Today is Saturday, December 21, the Winter Soltice, marking the first day of the season of Winter. The length of time between sunrise and sunset is the shortest of the year with the sun shining closest to the Southern Hemisphere and the farthest from the Northern Hemisphere. This is a significant event for many cultures and some religions. Tuesday, December 24 is Christmas Eve, the Christian celebration of the arrival of Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus. Wednesday, December 25 is Christmas Day, the day Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the son of God. December 25 is also Hanukkah, the Jewish holiday that celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and the miracle of a small amount of oil lasting eight nights. Jewish people observe this holiday through January 2. Thursday, December 26 is the start of Kawansa (means “first fruits” (of the harvest) in Swahili), an annual celebration of African American culture culminating in a communal feast called Karamu on the sixth day. Kawansa runs through January 1, New Years Day.
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 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/).
Quote of the Week: “It’s okay to love something bigger than yourself without fearing it. Anything worth loving is bigger than we are anyway.” Percival Everett born December 22, 1956 – present. American author
Featured Civil Rights Activist/Abolitionist/Pioneer for this week: Percival Everett born December 22, 1956 – present. American author
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Percival-Everett
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. Update from George Yeadon on the RIT’s Expressions of King’s Legacy featuring Deborah Archer to be held on Wednesday, January 29, 2025 from 12:00 – 2:00 PM. The program now includes a performance by Garth Fagan Dance. See flyer below.
https://t.e2ma.net/message/dhzf2l/1z5372ud
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. We repeat this item. 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. Liz Brown suggests if you have a concern about the impact the new Presidential administration may have on your organization or interests see below:
NYCLU is ready to fight to protect the people the new admin will target. Please sign their petition to our reps and state leaders, and share it with any organization you are connected with: https://action.aclu.org/send-message/protect-ny-trump-fascism. See their website for the 4 areas they are organizing around: NYCLU’s Trump Agenda, https://www.nyclu.org/report/four-things-new-york-lawmakers-must-do-before-trump-takes-office, starting with protecting the rights of immigrants. New York is behind other states. Shay Herbert of FTP is the regional NYCLU coordinator.
7. Fred Dewey shares this inspiring article highlighting an impressive woman.
8. Gary Curwin shares this piece from National Public Radio that demonstrates intentional policing that trapped addicts
into convictions that betrayed the trust of the community and police.
https://www.npr.org/2024/12/10/g-s1-37578/florida-prosecutor-overturn-convictions-cocaine-sting
9. Here is the Urban League of Rochester’s latest Interrupter Newsletter:
The Interrupter Newsletter – December 19, 2024
10. There are 2 articles that deal with Race, Poverty, Hate or Intolerance found in D&C over the past week.
a. Harvard latest to repatriate objects to Oneidas (burial sites disturbed without respect for the human beings laid to rest).
b. Rochester City Council OKs eviction protection law. (the largest city in NYS to do approve such a law).
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. Four shopping days until Christmas. Check out Women of Color International – Cooperative Shopping at 539 South Ave, Rochester, NY 14620 for Fashion, Beauty, Wellness and Self Care items. See website below for more information.
If you have an item to include in the week’s sharing we need to have it by noon on Friday.
Thank you!