Service to Community
Clarissa Uprooted: Unearthing Stories of Our Village (1940s-early 1970s) (DEIJ)
Summer 2021, 2022
My commitment to our community outside of RIT includes improving diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (DEIJ) for our BIPOC and LGBTQIA communities. I was fortunate to be asked to collaborate with Mari Jaye Blanchard, WXXI, and Teen Empowerment ROC on the Chuck Price VR: Clarissa Street 360 (Short Film). This virtual reality (VR) experience shows Clarissa Street as it was before the city of Rochester destroyed it: a robust and thriving Black community. 
I taught basic computer skills, computer literacy, and introductory PhotoShop to underserved teenagers from Teen Empowerment ROC during Summer 2021. When the exhibit opened in Summer 2022, I attended and supported these youth at the opening night and presentation. In addition, I provided technical support and assistance for attendees opening night and donated the use of my personal VR headset for the duration of the exhibit.  
Clarissa Street before the destruction
Clarissa Street before the destruction
Clarissa Street today
Clarissa Street today
Discussing Story
Discussing Story
Planning the layout for the film
Planning the layout for the film
PPE Crisis: Face Shields Provider 3D Printer, Collaborator
Spring 2020
When the COVID-19 pandemic began there was a PPE crisis in healthcare. I am someone who is always ready to help others, I researched face shield designs and taught myself how to print face shields on my home 3D printer. I connected with a local physician who needed them for her facility and for physicians in New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Seattle. I began printing two per hour, changing the print bed every hour, setting my alarm every hour, day and night, to ensure the process did not stop. In between teaching and other professional commitments, I learned how to increase my production to just shy of five per hour.  I joined Face Shields ROC, a local group doing the same work; due to our combined efforts we created over 36,000 face shields. To prioritize equity, all of the face shields I created were donated at no cost.
First face shield frame print
First face shield frame print
Laser cutting shield
Laser cutting shield
Fully Assembled
Fully Assembled
Cleaned and packaged
Cleaned and packaged
Increasing Production. Had to start a new print every hour
Increasing Production. Had to start a new print every hour
Donations from RIT!
Donations from RIT!
test printing new filiment
test printing new filiment
That didn't work so well
That didn't work so well
Finally dialed in correct temp
Finally dialed in correct temp
increasing production
increasing production
Ready to fight back
Ready to fight back
First drop-off
First drop-off
Learned to stack prints
Learned to stack prints
Printed in a stack
Printed in a stack
Maximizing Printing space
Maximizing Printing space
Stack printing and interlaced stacks x2 speed increase
Stack printing and interlaced stacks x2 speed increase
Just need to be separated
Just need to be separated
Top View Stacked frames
Top View Stacked frames
More ready to go
More ready to go
New black filiment
New black filiment
Great stack!
Great stack!
24 hr print!
24 hr print!
60 Frames in one print!
60 Frames in one print!
Next run completely melted to filament heater
Next run completely melted to filament heater
Finally got it off
Finally got it off
Worst filament ever!  The pieces stuck together!
Worst filament ever! The pieces stuck together!
Filament went wild!
Filament went wild!
Sliced finger trying to separate them
Sliced finger trying to separate them
This filament so brittle
This filament so brittle
OB Department putting them to use!
OB Department putting them to use!
Dr. Pam showing hers off
Dr. Pam showing hers off
SOCIAL JUSTICE ACCOMPLICE
July 2016 - Present
Actively showing marginalized students their lives matter speaks volumes over simply saying that I am an ally.  As news of the police killings of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and then Daniel Prude was released, I showed my solidarity by consistently protesting in the Rochester Uprising. Our community used our right to peacefully protest police brutality and were pepper sprayed, tear gassed, and shot with pepper projectiles by the RPD. While these were not my first experiences with police violence during protests for racial justice and equity, it reinforced my awareness of the fears many of our students face and allowed me to be even more cognizant of the trauma some of our students bring with them to school. 
To honor Daniel Prude on what would have been his birthday, I  created a chalk drawing on Church Street at the People’s Hall Protest which allowed me to use my art talents for the greater good of our community.
Marching after George Floyd
Marching after George Floyd
George Floyd March
George Floyd March
Daniel Prude Memorial
Daniel Prude Memorial
Getting Attacked with Pepper Pellets
Getting Attacked with Pepper Pellets
Protesting for Daniel Prude
Protesting for Daniel Prude
Daniel Prude Injustice
Daniel Prude Injustice
Gathering at City Hall for Daniel Prude
Gathering at City Hall for Daniel Prude
Start of Daniel Prude Murial
Start of Daniel Prude Murial
Filling in Daniel Prude Murial
Filling in Daniel Prude Murial
Progress Daniel Prude Murial
Progress Daniel Prude Murial
Daniel Prude Mural Finished
Daniel Prude Mural Finished
Daniel Prude Mural Finished From Above
Daniel Prude Mural Finished From Above
More Protesting for Daniel Prude
More Protesting for Daniel Prude
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