Today is Saturday, July 12. July is Disability Pride Month, created in 1990 with the passage of the Americans With Disabilities Act. Disability is a spectrum encompassing a vast uniqueness of illnesses. However, it is important to recognize that, contrary to the societal norm, disability should not be seen as existing “without.” July is also Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. It is a time to bring awareness to the unique challenges that racial and ethnic minorities in the United States face when it comes to mental illness.
Quote of the week: “Let us remember: One book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world.” Malala Yousafzai born July 12, 1997 – present; Pakistani education activist.
Featured civil rights activist/abolitionist/pioneer: Malala Yousafzai born July 12, 1997 – present; Pakistani education activist.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Malala-Yousafzai
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Professional Collaboration group:
Recently, 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 has an event today, 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. Richard Glaser informs us that there will be a John Lewis Actions’s event, “GOOD TROUBLE LIVES ON:” on Thursday, July 17, 2:00 PM at Rochester’s Liberty Pole. There are other times and locations in the area. Sign up below.
4. Monica Gebell shares about a film at the Rochester Jewish Film Festival called “Ain’t No Back To A Merry-Go-Round,” showing Sunday, July 20th at the Dryden Theater. Summary: “Three years before the 1963 march on Washington, Glen Echo and other amusement parks like it were drawing families from all over the DC area, hoping to escape the heat and bustle of city life. However, this opportunity was not afforded to Black families, who were barred from entering the park. As the civil rights movement gained momentum, Black and Jewish civil rights activists worked together to protest this injustice outside of amusement parks, despite backlash and provocation. This movie tells the inspiring stories of those who fought to see those barriers come down.”
For more information and tickets, here’s the link: https://jccrochester.org/events/aint-no-back-to-a-merry-go-round/
5. 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 from 2:00 – 4:00 PM ; Go to the link below for tickets.
Finger Lakes Opera on Ticketbud
6. Liz Brown suggests that you join a 7/24 for a Virtual Screening & Panel Discussion of “Unheard Voices: The Fight for the Tonawanda Seneca Nation’s Way of Life” film, a panel discussion with Nation citizens and Allies of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation will follow. More information on the film is found below at ‘What is the film about’.
| Join us for a screening and panel discussion to learn about the Tonawanda Seneca Nation’s fight to Rethink STAMP and how you can take action in solidarity with this critical struggle for Indigenous environmental justice, land justice, and sovereignty. Please RSVP to receive the Zoom details. |
7. Eric Townell shares information on a free concert “The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace” on Sunday, July 27, 4:00 – 6:00 PM at the Hochstein Performance Center, 50 Plymouth Ave. North, Rochester to benefit the Gandi Institute for Non-Violence. See flyer below for more information.
NEWS, HISTORY & RESOURCES
8. A recent Heather Cox Richardson’s ‘Letter from an American’ newsletter provided valuable insight into the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment and the current adminstration’s attack on Civil Rights and Birthright Citizenship.
9. Liz Brown shares this conversation with ‘Our Moral Moment’ w/ Bishop William Barber. Every age must have a movement of people who will stand together b/c the issues before us are not left vs right, but right vs wrong.
https://ourmoralmoment.substack.com/p/what-we-can-and-must-do-now
10. Here are 2 articles from the Beacon; the first from last week and the second from this week:
a. The legacy of Warth v. Seldin.
b. Rochester’s crime numbers continue to fall.
https://rochesterbeacon.com/2025/07/10/rochesters-crime-numbers-continue-to-fall/
11. Sharing 2 articles found in this week’s The Minority Reporter; ”See link below:
a. Delphi Rise Announces an Award from Rochester Area Community Foundation’s Black Giving Collective to Expand Culturally Aligned Mental Health Support in Wayne County
b. Catholic Charities Family and Community Services hosts Youthbuild graduation ceremony:
https://www.minorityreporter.net/post/ccfcs-hosts-youthbuild-graduation-ceremony
12. We share the latest Interrupter Newsletter from the Urban League of Rochester:
The Interrupter Newsletter – June 26, 2025
13. There is 6 article that deals with Race, Poverty, Hate or Intolerance found in D&C over two weeks.
a. How have Rochester police changed since Daniel Prude’s killing?
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=05ec8a02d_134fa29
b. You’re probably not using ‘Black fatigue’ correctly
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=02ffff8b5_134fa29
c. Affordable housing development breaks ground
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=03f2f44c0_134fa73
d. Frederick Douglass observatory unveiled at Rochester airport
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=2e864b943_134fa75
e. BETTER (“I thought the country I was living in was better than this”).
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=00a85ac8f_134fa76
f. How illegal police searches fuel discrimination, excessive force
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=0c5d0a2ad_134fa76
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”.
14. Jayde Lucas shares that there is an open seat for the Northwest Police Accountability Board seat. If you are interested or know someone who would be fitting for this position please share the information found on the flyer below. The requirements are that you must live in the Northwest district and fill out the questionnaire. The application deadline is July 15, 2025.
15. Monica Gebell informs us that applications are open and live for Cohort #3 of Rochester’s Rekindle Black-Jewish Dialogue Fellowship: https://form.jotform.com/241695921292160 Rekindle’s mission is to drive meaningful social change by fostering collaboration between Black and Jewish leaders. Through open, challenging dialogues and direct, face-to-face interactions, we aim to dismantle barriers and cultivate new connections. Applicants who have not yet explored allyship between communities and who are willing to listen and learn from one another are sought.
16. 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:
17. 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)
18. Cosco member? Whether you are or not there is a wonderful Black owned restaurant in the northwest corner of the Rochester Cosco’s plaza. Visit The Toast Factory website below and plan a visit to the restaurant at 255 Westfall Road.
If you have an item to include in the week’s sharing we need to have it by noon on Friday.
Thank you!