Our History
Pleasant City Family Reunion Committee
The concern for the children, the vast deterioration of the community, the illegal drug trafficking, the negative press and media coverage prompted Everee Jimerson Clarke, daughter of Pioneers Reverend Williams and Mrs. Cynthia Jimerson to bring about a positive change to the community she loves.
In 1993, she established and founded the Pleasant City Family Reunion Committee Inc. to sponsor a Pleasant City Family Reunion in conjunction with West Palm Beach’s City Centennial Celebration in 1994. She called together persons born and reared in Pleasant City and the lineage of the Pioneers to organize an effort to bring about positive change to restore some of the values and self-esteem shared by the community in earlier years and when they left the Styx on Palm Beach Island..
Many of the lineage of the pioneers had moved away because they found it too expensive to live where they grew up. Many were afraid to come to the area after dark, because of drive-by shooting and drug dealers operating on the corner near the Recreation Center where the meetings were held. The Community had a stigma of crime and low esteem that no one wanted to identify with. Community redevelopment efforts or eminent domain had uprooted many of the Pioneer families. Many people visiting or moving into West Palm Beach believe that Pleasant City had no important history because what they saw was negative.
We have worked to overcome some of these misconceptions. Aside from renewing old friendships and strengthening family ties, we encouraged former residents, many who were retirees, to come back home to get involved in the revitalization and redevelopment efforts of other community groups. Concern for the children was a priority. The mission of the group was to be a concerted effort to preserve the history of Pleasant City and to establish a Heritage Gallery or museum to honor the Pioneers.
Getting a group of people to do something positive for the community is an accomplishment of the Pleasant City Family Reunion Committee. For more than twenty years, the Pleasant City Family Reunion Committee has brought families together, enlightened, educated, and entertained the general public. The Reunion Committee’s initiative continues to invigorate and inspire business persons and investors who can make a big difference in the community.
The Heritage Gallery brought to the community local and national artists, historical events, such as the The Living Legends of Negro baseball League, The Black Paratroopers, The Buffalo Soldiers. The Reunion Committee has been a resource center for most of the historic programs that have developed in the community. The Reunion Committee has presented African Dignitaries, Performing Artists: Local and National, sponsored Toys For Tots and a Christmas Celebration for 350 youth and adults annually, Honored Fathers, Mothers, Phenomenal Women, Community Achievers, the Pioneers and Youth in Performing Arts. We established a Cultural Arts Program that served the economically and culturally-challenged youth and adults providing family participants in all activities.
Heritage Gallery Programs included:
- Heritage Gallery Tours
- History Study Groups
- Jazz Preservation Society
- Intergenerational Society
- Eleganté International Teen Club
- Computer Lab
- Camp Heritage Trail
- Special Events
- Pioneer Days
- Ms. Senior Queen Pageant
- Father’s Day-Mother’s Day
- Youth in Business
- Youth Performing Arts
- Community Resource Center