March is Women’s History month, a month dedicated to honoring women’s contributions to US history. March is also Irish American Heritage month. Today is Saturday, March 2. Friday, March 8 is Maha Shivaratri, the annual Hindu festival honoring Shiva, the Hindu God of destruction. Christians are observing the period of Lent until March 28.
Quote of the Week:
“Health is not a commodity to be traded, but a fundamental human right.” David Satcher, MD, Phd, American physician, educator and administrator, born March 2, 1941 – present.
Featured Civil Rights Activist/Abolitionist/Leader for this week: David Satcher, M.D., Phd, American physician, educator and administrator, 16th Surgeon General of the United States and former Secretary for Health in the Department of Health and Human Services. born March 2, 1941 – present. Dr. Satcher performed his residency in Rochester at URMC in the early 1970’s.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/David-Satcher
EVENTS:
Here is what is going on in the Rochester area:
1. 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.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfcPoiAh9XNFKAYSqMaH4fsd0La3uWumysg9h5fqb1hzTOz7g/viewform?usp=send_form
2. 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 march details and supporting data on the urgency of the case below.
3. 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
4. Bill Wynne provides information on the program ‘The State of Poverty in Rochester’ held on March 5th Dugan Center/ St Mary’s / Rochester. See below.
5. 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
6. Dr. Frederick Jefferson announces a special concert of the Rochester Oratorio Society on Friday, March 15 at 7:30 P.M. at the Asbury First Methodist Church (1040 East Ave., Rochester, NY) titled ‘The Road Home’ which include selections by special guests, the Bach Children’s Chorus, Karla Krogstad, Director. The program will include the NY premiere of “We Are On Native Land,” music by Brent Michael Davids, Mohegan, and lyrics by Trish Corcoran, Tonawanda Onondowaga. There will be an opportunity for attendees to visit with representatives of Native American Community Services prior to the concert. Local Native American partners include Kae Wilbert, Cherokee, and Cheri Trimble, Upper Mohawk, Turtle Clan. The concert will open with an Indigenous procession. More information to follow.
7. Bill Wynne shares an invitation from Mt. Irenaeus Franciscan Community for a program on March 16, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, titled ‘Transformation from Fear of Each Other to Becoming a Beloved Community’. See attachment for more information and registration,
8. George Yeadon shares information on a program offered by the Mellon Foundation on March 19 at 4:00 PM, titled ‘Race and Revelation in Our American Stories’. See the link below for more information and registration.
Race and Revelation in Our American Stories (Online) 3/19 at 4:00 p.m. (ET) (mellon.org)
9. George Yeadon also shares information on the CNBC Equity and Opportunity Forum – Constructive Conversations with information for 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:
10. George Yeadon shares the following article from the Harvard Magazine; ‘Break Every Chain; How black plaintiffs in the Jim Crow South sought justice’.
https://www.harvardmagazine.com/2024/01/features-myisha-eatmon
11. Bill Wynne, author of ‘Understanding & Combating Racism’ shares his March update. See attachment below.
12. This latest article from the Pink Elephant Newsletter by Dr. Janice Gassam Asare; ‘Beyonce’s New Haircate Brand is Met with Mixed Reception from Consumers’.
(9) Beyoncé’s New Haircare Brand Is Met With Mixed Reception From Consumers | LinkedIn
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’.
‘How a father and son fought segregation and became the first Black generals in the US military’,
How Benjamin O. Davis Sr. and Davis Jr. became America’s first Black generals | CNN
14. Two articles are provided below from this week’s Beacon;
a. Funding for Rochester’s anti-poverty initiatives will do nothing to lift Rochester’s children out of misery.
The governor’s announcement of $50 million in state funds will do nothing to lift Rochester’s children out of the misery of poverty—and news reporters gave her a free pass.https://rochesterbeacon.com/2024/02/29/hochuls-trifling-sum-for-impoverished-children/
b. PAB reports on police use of force on juveniles.
A new Police Accountability Board report is a deep dive into policies surrounding juvenile use of force that is insightful but also limited by the scope of data from the Rochester Police Department.https://rochesterbeacon.com/2024/02/27/most-rpd-juvenile-use-of-force-incidents-involve-black-minors/
15. Here is the Urban League of Rochester’s latest Interrupter newsletter
GBI Pilot: Where Are We Now? (mailchi.mp)
16. There are 4 articles that deal with Race, Poverty, Hate or Intolerance found in D&C over the past week.
a. UNDOING DIVIDES (Opinion piece; Racism drove highways through Black neighborhoods).
b. Safe Streets funds sit unused, go where less needed (Poor communities cannot afford to pursue free money).
c. San Francisco apologizes to city’s Black resident (an apology is a start, what should next steps be?).
d. Black soldiers honored, name by name, in Mississippi (this story surprised me, probably should not have).
OPPORTUNITIES:
17. Starting March 4, The Greater Rochester Health Foundation will be accepting proposals under their Call for Ideas funding opportunity. This grant opportunity is part of their Responsive Grantmaking. Driven by community voice, Responsive Grants are open, nimble, and responsive to emerging health issues and needs. Through this opportunity, we seek ideas/solutions from a broad array of organizations and populations, focused on health equity, and developed with rather than for communities.
18. 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)
19. Jennifer Suppe shares information on the 2024 Greater Rochester Chamber MWBE Awards. See information at the link below:
20. Joseph Searles shares information on open positions at Trillium. See below.
21. Joseph Searles shares information on the 2024 Ibero American Action League Scholarhip program. See below.
22. 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:
23. 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)
24. Do you have a favorite fragance or are you looking for a new perfume or oil? Check out Renditions by Paula!
Paula Howard Essentials® (phessentials.co)
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.