March is Women’s History month, a month dedicated to honoring women’s contributions to US history. Today is Saturday, March 16. Tomorrow, Sunday is St. Patrick’s Day, this day or the days before it, many people and communities world wide host cultural celebrations with parades and festivities but, it is a feast day of a Catholic saint who inspires these cultural and religous celebrations. Muslims are currently observing Ramadan, the month long period of fasting, charity giving and self-accountability for Muslims. Christians are observing the period of Lent until March 28.
Quote of the Week:
“The philosophy of the school room in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next” Abraham Lincoln
Featured Civil Rights Activist/Abolitionist/Leader for this week: Nat King Cole, American musician and singer, born March 17, 1919, died February 15, 1965.
Nat King Cole | Biography & Facts | Britannica
EVENTS:
Here is what is going on in the Rochester area:
1. 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,
2. Liz Brown reminds us that this week is ‘Daniel’s Law Week of Action’, March 18 – 23. See information below and link to register for the various events at the link below that.
Daniel’s Law Action Week – NAMI Columbia County, NY (namiccny.org)
The registration link for all the events is bit.ly/DLWOA24.
3. 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)
4. The Urban League of Rochester invites you to the annual report on the RASE Commission Annual Community Update of recommendations on Wednesday, March 20 at 5:00. See below to register for this virtual meeting.
Commission on RASE Community Update: March 20th, 2024 (mailchi.mp)
5. 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.
6. “The Black Woman is Art,” an exhibit curated by local creative Zharriay Callier and Rochester photographer Erica Jae, is on display at the City Hall Link Gallery, 30 Church St., now through Friday, April 19.
The Black Woman is Art at City Hall Link Gallery (minorityreporter.net)
7. Jeanne Strazzabosco shares an invitation to the In This Moment Chapbook launch featuring Midge Thomas, Humanitarian and Dr. Walter Cooper PhD, Regent Emeritus of State of New York. Their writers and photographers will also take part in the panel discussion. The George Eastman Museum (900 East Ave.) is presenting the book launch and panel discussion.
April 29th; 7:00 – 7:25 – Reception in the Wolk Concourse, 7:30- 9:00 – Panel Discussion in Dryden Theatre
The event is free but we ask guests to register. Here is the link to register for the book launch and panel discussion.
NEWS, HISTORY & RESOURCES:
8. Laurie Mahoney and Patricia Partridge share information on activities of the RASE Community Advancing Recommendation Teams (CART) on Housing. See below:
9. Laurie Mahoney also provides information on the RMAPI and Roc Housing and Education Focus Group activities:
10. Laurie Mahoney shares information on action needed to advance rent stabilization.
11. Liz Brown shares an article from the Minority Reporter that presents a critical view of Charter Schools. See link below.
https://www.minorityreporter.net/post/charter-schools-are-not-public-schools-or-superior-to-them-1
12. Here is another article from the Minority Reporter;
Rodney A. Young retires from United Way of Rochester (minorityreporter.net)
13. This latest article from the Pink Elephant Newsletter by Dr. Janice Gassam Asare; ‘Why Is Your Women’s Event Missing Non-white Women?’.
14. 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’.
‘NAACP, DEI supporters call on Black athletes to avoid colleges in states with anti-DEI laws’
https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/11/us/naacp-black-athletes-anti-dei-laws/index.html
15. Two articles are provided below from this week’s Beacon;
a. The urgent need for housing access vouchers
b. UR Black studies department gains momentum
16. Here is the Urban League of Rochester’s latest Interrupter newsletter
RCSD & RPD Collaboration: Law Enforcement Career Pathways (mailchi.mp)
17. There are 7 articles that deal with Race, Poverty, Hate or Intolerance found in D&C over the past week.
a. 50 YEARS LATER, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION CASE STILL DIVIDES (overturning ignores that minorities are significantly underrepresented due to decadess of discrimination).
b. Federal agency must serve all races, judge says (judge ignores that minorities are significantly underrepresented due to decadess of discrimination).
c. Officials: NC changes didn’t hinder vote (is this an infringement of voting rights or a reasonable safeguard?).
d. Number of Black major leaguers remains low, but improvement may be on the way (have you gone to a youth baseball tournament recently? Each youth appears to show up with hundreds of dollars of equipment on their back).
e. ROCHESTER’S‘ QUEEN MOTHER’ ( a remarkable Rochesterain has passed).
f. Affordable housing plans spur advocates’ pushback (is there a plan that will satisfy all?).
g. Connecticut trooper acquitted in shooting death of Black student (an acquittal but a $13M settlement, maybe policies should be reviewed?).
OPPORTUNITIES:
18. Joseph Searles Jr. announces Trillium Health is hiring for the position listed in the attachment below.
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.
19. 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)
20. Jennifer Suppe shares information on the 2024 Greater Rochester Chamber MWBE Awards. See information at the link below:
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:
21. 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)
22. Need a photographer for a wedding, event or portrait? Check out the ‘Denise Batiste Photography. See below.
Denise Batiste Photography of Rochester, New York
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 on Friday.
Thank you!