Consider it Chalked

Before the grills across Rochester started cooking up hamburgers and hotdogs, 2010’s National Night Out (NNO) celebration started off early in neighborhoods on Tuesday, August 3. 

RNeighbors partnered with youth from Community Ed’s Summer of Service (SOS) program, the JOY (Juneteenth) kids, and Crime Prevention to work with neighborhoods to “Chalk the Block“. This is an opportunity for kids to contribute to the National Night Out festivities across Rochester, to feel like they make a difference and are valued in the places where they live.

In its sixth year, nine neighborhoods across Rochester focused creativity on sidewalks and pavement at their National Night Out party sites.

It is always interesting and fun to see how young neighbor’s minds work and their chalked designs definitely showed this.  Everything from swirly trees to hopscotch patterns were laid down.  A big hit on 12th Avenue NW was a illustration of the world, along with stick figures holding hands (pictured). In the 4.5 street area one little boy took his time to draw a train while his mother proudly watched on. The kids also wrote inspiring sayings such as “Live, Laugh, Love,”and “Family & Friends.”

“This “Chalk the Block” was such a good idea.  Its legacy will carry on in this neighborhood every year and then it will “catch” on,” said Susan Todzy, 4.5 Street Block Watch Captain and Kutzky Park Neighborhood Association member. “Check out the photos!  Adorable.  Love it!”

In the Washington neighborhood a boy in a wheelchair came out and although he couldn’t get down on his hands and knees to chalk, he did contribute by sharing the art on his t-shirt that included nine different super heroes. That NNO party site was probably the only one in Rochester with a whole host of chalk marvel super heroes to great party guests.

Needless to say, all the chalk was gone by the time our little artists were finished projecting their ideas. At one neighborhood RNeighbors interns even taught some young neighbors how to play hopscotch, a brand new concept for this group of kids.

At the end of the day THAT is what is important. Helping both adults and young people feel more connected to their community and their neighborhood.

For more photos, check out our facebook page.

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