Today is Saturday, June 28. Sunday, June 29 is the Catholic Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, a liturgical feast in honor of the martydom of these two apostles of Jesus Christ. Friday, July 4th is ‘Independence Day’ (4th of July) a national holiday celebrating our nation’s independence. Saturday – Sunday, July 5 – 6 is the Islamic holiday of Ashura, the day in which the Islamic prophet Musa was saved by Allah when He parted teh Sea while leading the children of Israel to the land of Israel. June has been 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 has also been 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 has also Black Music Appreciation month, an annual celebration of African-American music in the United States.
Quote of the week: “There’s magic in being seen by people who understand – it gives you permission to keep going. Self-expression sometimes requires other people. Becoming ourselves is a collective journey.” Alok Vaid-Menon born July 1, 1991 – present; American writer and performer.
Featured civil rights activist/abolition/pioneer: Alok Vaid-Menon born July 1, 1991 – present; American writer and performer.
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 Professional Collaboration group:
This past Thursday the ROC Community Table convened approximately 50 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion professionals to discuss issues faced under the Executive Orders and other actions of the Trump administration, share goals and objects, learn best practices and encourage one another to carry on the fight for justice. Interested in attending future meetings? Contact Tom Mitchell @ “tcmitch1951@gmail.com”.
EVENTS
1. 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.
2. George Yeadon shares a list of Summer Events scheduled by ‘In this Moment. Revolution, Reckoning, Reparation’. The first one is In This Moment Exhibit & Opening Reception on Wednesday, July 16 at 5-7pm at The Unity Gallery, Joynt Corridor UR Medicine Neurology. Curated by Amanda Chestnut & Shawn Dunwoody, this exhibit features photography by Sean Boose, Allison McDonald and Quajay Donnell!
Save The Dates For Our ITM Summer Events!
3. 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:
4. With the 4th of July being celebrated this week we share the text and read version of Frederick Douglass’s “What to a Slave is the Fourth of July:
a. A Nation’s Story: “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” | National Museum of African American History and Culture
https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/nations-story-what-slave-fourth-july
b.
5. ‘Albany police release statement on man found hanging.’ (see below). Depending on whether you are Black or White you may or may not accept this piece of reporting. It would be a good piece for a discussion with someone who’s life experience is different from yours.
6. Drew Saur shares this article from the NY Times on a high profile victim of Trump’s anti-DEI efforts.
7. Here are 2 articles from this week’s Beacon:
a. The legacy of Warth v. Seldin – Rochester BeaconRochester Beacon
b. RIT faces financial headwinds, uncertainty from federal actions – Rochester BeaconRochester Beacon
8. Sharing 1 article found in this week’s The Minority Reporter; ”’Screening of “Farming While Black” and panel discussion set for July10 at The Little Theatre. See link below:
9. We share the latest Interrupter Newsletter from the Urban League of Rochester:
The Interrupter Newsletter – June 26, 2025
10. There is 1 article that deals with Race, Poverty, Hate or Intolerance found in D&C over the past week.
a. Family of child killed by officer sues him, Utica
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=0df054aad_134fa27
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”.
11. Looking for a grant for your organization? Check out the Rochester Area Community Foundation’s (RACF) portal.
12. 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.
SUPPORT BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES:
13. 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)
14. Tooth ache? Need a cleaning. Try Sarah J. Smith, D.D.S:
Sarah J. Smith – General Dentistry – Rochester NY – topDentists
If you have an item to include in the week’s sharing we need to have it by noon on Friday.
Thank you!