We Are Revolutionary is trying to heal Albany

Happy Monday, Capital Region—although there’s not a lot to be happy about today. Honestly, we’re still processing what the heck happened over the weekend in Albany. We posted a video response to the wave of violence and chaos that swept through the city on what should have been a celebratory night. ICYMI, 10 people were shot and a fire destroyed a home on July 4th after a juvenile fired a flare gun at someone—and that person fired a volley of gunshots into the crowd leaving the annual fireworks show at the Empire State Plaza. One of the victims was a 17-year-old spectator who was shot in the head.

This is not normal.

In our post, we called it a tragedy for the people involved and a tragedy for the city. What can we do to stop this urban violence? Why doesn’t it seem to plague nearby cities like Saratoga, Schenectady or Troy to the same degree? What makes Albany so different?

Together, we’re going to explore these issues, starting today. We have a very timely profile of We Are Revolutionary, an Albany-based nonprofit that is working to heal the trauma of inner-city violence in all of its forms. It’s a unique kind of advocacy and much needed in these desperate times.

—Phat X. Chiem & Karley Sullivan

We Are Revolutionary takes a healing-first approach to advocacy

In Albany, transformation often shows up in unexpected places. For Niesreen Mende, it started with SpongeBob.

“I saw a post about a SpongeBob play,” she says. “It was put on by teenagers, and I just love SpongeBob, so I went. I swear, by the next day, I was at the Capitol, dressed like an inmate, advocating for my community.” 

That life-affirming catalyst of joy, performance, and action perfectly sums up We Are Revolutionary (WaR), where Niesreen now serves as the director of organizing.

Founded in 2022, WaR is not your average advocacy group. They're a grassroots crew led by folks who’ve lived the very trauma they’re working to heal. Based in Albany’s Mansion District, the nonprofit is dedicated to addressing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) by empowering whole families to engage with the political process. The mission isn’t to shape the next generation of activists; addressing and healing their history of trauma is the ultimate goal.

“You can’t talk about political power if people are too traumatized to engage,” says executive director Lukee Forbes. “We realized that healing had to come first.”

WaR helps young people identify the systems that have contributed to their personal traumas, such as incarceration, the school-to-prison pipeline, and lack of housing and educational opportunities. 

By taking a healing-first approach, WaR creates the space and the language for affected youth to absorb and respond, not just to react. The kids then take those tools home, catalyzing change within their own families.

“Families listen to children,” Lukee says. “The question is: Who are they listening to? We simply guide our youth to talk about what they want, the way a commercial teaches a kid to say they want a toy.”

This summer, the group is turning that theory into action with “Stay Out the Field”—a series of eight field days and block parties in Albany’s most impacted neighborhoods. Think music, games, food, and joy—but with purpose. These aren’t just parties. They’re safe spaces for community healing and connection.

It’s not just about summer parties. Every week, WaR teaches young people how to navigate the legal process through their Legal Eagle program, and advocates for New York State bills like Solutions Not Suspensions.

Even with a recent influx of grant funding and attention, the group's focus remains on building from the ground up.

“Grassroots means starting from the soil,” Niesreen says. “It means growing from nothing, with love. It means care doesn’t stop when the check clears.”

​​“We are building something sustainable,” Lukee adds. “We want our people to heal, to thrive, and to lead.”

For anyone who’s ever felt overlooked, burned out by systems, or left behind, WaR’s message is clear: You matter. Healing isn’t a side effect of organizing—it is the organizing.

To get involved or support their work, visit We Are Revolutionary or follow them on Instagram: @wearerevolutionaryny.

Midsummer brings steamy days, sticky nights, and surprise evening storms. This week is on beat, with a brief cool-down midweek before turning up the heat again for this weekend.

👮‍♂️ In case you missed it: Ten people were shot in three separate incidents in Albany on the Fourth of July. Four of the people shot, including a 17-year-old who was hit in the head, were in the crowd leaving the annual fireworks show at the Empire State Plaza. A home on Madison Avenue near Swan Street also went up in flames after a youth fired a flare gun at someone, who then fired back and unleashed a volley of gun shots into the nearby crowd leaving the show. No arrests have been made. [News10]

🚵 Calling all mountain bikers: a new $400,000 bike park and pump track has opened in Saratoga. The Velosolutions Asphalt Pump Track is a competition-level course designed for bikers of all experience levels and is one of the first of its kind installed in the state. What’s a pump track? It’s a circuit of rollers, berms, and banked turns that riders can navigate by "pumping" their body weight. This is the first of three phases planned for the park, located behind the Vernon ice rink at 30 Weibel Avenue. [News10]

🍺 Saratoga’s Pint Sized is moving to 33 Phila Street, the current location of Mittler’s Market and Restaurant, by the end of the year. Mittler’s is closing its doors. By the way, Pint Sized is changing its name to Dive Presents Pint Sized, after being known as simply Dive. There’s also a Pint Sized (or Dive, or Dive Presents Pint Sized) on Lark Street in Albany. Yes, we’re kinda confused, too. Why not just Pint Sized? [Daily Gazette]

This inviting two-story farmhouse, one of the oldest in town, blends historic charm with comfort. It features warm wood floors, elegant architectural details, and modern updates throughout. There may be more Millennial Gray than we would like here, but the price leaves room to make the colors your own. A detached garage and a driveway offer extra space and easy access. Located in the award-winning Niskayuna School District and within walking distance to Upper Union Street’s shops and restaurants.

The deets: 2 bd, 2 ba, 1267 sf. Asking: $249,000. Days on market: 2. See the full listing here. 

Our full weekend roundup publishes every Thursday. Be sure to check your inboxes!

🎭️ The Little Mermaid continues at the Cohoes Music Hall through Aug. 17.

🩰 It’s Ballet Week at SPAC, with Coppélia and Robbins, Balanchine & Peck on the evening program at the Amphitheater.

🎸 On Wednesday, Doug E. Fresh plays the Capital Concert Series at the Empire State Plaza, while Deb Zep Duo and Ginger Geezus headline Troy’s Rockin’ on the River, Jukebox Rebellion plays Scotia’s Freedom Park, and the Jeanine Ouderkirk Quartet headlines Schenectady’s Jazz on Jay.

🇯🇲 It’s Reggae Night this week at Albany’s Alive at Five, featuring Mellow Mood with Dis-N-Dat Band. Btw, we incorrectly promoted this event last week 🤦‍♂️

📚️ On Thursday, the Grown Up Book Fair comes to the Wolf Hollow Brewing Company in Schenectady.

🐎 Thursday is also Opening Day at the Saratoga Race Course for the 2025 summer season.

🥳 Dubbed as the Capital Region’s biggest summer block party, Schenectady County SummerNight features two tribute bands this year: The Lords of 52nd Street (Billy Joel) and Philadelphia Freedom (Elton John).

🎆 An all-day affair, the 48th Annual Mechanicville Family Day in the Park caps off with a fireworks show on Saturday.

⛹️ Get the kiddos off their screens at the free MVP Kids Day at the Empire State Plaza’s West Capitol Park on Saturday.

🎸 Also Saturday, Chicago’s eclectic rock band Umphrey’s McGee headlines the Rock The Dock Music Festival 2025 in Lake George.

🧪 The Eldridge Research Center at the Huyck Preserve in Rensselaerville will host its Annual Science Symposium on Saturday.

🎸 Troy’s Powers Park Concert Series kicks off its summer season with a dance party by The Refrigerators, while Alex Torres & His Latin Orchestra return to Scotia’s Freedom Park, on Saturday.

🏳️‍🌈 A Big Gay Market makes its return to Washington Park (Knox Street Mall) on Sunday.

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