Today is Saturday, September 28. September 15 – October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage month. This month celebrates the contributions heritage and culture of Hispanic and Latino Americans. October is the month for recognition of several causes and/groups including LGBT History month, National Bullying Prevention month and National Disability Employement Awareness month. Wednesday, October 2 is International Day of Non-Violence, marked on the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement and pioneer of
the philosophy and strategy of nonviolence, a U.N commemoration promoting the principle of non-violence and the desire to secure a culture of peace, tolerance and understanding. Thursday, October 3 – 4 is the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanhah, beginning of the Jewish New Year and
first of the High Holy Days, which marks the beginning of a ten-day period of penitence and spiritual renewal. Thursday, October 3 also starts Navaratri, the nine Hindu festival celebrating the triumph of good over evil. It worships God in the form of the universal mother commonly
referred to as Durga, Devi or Shakti, and marks the start of Fall.
Quote of the Week: John Coltrane born September 23, 1926 – July 17, 1967
Quote: “I want to be a force for real good. In other words, I know that there are bad forces, forces that bring suffering to others and misery to the world, but I want to be the opposite force. I want to be the force which is truly for good.”
https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Coltrane
Featured Civil Rights Activist/Abolitionist/Pioneer for this week:
John Coltrane, Jazz saxophonist – born September 23, 1926 – died July 17, 1967
https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Coltrane
EVENTS
1. 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
2. The Urban League of Rochesteris hosting it’s Virtual Speaker Series on Friday, October 4, 1:00 – 2:00 PM featuring Sydney Bell, Manager of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at ESL Federal Credit Union.
https://mailchi.mp/ulr/dhs-expanding-access-to-community-13856770?e=25818c1f26
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Donna Richie shares information on the University of Rochester’s Annual Diversity conference on Tuesday, October 15 from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center. See information below.
https://www.rochester.edu/diversity/annual-diversity-conference
6. Donna Richie also shares informtion on the Sleep in Heavenly Peace bed build on Saturday, October 19. This is a great opportunity to volunteer for a much needed and appreciated item, a child’s own bed. See link below for details.
7. The Little Theatre’s Black Cinema Series will present the movie ‘The Blackening’ on Wednesday, October 23, 2024 at 7:00 PM.
8. Action for a Better Community (ABC) will hold it’s 2025 Signature Conference on January 9th & 16th (virtual both days) and January 23rd, In-person Awards Breakfast. ABC is celebrating 60 years of “Empowering Communities and Inspiring Change”. Save the dates. More information to follow on programs and presentations as well as sponsorship opportunities.
NEWS, HISTORY & RESOURCES:
9. Gary Curwin shares the article from CNY Central below that reports on the “anti-affirmative action” movement’s efforts to derail efforts to employ more teachers of color in the RCSD schools. Most studies support the positive impact of teachers that reflect the student population. How should those of the ERG community respond?
10. Richard Glaser shares this article from the NY Book Review “Prophet for the Poor” by Matthew Desmond. As the introduction reads “In order to build a mass movement for economic justice, Reverend William Barber argues, we need to let go of the idea that poverty is an exclusively Black or urban issue”.
11. Liz Brown asks that we share the Elders & Allies letter to Rochester City Council in support of Good Cause Eviction. We are urged to consider our own letters of support.
12. Here is the Urban League of Rochester’s latest newsletter.
The Interrupter Newsletter – September 26, 2024 (mailchi.mp)
13. The Minority Reporter posts an article reporting on the backlash to the Rochester PAB’s recent release of RPD miscondust report.
14. There is one article from the Beacon this week.
The legislation, which would create a statewide framework for mental health and substance use crisis response, was introduced after the 2020 death of Daniel Prude.https://rochesterbeacon.com/2024/09/24/work-to-gain-passage-of-daniels-law-continues/
15. There are 5 articles that deal with Race, Poverty, Hate or Intolerance found in D&C over the past week.
a. Women Left Behind; Female inmates face challenges the system wasn’t designed for (affects more minorities than white people).
b. Haitian immigrants rocked by rancor (they have heard the a@@hole nation comment before).
c. DOJ finds abuses by Miss. police department (Jim Crow practices are still alive in some areas).
d. Article reports on claim of race based wrongful death (Is this race or age based discrimination).
e. ‘CLUB OF HURT’ REMEMBERS (commemoration part of NATIONAL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR MURDER VICTIMS).
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”.
16. Action for a Better Community has many career openings. Check them out for yourself or tell someone else.
17. 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:
18. 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)
19. Have a sweet tooth? Satisfy it with The Little Brownie bakery. See below.
https://www.thelittlebrownie.com
If you have an item to include in the week’s sharing we need to have it by noon on Friday.
Thank you!