Stanley Martin

Featured Leader: Stanley Martin

Stanley Martin is an abolitionist who serves the Rochester community with courage, love and integrity. With a long-time dedication to community care, Stanley has served as a Mental Health Counselor for incarcerated people and led a substance use recovery center providing holistic health and wellness supports to people and their loved ones.

In response to the 2020 police killings of George Floyd, Daniel Prude and the systemic disinvestment in Black and working-class communities, Stanley co-founded Free The People Rochester—a Black and Palestinian-led organization dedicated to implementing a care-based vision of community safety that prioritizes investments in safe housing, healthy food access, healthcare, education, and youth leadership.

As an At-Large Rochester City Council Member, Stanley co-governs with neighbors and community organizations, with a focus on intentional democratic decision-making that centers historically marginalized voices. Additionally, Stanley holds a Master’s degree in Community Mental Health Counseling, which grounds Stanley’s activism in the practice of hope, humility, and compassion. If you’re curious about the work Martin’s doing or how to get involved, she’d love to hear from you: follow her on Instagram (@iknowstanley) or drop her a line via email (iknowstanleymartin@gmail.com).

Essayist: Tianna Mañón

TIANNA MAÑÓN is a PR and media relation specialist who focuses on storytelling and message creation. By utilizing social media, traditional media and micro media, she is able to spark necessary conversation between communities, bolstering discussions for healing for long-term relationship-building. She specializes in campaigns that focus on equity and inclusion and is excited about bringing this intersection to the media, climate change and justice industries.

Photographer: Mecca Starzz

Mecca, also known as Mecca Starzz, is a multidisciplinary artist whose work is fueled by her commitment to uplifting others. Through her various creative outlets, she illuminates the shared beauty and complexity of the human experience. With a sharp eye for detail and an innate sense of creativity, Mecca uses photography to capture meaningful moments, tell stories, and create lasting memories. Her work serves not only as a form of artistic expression but also as a means of healing—for herself and for those who connect with it. From her art to her radiant presence, Mecca embodies the idea that we are all stars, shining in our own unique way.

Facebook: Mecca Starzz | IG: @shootinstarzpro (production page) @meccastarzz (artist page)