Leonard Reid House

10/08/2026

The lobby of the Sarasota Orchestra transformed into an art salon where a singer, spoken word poet, visual artists and violinist showcased their talents.

Voices of Color was an intimate event. Community artists featured: Greg Cruz, Alicia Brown, and Ronnique Hawkins.

Sweet fellowship. Soooo good. The Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition honors partnerships to make arts accessible to all.

10/06/2026

Visitors come to us at the Reid House, and we go to them. Thanks for the invitation to the Barclay development. Black history, by any means necessary.

10/06/2026

It’s Beauty-berry season. The bushes are lush, and sprawling with purple clusters on the Reid House property. Paige and CeeCee crushed and created a delectable jelly. A little sweet and tangy, with hints of other flavors.

They preserved mangoes from our trees in June, added blueberries and BAM, JAM!

Sample some. YUM! The gift shop has it.

10/06/2026

We stepped away from laptops and put down our cell phones to engage with Sunnyside Village residents. They dropped by the Reid House to learn about our arts, culture and history.

The taste test of our beauty berry jelly and mango-blueberry jam…a hit!

09/27/2026

Say it, Faith Ringgold!

09/25/2026

Black History interview in September! How about that! There’s interest in the Reid House, the Reid family and Newtown January - December. ❤️‼️

Sarasota’s historic Leonard Reid House is celebrating 100 years.

09/23/2026

Black Joy!

This is dancer/choreographer Monessa Salley.

She’s working with Sharon Preston Folta on a piece that preserves family history through dance. Sharon’s mother Lucille “Sweets” Preston performed during Black Vaudeville’s “flash acts.”

Artists and creators can develop and showcase their work at Sarasota Contemporary Dance. Interested in the performance? Email
[email protected]. We❤️history at the Reid House. Sharon and Monessa are invited to bring their work to Newtown!

09/21/2026

The Hometown Heart TV crew is in town getting an earful about the people and places that make Sarasota special.

Newtown is rich in heart, soul and history. Of course it’s special!

09/21/2026

The house is transformed into a TV set today. It’s prepping for a close up. The spotlight is on what happens inside, the family who built it and what will be built on the grounds next door. Interim plans? Producers of “Hometown Heart TV” want to know.

Where else can neighbors celebrate victory? Discuss a tough topic? Summer campers paint? Visitors taste Black culture, tour, consume art, history? More.

The Reid House, a cornerstone in the community.

09/18/2026

Sweet community fellowship at the Reid House Thursday eve. It set the stage for the visit of an icon. Ruby Bridges is an advocate for respect, tolerance, and racial justice through education.

Neighbors learned more about her history, impact and legacy.

At age 6, she walked bravely into history in 1960 as adults screamed threats on her first day of school in Louisiana during the New Orleans school desegregation crisis.

Teacher Teidra Everett began the walk-to-school event in 2021 in Sarasota. Walter Gilbert joined the effort in 2023. It’s a national initiative.