Today is Saturday, June 14. Thursday, June 19 is the national holiday of Juneteenth. This is the day that federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to announce the emanicipation of the enslaved. Juneteenth is oftern referred to as “Freedom Day”. Thursday, June 19 is also the Roman Catholic Feast of Corpus Christi, this day celebrates the Eucharist, the body and blood of Jesus Christ. 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: “I will preach with my brush.” Henry Ossawa Tanner born June 21, 1859 – died May 25, 1937; American artist.
Featured civil rights activist/abolitionist/pioneer: Henry Ossawa Tanner born June 21, 1859 – died May 25, 1937; American artist.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Henry-Ossawa-Tanner
EXPLORING RACISM GROUP (ERG) NEWS:
ERG is inviting you to join in establishing a new Program offering one-time educational/experiential sessions for leaders
and influencers who currently cannot commit to ERG year-long groups. Grounded in theory and practice, potential sessions topics include:
Managing Personnel Challenges Related to Race
Cultivating an Organization Where Diversity Is an Asset
This initiative is an opportunity to put your lived experience and
values to work. You can help by:
Suggesting and vetting topics of interest
Helping to create marketing materials
Helping to organize the events themselves
Helping to recruit participants when the time comes.
We’re excited to hear your thoughts and ideas. Email Kit Miller (transitionrochny@gmail.com) before June 30.
DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION Information Update:
With the current administration’s attack on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion programs and practices the ROC Community Table is holding suppport meetings with Diversity, Equity & Inclusion professionals to share information on areas of impact, best practices in today’s environment and to offer support and encouragement. Contact Tom Mitchell at “tcmitch1951@gmail.com” if interested in participating in future meetings.
EVENTS
1.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.
2. The Strong National Museum of Play holds its Juneteenth Community Celebration on Saturday, June 14 . Admission is free. See the listing of events throughout the day below.
https://www.museumofplay.org/event/juneteenth-community-celebration/
3. 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
4. Pearl Brundt has shared that Pittsford’s Juneteenth Celebration will be held at the Pittsford Community Library, Saturday, June 14th from 10:30-2:30 PM.
5. 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
6. 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
7. The Little Theatre’s Black Cinema Series next showing is Wednesday, June 18 at 7:00 PM featuring ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’. See below for more information and to purchase tickets.
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom – June 18 | The Little Theatre
8. 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. Liz Brown recommends your consideration to join the Training for Systemic Change and Allyship Series Kick-off with Heather McGhee, 4 p.m. June 24. McGhee is an expert in economic and social policy. She is the author of the New York Times bestseller, “The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together.” Register at: https://indivisible.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_N19UUHZHSnKWj0ejRK13pw?fbclid=IwY2xjawKsJNtleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETExekk3S0VndWNNWmRzN1d6AR4H-dczrQfDPU_0riM2MZ9JoLvlRJev7pI_0NwgJXREHAFVC7_jkMM5b_rP_w_aem_33hRGDPhJ4x22v62hsU_jg#/registration
11. Melissa Geska Suchodolski announces the inaugural Revitalize & Innovate Symposium. This landmark event will bring together visionary developers, influential community innovators, and impactful social leaders from across the nation to inspire hope and illuminate opportunities for transformational change, even amid extraordinary challenges.
12. 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.
13. 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:
14. Worried about our future? Wondering what you can do? Kit Miller and Mike Boucher shared this excellent presentation on ‘What Can We Do? The Top 10 Most Effective Nonviolent Actions To Meet This Moment’.
What Can We Do? The Top 10 Most Effective Nonviolent Actions To Meet This Moment
15. Laurie Mahoney shares a petition supporting legislation that has been prepared by Senator Samra Brouk and Assemblyman Harry Bronson that will help support and fund programs that will aid the poor and neglected in the Rochester community. This petition supports the Bank of Rochester Act legislation. It is time sensitive so please sign at your earliest convenience to ensure it is voted upon during this legislative session.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf_YJ2XmryqQpeO3OxMAcR6onAgIGVMFkzqhQNmLcsCbRiOBA/viewform
16. We repeat this story Dr. Sandy Mayer shared last week, this is a “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
17. Below is the latest 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.
18. Jalil Muntaqim presents information from the Rochester Chapter of Citizen Action asking for assistance with its developing statewide campaign. Jalil states “Unfortunately, I am at capacity with the projects already on my plate, however, I realize not all members, friends and supporters are engaged in every project we are currently advancing and advocating to achieve.” Therefore, he is presenting the information below in case this statewide campaign interests you and you want to get more involved in voting rights for incarcerated workers. ”
19. Daniel Wiemer shares this information on William C Bloss, an anti-slavery and publisher of the “the Rights of Man” anti-slavery newspaper and reformer in Rochester: William Clough Bloss (1795-1863) – Find a Grave Memorial. Also an advocate of women’s rights. His Rochester home was a stop on the underground railroad
Pioneers (rochesterhistoryalive.com)
vol.I,no.14.pdf (libraryweb.org) (haven’t had a chance to read much of it (small print)
William Bloss (winningthevote.org)
20. Sharing 1 article found in this week’s The Minority Reporter; ‘Students Honored for Essays on Justice in Annual J.Uust Law Awards’. See link below:
21. Here are 2 articles from this week’s Beacon:
a.
b.
22. We share the latest Interrupter Newsletter from the Urban League of Rochester:
The Interrupter Newsletter – June 12, 2025
23. There are 6 articles that deal with Race, Poverty, Hate or Intolerance found in D&C over the past week.
a. IS DEI DEAD? (it doesn’t appear so).
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=190bd174d_134fa14
b. Section V Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2025 includes first Black inductees (it is hard to believe it has taken until 2025).
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=1c20afb9f_134fa14
c. Decades since desegregation, the work still remains (Opinion piece)
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=02a702111_134fa14
d. Louisville protesters continue honoring Breonna Taylor’s life
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=22660d4b3_134fa15
e. CHEERING ON THE 19TH WARD
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=07360bbc6_134fa16
f. Doula helps improve birth experience
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=0a8fc7caa_134fa19
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”.
24. Looking for a grant for your organization? Check out the Rochester Area Community Foundation’s (RACF) portal.
25. 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.
26. 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:
27. 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)
28. 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!