Today is Saturday, October 4. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, National Book Month and LGBT History Month. The Jewish faith will be observing Sukkot, the festival of booths (or tabernacles) and the fall harvest; takes name from the booths used by Israelites during desert wanderings, Monday, October 6 at sundown through sundown, Monday, October 13. Friday, October 10 is World Mental Health Day and Monday, October 13 is Indigenous People’s Day.
Quote of the week: “I didn’t want to grow old and find that I didn’t do what I could have done, that I didn’t put my best foot forward. I didn’t want to have any regrets.” Lonnie Johnson born October 6, 1949 – present; American inventor.
Featured civil rights activist/abolitionist/pioneer: Lonnie Johnson born October 6, 1949 – present; American inventor.
Attention; New Half Day ERG program: Below you will find a link to a video message introducing an ERG Exploring Racism Group special half-day seminar on Friday, November 7 and repeated on Thursday, January 15. Please talk to and share with friends, colleagues and relatives requesting that they consider attendance. https://vimeo.com/wroc/review/1122288731/8ad3c3c96e
To register, use the QR code at the end of the video or this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd3og5iNzdUz9qoG2e45FRliVE9l1WfEMR70DVVbGTRJW41Mw/viewform?usp=header
EVENTS
1. Sr. Barbara Staropoli, SSJ invites you to join weekly Saturday Vigils, where from 12 noon to 1pm, we stand together on various corners in Rochester and suburbs with our Black Lives Matter signs. See item #15 below for more information.
2. Richard Glaser urges attendance at ROC the Ruins, today, October 4, 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM at St. Joseph’s Park on Pleasant St. located inside the remains of Rochester’s oldest Catholic church. It was destroyed in a fire in 1975
3. 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
4. Maryellen Giese asks “Interested in Singing protest and patriotic songs you already know (plus the one called “Be the Change” with short lyrics from Mahatma Gandhi) at the NO KINGS rally on October 18th in Rochester 12:30-3?” Join the Be the Change Singers! No rehearsal necessary. Contact maryellen.giese@gmail.com : -)
5. Bob Castle shares that the Asbury First United Methodist Church, 1050 East Ave., Rochester 14607 is holding a workshop on Thursday, October 23rd, 5:30-7:30 pm titled ‘Build a Better Rochester: Workshop on Advocating for Inclusive Housing’. See file below for details and to register.
6. The Urban League of Rochester’s 6th Annual INTERRUPT RACISM Summit is for Monday, November 3, 2025, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM. See below for more information and to register.
https://www.urbanleagueroc.org/interrupt-racism-summit-2025
NEWS, HISTORY & RESOURCES
7. From the Medium Daily Digest we share 2 pieces;
a. ‘I came across my first 2025 “Whites Only” sign’:
I Came Across My First 2025 “Whites Only” Sign | by Toni Crowe | Fourth Wave | Sep, 2025 | Medium
b. ‘Interracial Fatigue: The Emotional Toll of “Bridging the Gap”:
8. Bill Wynne shares his most recent blog post titled ‘Unalienable Rights: Liberty, Life, and the Pursuit of Fulfillment” at
https://www.wewynneauthor.com/2025/09/29/essay-3-declaration-of-independence-unalienable-rights-liberty-life-and-the-pursuit-of-fulfillment/.
9. Pat Mitchell provides a couple of video pieces that should be of interest.
a. Mister Rogers breaking down a racial barrier:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1058314363137453
b. Why Black people may not trust science or medicine:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1406593730452989
10. Liz Brown provides 2 items:
a. A guideline for nonprofits for preparing for possible Immigration Enforcement efforts.
UPDATED-Guidance-to-Nonprofits-Regarding-Immigration-Enforcement.pdf
b. An environmental justice climate action request from the Tonawanda Seneca Nation and Tuscarora Nation.
11. Here is this week’s Urban League of Rochester – The Interrupter Newsletter
The Interrupter Newsletter – October 2, 2025
12. We share one article from this week’s The Minority Reporter;
Mayor’s Mentor Up Winter Gala Offers Mentorship Opportunity to Local Professionals
13. One article from this week’s Beacon:
ROC in the Ruins festival debuts Saturday
https://rochesterbeacon.com/2025/10/01/roc-in-the-ruins-festival-debuts-saturday/
14. There are 7 articles that deal with Race, Poverty, Hate or Intolerance found in D&C this past week.
a. Hundreds in Iowa protest superintendent’s Hundreds in Iowa protest superintendent’s
arrest arrest (Des Moines schools of;cial detained by ICE Des Moines schools of;cial detained by ICE)
b. Erie Canal put city and state on the map (An Opinion piece about the canal but also about diversity and includion).
c. Soldiers to keep medals for Wounded Knee Soldiers to keep medals for Wounded Knee
massacre.
d. Native Americans condemn move to preserve Native Americans condemn move to preserve
Wounded Knee medals.
e. Boat retraces Boat retraces Erie Canal route (A white pine is planted at each of the 30 plus stops, read full article to learn why).
f. SUNY to review all race-based awards.
g. Family faces eviction shortly a2er loss of their 1- Family faces eviction shortly after loss of their 1-
year-old year-old.
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”.
15. Elders and Allies connected to Free The People ROC. We are a social justice group of seasoned black and white activists who came together after the death of Daniel Prude five years ago. We engage in various projects that connect to issues of racism in Rochester. One of those projects is our Saturday Vigils, where from 12 noon to 1pm, we stand together on various corners in Rochester and suburbs with our Black Lives Matter signs. It is a simple action but we are made aware each week from the responses we get, both positive and negative, that the message is an important reminder to those who drive by. We invite anyone who would like to jon us to contact me for information and for a sign. Contact Sister Barbara Staropoli for the next Saturday Vigil at bstaropolissj@gmail.com
16. The Urban League of Rochester’s Scholarship Program is open. It is not too early to consider and apply. See below for information and application.
https://www.urbanleagueroc.org/scholarships
17. Here is a call for volunteers for the Judicial Observation Project. See flyer below:
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. Need a Multimedia Production Studio for your video or audio productions? Check out EXP Studio.
https://expstudio.org
If you have an item to include in the week’s sharing we need to have it by noon on Friday.
Thank you!