Today is Saturday, October 26. Thursday, October 31 is Bandi-Chhor Diwas, a Sikh commemorative occasion having no fixed date which occurs in October or November and celebrates the release of the Sixth Guru Har Gobind Sahib from
imprisonment and coincides with Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. Friday, November 1 is Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. It celebrates the victory of good over evil, light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance. November 1 is also, All Saints Day, this day commemorates all known and unknown Christian saints. November is American Indian Heritage month.
Quote of the Week:
Quote: “Blues are the songs of despair, but gospel songs are the songs of hope.” OR “Without a song, each day would be a century.” Mahalia Jackson, American gospel singer, born October 26, 1911 – January 27, 1972.
Featured Civil Rights Activist/Abolitionist/Pioneer for this week:
Mahalia Jackson, American gospel singer, born October 26, 1911 – January 27, 1972.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mahalia-Jackson
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. In Celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Month, Sunday, 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.
3. The Urban League of Rochester is hosting a Community Meeting on the Commission on RASE report on Friday, November 1, from 4:30 – 6:30 PM at the MCC Downtown Campus at 321 State St., Rochester. All are welcome to learn about the progress on the RASE reccommendations and contribute to the planning for 2025. See below for details and to register.
RASE Community Meeting on November 1st
4. 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.
5. John Rodriguez informs us the local chapter of the Association for Talent Development- Roc ATD is presenting:
The DEI Advantage: Crafting Breakthrough Learning Experiences for Today’s Workforce on Thursday, November 7, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM. See below for details.
https://www.rocatd.org/event-5860411
6. The Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester is presenting an event on Tuesday, November 12 at 7:30 PM to learn with Dr. Noam Weissman, Executive Vice President of OpenDor Media, who will provide clarity and nuance on topics that are often weaponized by anti-Israel groups. See below for details and to register.
7. 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:
8. Looking for a good book? Suggest “A Pair of Wings” by Carole Hopson, a biography of Elizabeth (Bessie) Coleman, 1/26/1892 – 4/30/1926. Bessie Coleman was an early American civil aviator. The first African-American woman and the first Native American to hold a pilot license. The book decribes this woman’s experience as part of the Great Migration from the Jim Crow South to the segregated North and the many challenges faced to fulfill her dream to become an aviator and open a flight school for other African Americans. She overcame those challenges and became a famous barnstormer and role model during her short time on this earth. Find this and other recommended books on our Resource page under “Recommended Books”.
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. Richard Glaser shares this peace about Rochester’s NBA Star Isaiah Stewart giving back to community programs that help shape him. See below.
11.Eric Towell about a project in existence named the Slave Societies Digital Archive. This link below for more about this valuable undertaking.
https://slavesocieties.org/about
12. Here is the Urban League of Rochester’s latest newsletter. Please check on many important events contained in this newsletter.
https://mailchi.mp/ulr/micro-advantage-loan-program-13857403?e=25818c1f26
13. Here is the latest from The Pink Elephant Newsletter, by Janice Gassam Asare, PhD., ‘Despite Trump’s Actions Against Marginalized Communities, Many Still Support Him’.
(8) Despite Trump’s Actions Against Marginalized Communities, Many Still Support Him | LinkedIn
14. There are 2 articles that deal with Race, Poverty, Hate or Intolerance found in D&C over the past week.
a. A LEGACY OF CHANGE (Generations of Black female activists fight to protect voting).
b. Ministers allege police aggression in traffic stop
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”.
15. 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)
16. 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:
17. 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)
18. Looking for a place offering jewelry henna accessories for fashion beauty food/beverage bartending services drink bars desserts herbal cafe products/drinks? Zen Bliss and Brews has it all. See below.
Zen Bliss And Brews Rochester NY Reviews
If you have an item to include in the week’s sharing we need to have it by noon on Friday.
Thank you!