In this episode of Rochester Living, Rev. Jen Crow joins us for a powerful conversation about compassion, community, and how people respond in moments of crisis.

From stories of clergy and neighbors standing together to protect vulnerable members of their community, to reflections on fear, courage, and moral leadership, this episode explores what happens when people choose connection over division. At its core is a simple but powerful idea: in difficult moments, communities often move toward each other rather than away.

Rev. Crow also shares how acts of solidarity in places like Rochester have inspired people across the country to stand up for their neighbors and tell the stories that bring humanity back into the conversation.

Kate McBride joins the show to talk about the planning, history, and community impact behind the Tops Rochester St. Patrick’s Day Parade. What looks like one afternoon of celebration actually takes a full year of preparation from a dedicated team of volunteers.
Each year, the parade draws tens of thousands of spectators, features more than 100 entries, bands from across New York State, Irish dancers, community organizations, and floats that fill downtown Rochester with music and celebration.
The parade kicks off Saturday, March 14 at 12:30 PM, starting at East Avenue and Alexander Street and ending at Main and Fitzhugh.

When Mark Cuddy took the helm at Geva Theatre in 1995, the organization was facing a $1.3 million deficit and a shrinking subscriber base. What followed was nearly three decades of steady leadership, artistic risk, and institutional stability that helped preserve one of Rochester’s cultural jewels.

In this episode, Mark opens up about audience habits, post-pandemic recovery, artistic courage, and why he chose to launch his new venture, The Classics Theatre Company.