Jeff Mirel came to the Capital Region to care for his grandfather, but it was the community that convinced Jeff and his wife Janel to set down roots and raise their family here. Jeff, who had left a job downstate at a firm that represented major label recording artists, began managing bands independently and doing freelance marketing work. “We were young and captivated by the unique opportunities the region offered,” he explained. “I think creative people are drawn here; there is room to be inventive.”

Both Jeff and Janel believe that a healthy sense of place comes from connection, and from connection, collective action. This has been a central theme of their adult lives. Both personally and professionally—Jeff is a principal at The Rosenblum Companies, a commercial real estate development and management firm, and Janel is a doctor of physical therapy. They work to build ties and foster collaborations that strengthen our community. One outsized example of that was the development of the Albany Barn, a creative economy incubator and community art center.

“Our family motto is together we will find a way,” said Janel. “Jeff’s vision was expansive and his energy seemingly endless, but we knew that our ‘two-gether’ needed to expand.” The couple called on friends, connections from the public and private sectors, and anyone that would listen as they worked to transform the former St. Joseph’s Academy, an abandoned school in the heart of Albany’s Arbor Hill neighborhood, into 22 low-cost live/work residences for artists, along with “maker” studios, exhibition, performance and program space. The success of this project, which is celebrating its tenth year, led to the subsequent addition of the Electric City Barn and Artistry Studios makerspaces, both in Schenectady.

Jeff and Janel have involved their daughters, Alexandra (12) and Josephine (8), in the big causes they have championed but also regular service. “We hope that collectively, these experiences will help to provide them a broader world view and an appreciation for the value of investing in others, starting in our own backyard,” added Jeff.

Reflecting on her own call to service, Janel recalls the wisdom of her grandmothers. “My Abuela and my Ma taught us that you may feel like you have nothing worth giving, but there is always someone who could use a little help. Jeff and I hope that our daughters will see that everyone has something to contribute and together we can go even further.”