Today is Saturday, October 25. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Respect Life Month, National Book Month and LGBT History Month.
Quote of the week: “Hollywood needs to recognize all shades of African American beauty.” Gabrielle Union born October 29, 1972 – present; American actress.
Featured civil rights activist/abolitionist/pioneer: Gabrielle Union born October 29, 1972 – present; American actress.
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005517/
Attention; New Half Day ERG program: Below you will find a link to a 75 second 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 #16 below for more information.
2. City Wide Tenant Union Upcoming Events
Tuesday October 28 , 2025 Tenant Welcome Assembly(Bring a Guest ) 5:30 at St Joe’s 402 South Ave Rochester NY 14610
Saturday, October 25, 2025 11am to 4pm Tenant Rights Call Training, 402 South Ave. Rochester, NY 14610 (Lunch provided)
3. Black Cinema Series Celebrates Spooky Season With Oscar-favorite “Sinners” , Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025, Doors open at 2:30 p.m.; screening starts at 3:00 p.m. Discussion | After the film, stay for a talkback with moderator Doug Curry along with panelists CaTyra Polland and Terry Chaka. Location, Little Theatre (Little 1), 240 East Avenue, East End District, Rochester, New York.
4. Concerned about our Democracy? Steve Martin suggests joining the Constitutional Crisis Call, Wednesday, October 29 from noon to 1:00 PM and every Wednesday in front of the Federal Building on State St., Rochester. See below for details.
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
6. The Urban League Virtual Speaker Series next date is Friday, November 7, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. See details below.
7. Laurie Mahoney and Deni Mack share information on an upcoming Human Rights Conference to be held Sunday, December 14, from 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM at the Islamic Center of Rochester on Westfall Road. See link below for details.
NEWS, HISTORY & RESOURCES
8. John Engels shares an article reveals the stunning lack of diversity among educators who advocate for diversity….
‘Why does it seem like we are all more interested in convincing and repudiating than in examining and reflecting?’
9. Pat shares this story of the Robinson and Simon families, the ugly act of housing discrimination overcome by friendship.
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1JUQEdjy3F/?mibextid=wwXIfr
10. Laurie Mahoney shares this piece ‘Building affordable housing in N.Y. state faces long timeline, impacting the response to the housing crisis’.
11. From the Medium Daily Digest we share 3 pieces;
a. “How White Lies Jeopardize Black Lives in America“ by Dr. Allison Wiltz:
https://allyfromnola.medium.com/how-white-lies-jeopardize-black-lives-in-america-76ac657435da
b. ““Woke” Was a Warning, Not a Weapon“ by Fazer:
https://medium.com/@fazer4541/woke-was-a-warning-not-a-weapon-5e4e414b72f9
c. “We’re Pro-Black Because We Live in a Racist Society“ by Dr. Allison Wiltz:
https://momentum.medium.com/were-pro-black-because-we-live-in-a-racist-society-9819eef05871
12. Here is this week’s Urban League of Rochester – The Interrupter Newsletter
The Interrupter Newsletter – October 23, 2025
13. We share two articles from this week’s The Minority Reporter;
a. Uniting and Healing Through Hope of Monroe County
https://www.minorityreporter.net/post/uniting-and-healing-through-hope-of-monroe-county
b. Black Cinema Series Celebrates Spooky Season With Oscar-favorite “Sinners”
14. Here are two articles from this week’s Beacon:
a. Why has Rochester chosen to criminalize poverty?
https://rochesterbeacon.com/2025/10/21/why-has-rochester-chosen-tocriminalize-poverty/
b. Rochester prepares to roll out R-Future Fund pilot
https://rochesterbeacon.com/2025/10/20/rochester-prepares-to-roll-out-r-future-fund-pilot/
15. There are 3 articles that deal with Race, Poverty, Hate or Intolerance found in D&C this past week.
a. NY leaders blast ‘hateful’ slurs in texts NY leaders blast ‘hateful’ slurs in texts
b. NY prison guard convicted in man’s fatal beating
c. OH man pushes to end death penalty OH man pushes to end death penalty
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”.
16. 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
17. 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
18. Here is a call for volunteers for the Judicial Observation Project. See flyer below:
SUPPORT BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES:
19. 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)
20. Need a spa treatment or day? Call on Drips Spa, 2050 S Clinton Ave Suite B, Rochester, NY. This spa combines luxury and wellness to provide a haven for beauty, relaxation, and rejuvenation. See website link below.
If you have an item to include in the week’s sharing we need to have it by noon on Friday.
Thank you!