Clarissa Street Legacy
Clarissa Street community, Rochester, NY
Youth and elders turned the history of a legendary Rochester street into five original comic books, then gave them back to the community.
By the numbers
- 9 participants: 5 youth and 4 adults
- 9 of 9 attended at least six of eight sessions
- 5 original comic titles completed
- 150 copies printed
- 105 copies given free to the public at the Clarissa Street Reunion
“People reached” is our projected community reach: the midpoint of our estimate of everyone the program touched beyond the people in the room, such as families, classmates, colleagues and neighbors.
Building on a successful volunteer-led comic storytelling project, this program brought youth and elders together to explore the history, values and legacy of Clarissa Street.
Instead of learning history through traditional instruction, the group interpreted it. Real influences became original characters, narratives and visual stories, so the history became personal, meaningful and shareable.
The finished books were unveiled at the Clarissa Street Reunion, returning the stories to the community in a visible, celebratory way.
- History moved from something received to something created and shared
- Intergenerational empathy and understanding
- Cultural pride and identity
- Creative confidence and expression
- Every participant gained confidence using the Central Library Archives for research
- Every participant reported a stronger sense of intergenerational connection and community belonging
- 1
Dig into the archives
Youth and elders researched Clarissa Street together at the Central Library Archives.
- 2
Invent characters
Historical influences became original fictional characters and stories.
- 3
Make the books
Five original comic titles, written and designed by the group.
- 4
Back to the community
105 free copies went out at the Clarissa Street Reunion.
Creating something together gave us a new way to connect across generations and helped me process (and build) deep and meaningful memories. This program was life changing for me.Issac, Clarissa Street elder
Consistent engagement across age groups: every participant, youth and elder alike, attended at least six of the eight sessions.
See the work
Photos, characters and finished comics from this program are on their way.
Bring an experience like this to your people
Tell us about your group and we'll suggest the right fit. Then book a free 30-minute call.
