Today is Saturday, September 6. September has many designations including National Suicide Prevention month and National Recovery month. The next religous holiday, celebration, feast or commemoration is the Jewish high holy day of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year from sundown, Monday, September 22 through sundown, Wednesday, September 24th. It begins10 days of penitence and concluding on Yom Kippur.
Quote of the week: “We are socialized to see what is wrong, missing, off, to tear down the ideas of others and uplift our own. To a certain degree, our entire future may depend on learning to listen, listen without assumptions or defenses.” adrienne maree brown born September 6, 1978 – present; American author and activist
Featured civil rights activist/abolitionist/pioneer: adrienne maree brown born September 6, 1978 – present; American author and activist
https://adriennemareebrown.net/
EVENTS
1. Liz Brown shares information on the FTPROC’s 2025 Resistance & Resilience Abolition Conference today, September 6, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. See link below for details.
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2025-resistance-and-resilience-abolition-conference
2. The M.K. Gandhi Institute for Non-Violence is hosting an Open House, today, Saturday, September 6 from 1:00 – 6:00 PM at 929 S. Plymouth Ave. See below to register.
Open House 2025 RSVP Page for MK Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence – Giveffect
3. Syd Bell shares that a subcommittee of the Rochester JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) Collective (a community group that brings together folks working in and/or volunteering with DEI initiatives) has been working on bringing a screening of the documentary film Join or Die to Rochester, and they are excited to share that this will take place on Monday, Sept. 8, 6-9 p.m. at The Little Theater, 240 East Ave, Rochester, NY in Little 1. The program is free but you must register. REGISTER: Here! Your registration includes a seat in Little 1, one order of the famous Little Popcorn, and a soft drink or water.
This film shares a simple and urgent premise: “…why you should join a club… and why the fate of America depends on it.” Check out the trailer!
4. Amy Stein shares that Heather Booth, is coming to town on September 9. Heather is an inspirational social justice warrior who is said to be, “the most influential person that you’ve never heard of.” The National Council of Jewish Women, Rochester Section presents ‘If We Organize With Love at the Center, We Can Change the World‘, Tuesday, September 9 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm. Event is free (donations suggested) but registration is required.
5. His Branches holds it 2nd Annual Golf 2nd annual ‘Fore Rochester’ Golf Tournament at Ravenwood Golf Club on September 15, 2025. See below for details and to register.
6. Registration for ‘In This Moment; Revolution, Reckoning, Reparation’ next Book Launch & Panel Discussion is LIVE! Scheduled for September 29th, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM at the George Eastman House, Dryden Theatre is live. See below for details.
Register Now For 9/29 ITM Book Launch + Awards News!
7. Janet Barrett informs use that the Elders & Allies FTP Roc are holding a 5th year anniversary of the ‘SAY THEIR NAMES MEMORIAL SERVICE’ to remember victims of police violence. This service to be held Friday, October 3, 2025, Noon – 2:00 p.m. at the Genesee Valley Park, Tupelo Shelter. (Bring a chair or blanket.).
8. The 5th Annual Commission on Racial and Structural Equity (RASE) Community Update will be held Monday, October 6, 2025, 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, REOC, 161 Chestnut St, Rochester, NY 14604. Register at the link below.
urbanleagueroc.us10.list-manage.com
9. SAVE THE DATE, The Urban League of Rochester’s 6th Annual INTERRUPT RACISM Summit is has been rescheduled to November from Wednesday, November 3, 2025, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM. More information to follow.
NEWS, HISTORY & RESOURCES
10. Kit Miller shared this video piece from recent past that is inspirational, differentiating a “co-conspirator” from an “ally”.
User Clip: Bettina Love more than Ally | Video | C-SPAN.org
11. Here is an opinion piece from the Wall Street Journal with a perspective worth considering ‘We Need to Know History, Especially Now’ by @Peggynoonannyc
12. Find this piece by Tim Wise, ‘Here’s How Government Data Minimizes Racial Inequality’;
https://timjwise.medium.com/heres-how-government-data-minimizes-racial-inequality-03cdaf359aac
13. Frank Staropoli shares this article from the NY Times, ‘Keeping Children Safe’.
14. Here is Bill Wynne’s second essay for his new blog post ‘The American Creed: Promise and Paradox’. Find the link to this month’s essay below.
15. From the Medium Daily Digest we share 2 pieces;
a. ‘How Hurricane Katrina Exposed the Racism of a Nation’
How Hurricane Katrina Exposed the Racism of a Nation | by Dr. Allison Wiltz | Aug, 2025 | Momentum
b. ‘Why so Many Black Women Suffered Economic Loss in the Anti-DEI Purge’
16. This week’s The Minority Reporter has one article that we share, ‘Rochester Honors Midge Thomas on her 99th Birthday’;
The Urban League of Rochester’s Interrupter Newsletter is back.
The Interrupter Newsletter – September 4, 2025
17. There are 3 articles that deal with Race, Poverty, Hate or Intolerance found in D&C this past week.
a. Still fighting its way back (New Orleans, 20 years after Katrina. Took a great toll on the Black community). 4-links below capture the whole article.
a1. https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=0b03dd7da_134faf3
a2. https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=08a8260f5_134faf3
a.3 Applications for aid after Hurricane Katrina – Democrat and Chronicle
a.4 https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=04b5b1a42_134faf3
b. Bill would help NY religious groups build own housing (will parish and neigborhood oppostion stifleuse of legal right?).
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=1bc5b99f8_134fb3a
c. League will see a record number of Black starting QBs (at one time racism held back the opportunity for many with the skills).
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=2b59c4804_134fb3ad.
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”.
18. Kit Miller shares the Judicial Observation Project (JOP) of the 7th (Western NY) judicial district is seeking volunteers. Now entering its 5th year, volunteers are trained to observe courtroom proceedings and identify implicit bias. For more information, email JOPRochester@gmail.com. JOP is a collaboration the between United Christian Leadership Ministry of Rochester and the 7th Judicial District.
19. The next ROC Community Table Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Professionals Gathering will be Friday, September 26, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Contact me if your are a DEI Professional, “tcmitch1951@gmail.com”.
SUPPORT BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES:
20. 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)
21. Are you a breakfast person? Here are some recommendations from BOIR:
4 Must-Visit Black-Owned Breakfast Restaurants In Rochester, NY – Black-Owned In Rochester
If you have an item to include in the week’s sharing we need to have it by noon on Friday.
Thank you!