Today is Saturday, October 11. Monday, October 13 is Indigenous People’s Day, a recognition of the contributions and resilence of indigenous people and their inherent sovereignty. The Jewish faith is currently 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. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, National Book Month and LGBT History Month.
Quote of the week: “Political promises are much like marriage vows. They are made at the beginning of the relationship between candidate and voter, but are quickly forgotten.” Dick Gregory born October 12, 1932 – died August 19, 2017; American comedian and civil rights activist
Featured civil rights activist/abolitionist/pioneer: Dick Gregory born October 12, 1932 – died August 19, 2017; American comedian and civil rights activist.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Dick-Gregory
Attention; New Half Day ERG program: Below you will find a link to a video message from the CEO of one of the largest private companies in the Rochester area 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. There will be a Confidence & Career Building event for men of color on Saturday, October 18, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the REOC in Rochester. Hosted by RMAPI, the City of Rochester, Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, and other partners, this event offers a welcoming space focused on confidence-building, skill development, and access to emerging career opportunities. Below is the link to view the post and flyer on LinkedIn. Please pass along to men who may be interested in attending and to employers who may want to recruit. For questions, reach out to Melanie Russo at melanie.russo@greaterrochesterchamber.com or Jen Suppe at jennifer.suppe@greaterrochesterchamber.com. Let’s work together to create meaningful opportunities for all.
3. Two items related to “No Kings” Protest.
a. Bill Wynne provides information on today’s “No Kings” Protest Locations;
b. 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 : -)
4. Bob Castle and Laurie Mahoney share 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.
5. 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
6. We are interested in considering differing view points. Here is one, an opinion piece found in last Sunday’s ‘Conservatives should change DEI, not cut it’.
7. From the Medium Daily Digest we share 2 pieces;
a. “Why Are Black People Expected to Honor White Supremacists?“ by Dr. Allison Wiltz
b. “How America Got Rich Erasing Black History — And Why They’ll Do Anything to Keep You in the Dark“ by The Kye Effect
8. We repeat Bill Wynne’s 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. Laurie Mahoney provides 2 items this week;
a. New York families lack shelters amid surging family homelessness, advocates say.
https://spectrumlocalnews.com/capital-region/news/2025/10/09/family-homeless-shelters?cid=app_share
b. Recommeding viewing the documentary movie; ‘Born Poor’;
11. Here is this week’s Urban League of Rochester – The Interrupter Newsletter
The Interrupter Newsletter – October 9, 2025
12. We share two articles from this week’s The Minority Reporter;
a. Healthy Baby Network Launches Powerful New Initiative
https://www.minorityreporter.net/post/healthy-baby-network-launches-powerful-new-initiative
b. Sean Diddy Combs’ Trial Proves Classism Bigger Problem Than Racism
13. Two articles from this week’s Beacon:
a. Don’t believe everything you think
https://rochesterbeacon.com/2025/10/03/dont-believe-everything-you-think/
b. New focus on the homelessness crisis
https://rochesterbeacon.com/2025/10/09/new-focus-on-the-homelessness-crisis/
14. There is only 2 article that deal with Race, Poverty, Hate or Intolerance found in D&C this past week.
a. A CRITICAL PART OF DEMOCRACY; Jury trials are DISAPPEARING (this is a civics lesson that can impact based on race and racism).
b. Trial testimony: Brooks transferred to Marcy Trial testimony: Brooks transferred to Marcy
after attacks by fellow inmates a5er attacks by fellow inmates.
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!