Anthony Hall, 37, is trying to fight the rise in gun violence and other systemic issues in Rochester so that his sons may be able to break the cycle. Anthony has experienced this cycle himself as his father was out selling drugs and in and out of jail. Anthony followed his father’s footsteps by leading a gang, and ultimately becoming incarcerated himself. While in prison, Anthony made a conscious effort to change his life. He attained his GED and a degree in Theology. When he was released he re-enter his daughter and son’s life, he started a non-profit, volunteered, interned, and eventually landed a job in Pathways to Peace, a gang intervention program run by Rochester. There he spent eight years bringing peace to the street he once ran. Three years ago, Pathways was disbanded and Hall has struggled to find a long-term job but is still on the streets helping his fellow Rochestrians.
Second Place: Marili Vaca
Nya Zielinski is a 10-year-old girl from Rochester, N.Y., learning to heal from the trauma of physical and mental abuse she endured from her biological family and the foster care system. According to the article What Emotional Abuse Does to Your Brain, “emotional trauma stays with you and shapes who you are as a person”. Nya’s “trauma brain” has affected the way she reacts and interacts with her friends and family. Since being adopted by Stephanie Zielinski, Nya has found a passion for caring for her loved ones and those who can’t protect themselves. Children who enter foster care are provided resources for support but often have a long road to healing. Nya has been able to find new hobbies and coping mechanisms that help her calm down and express how she is feeling.
Third Place: Silka Houghton
Legacy in the Soil is a short documentary that follows the Jacobson family through the hardest year of farming for them since the 1980’s. “A family farm is loved and cherished and so much energy is placed into it that it becomes the legacy of the farmers. And a legacy is something you really wish to hand down to your next of kin, your children. Otherwise, it becomes the end of an era,” says Nick Jacobson, a third generation farmer. He hopes to pass his 7,000-acre farm down to one of his children, Ivy, 13, Tate, 11, Aiden, 8, and Creighton, 6. Only about 16.5% of family farms are passed down to the third generation. “To stay efficient in the business we need to expand. The challenge now is to prepare one of the kids to take over while also getting them to have a full-time job outside of the farm,” says Nick. However, a career outside of farming can lead to the farm not passing onto the next generation. “I’ve already had a conversation with Tate that he needs to go to college so that if he works the farm he can also work in between seasons and down time. Otherwise, you can’t make enough to live.”
Last Updated: March 2, 2023 by ritnppa
Category: Multimedia
First Place: Ben Braun
Second Place: Marili Vaca
Since being adopted by Stephanie Zielinski, Nya has found a passion for caring for her loved ones and those who can’t protect themselves. Children who enter foster care are provided resources for support but often have a long road to healing. Nya has been able to find new hobbies and coping mechanisms that help her calm down and express how she is feeling.
Third Place: Silka Houghton
Only about 16.5% of family farms are passed down to the third generation. “To stay efficient in the business we need to expand. The challenge now is to prepare one of the kids to take over while also getting them to have a full-time job outside of the farm,” says Nick. However, a career outside of farming can lead to the farm not passing onto the next generation. “I’ve already had a conversation with Tate that he needs to go to college so that if he works the farm he can also work in between seasons and down time. Otherwise, you can’t make enough to live.”
Category: 2022 What We Do, Uncategorized Tags: Ben Braun