Leonard Reid and his wife Eddye Coleman were long known as models of progress for Sarasota’s early African American residents who lived in the community of Overtown (now known as the Rosemary District). Reid founded one of the area's first Black churches, a beacon of hope as the strong Black community grew in the 1920s. Now, the historic treasure, the Reid family residence, is moving to a new neighborhood so the stories of the family's importance—and that of the community around it—can live on through storytelling and art.

The Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition (SAACC) invites the community to a ceremony at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, May 26, 2022, 1435 7th Street, to honor the contributions and accomplishments of Reid who served as the "right hand man" to the city's first mayor, the work of his daughters in educating generations of Newtown children and the military service of his sons. The event is in preparation for the house move. Following the reception, after midnight, SAACC supporters will gather to witness the relocation as the Reid House takes a short journey to its new home on Orange Avenue and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Way. 

Click here to register for the event.