Today is Saturday, August 31. Tomorrow is the start of September. September has many designations including National Suicide Prevention month and National Recovery month. Sunday, September 1 is Gur-Gaddi Guru Granth Sahib. Since 1708, Sikhs have accepted Sri Guru Granth Sahib as their eternal Guru that holds the spirit of all Ten Gurus of
the Sikhs. They consider Guru Granth Sahib to be a spiritual guide not only for Sikhs but for all of mankind; it plays a
central role in guiding the Sikhs’ way of life. Monday, September 2 is Labor Day, celebrated to recognize the achievements of the U.S. workers and the many contributions of those that labor. The Hebrew month of Elul begins on Tuesday, September 3 (see item #13 below. Meredith Dragon, reflects on Elul and Labor Day). Thursday, September 5 is the International Day of Charity, recognizing the role of charity in alleviating human suffering, as well as of the efforts of charitable organizations and individuals, including the work of Mother Teresa.
Quote of the Week: “I wanted to set the standard, do the best job possible so that other people would be comfortable with African-Americans flying in space and African-Americans would be proud of being participants in the space program.” Guion Bluford, Jr. became the first African-American to travel into space on August 30, 1983; born November 22, 1942 – present
Featured Civil Rights Activist/Abolitionist/Pioneer for this week:
Guion Bluford, Jr. became the first African-American to travel into space on August 30, 1983; born November 22, 1942 – present.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Guion-Bluford
EVENTS:
1. The Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester is hosting the Mort Skillboll Lecture on Antisemitism with Dr. Rachel Fish on September 5 at 7:00 PM (location to be determined). See further information at link below.
https://jewishfederationofgreaterroche.regfox.com/mort-skirboll-lecture-on-antisemitism
2. The Urban League of Rochester is hosting it’s monthly speaker’s series on Friday, September 6 at 1:00 PM. The featured speaker is Erin Thompson, Executive Director of the MK Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence. Register below for this Zoom event.
https://mailchi.mp/ulr/dhs-expanding-access-to-community-13856047?e=25818c1f26
3. Tickets are now on sale for the Urban League – Rochester’s (UL-R) 5th Annual ‘Interrupt Racism’ Summit to be held at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center on 9/18/2024 . This year’s theme is ‘Honoring Whence We Came”. This year’s Keynote Speaker is Ms. Cheryl Brown Henderson, daughter of the late Rev. Oliver Brown, lead plaintiff in the Brown vs. Board of Education court case that led to the desegregation of schools.
2024 Interrupt Racism Summit Tickets On Sale Now! (mailchi.mp)
4. Please join us to celebrate ERG’s 5 year birthday celebration Tuesday, September 24, 5-7 pm.
Enjoy music, food, an open bar and connecting with dozens of committed leaders.
RSVP for this special event, and feel free to invite others: http://evite.me/QCsFn5A2eD
We appreciate these organizations for their continued support and event sponsorship: Butler/Till, ESL, Canandaigua National Bank & Trust, VP Supply Corp, Go Beyond Rochester, ITX, The Ramerman Group.
5. George Eastman Museum presents ‘In This Moment; Revolution, Reckoning, Reparation’, a book launch and panel discussion to be held on Monday, September 30, 2024 from 6:30 – 8:30 PM at the Dryden Theatre. See the link below for details.
https://www.eastman.org/moment-vol-3
6. George Yeodan suggests this program offered by the Smithsonian Associates, ‘Bloody Tuesday: The Untold Story of the Struggle for Civil Rights in Tuscaloosa’ on Tuesday, October 8, 2024 – 6:45 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET. See details at link below.
7. Monday, October 14 is Indigenous People’s Day. There are 3 major gatherings that day in City parks at sunrise, noon and sunset. The City of Rochester is sponsoring but is seekig co-sponsors. Attached below are details for the day and an application for co-sponsors.
8. Donna Richie shares information on the University of Rochester’s Annual Diversity conference on Tuesday, Friday, October 15 from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center. See information below.
NEWS, HISTORY & RESOURCES:
9. The Rochester Business Journal published an article on ERG that provides the back story on the program. Take a look.
10. Drew Saur shares an article appearing in the New Yorker on The Death of (RCSD) School #10, Walter Cooper school.
11. We provide one (1) article from this week’s Beacon (a) and repeat one (1) from last week (b);
a. The Affortable Housing Challenge:
b. “The code that divides Fairport”. Bill Wynne points out that “Even though this is focused on the Village and its current code updating process, the conversation should be broadened to include the Town not only because the Village sits within the Town of Perinton, but also since the Town’s own Comprehensive Plan speaks to similar affordable and diverse housing goals as the Village.” The concern, not openly stated, is that potential plan will not only result in more diverse housing options but that these options would lead to a more diverse racial and ethnic community.
12. The Minority Reporter posts information from the City of Rochester on a program to encourage residents to register for Rochester Community University and learn about resources and the art of advocacy to champion positive change for themselves and their neighbors,
https://www.minorityreporter.net/post/applications-open-for-rochester-community-university-1
13. Meredith Dragon, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester shares information on the Hebrew month of Elul and draws parallels with the Labor Day holiday. See link below.
A Shabbat Message From Meredith Dragon (mailchi.mp)
14. There are 6 articles that deal with Race, Poverty, Hate or Intolerance found in D&C over the past week.
a. Family embraces 19th Ward after housing search (no mention by this couple of safety concerns in the “City”).
b. What ‘woke’ means now depends on who you ask (I am woke, are you?).
c. Former Fla. sheriff ’s deputy denied bond in killing of Black airman (innocent deaths by law officers are tragedies for all).
d. City program offers grants to help first-time homebuyers.
e. Lifting Up; Learn the history, significance of the Black National Anthem.
f. 2 killings underscore police use of force (Officers rarely face charges, conviction).
OPPORTUNITIES: Please share any opportunities for employment, assistance, grants, etc. that you are aware of with the community by sending them to “tcmitch1951@gmail.com”.
15. Here is an important program to share with those that could benefit from skills that lead to a career in the Building Trades, The Multi-Craft Apprenticeship Preparation Program. See the link below.
http://www.mappinc.org/
16. Amy Stein shares that the Rochester Education Foundation is seeking career models for the Future Fair which will be held on October 11 at St John Fisher to bring hope, inspiration, and excitement to all RCSD 7th graders to help them imagine the possibilities for their bright future ahead. Hoping to have all 100 career models secured by September 1.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1xOrw-Aml7BASvP3bUsnfEf4CylJVv870CchDrxM0kdA/edit
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. We repeat, Rochester Institute of Technology Center for Urban Entreprenuership (RIT-CUE) held its 4th Annual ROC the Pitch night on Thursday, August 22. This was a competition for small businesses selected based on business plan application process. With the support of RIT-CUE and others six (6) businesses presented their “pitch”. The two (2) top rated businesses received a 1st place prize of $25,000 and 2nd place prize of $10,000. Please consider supporting these businesses as appropriate:
1st place: Path of Discover counseling services, https://www.pathofdiscoverycounseling.com/
2nd place: Jon John’s Bakery, known for their World Famous Peanut Butter Balls, www.JonJohnsbakery.com.
If you have an item to include in the week’s sharing we need to have it by noon on Friday.
Thank you!