Today is Saturday, March 15. Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar is being observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community through Sunday, March 30th. March is Women’s History month, an annual observance to highlight the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society. Today, Saturday, March 15 is the Hindu festival Shri Ramakrishna Jayanti. Celebrated annually, commenorates the birth anniversary of Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, a revered 19th-century Hindu mystic and guru, known for his teachings on universal harmony and devotion. Wednesday, March 19 through Thursday, March 20 is Naw-Ruz, the Bahá’í New Year.
Quote of the week: “I merged those two works Black and feminist because I was surrounderd by Black women who were very tough and who always assumed they had to work and rear children and manage homes” Toni Morrison born February 18, 1931 – died August 15, 2019; American author
Featured civil rights activist/abolitionist/pioneer: Toni Morrison born February 18, 1931 – died August 15, 2019; American author.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Toni-Morrison
EVENTS
1.Nanette Massey is presenting another ‘Beyond The White Echo Chamber: “Not Ghetto Enough”‘ discussions on Sunday, March 16, 3:00 EDT. See below for details and to register.
2. The Jewish Federation, Jewish Life Adult program presents ‘Antisemitism: Understanding It in History and Today’ on Monday, March 17 from 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM at the JCC of Greater Rochester, Inc., 1200 Edgewood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14618. See link to more information and registration below.
3. The Urban League of Rochester is holding a free Interrupt Racism – Mini Conference on Wednesday, March 19 from 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM at Antioch Baptist Church, 304 Joseph Ave., Rochester. Register below.
INTERRUPT RACISM™ Mini Conference Registration
4. George Yeadon shares the follwoing event:
Scholars’ Day Keynote, MCC Theater, Brighton Campus (Parking: Lot F)
Wednesday, April 30, 2025 – 7:00 pmESL presents a conversation with Dr. Clint Smith. Clint Smith is a staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of #1 New York Times bestselling book, How the Word Is Passed. Through his vital writing and talks, he argues that understanding our history not only enables us to understand our world, but also empowers us to fight for racial justice.
NEWS, HISTORY & RESOURCES:
5. Causewave Community Partners is rolling out a city-wide survey to analyze the State of Hate in Rochester according to perceptions and lived experiences. Data will allow partner organizations to address a variety of needs in the Greater Rochester area. The survey takes 10-15 minutes and is available in Spanish and traditional Chinese. Please share widely so that we may capture as many experiences as possible. The survey will close at the end of March. Link to survey: https://qrco.de/bfjA42 – pdf attached. Please contact info@endhateroc.org for more information.
6. Jalil_Muntaqim shares this insight from Abbas_Muntaqim. Abbas_Muntaqim says he wouldn’t call himself African-American because he can’t identify with a country that has committed genocide against his people. https://x.com/thesobhshow/status/1898070346827214935?s=51
7. John Engels shares this article from The Atlantic ‘DEI Has Lost All Meaning’, the problem of unclear language – and the resulting confusion – in combating racism:
8. Rev. Amy Walter-Peterson shares this podcast from NPR: ‘How Did DEI Become Part Of A Political Agenda — And A Slur?’
How Did DEI Become Part Of A Political Agenda — And A Slur? : Fresh Air : NPR
9. Here is the latest Pink Elephant Newsletter by Janice Gassam Asare, Ph.D., ‘The Death Of DEI Is A Myth: Here’s Why 7 In 8 Companies Are Continuing DEI Efforts In 2025’.
10. Liz Brown shares this piece requesting “Let’s ask the governor to pass the Invest in New York State legislation to better meet our community’s needs.” https://rochesterbeacon.com/2025/03/11/we-can-afford-to-fund-a-more-equitable-society/
11. The following 2 articles were published in this week’s edition of the Beacon;
a. Schools, hiring and DEI:
b.
12. An article from the most recent The Minority Reporter, ‘Mary Lupien vs. JD Vance; the Fight for Free Speech and the Truth About America’s Housing Crisis’
13. Here is the latest Interrupter Newsletter from the Urban League of Rochester:
The Interrupter Newsletter – March 13, 2025
14. There are 4 articles that deal with Race, Poverty, Hate or Intolerance found in D&C over the past week.
a. Lawyer: Diversity dismissals begin at intel agency.
b. Retailers keep some DEI support despite rollbacks (Firms walk tightrope amid Trump pushback).
c. Reparations commission holds hearing in Rochester (attendees share their thoughts on reparations).
d. Council to vote on grant to boost renters’ credit (objective is to aid renters to qualify for future mortgages).
OPPORTUNITIES: Please share any opportunities for employment, assistance, grants, etc. that you are aware of with the community by sending them to “tcmitch1951@gmail.com”.
15. Information found in The Minority Reporter. Applications Now Open for Monroe County Food Insecurity Project:
16.Interested in scholarships for next year’s college expenses? Check out the Scholarships that the Urban League of Rochester organizes. Applications are now open. Deadlines vary for the various scholarships. Don’t delay some deadlines started as early as March 1, 2025.
Scholarships — Urban League of Rochester (urbanleagueroc.org)
SUPPORT BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES:
17. 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)
18. We repeat this suggestion from last week. Looking for a tax accountant? Try H-2 Tax Associates, LLC, see link below:
https://blackownedinrochester.com/listing-category/accounting-bookkeeping-services-rochester-ny
If you have an item to include in the week’s sharing we need to have it by noon on Friday.
Thank you!