Rondo Days
Rondo Days is a yearly festival in July that was started by two former Rondo residents, Floyd Smaller and Marvin Anderson. Their purpose in starting Rondo Days in 1982 was to share the story of their beloved neighborhood and to celebrate what Rondo once was.
The festival celebrates the connection Rondo residents have to each other and to the area. The Hallie Q. Brown Community Center played an important role in the connection so many former Rondo residents feel because it was where people in Rondo connected in the 1930s-1960s, a time when they had few other choices due to discrimination. The fun and memorable experiences at the Hallie were an escape from the difficulties of daily life at a time when daily life was vey difficult.
The work that the Hallie Q. Brown Center did before, during, and after the freeway construction should also be credited with helping keep the community together in spirit, even if not physically together.
The festival celebrates the connection Rondo residents have to each other and to the area. The Hallie Q. Brown Community Center played an important role in the connection so many former Rondo residents feel because it was where people in Rondo connected in the 1930s-1960s, a time when they had few other choices due to discrimination. The fun and memorable experiences at the Hallie were an escape from the difficulties of daily life at a time when daily life was vey difficult.
The work that the Hallie Q. Brown Center did before, during, and after the freeway construction should also be credited with helping keep the community together in spirit, even if not physically together.