Dorothy & Dorian Hall

Featured Leader: Dorothy & Dorian Hall

GrassRoots Community Builders

Photographer: Ralph Thompson

Ralph has been shooting pictures on and off since the 1960’s. His work has been published in the Washington Post, The Black Chronicle in Oklahoma City, the Tioga County NY Tourism Guide, Life in the Finger Lakes Magazine, and various business advertisements.  

His work has been exhibited in the Gallery74, Ontario Arts Council, Wayne County Historical Association, Geneva Historical Association, and throughout the Finger Lakes.

Essayist: Lu Highsmith

Rochester, NY native Lu Highsmith has published essays, news articles and poems over the past twenty-five years. Highsmith is a writer, publisher, promoter and spoken artist. No matter which form she has chosen to exhibit her talents, each has been reflective of her passion for spirituality, sensuality, and social consciousness.

She has performed at festivals, coffee houses, nursing homes, schools, churches, art galleries, clubs and community events throughout Rochester, Syracuse, Buffalo, Albany, Atlanta and Toronto. 

Highsmith’s poems have been published in

-  2003 "Colors of Life “anthology published by the International Library of Poetry;    

-  2010  "Simpatico on the Road", by Simpatico Press, Daniel Kerwick

-  2010  “Win-Win” novel by author Marsha Jones, Xlibris

 - 2012 Baptist Peacekeepers quarterly

- 2015, Rev., Dr. Rachel McGuire’s doctoral thesis, Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School.

MoodMakers Bookstore honored her as one of their featured poets in their 2006 "Poetry On The Wall". Her poem, "From Whence We Came", received the Poem of Distinction honor.

Lu has published two books of poetry, "Vicissitudes: The Ups and Downs of Life", in 2008 and "Ascension into Love" in 2010. 

Highsmith has been featured in the Rochester-based newspaper, Minority Reporter; the Buffalo-based newspaper, Challenger and as a “Woman to Watch” in The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

Lu was     also co-founder of CSWA (Culture Starts With Art) Poets who produced the "Erotic Nights" series at Equal Grounds and " Womonstock" at Ellison Park in 2010.

In October, 2012, she joined forces with her Grammy-nominated musician/composer husband, Jimmie Highsmith Jr. on her first spoken word CD entitled “Ascension”, produced by Variance Records

She co-hosted the successful "Flowetic Rhythms" Open Mic @ Gallery One for 10 years, which has featured both local and national poets.

Lu became the designated Slam Master in Rochester, NY by forming Rochester’s first Adult Slam Team called Roc Bottom Slam Poets, traveling throughout NY state, Connecticut, Washington, DC and Canada; as well as hosting monthly Poetry Slams in Rochester.

Most recently, Highsmith became a member of the Black Women’s Writing collective, “We All Write”;  performing in the 2018 Rochester Fringe Festival and at the 2019 Women’s Convention in Seneca Falls, NY.

Highsmith was awarded the “Big Pencil” award from Writers & Books in 2018 for inspiring the creation and appreciation of literature among young people in the Rochester community.

For further information, please visit www.lucreations.net.