Family reunions are an important event that brings together members of a family who may have lost touch or live far away from each other. It is a time to reconnect, catch up on each other’s lives, and create new memories. These events are usually held annually or bi-annually and can last anywhere from a few hours to several days. However, the benefits of family reunions go beyond just spending time together. Conversations, memories, new and old faces…generations, LEGACY. Clarissa Street was a family. A family of different and varying backgrounds that had one common denominator, neighborhood. The third ward neighborhood was a vibrant, bustling microcosm of the surrounding affluence happening in Rochester, NY, and across the country.
They had figured something out! Black-owned businesses and black-owned musical venues are working right beside their white counterparts. It was a recipe that created bonds that last a lifetime, hence THE Clarissa Street Reunion. With the hustle and bustle of daily life, it can be challenging to keep in touch with family members regularly, let alone people you grew up with or went to school with. Yet, THE Clarissa Street Reunion has persevered since 1996. Every year former residents from near and far return. It is a family reunion of a different kind. Not necessarily blood ties but neighborhood ties. This Reunion allows members to come together and reconnect. This can be especially important for younger family members who may not have had the chance to meet or know their family’s rich history and the neighborhood’s historic nature.
It is a time for children to see their aunts, uncles, and cousins’ historical sites and “stomping” grounds and develop a sense of belonging and connection to the neighborhood Family reunions provide a sense of belonging, connection, and support that can be invaluable in today’s fast-paced and unpredictable world. Reunions allow younger family members to understand and appreciate their family’s history and traditions. It can also provide a sense of continuity and connection to past generations. This Reunion connects people across the spectrum. The committee has connected with various community programs to ensure the legacy lives on. One such connection with Teen Empowerment yielded a beautiful exhibit last summer that was displayed at the RIT gallery located at Liberty Square.
The exhibit will find a permanent home by December 2024, now located inside the Rundel Library This year’s Reunion will include storytelling and sharing family photos and artifacts. There will be a stage of Jazz honoring its unique history with Clarissa Street due to the world renown of Pythodd being located there. There will also be youth entertainment, gospel, and R&B entertainment. Food and craft vendors will be on site. The Reunion is intended to connect us all under one umbrella…Neighborhood. If you intend to attend the Reunion, wear comfortable shoes to walk the full street. Bring a lawn chair or blanket so you can sit and relax at one of the stages and enjoy the music. The event is free, but bringing money to support the local vendors is advised. This is the 25th Annual, so we hope to see you there!
