Nearly 25 years after Clarissa Street was uprooted, a group of friends from the Clarissa Street community decided to create a reunion to reflect the street dances and memories of their youth. With nearly 10,000 attendees, the first Clarissa Street Reunion in 1996 became the largest first-run event in Rochester.
Annually, thousands of attendees walk the remaining three blocks of Clarissa St. between Troup St. and Dr. Samuel McCree Way (formerly Bronson Avenue). Multiple performance stages feature Jazz and Blues, R&B, Gospel music, and youth talent. Artists and food vendors line the street and a tent displays 1930-70s era photographs. The Reunion Committee (CSRC) honors an elder for their contributions and awards a young person with a college scholarship. Attendees come from across the United States and the Caribbean, a testament to the significance of Clarissa Street and the importance of returning to the Village to re-connect with the community.
Over the years, families have provided historical photos to reminisce about life in the Clarissa Street and Third Ward community. Save the date for the 25th Clarissa Street Reunion on the 3rd Saturday of August, 2023 (8/19/2023).
If you recognize or have information to share about anyone in the collage, or if your family has images to contribute to the Clarissa Street Community Digital Archive at the Rochester Public Library, please do contact us at ClarissaUprooted@teenempowerment.org!
What stands out in the images?
How do these images compare to the neighborhoods that you see today?
Clarissa Street Joy Collage by Luvon Sheppard and Nik Delgado (Historic images courtesy of various photographers, 1920s-1970 and the Clarissa Street Reunion Committee. All 24 years of Clarissa Street Reunion images courtesy of photographer Sharon Turner.)
The annual Clarissa Street Reunion is organized by the Clarissa Street Reunion Committee.
Artist: Michael Harris (1999)
