President’s Message

I hope you all had a happy Thanksgiving and are looking forward to the coming holiday season.

Roc the Day (also known as Giving Tuesday) is coming soon on December 3, 2024! Please mark your calendar for this important day of giving!

Thank you to all who attended our Annual Convention on November 22nd. On January 1, 2025 please welcome the new Executive Committee: Jesse Knoth (President), Lauren Caruso (Vice President) and Emma Kribs (Secretary). Sandra Powell will be participating as an At-Large delegate on the Executive Committee. More details from the Annual Convention and the new leadership of the 19WCA will be in the January 2025 Update 19.

Following is an excerpt of my “exit speech”:

Greetings and Good Evening All

As I stand here before you all, I can’t help but to marvel at how far we’ve come. When I began my term, we faced challenges: we no longer had a brick and mortar, our membership was dwindling, our finances were tight and our community impact was limited. Many were concerned about our viability and visibility of the association.

Yes these are concerns not only for the 19^th WCA but for businesses and organizations across the nation. YET and I say it again YET we are still here thriving and surviving together!!!!

As your president I was able to build relationships with the University of Rochester and their medical center to create the Rochester Pharmacy Council. This council advocated to bring the Highland Brooks Landing Pharmacy on Genesee Street when Walgreens on Thurston closed their doors. Additionally, Rochester Regional Health at St. Mary’s Campus stepped in to services customers from the West Main Walgreens closure.

In 2023 the 19^th Ward Community Association was a partner with the Greater Rochester Martin Luther Kings’ Commission in putting on the 2023 Rochester Juneteenth Festival Celebration. This was a big step for us…we are now being recognized outside of the 14619 and 14611 zip codes.

Sadly, June 2023 we lost dear baby boy Ryan Grantham Jr on Thurston Road due to a vehicle accident. His mother Farasa Brown came and spoke with us at this very convention expressing her gratitude to the community in signing a petition that made it possible to get traffic calming measures on Thurston Road. We know a lot more need to be done, however this is why we have wonderful partners like ReConnect Rochester ( Cody Donohue ), City of Rochester and Monroe County. I will continue to advocate on making our neighborhoods safe whether you are walking or riding a bike. More to come regarding Traffic Safety and Reporting.

Media and other organizations reaches out to us for guidance, advice, and simply a seat at the table. You see I think it’s important to engage outside of our community in order to help our community. Building those trusted relationship will help us stay true to our vision. “Differences should be celebrated and all people deserve affordable housing, good schools, equitable access to services and public safety”

School #16 now has two amazing tutoring and mentoring programs “ Tru Impact” and “Roc Royal” because of the relationships I have built with the Rochester City School District and School #16. The hope is school #16 will be the pilot school as we look forward to partnering with other schools in the City and County.

Now, of course there have been moments of disagreement on my leadership when the weight of responsibility felt heavy BUT!  We always found a way to move forward, together.

So as I step down, I’m not saying goodbye. I’m simply changing roles. I will always be a part of this incredible community. I look forward to laughing together at social events. Supporting each other through challenging times but most of all continuing the work to make a difference in this community for ALL.

Thank you for your continued support of the 19th Ward Community Association! Have a wonderful holiday season and coming new year!

Be Safe. Stay Healthy. Be Kind.

Josie McClary

President, 19th Ward Community Association

Around the Neighborhood

Arnett Branch Library

Arnett Holiday Party In-Person

* Kick off the holiday season with Nate Rawls and his Big Band! *

Please join us for the Arnett Holiday Party!

Monday, December 2^nd from 6:00 – 7:00 pm

Nate Rawls Big Band will be playing seasonal favorites!

Refreshments will be served, and there will be games and activities for children and teens.

Check out the first day of the Used Book Sale! 

All ages welcome! 

Schools Committee

The Schools Committee continues to focus on and promote programs that improve the literacy of our children. We are so excited to have been instrumental in forging a partnership between Tru-Impact, (an online tutoring program) and RCSD.  Tru-Impact has agreed, and successfully begun providing in-person tutoring for our scholars at School #16 both during the day and after school. Many thanks to those who have worked to bring this vision to fruition.

The committee hopes to create more partnerships such as this so that more of our scholars can receive the tutoring that they need.

The Committee is also planning a viewing and discussion around the film, “The Right to Read”, and our annual Spelling Bee will take place at the University of Rochester on April 12, 2025.  More information on both these events to follow.  Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to each of you!

Candlelight Dinners 2025 – Coming Soon!

The date is set and sign up began at Convention on November 22, 2024 for
our annual community Candlelight Dinners. Our dinners in 2025 will be
held on SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2025. For 38 years neighbors have
gathered at various homes in the 19th Ward for a wonderful evening of
good food and fun.

We already have enough hosts for over 50 people to enjoy this
neighborhood tradition. Sign up will continue through the end of January 2025!

So mark your calendars now and email Carol Kramer at cakramer355@gmail.com to sign up as a host or guest. You can also call Carol at 585-749-1054 to sign up. Please be sure to include your email and phone number, and if you want to host or be a guest in your message. The goal this year is to double our numbers from last year and have 100 people participate! If you have any questions about Candlelight Dinners contact Carol. Look for more information in the January Update 19.

FLYERS

Committee Information

Reach out to our office manager if you would like to get involved.

19th Ward Community Association, P.O. Box 24754, Rochester NY 14624 – 585-328-6571 – email: 19thward@19wca.org website: 19wca.org