RMSC
NOW OPEN! Masks required for all visitors ages 2+ – See Safety Protocols
Visit Today
The Changemakers Logo
  • What Is A Changemaker?
  • Meet The Changemakers
  • Map of Change
  • Community Curators
Visit Today RMSC
The Changemakers
  • What Is A Changemaker?
  • Meet The Changemakers
  • Map of Change
  • Community Curators

Meet The Changemakers

Discover more than 200 inspiring stories of past and present Rochester, Indigenous, and Haudenosaunee women visionaries, trailblazers, inventors, activists, and entrepreneurs who changed Rochester and the world. Get a glimpse of some of the featured Changemakers through these highlights.

View All Changemakers
Aesha Ash
Tap For More
Jikonsaseh
Tap For More
Anna Murray Douglass
Tap For More
Mara Ahmed
Tap For More
Tekatsi:tsia’kwa “Katsi” Cook
Tap For More
Rebeca Gerschman
Tap For More
Martha Matilda Harper
Tap For More
Mercedes Vazquez-Simmons
Tap For More
KaeLyn Elizabeth Lee Rich
Tap For More
Danielle Ponder Esq.
Tap For More
View All Changemakers

Share The Change

#BECHANGEMAKERS

Open
Rachel Y. DeGuzman, an extraordinary entrepreneur and founder of @21stcenturyartsinc, uses any means necessary to promote the arts and create greater access for Black art, Black artists, and the Black community. Her work uplifting creative minds is #HistoryintheMaking, and we’re so thankful for all she does for the Rochester community. We look forward to watching your work evolve as you inspire others to #BeChangemakers, Rachel!Photo shows an aspect of Rachel's interactive exhibit display, which highlights her work with Long Table Conversations.@artandjusticeroc
Open
Despite being arrested 139 times for her advocacy efforts, Anita Cameron is a relentless voice for change and her work is #HistoryintheMaking. Anita has been involved in social change activism and community organizing for more than 39 years and is a legend among disability rights activists. Thank you for all that you do to inspire and advocate for your community, Anita! #BeChangemakers
Open
Many of of the women featured in our exhibit The Changemakers are breaking barriers for Black women, and their actions are living #HistoryintheMaking. One of these women is Danielle Ponder, who has served a variety of roles during the more than 15 years she has dedicated to organizing and advocating for marginalized communities. Thank you for all you do  to inspire others to #BeChangemakers in their own communities @daniellepondermusic 🤗
Open
While it’s important to remember significant historical figures during #BlackHistoryMonth, we also must take time to give some much-deserved attention to those who are making history in the present. 😁 This week, we’re sharing the stories of 5 contemporary #Changemakers who are breaking barriers for Black women today. #HistoryintheMaking.To kick off the week, we’re putting a spotlight on Aesha Ash and @theswandreamsproject . Dancing for diversity, equity, and access, Aesha made history as the first Black woman hired as permanent faculty at the School of American Ballet in the institution’s 86 year history. Thank you for all you to to inspire future generations and ballerinas to #BeChangemakers.
Open
Happy Birthday to Susan B. Anthony! A true Changemaker, her work inspired many generations of women #BeChangemakers and work toward gender equality. #HappyBirthdaySusanB 🎉This photo is from our #AlbertStoneCollection, and is a photograph of a photograph which shows Anthony when she was 32 years old.
Open
GIVEAWAY CLOSED! Congrats to @tiffanyofafewtrades and Jennifer DiMarzio -- you've been selected as our giveaway winners 🤩 Thanks to everyone for participating!GiveawayTime! 🥳 It’s time to test your #ChangemakersTrivia knowledge for a chance to win some merch from our exhibit, The Changemakers: Rochester Women Who Changed the World 🤩To enter the giveaway, you have to: (1) Like this post (2) Follow our account (3) Comment with the correct answer to the trivia question below AND tag a friend!Which Changemaker said, “First thing, I’m gonna send a telegram to my opponent, congratulating him on his win, but I’m letting him know that I’m starting my election tomorrow, for two years from now”?The giveaway is open until tonight at midnight! We’ll announce TWO giveaway winners on Sunday. Good luck 😁 #Giveaway #MuseumGiveaway #ROCGiveaway #BeChangemakers
Open
It’s time for our last #ChangemakersTrivia post before our giveaway tomorrow 🤗 Today, we wanted to share some facts about Natalie Rogers-Cropper...(1)  Natalie is the Director of the Garth Fagan Dance School and an award-winning dancer. She took her first ballet class when she was 5 years old.
(2) Natalie served as Garth Fagan’s assistant during his work on Broadway’s The Lion King.
(3) She is a 1992 Bessie Award winner and received the 1993 President’s Award from Trinidad and Tobago, where she is originally from.Make sure to review your #ChangemakersTrivia from this week for a chance to win a special prize tomorrow! #BlackHistoryMonth #MakingBlackHistory #BeChangemakers
Open
We’re back with some more #ChangemakersTrivia! Let’s learn a little more about Constance “Connie” Mitchell...(1) She became the first African American woman elected to public office in Monroe County in 1961.(2) Connie actually didn’t win her first run for office in 1959. However, she told a reporter covering the campaign, “First thing, I’m gonna send a telegram to my opponent, congratulating him on his win, but I’m letting him know that I’m starting my election tomorrow, for two years from now,” and she did.(3) Connie knew and interacted with a number of famous names you’ll find in your textbooks. She marched with Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma, Alabama, and hosted many national figures in her home, including Malcolm X, Dick Gregory, and Robert F. Kennedy.Follow along with our #ChangemakersTrivia this week for a chance to win a special prize on Friday! #BlackHistoryMonth #MakingBlackHistory #BeChangemakers
Open
Time for some more #ChangemakersTrivia! Today, we’re introducing you to Alissa Turner. Here are three interesting facts about her:(1) Alissa was the first African American woman to graduate from the Rochester Fire Department Academy in 2017.
(2) She was inspired to become a firefighter after witnessing the dedication of those called to serve in New York City after 9/11 when she was 7 years old.
(3) While it was her childhood dream, she didn’t begin her career as a firefighter. She joined the New York Army National Guard in High School. After she served, she returned to Rochester and eventually enrolled in the Rochester Fire Department Academy.Follow along with our #ChangemakersTrivia this week for a chance to win a special prize on Friday! #BlackHistoryMonth #MakingBlackHistory #BeChangemakers
Open
To help kick-off our month of Black History Month education, we wanted to share some #ChangemakersTrivia to help you get to know some of the impressive Black women featured in our newest exhibit, The Changemakers: Rochester Women Who Changed the World. Today, we’re putting a spotlight on Alice Mathis.Here are three interesting facts about Alice and her collection at the RMSC:
- Alice was a seasonal farm laborer who lived and worked between Sanford, FL and Rochester, NY throughout her life.
- Alice donated some of her personal belongings to the RMSC to help share the story of more than 40,000 African Americans like her who had to journey between the North and South to find work during the 1950s.
- While in Rochester, Alice connected with African American traditions through her quilting, made from whatever materials she could find. One of her beautiful quilts is on display in the exhibit.Follow along with our #ChangemakersTrivia this week for a chance to win a special prize on Friday! #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackHistoryTrivia #BeChangemakers[Photos of Alice's display in The Changemakers exhibit]
This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: Hashtag limit of 30 unique hashtags per week has been reached.

If you need to display more than 30 hashtag feeds on your site, consider connecting an additional business account from a separate Instagram and Facebook account.

Thank You To Our Sponsors


  • Marketing Sponsor
    James Bruen
    & Jane Plitt
  • Advocating Sponsor
    Harris Beach
  • Media Sponsor
    Optic Sky
    WXXI
  • Content Area Sponsors
    Optimax
    Rochester
    Clinical Research
    Morgan
    Stanley

This project was funded in part by awards from:

  • NE Arts
  • HNY
  • NYSCA
  • New York State WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE Commission
  • The Community Foundation

 
Interested in sponsoring The Changemakers?
Contact Katie Mackey at kmackey@rmsc.org or 585.697.1973.


Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this exhibition do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities or those of the National Endowment for the Arts.

To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov.

RMSC

Science Museum

657 East Avenue
Rochester NY, 14607
Information: 585.271.4320
Event Registration: 585.697.1942

Friday: 9:30am–5pm
Saturday: 9:30am–5pm
Sunday: 11am–5pm

Member-only Hours
Sundays: 10-11am

Strasenburgh Planetarium

657 East Avenue
Rochester NY, 14607
Information: 585.697.1945

For hours, see Show Schedule.

Cumming Nature Center

6472 Gulick Road
Naples, NY 14512
Information: 585.374.6160

Wednesday–Friday: 9am - 3:30pm
Saturday–Sunday: 9am - 4:30pm