Connecting with power | YWCA Rochester's Equity Through Development

When it comes to celebrating women, we don’t walk, we run! We recently had the honor of working with YWCA of Rochester & Monroe County to host and photograph eight women who (have now graduated!) from its Equity through Development program. The program is designed to remove barriers and empower women of color to excel in fundraising and development careers, a field historically dominated by white professionals. 

NSP Studio teamed up with it’s forever-loves at Dress for Success, which provided clothing and styling as part of the Equity thorough Development program, and with Felicia Garcia-Hartstein who helps candidates navigate successful careers.

Our Prince Street studio was living it’s best life this day. Music was playing, and women were sharing and connecting on our lounge area. The styling table had an amazing stylist polishing hair and makeup for all the ladies. The dressing room was full of colorful outfits in various styles from Dress for Success. Their stylist Chanel helped the participants choose an outfit that would suit them best (which they got to keep!), so they were READY by the time they got in front of our cameras. Not only did they these graduates get polished photos, but also had an opportunity to work with Felicia to review their resumes so their online presence was polished too. There was connection, music, food, laughter and love.

We decided to take some behind the scenes video footage during the professional day to help tell the story of this program and the incredible women who were a part of it. Check it out below!

We are excited to participate again next year and deeply cherish our relationship with all of the incredible people at YWCA Rochester.