A Rochester church is hoping to build bridges across neighborhoods this week with a three night block party.
Asbury First United Methodist Church hosted similar outdoor events in the past several summers, but senior minister Rev. Stephen Cady said they're rebranding it this year in an attempt to break what he calls the cycle of political division, racial discrimination, outrage and apathy.
“Things are so divisive right now and it's hard to have conversations with people and have them in a way that is constructive and faithful and meaningful and actually does something at the end of it,” he said, “so we were thinking, at some point, we have got to find a way to overcome this chasm that has risen up between people."
The Block Party on East is on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, August 7, 8, and 9 starting at 6 p.m. each night on the grounds of the church at 1050 East Avenue.
"It's not just East Avenue or the Park Ave. neighborhood,” Cady said, “but we're hoping the neighborhood of Rochester would come out and enjoy something of a moment to get to know their friends. We just want people to come, get to know their neighbor, and just have some fun. I think a little public silliness can go a long way.""
Activities will include goat yoga, live music, food trucks and 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s theme nights. On Thursday night, there will be an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the most people playing hopscotch. The current record was set by 621 people in Douglas, Georgia, in 2015.