I’ve Got a Little Brooklyn in Me

In this episode of I’ve Got a Little Brooklyn in Me, Jaclyn Richard sits down with Marquita Rugless, founder and Chief Experience Officer of ROC Events LLC, a Rochester-based event design company known for turning ordinary spaces into unforgettable experiences. Marquita shares how she built ROC Events from a love of large-scale fashion shows into a business that has produced more than 300 events, from ROC the Runway to weddings, summits, and community celebrations across the country. They talk about creativity, precision, guest experience, and the grit it takes to build something beautiful that also feels personal, intentional, and deeply rooted in community.

In this episode of I’ve Got a Little Brooklyn in Me, Jaclyn Richard sits down with Cheryl L. Kates, Esq., a criminal defense attorney, nurse, journalist, and former radio host whose career spans law, healthcare, and advocacy. Cheryl shares her path from trauma nursing to the courtroom, her focus on reentry and justice, and the grit that drives her to keep speaking up for people too often overlooked.

Could Rochester’s Memorial Art Gallery become free for everyone? In S1 E6 of I’ve Got a Little Brooklyn in Me, host Jaclyn Richard sits down with Sarah Jesse, the MAG Director, to explore that possibility and her bold vision for art in Rochester.With over 20 years leading at LACMA, Orange County Museum of Art, Academy Art Museum, and more, Sarah brings national expertise and local passion. They dive into game-changing Sands family grants and funding from a former Wegmans spokesperson that could eliminate admission barriers entirely opening MAG’s world-class collection to families, students, and neighbors.Jaclyn, a new MAG Council member, shares veteran members’ excitement: “With Sarah at the helm, we’re set for wonderful years of education and top-tier management.”From her surprising twin sister reveal to breaking down DEAI in action, neighborhood outreach plans, and the “Brooklyn grit” sustaining her mission, Sarah reveals why museums must be community powerhouses, not ivory towers.Whether you’re an art lover, Rochester advocate, or just curious about culture’s power to connect, this episode delivers inspiration, insider access, and a call to see art differently.You’ll laugh, you’ll kvell, you’ll leave with a smile—that’s the goal every time.

Jaclyn Richard sits down with Brooklyn-born powerhouse Cinnamon Jones to unpack her gospel roots, Bay Area awards, international tours, and Lady of Song tribute. They dive into her documentary Generation Z—capturing youth voices from 2020—and what keeps her grounded through it all. Soul, grit, and inspiration ahead.

Serial entrepreneur Rumella Cameron Caraballo joins host Jaclyn Richard to unpack the grit behind building Conversance Business Solutions from a single mom’s pivot — through nonprofit betrayals, COVID client losses, and doubters calling her “loco.” From landing her first 5 clients in a week to scaling the Business Shower Networking Expo and powering Rochester startups with funding wins, Rumella reveals the stamina, strategies, and supporters every founder needs to turn barriers into breakthroughs.

Monroe County Legislature President Yversha Román joins host Jaclyn Richard to talk about grit, leadership, and turning barriers into breakthroughs. From language access to pay equity, Yversha shows what it means to lead with purpose—and say “yes” when the world says “no.”

Jaclyn shares the funny, almost‑Brooklyn story behind the podcast’s name—from her parents’ love story to a wild hospital mix‑up—and how that Brooklyn attitude still shapes her bold, honest outlook today. Warm, funny, and full of heart, this episode proves a little Brooklyn goes a long way.

Jaclyn Richard kicks things off by explaining what it really means to “have a little Brooklyn in you.” From wit served with coffee to The Look as punctuation, this episode sets the tone for what you can expect every time you listen.