Today is Saturday, October 19. This past Thursday was the start of Sukkot, the week-long “Feast of Booths” commemorates the 40-year wandering of the Israelites in the desert on the way to the Promised Land. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. The month is dedicated to raising awareness of breast cancer and funding for the prevention, earlier detection, and more effective treatment. Thursday, October 24 is United Nations Day that commemorates the founding of the world organization in 1945. Friday, October 25 Simchat Torah, “Rejoicing in the Torah” celebratesthe
conclusion of the public reading of the Pentateuch (first five books of the Hebrew Bible) and its beginning anew.
Quote of the Week:
Quote: “I always try to teach by example and not force my ideas on a young musician. One of the reasons we’re here is to be part of this process of exchange.” Dizzie Gillespie, American band leader and composer, October 21, 1917 – January 6, 1993
Featured Civil Rights Activist/Abolitionist/Pioneer for this week:
Dizzie Gillespie, American band leader and composer, October 21, 1917 – January 6, 1993
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Dizzy-Gillespie
EVENTS
1. ERG Alumni and Participants please open the link directly below. The Exploring Racism Group program is for individual work on our own bias, prejudice and contribution to racism. The Interrupt Racism program is for organization teams to work to enhance policies, practices, and cultures to create a more equitable work environment where all employees can thrive. Please consider for your organization.
INTERRUPT RACISM — Urban League of Rochester (urbanleagueroc.org)
2. George Yeadon shares information on a virtual program on Tuesday, October 22, 2024 from 8:00 – 10:00 AM, National Healthcare Policy Implications of the November Elections with Blair Childs. See below for more information.
3. The Little Theatre’s Black Cinema Series will present the movie ‘The Blackening’ on Wednesday, October 23, 2024 at 7:00 PM.
4. In Celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Month, October 27, 2024 3:00-4:30 P.M. Ganondagan Seneca Art and Culture Center presents the concert E-YAH-PAH-HAH: Honoring Indigenous People, 7000 County Road 41, Victor, NY 14564. Free Concert – Donations Accepted. See below for details.
Click here for a full concert description.
5. Dr. Frederick Jefferson shares information on a performance, ‘Timbuctoo to Today’ by the Rochester Oratorio Society on November 1, 2024 | 7:30 PM ET, Hochstein Performance Hall, 50 N Plymouth Ave, Rochester, NY 14614. See below for more information and ticket purchase.
6. 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:
7. John Engels shared this challenging statement by Ta-nahisi Coates during a recent interview. It is worth the short read.
8. Here is a NY Times article suggested by Drew Saur; ‘The University of Michigan Doubled Down on D.E.I. What Went Wrong?’
9. Frank Staropoli shares an essay by Charles Eisenstein. This piece “On Political Bypassing” is relevant and insightful, and challenging to us across a spectrum of political beliefs.
https://charleseisenstein.substack.com/p/on-political-bypassing
10. Here is the Urban League of Rochester’s latest newsletter.
https://mailchi.mp/ulr/micro-advantage-loan-program-13857261?e=1dae1bef57
11. Here is the latest from The Pink Elephant Newsletter, by Janice Gassam Asare, PhD.
(10) How To Prevent Your Company From Cultural Appropriation | LinkedIn
12. There are 5 articles that deal with Race, Poverty, Hate or Intolerance found in D&C over the past week.
a. Museum gets grant to expand Black content (hopefully it will finally give voice to the marginalized).
b. Hate speech or freedom of expression? (Extremist groups have weaponized social media to push agendas).
c. TEEN EMPOWERMENT OPENING SPARKS JOY (the building has expanded as well as the programs outreach).
d. Survey: Trauma common for teens (especially Asian American and Black teens).
e. Columbus holiday revives debate (has Columbus been given a bad rap?).
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”.
13. Are you familar with the Rochester Area Community Foundation (RACF) Grant programs? Take a look below.
Grant Opportunities – Rochester Area Community Foundation (racf.org)
14. Interested in scholarships for next year’s college expenses? Check out the Scholarships that the Urban League of Rochester organizes.
Scholarships — Urban League of Rochester (urbanleagueroc.org)
15. The Rochester Area Community Foundation (RACF) Scholarship program portal will open on December 1, 2024.
Rochester Area Scholarships and Award Resources – Rochester Area Community Foundation (racf.org)
SUPPORT BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES:
16. 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)
17. Need Physical Therapy? Check out Bloom Physical Therapy, they come to you. See below.
If you have an item to include in the week’s sharing we need to have it by noon on Friday.
Thank you!