In 1971, a group of teens conceptualized a place where Rochester-area youth could receive support and advocate for themselves. Since then, the Center for Youth (CFY) has been that place.
From food cupboards to crisis nurseries, CFY offers free services that cover a range of needs. One of its main objectives is sheltering unhoused teens and young adults or those who are in an unsafe housing situation. The center has emergency and transitional housing options for ages twelve to twenty-four and case managers to help youth find a permanent safe space. Chrysalis House is specifically open to women who are pregnant or have an infant, and it is the only place of its kind for teen mothers in Monroe County.
Additional CFY programs include Bridge to Peace, which focuses on peer-based restorative action for youth, and various school-based services, including equivalency exam support, internship and college enrollment help, alternative-to-suspension programs, music lessons, STEAM and nature workshops, and more.
Yet all of this is just a fraction of what CFY provides to the community. The center has been a positive staple in Rochester for five decades, growing the number of programs offered and youth served every year. On any given night, the center houses around 100 youth, and Elaine Spaull, its executive director, estimates it assists 35,000–40,000 young adults per year across all programs.
“I came to CFY from a law firm where I was practicing corporate tax law and said I would stay three to five years and get the agency on its feet,” says Spaull. “Fast forward twenty-five years, and I am still here. But so much has changed that it is not the same place it was when I started.”
One of those changes is Fashion Week Rochester (FWR).
Spanning three days each fall, FWR’s mission is to “spotlight local designers, boutiques, businesses, and artists while shining a light on youth homelessness.” This year marks Fashion Week Rochester’s sixteenth year of fun fashion-forwardness that uplifts the community. But just how did this unique collaboration come to be?
“I had a call one summer from a community member who owned a special events business, and they were looking for a nonprofit partner to launch their first runway show,” says Spaull. “I was happy to participate but had no idea what it would end up being for the entire community.”
As of this writing, twenty-two designers are slated to have their looks on the runway this October 15 through 17, and dozens of local fashion lovers will model the apparel. What makes the 2026 show extra special is that eight young people from the Center for Youth will serve as runway models, each styled by Angela Monique, owner of Brown Girls Too (BGT).
Monique, a Rochester native, mother, writer, and counselor, is thrilled to style the center’s participants. BGT was featured in Fashion Week Rochester four years ago, and Monique has walked the runway in previous years, but this is her first time directly collaborating with the center’s young women.
“The youth are our future, and there is great importance in elevating those who come after us,” says Monique. Achieving that takes everyone working together in various ways in pursuit of the same mission.
Monique’s early love of fashion magazines was a definite influence on the birth of Brown Girls Too. “I would happily spend my day flipping pages and obsessing over [the looks],” says Monique. “I was not always afforded the ability to purchase those very items, yet I was determined to create a luxury life using the resources accessible to me. That fomented my lifelong love of thrifting.”
When Monique’s secondhand shopping sprees outgrew her space, she decided she could still shop if she also sold some of her haul. In 2022, she opened Brown Girls Too, a thrift shop that focuses on ethical fashion and personalized styling. Monique performs everything related to her business personally: She models, photographs, markets, shops, and sells. It is important for her clients to know that it is possible to be a stylish, conscientious shopper and stay within a budget. Brown Girls Too does not currently have a storefront, so Monique is redesigning the website to make online shopping easier. (For now, she can be reached through IG and FB: @browngirlstoo.)
“The name Brown Girls Too is intentional and carried with much love,” says Monique. “I wanted my business name to be a direct representation and reminder of those of us who are often overlooked and undervalued. I think it is imperative for everyone to feel seen, to look and feel their best.”
This is where the Center for Youth young women come in. They get to have fun with each other and shine on stage.
“We’ve had CFY staff model before but have never showcased our youth,” says Spaull. “As we reimagine FWR and what it means to our community, it felt like it was time. We have an amazing group of young women as youth leaders who are perfect for the show this year.”
The eight CFY models are part of the Flower City Changemakers. This program is funded by the Rochester Women’s Giving Circle, which provides grants that empower women in career and creative initiatives. The “changemakers” have been meeting weekly for about a year, discussing topics of interest, collaborating on fresh ideas, and creating new friendships and supports. They are a mix of bold and shy people, but they all enjoy fashion and artistic expression.
Two of the models got a preview of the fun to come when Monique styled them for this article. When asked about the experience, they said they felt “seen and heard and loved and so happy.” Not only are they excited for the fashion show to come, but they also feel blessed to be included in (585) magazine. Spaull says her staff feels the same about them: “These young women are poised yet humble, lovely, and gracious, and they are resilient and kind. They support each other, and they remind us every day how small acts make a big difference.”
Speaking of big, the runway show will take place in a voluminous event tent on East Main Street this year, so there are a lot of moving parts to coordinate before the opening day. “Electricity, security, seats, and all that it takes to create a safe and fun venue,” says Spaull. “Luckily, we got started early, and so much is coming together.”
For anyone who attends the show and sees fashions they are interested in, the planning crew is working hard to make the runway experience interactive. Guests will be able to connect directly to the designers, vendors, and stores through a link. Since all the fashion designers and retail partners are Fashion Week volunteers, Spaull wants to make sure any pur- chases benefit their businesses.
Meanwhile, ticket sales and event sponsorships fund the youth center’s shelters and nurseries, literally keeping the doors open to their foundational services.
“The sponsors’ generous support makes it possible to keep our Arnett House and Crisis Nursey sites strong,” says Spaull. “And we know that FWR is one of the most diverse and welcoming events in our city. We believe that Rochester deserves to highlight its vendors, models, designers, entertainers, and supporters. The energy and focus on doing good and looking good is magical.”
Monique agrees: “I grew up with the saying, ‘Each one, teach one.’ I carry that with me wherever I go.”
For more information about the Center for Youth, Fashion Week Rochester, or sponsoring either one, contact Elaine Spaull:
473-2462
This article originally appeared in the September/October 2026 issue of (585).
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