Today is Saturday, December 14. December is Universal Human Rights month, a time to celebrate the fundamental rights and freedoms that all people are entitled to, regardless of their race, religion, gender, or other characteristics.
Special Message: As the new Presidential administration and Congress readies to take control of the government there are clear, detailed plans in place (reference Project 2025) to eliminate programs, jobs and organizations in the Federal government and with its vendors that are anti-racism in nature and will atttack support Diversity, Equity and Diversity throughout the community . Organizations that are potentially at risk in the community are preparing to counter these efforts or at least minimize their impact. If you have an interest in learning more about these efforts please contact ERG through a submission to the ERG website (https://exploringracism.org/contact-us/). See item #6 below for some information pertinent to this topic.
Quote of the Week: “Progress is possible, but it is fragile – and across our country, the battles for our most basic civil rights rage on.” Stacey Abrams – author, Level Up: Rise Above the Hidden Forces Holding Your Business Back, American politician and guest star on Star Trek: Discovery, 12/9/1973 – present.
Featured Civil Rights Activist/Abolitionist/Pioneer for this week: – Stacey Abrams – author, Level Up: Rise Above the Hidden Forces Holding Your Business Back, American politician and guest star on Star Trek: Discovery, 12/9/1973 – present.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Stacey-Abrams
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. 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”. Here are the program and presentation details as well as sponsorship opportunities.
3. George Yeadon shares that registration is now open for RIT’s Expressions of King’s Legacy featuring Deborah Archer to be held on Wednesday, January 29, 2025 from 12:00 – 2:00 PM. See flyer below.
4. George Yeadon also shares that the University of Rochester will hold its annual MLK JR. Address on Thursday, January 30 at the Strong Auditorium on the River Campus featuring Giancarlo Esposito see details and registraction below.
https://events.rochester.edu/event/mlk-commemorative-address-2025
NEWS, HISTORY & RESOURCES:
5. Most of us did not receive a full education on the history of enslavement and it’s residual impacts nationally or locatly. Shane Wiegand shares that Our Local History we just published a book that they co-authored with Leslie C. Youngblood, Dr. Walter Cooper, Connie Mitchell-Jefferson, and Shawn Dunwoody about Rochester’s First Black female elected official (1961), Constance Mitchell. This would be an awesome book for folks in ERG to share with kids and grandkids for the holidays. All proceeds go to donating books to RCSD classrooms and students.
Here’s the link to order:
https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?3XOgLguSkob18D36DtBczQa0TVmOrs8kWdwKQJg6uwT
6. Here are two (2) important items on the impact of Project 2025, the plan for the President Elect’s administration for dismantlng Diversity, Equity & Inclusion programs and initiatives:
a. The Impact of Project 2025 on DEI Initiatives
advancingdei.meltzercenter.org/resources/the-impact-of-project-2025-on-dei-initiatives/
b. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Project 2025
7. Dr. Sandy Mayer shares.
a. Colleges End DEI Programs:
https://www.axios.com/2024/12/07/colleges-end-dei-programs-florida-michigan-utah
b. Companies have been abandoning DEI efforts all year.
https://www.axios.com/2024/11/27/walmart-dei-trump-lgbtq
8. Here is the Urban League of Rochester’s latest Interrupter Newsletter:
https://mailchi.mp/ulr/micro-advantage-loan-program-13858651?e=25818c1f26
9. Here is one article from this week’s Beacon:
10. There are 4 articles that deal with Race, Poverty, Hate or Intolerance found in D&C over the past week.
a. Why RPD’s pretext stops are raising concerns (race is not recorded but Blacks and other minorities impacted).
b. Why don’t Rochester police track race? (other cities police departments do and data reveals discrimination).
c. Hate’s hard to ignore when it’s at doorstep (Opinion piece; the impact of UofR “Wanted Posters” on Jewish community).
d. Affirmative action opponents sue US Air Force Academy
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”.
11. Liz Brown informs us that the Center for Dispute Resolution has an open position; Director of Operations. See information below.
Job Postings | The Center for Dispute Settlement
12. Monica Gebell, Executive Director, Levine Center to End Hate | Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester invites you to become a Mentor to A Youth Ambassador. See below for details.
Interested in scholarships for next year’s college expenses? Check out the Scholarships that the Urban League of Rochester organizes. Applications are now open.
Scholarships — Urban League of Rochester (urbanleagueroc.org)
13. The Rochester Area Community Foundation (RACF) Scholarship program portal is now open.
Rochester Area Scholarships and Award Resources – Rochester Area Community Foundation (racf.org)
SUPPORT BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES:
14. 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)
15. Looking for a wonderful photographer for your holiday family photos or other occasion? Try Denise Batiste Photography. See below.
https://www.DeniseBatistePhotography.com
If you have an item to include in the week’s sharing we need to have it by noon on Friday.
Thank you!