Today is Saturday, May 31. The evening of Sunday, June 1 to the evening of Tuesday, June 3 the Jewish faith celebrate Shavuot, the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. The evening of Thursday June 5 to the evening of Friday, June 6 the lslamic faith commemorates the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son. June is Pride Month, a month-long observance dedicated to the celebration of LGBTQ pride, commemorating the contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) culture and community. June is Caribbean American Heritage Month, the month-long observance promotes the rich culture and heritage of the Caribbean American people and their contribution to the United States. June is also Black Music Appreciation month, an annual celebration of African-American music in the United States.
Quote of the week: “So in the dark we hide the heart that bleeds, And wait, and tend our agonizing seeds.” Countee Cullen born May 30, 1903 – died January 9, 1946; American poet and novelist.
Featured civil rights activist/abolitionist/pioneer: Countee Cullen born May 30, 1903 – died January 9, 1946; American poet and novelist.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Countee-Cullen
DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION
With the current administration’s attack on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion programs it is important that companies and organizations do not overreact and abandon the principles of D, E & I . We share with you a presentation from a recent meeting of the ROC Community Table that may be useful to you and your organization to justify and support continuation of these principles. Presenters are available at your request.
EVENTS
1.Our Local History project is hosting an event: ‘Our Story, Our Voice, Families Exploring Civil Rights Together’, Saturday, May 31, 2025 | 12:00–4:00 PM at Asbury First United Methodist Church | 1050 University Ave, Rochester.
Hosted in partnership with Greater Rochester PLTI, this interactive experience is designed for families to explore Rochester’s civil rights history while supporting youth voice, identity, and civic participation. *Zoom option available. See below for addtional information and to register.
2. Our Local History project presents ‘From Book Bans to Policy Change, A Community Conversation on Securing Kids’ Freedom to Read and Learn Diverse Histories’; Tuesday, June 4, 2025 | 5:00–6:30 PM, St. John Fisher University – Basil Hall, Room 135. This program is presented in partnership with St. John Fisher University’s School of Education and many other sponsors, this timely community event will feature a powerful panel conversation about the rise in book bans, censorship of civil rights history, and how we can respond through advocacy, storytelling, and inclusive policy. Community Members, Educators, High School Students. See below for additional information and to register.
3. “In This Moment; Revolution, Reckoning, Reparations” fundraiser and concert ‘Voices of In this Moment’, will be held at The Little Theatre 1 on Wednesday, June 4 from 7:00 – 9:00 PM. The tickets can be purchased for $100. See below for artists and tickets.
4. Bill Wynne encourages attendance at one of several “No Kings” protest events throughout the region. The Rochester and Fairport protests take place Saturday, June 14. See the link below for the times and locations.
5. The City of Rochester begins the 2025 Juneteenth commemoration Saturday, June 14th, 2025 at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park, 353 Court Street Rochester, NY, Parade begins at 11:00 AM, Festival begins at 12:00pm-8:00pm. See details at the link below.
Join the Festivities | Rochester Juneteenth
6. Eric Townell shares information on the MK Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence ‘Soulforce’ event at the Memorial Art Gallery on Saturday, June 14th from 6:00 – 10:00 PM. See below for details.
Soulforce 2025 Fundraising Campaign for MK Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence
7. City of Rochester’s Juneteenth Block Party will take place Wednesday, June 18, 2025 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. as the City celebrates Juneteenth with a lunchtime block party at Austin Steward Plaza! There will be food trucks and live music. See below for more information.
City of Rochester’s Juneteenth Block Party | City of Rochester, New York
8. Elizabeth Long shares that on June 19 @ 7 PM: Juneteenth, the Finger Lakes Opera (FLO) kicks off the FLO festival, the 2nd time FLO has collaborated with Mt. Olivet to commemorate this holiday. The event is free. See the flyer below to register.
9. The Finger Lakes Opera also has two (2) other upcoming events, July 12 from 3-6 PM: Behind the Curtain – this is a movie viewing of Chevalier which is a biopic on the composer of The Anonymous Lover, Joseph Bologne. Bologne was a contemporary of Mozart’s. He was born to a slave in Guadalupe and eventually sent to Paris by his slave-owning father who saw his unusual talents. Following the movie, there will be a panel discussion on the influence Bologne had on Mozart and why much of his music was destroyed by Napoleon; at The Little Theatre.
10. On July 20 @ 2 PM: The Anonymous Lover – Finger Lakes Opera will perform Joseph Bologne’s only existing opera at Panara Theatre at RIT/NTID. More information will follow on this event in coming weeks.
NEWS, HISTORY & RESOURCES:
11. Here is the latest from Dr. Janice Gassam Asare’s Pink Lady Newsletter, ‘The High Cost Of Anti-Blackness: Lessons From Google’s $50M Case’. See below.
(11) The High Cost Of Anti-Blackness: Lessons From Google’s $50M Case | LinkedIn
12. Laurie Mahoney passes on this article regarding San Diego’s attempt to block accessory dwelling units (ADU) in the city’s affluent areas. See below.
13. Pat Mitchell shares a couple of short videos related to race and racism are worth viewing.
a. ‘Seventy-nine-year-old Lynnwood Riddick could have spent his golden years here in Summerville, South Carolina but…’
b. ‘Mel Mann fights the odds to overcome “terminal” leukemia’ (also experienced faced medical discrimination)
14. Here is an item from the last Emancipator:
15. Here is an update from National Head Start. See the information below provided by the Executive Director of Head Start, Yasmina Vinci. Considering signing up for the eight-week summer action campaign: Project STAND FOR Head Startin honor of the launch of “Project Head Start” 60 years ago. These actions will make a deep impact! See below.
16. Sharing 2 articles found in the current The Minority Reporter:
a. ‘Woman Arrested at Penfield School District Office After Attempting to Confront Superintendent Over False Rumor’
b. ’32nd New York African Film Festival to Present Record Number of Films’.
17. Here is are 2 articles from this week’s Beacon:
a.
b.
18. We share the latest Interrupter Newsletter from the Urban League of Rochester:
The Interrupter Newsletter – May 29, 2025
19. There are 7 articles that deal with Race, Poverty, Hate or Intolerance found in D&C over the past week.
a. Oklahoma to teach (2020) election falsehoods.
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=1039e5733_134f9c1
b. In many cases, they made things worse (there are more wrongful incarcerations than most would think).
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=0a8717a22_134f9c1
c. Floyd’s legacy under fire 5 years after death
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=04083040f_134f9c1
d. ‘He didn’t just use his gift; he served with it.’ Richmond Futch Jr. remembered.
e. U.S. after Floyd’s murder by police.
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=261addfe7_134f9c2
f. Activists preserving, sharing U.S. history (federal funding cuts impact Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park and other sites).
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=03ae004e6_134f9c3
g. Funding cuts limit camp reach (cuts will significantly reduce the number of underserved kids that can attend Summer camp).
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=2e2754184_134f9c5
OPPORTUNITIES: We share opportunities to get involved in addressing some of the communities challenges. Please share any opportunities for employment, assistance, grants, etc. that you are aware of with the community by sending them to “tcmitch1951@gmail.com”.
20. Concerned about the current U.S. administration’s agenda? Join ROC Community Table. The ROC Community Table is a coalition of over 80 committed community leaders, advocates, and service providers who have been working together since November 2024 to protect critical programs. See below for details.
21. Join your colleagues from multiple agencies for the All In Roc Community Health Outreach Partnership door-to-door community canvassing. Through this partnership, health information is disseminated throughout the city right to residents’ doorsteps. This year’s program will run from May 28th to October 29th from 3:00 to 5:30 PM every other Wednesday.
SUPPORT BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES:
22. 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)
23. Looking for an exceptional wine bar? Checkout Apogee Wine Bar on Park Avenue. See link below:
If you have an item to include in the week’s sharing we need to have it by noon on Friday.
Thank you!