Crompton | Albany

Lisa works at Historic Albany Foundation, a local nonprofit dedicated to preserving Albany’s architectural history and keeping neighborhoods intact throughout the City.
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DeSean M. Moore | Albany

DeSean is a local entrepreneur, Albany Barn Board Member and community activist. He has helped start over 20 small businesses and is excited to continue building a culture of entrepreneurial ventures in communities most effected by poverty.
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Marion Porterfield

Marion Porterfield | Schenectady

Marion is a longtime resident of Schenectady and has been involved in community work for many years.
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Jeffrey Nelson

Jeffrey Allen Nelson | Schenectady

Jeff has been a Schenectady resident since 1979. As a long-time community member, he has enormous hope for the City of Schenectady.
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