Today is Saturday, June 7. 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. The Islamic faith is currently (June 5th – June 9th) observing Hajj, an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, mandatory for all Muslims. June 7th through June 10th, the Islamic faith also commemorates Eid-al-Adha, the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son. Sunday, June 8 the Christian faith commemorates Pentecost; the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles.
Quote of the week: “The zero-sum is a story sold by wealthy interests for their own profit.” Heather McGhee born June 6, 1980 – present; American professor and author.
Featured civil rights activist/abolitionist/pioneer: Heather McGhee born June 6, 1980 – present; American author and policy advocate.
https://buildinitiative.org/resource-library/heather-mcghee-biography/
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. George Yeadon advises that the Baden St. Settlement is holding its 124th Annual meeting on Thursday, June 12, 5:30 – 7:30 PM at the Strong National Museum of Play’s Paychex Theatre. ‘A Discussion with Dr. David R. Williams‘, Dr. Williams is the Norman Professor of Public Health and Professor of African and African American Studies at Harvard University. See below for details.
2. Passing along some info, Gwendolyn Clifton is a local Rochester resident who has been working diligently to open emergency/supportive housing in the Rochester area. She is currently preparing to open her 3rd home and is hosting an open house fundraiser ‘Evening of Impact: Making Way, Making Changer’ on Friday, 6/13, 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM at 260 E. Main St., Rochester. See flyer below.
3. 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.
4. The Strong National Museum of Play holds its Juneteenth Community Celebration on Saturday, June 15. . Admission is free. See the listing of events throughout the day below.
https://www.museumofplay.org/event/juneteenth-community-celebration/
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. The Little Theatre’s Black Cinema Series next showing is Wednesday, June 18 featuring ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’
The Rochester Museum and Science Center is hosting its free Juneteenth event, Thursday, June 19 from 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM. See below for details.
RMSC Celebrates Juneteenth | Rochester Museum & Science Center
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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:
12. Dr. Sandy Mayer shares this “must read” story; ‘A White man of a certain age. “Why don’t you name him John Wesley… | by Karen Bryant Lucas | May, 2025 | Medium
https://medium.com/@karen.shipp/a-white-man-of-a-certain-age-812b506b5afe
13. Liz Brown shares two (2) pieces from the NY Times
a. An opinion piece ‘The Police Can”t Solve Every Problem’. See link below.
Opinion | The Police Can’t Solve Every Problem – The New York Times
b. ‘The Met’s Renovated Rockefeller Wing Will Have Your Eyes Spinning’. See link below.
The Met’s Renovated Rockefeller Wing Will Have Your Eyes Spinning – The New York Times
14. Liz Brown also recommends a book the include’s ‘Featured civil rights activist/abolitionist/pioneer:’ Countee Cullen. She shares “Just finished a book about the woman who discovered Countee Cullen and others – the book is called “Midwife of the Harlem Renaissance’ by Langston Hughes.
15. We repeat thisn 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 1 article found in this week’s The Minority Reporter:
a. ‘Rochester Launches Modular Housing Pilot as Mayoral Challengers Criticize Timing, Scope’
17. Here 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 – June 6, 2025
19. There are 7 articles that deal with Race, Poverty, Hate or Intolerance found in D&C over the past week.
a. Corridor (the revival of Rochester’s Genesee St. area).
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=1d612f576_134fa0d
b. Tulsa creates trust to address long impact of 1921 massacre
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=26a9087cb_134fa0e
c. Border military zones raise concerns (have we lost our sense of humanity).
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=01ec7ab2e_134fa0f
d. Exposing the past: How illegal police searches fuel racial discrimination, excessive force
e. Another boycott period of Target launched (recent boycotts have had an impact).
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=3a17f4dfc_134fa10
f. Square Fair festival to mark 60 years for 19th Ward group
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=25f30d7c1_134fa13
g. Robertson broke barriers with World War II service
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=16b1ac353_134fa13
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. Looking for a grant for your organization? Check out the Rochester Area Community Foundation’s (RACF) portal.
21. 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.
22. 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:
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. Locked out? Need to keep someone out? Checkout Johnny Locksmith Inc. 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!