City Unveiled Street Named in Honor of Alicia C. Rasin

With great honor and privilege, Mayor Dwight C. Jones and Cynthia I. Newbille, Richmond City Council 7th District, unveiled an honorary street sign on Dec. 21 in the 1900 block of Princess Anne Avenue to recognize the tireless work of community activist Alicia C. Rasin. A pillar of the Richmond community and an advocate for families of homicide victims for more than 30 years, Rasin passed away on October 9

In the early 1990s, Rasin founded Citizens Against Crime, an organization through which she and others collaborated with victims, police, businesses and residents to fight crime in some of the city’s toughest neighborhoods. She also is credited with bridging the gap between various segments of the Richmond community and establishing relationships with local media that enabled them to humanize crime victims and their families in their news reporting.

Rasin, who was known as the “Ambassador of Compassion,” worked around the clock to provide solace to victims of violent crime, as well as the families and friends of those who lost their lives in violent crimes. Her involvement and contributions to City residents led former Mayor Leonidas B. Young to honor her with the Mayor’s Volunteer of the Year Award in 1996.

Under Rasin’s guidance, hundreds of vigils were held to recognize crime victims and heighten awareness of senseless acts of violence plaguing inner-city streets.