Building a better Rochester

By City Newspaper staff

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Rochester's a city in transition, with changes taking place everywhere: in its population, its employment base, its neighborhoods, its politics, its downtown. But this is nothing new. Change is woven throughout the city's history, brought about by individuals – famous and not famous – who helped build it from its early days as a mill town. The future Rochester, whatever shape it takes, will be built by the people who live in it, including those living in it now.

In our 2019 Annual Manual, we highlight some lesser-known community builders of the past, in industry, in health care, in education, in human rights.

We also offer ways to get involved in community building: helping to strengthen the arts, patronizing retail businesses outside of the big names, discovering (and supporting) music venues and musicians beyond the ones most familiar to you.

And we take a look at some current examples of community builders: people who got together with neighbors to feed the poor, save their neighborhood school, and strengthen their small town's downtown area.

In This Guide...

Annual Manual

Supporting the arts

7 ways to get involved

If you're an arts enthusiast, you may spend some of your free time in galleries or attending theater or dance performances, or going to one of the many local film festivals. Showing up at arts events is an important way to support them, but many smaller venues have less attendance than the big ones, and there are a variety of other ways to support artists and art organizations.

By Rebecca Rafferty Mar 20, 2019

Rochester arts support Rochester arts funding
Annual Manual

A city's foundations

Unsung heroes who left their mark

Rome wasn't built in a day – and neither was Rochester. Our city of 208,000 is known for groundbreaking historical figures: Susan B. Anthony, Frederick Douglass, and George Eastman.

By Kathy Laluk Mar 20, 2019

Robert M. Dalzell Domingo Delgado Ida Jane Anderson Dr. Sarah Adamson Dolley Helen Barrett Montgomery Edwine Blake Danforth Reverend Thomas James Assunta Gala Cantisano
Annual Manual

Citizen action

Organizing to better the community

Many people would like to do something impactful for their block, neighborhood, or village, but don't know where to begin or how to sustain it. Around the region, though, residents have been organizing to improve their community, and they can provide inspiration.

By Tim Louis Macaluso Mar 20, 2019

Southwest Community Council John Boutet Fairport United Methodist Church Pam and Mark Renfro Perry Main Street Association Sandy Schneible Pilar McKay
Annual Manual

Sound variety

A trio of smaller music hot spots

As vital as the Rochester music scene is, it's all too easy to stay in our respective lanes stylistically. We don't often venture beyond the niche communities of musicians and venues our preferred genres have carved out for us.

By Daniel J. Kushner Mar 20, 2019

Rochester music scene The Daily Refresher California Brew Haus 80W
Annual Manual

'Small-box' shopping

Buying locally, at independent stores

We all have our go-to places for certain things. Wegmans comes to mind, since many Rochesterians head straight to its nearest store for groceries, beer, and a whole lot of other stuff.

By Jeremy Moule Mar 20, 2019

Rochester independent businesses shopping in Rochester Rochester local businesses