February is Black History month. Wednesday, February 7 is Lailat al Miraj, also known as the Night of Ascension, the Prophet Muhammad’s miraculous journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and his subsequent ascension to heaven. Saturday, February 10 is the Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, the pan-Asian festival that celebrates the beginning of the new year, based on the traditional solar Chinese calendar.
Quote of the Week:
“The problem is whether the American people have honesty enough, loyalty enough, honor enough, patriotism enough to live up to their own Constitution.” Frederick Douglass; American social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer and statesman, born around February, 1818 – February 20, 1885.
Featured Civil Rights Activist/Abolitionist/Leader for this week: Frederick Douglass; American social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer and statesman, born around February, 1818 – February 20, 1885.
Frederick Douglass | Biography, Accomplishments, & Facts | Britannica
EVENTS:
Here is what is going on in the Rochester area:
1. Nazareth University is presenting a program on Monday, February 5 from 7 – 9:00 PM titled ‘Celebrating African American Heritage: Interfaith & Equity Panel’. See below for details.
2. There is a program at SUNY Geneseo on Friday, February 9 from 2 – 3:00 PM titled ‘Moderated talk Angela-Davis’
https://www.geneseo.edu/news/moderated-talk-angela-davis
3. Jalil Muntaquim notifies us about the Town Hall meeting ‘Intersectionality of Rochester’s Poverty’ to be held at the University of Rochester, Friday, February 16th from 6:00 – 8:00 PM at the Georgen Hall Sloan Auditorium. See below for details.
4. Dr. Frederick Jefferson shares a program at the University of Rochester on Thursday, February 22, 6:00 – 7:30 PM by author William Sturkey discussing his book “Hattiesburg: An American City in Black and White“.
University of Rochester – Neilly Author Series: William Sturkey
5. The Urban League next Speaker’s Series program will be Friday, March 1 from 1:00 – 2:00 PM via Zoom. The speaker will be Dr. Laurance Spear sharing “Evidence Based Tools to Disrupt the School to Prison Pipeline”.
6. Bill Wynne shares information and a link to Virtual Antiracist Education Conference titled ‘JOY, COMMUNITY, RESISTANCE, SUSTAINABILITY’, Saturday 3/2, 9:00 – 3:30 PM.
Information is below with a link to the free registration form below that.
http://tinyurl.com/acpcon2024
7. Bill Wynne also shares that the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival ‘Mass Poor People’s March’ will take place on Saturday, March 2 at 10:00 AM in Albany, N.Y. and other state capitals across the country. See details below.
8. George Yeodan shares information on a program offered by WXXI on Sunday, March 3 at 3:00 PM.
WXXI Classical presents Kearstin Piper Brown & Friends from BSUE• Asbury First Church – WXXI
9. The Rochester Monroe Anti-Poverty Initiative is pleased to present “Poverty, by Rochester: A Conversation with Matthew Desmond” at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 6 at Innovation Theater.
The #1 New York Times bestseller and Pulitzer-Prize winning author returns to Rochester to continue the conversation about poverty. In his most recent book “Poverty, By America,” the acclaimed sociologist draws on history, research, and original reporting to show how affluent Americans knowingly and unknowingly keep poor people poor and how all Americans can become “Poverty Abolitionists.”
Desmond will present his new book and its findings – along with potential solutions to poverty in America – during this lively event, including an audience Q&A and a book signing.
For tickets go to:
Poverty, By Rochester: A Conversation with Matthew Desmond via Th (thundertix.com)
More information about the event can be found here:
Poverty by Rochester
10. George Yeadon shares information on the CNBC Equity and Opportunity Forum – Constructive Conversations with information for to corporate leaders about how they are navigating the current environment, working to engage in constructive conversations with employees and other stakeholders, and potentially reframing DEI initiatives as they work to create equity and opportunity for all. This livestream forum takes place on Thursday, March 21. See link below for details.
NEWS, HISTORY & RESOURCES:
11. Nanette Massey’s program “Reckoning With Racism for Nurses” presented this compelling video of medical bias impacting Black people.
12. Bill Wynne provided his latest sharing along with a review of the movie ‘Origin’ a journalism movie about grief and racism.
a. Bill’s sharing:
13. We share one item from the latest edition of the CNN Newsletter Race Deconstructed this week, there are two more at “racedeconstructed@newsletters.cnn.com”.:
Jackie Robinson statue stolen from youth league field in Wichita, Kansas
https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/27/us/jackie-robinson-statue-kansas/index.html
14. One article is provided below from this week’s Beacon; A large share of road fatalities is attributed to speeding and ignoring traffic signals. Should Rochester be using cameras to enforce traffic laws?https://rochesterbeacon.com/2024/02/01/its-time-for-automated-traffic-enforcement/
15. This latest article from the Pink Elephant Newsletter by Dr. Janice Gassam Asare; “What To Do When Your Manager Thinks Diversity And Inclusion Is A Waste Of Time”.
(8) What To Do When Your Manager Thinks Diversity And Inclusion Is A Waste Of Time | LinkedIn
16. Here is the Urban League of Rochester’s latest Interrupter newsletter
Thursday Thinkers: Discussing Community Resources (mailchi.mp)
17. There are 7 articles that deal with Race, Poverty, Hate or Intolerance found in D&C over the past week.
a. DOES CITY NEED ITS OWN EMS? (EMT, one of socieities most difficult jobs, not an easy problem to tackle).
b. German chancellor warns of resurgent antisemitism (a lesson here for our country and all forms of hate).
c. Uranium mine 10 miles south of Grand Canyon rim opens (are there lessons to be learned from the protests of indigenous peoples?).
d. COMPANIES QUIETLY ALTER THEIR DIVERSITY PROGRAMS (Are there companies that can stand up to the threat of ridicule and potential lawsuit?)
e. Far-right extremism thrives in rural NY (3 parts found in the 3 files found immediately below)
f. DEI attacks pose threats to medical training, care (efforts to address health disparities at risk).
g. Black Americans feel they can’t be themselves at work (an issue White people don’t have to deal with).
OPPORTUNITIES:
18. Dr. Frederick Jefferson shared an opportunity from the Winters Group to share African American Art at their 2024 Summit, Racial Justice at Work. The deadline to submit proposals to be a speaker, perform or to include your art is Thursday, February 15, 2024. See below for more information.
19. Joseph Searles shares the job positions that are open at Trillium Health.
20. The Urban League of Rochester has opened its Black Scholars Common Scholarship Application process. The deadline to apply is April1, 5:00 PM. See link below for information.
Scholarships — Urban League of Rochester (urbanleagueroc.org)
21. Jennifer Suppe shares information on the 2024 Greater Rochester Chamber MWBE Awards. See information at the link below:
22. Joseph Searles shares information on the 2024 Ibero American Action League Scholarhip program. See below.
23. The Community Foundation (RACF) provides scholarships and awards helping students achieve their goals in education and life. Check out the link below.
Rochester Area Scholarships and Award Resources – Rochester Area Community Foundation (racf.org)
Please share any opportunities for employment, assistance, grants, etc. that you are aware of with the community by sending them to “tcmitch1951@gmail.com”.
SUPPORT BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES:
24. Support the Black Community by supporting their businesses. Please share Black businesses you support and value. A good resource is “Black Owned in Rochester”
Black Owned Businesses Rochester NY Black-Owned In Rochester (blackownedinrochester.com)
25. Valentine’s Day is less than 12 days away. Black Owned in Rochester provides all the information you need for a great day. Check them out at the link below.
That is all for this week!
If you have an item to include in the week’s sharing we need to have it by noon Fridays.