Today is Saturday, May 18. May is Asian American Pacific Islander month. Thursday, May 23 the Baha’i celebrate the Declaration of the Bab. This day honors the day that a revelation was sent to Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the Bahá’í Faith. Sunday, May 26 the Jewish commemorate Lag BaOmer. Also known as the “Counting of the Omer,” this is a break between the seven weeks of Passover and Shavuot where certain prohibitions are permitted. Today, Jews remember the plague that killed thousands of students during the occupation of Judea.
Quote of the Week: “You’re not to be so blind with patriotism that you can’t face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who does it or says it.”; Malcolm X; May 19, 1925 – February 21, 1965; Muslim minister and human rights activist.
Featured Civil Rights Activist/Abolitionist/Leader for this week: Malcolm X; May 19, 1925 – February 21, 1965; Muslim minister, human rights activist and advocate for Black empowerment.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Malcolm-X
EVENTS:
1. Celebrate the life and legacy of Malcolm X at several events from Friday, May 17 – Sunday, May 19 See below.
Celebrate the Life and Legacy of Malcolm X (minorityreporter.net)
2. Donna Richie shares that the Rochester Area Community Foundation is sponsoring an Evening Out with Sean Sherman event on the evening of May 29. This will be a thought-provoking event for anyone who does not know much about colonization and it’s long term effect on the Indigenous community and their food sovereignty. Here is the link: https://www.racf.org/news/an-evening-out-with-sean-sherman-at-ganondagan
3. Check out the Urban League’s 2024 Homecoming events, May 31 – June 2, 2024
Homecoming Events — Urban League of Rochester (urbanleagueroc.org)
4. The City of Rochester and MLK Jr. Commission announces the 2024 Juneteenth celebration. See link below.
https://www.rochesterfirst.com/around-town/rochester-2024-juneteenth-festival-plans-announced/
5. George Yeadon shares that Pathstone Presents announces it’s Provok!ng Thought program ‘ACTION AND ACCOUNTABILITY: UNPACKING AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHERING FAIR HOUSING’ to be held on June 20, 1:00 – 3:30 PM at 440 East Ave. See link below for
6. His Branches, operates as a community health center with clinics in the 19th Ward and Beechwood communities within the City of Rochester, dedicated to the pursuit health and economic equity for all people and the good of our neighborhoods is holding a fund raising golf tournament on July 22. See link below for more information.
https://www.hisbranches.org/golf
7. Save the date, 9/18/2024 for the Urban League – Rochester’s (UL-R) 5th Annual ‘Interrupt Racism’ Summit. This year’s theme is ‘Honoring Whence We Came”. This year’s Keynote Speaker is Ms. Cheryl Brown Henderson, daughter of the late Rev. Oliver Brown, lead plaintiff in the Brown vs. Board of Education court case that led to the desegregation of schools.
NEWS, HISTORY & RESOURCES:
8. ERG friend and advisor, Grequan Carter has published a new book, “The F Words: Further Fathering Feeling Fatherless”. Creative Intelligence of Black Consciousness. A Poetic Philosophical Practical Guide to Self Improvement, Community Impact & Cosmic Alignment.
The book has intwined poetry with prose and was written as a guide to all, especially Black men but intentionally as a sharing of life lessons and his philosophy with his children born and to be born as they come of age.
You can purchase the book at: www.grequancarter.com
9. We had been posting for many weeks the April 29th event, In This Moment Chapbook launch featuring Midge Thomas, Humanitarian and Dr. Walter Cooper PhD, Regent Emeritus of State of New York. Below is the story behind the 2 individuals honored at the event,
Two Black pioneers celebrated as they reflect on their meaningful lives in Rochester
10. One article from this week’s Beacon about Community Schools. See below.
11. Here is the Urban League of Rochester’s latest Interrupter newsletter:
https://mailchi.mp/ulr/promoting-equity-for-black-veterans-13750720?e=25818c1f26
12. There are 7 articles that deal with Race, Poverty, Hate or Intolerance found in D&C over the past week.
a. Black airman’s family wants body-cam video released (it seems there is one of these police shootings weekly)>
b. Restoring neighborhood needs one Rochester alley at a time (a good example of bringing the affected community into the planning process).
c. Broome undersheriff teaching life skills course at county jail (surprising this initiative is not a common practice in jails and prisons).
d. Experts debate training in police de-escalation (it appears de-escalation would benefit all involved).
e. Food insecurity jumps in Rochester area (it is no surprise as to where the poorest neigborhood is located).
f. La. cleared to create second mostly Black voting district (some have been willing to go to any length to deny the right to vote for reasonable representation).
g. School segregation remains across US (70 years after Brown vs. Board of Education, not much has changed).
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”.
13. Foodlink is in need of volunteers on a regular basis. The shifts that are available are found below.
14. Do you know an adult that could use a mentor or interested in being a mentor. The Action for a Better Community has a program you should be aware of, see below.
15. The Winters Group is providing grant opportunities Winters envisions a world that has fully actualized access, equity, inclusion, and justice for all people. If you are doing this work, we want to help.
Live Inclusively® – The Winters Group
SUPPORT BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES:
16. 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)
17. Would you like someone to come to you to pick up your laundry? Check our Chellie Wash House. See below.
Chellie Wash House – Mobile Laundry Service Rochester NY Reviews (blackownedinrochester.com)
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!