Posted by Jeremy on July 13, 2009, from Rochester, New York
Community Partners: Rochester Public Library, WXXI
StoryCorps’ arrival in Rochester, New York on July 2, 2009 coincides with a year long celebration of the city’s 175th Anniversary. What better way to reflect on Rochester’s rich history than by having Rochesterians share their stories! Despite the drizzle a crowd appeared at the Rundel Library to welcome the MobileBooth East team and hear the sounds of The Po’Boys Brass Band, the members of which all came together through Rochester’s own Eastman School of Music.
WXXI AM 1370 celebrated its 25th Anniversary on our opening day as well. WXXI President & CEO, Norm Silverstein was on hand to receive a proclamation from Jean Howard, Chief of Staff for Rochester’s Mayor Duffy, declaring July 2, 2009 StoryCorps Day!
If that still wasn’t enough birthday fun, July 2, 2009 was also the 25th birthday of outgoing StoryCorps Mobile Facilitator, Alex Kelly. Alex facilitated during our first week of recordings in Rochester and stayed on to help train Alejandro De La Cruz who makes his MobileBooth debut right here in the Ra-Cha-Cha! Happy trails Ms. Kelly and welcome aboard Mr. De La Cruz!
July 15th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Glad you’re having a wonderful time in Rochester! I’m curious about the origin of the nickname “Ra-Cha-Cha,” and the less obvious (to me) “Young lion of the West.”
July 16th, 2009 at 7:52 am
I believe that “Ra-Cha-Cha,” is just a way to “party up” the name Rochester. I’ve seen it used online by some residents and and heard it once so, as well. As for the other name you mentioned, I believe that name was given to Rochester over a century ago after the boom in business and population in Rochester which was sparked by the building of the Erie Canal. Within a year of that construction, Rochester went from a village to a bustling city a ” young lion of the west.”
July 27th, 2009 at 10:03 am
Thanks, Jeremy! And Thanks to all the wonderful participants we met in Rochester. Good luck in Erie, guys!