Today is Saturday, December 23. Tomorrow, Sunday, December 24 is Christmas Eve and the end of Las Posadas a religous festival celebrated in Mexico and parts of the U.S. during the Christmas Season. Monday, December 25 is Christmas, the day Jesus Christ was born. Christians celebrate Jesus Christ as the Son of God. Tuesday, December 26 is the start of Kwanzaa, the 8-day holiday often celebrated by Black Americans that was inspired by African harvest celebrations.
Quote of the Week:
“Don’t sit down and wait for the opportunities to come . . . get up and make them!” Sarah Breedlove McWilliams Walker (1867–1919), known professionally as Madam C. J. Madame C.J. Walker, born Sarah Breedlove.
Featured Civil Rights Activist/Abolishonist/Leader for this week. Madam C.J. Walker · Entrepreneur, philanthropist, and activist, Madam C.J. · Born Sarah Breedlove on December 23, 1867. See link below.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Madam-C-J-Walker
EVENTS:
Here is what is going on in the Rochester area:
1. Frank Staropoli suggests visiting the Eastman House to view the gallery exhibit “GILLIAN LAUB: SOUTHERN RITES” that runs through December 31. See links below for details and times.
https://www.eastman.org/southernrites
2. ABC has announced is 2024 Signature Conference Series – Beyond Trauma…A Journey to Wellness, January 11, 18 & 25. See details below.
3. Our friend, Nanette Massey is hosting a 3 part program titled “Reckoning With Racism for Nurses” with two hour sessions over three Saturdays; January 13, 20, and 27. See details below.
For Nurses–Antiracism in healthcare professions (mailchi.mp)
4. The Webster FIRE organization shares information on a program by the Antiracist Curriculum project scheduled for Saturday, January 13 from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
5. RIT’s 42nd Expressions of King’s Legacy program featuring keynote Dr. Ibram X. Kendi on Tuesday, January 30, 2024 from 12:00 – 2:00 PM. To register, see below.
Expressions of King’s Legacy | Diversity and Inclusion | RIT
NEWS, HISTORY & RESOURCES:
6. Dan Drmacich recently finished reading RCSD Edison Tech Graduate & Columbia Teachers College Professor Bettina Love’s book, “Punished for Dreaming,” and highly recommends it.
7. Here is the latest article from the Pink Elephant Newsletter by Dr. Janice Gassam Asare; s Elon Musk Right About DEI? Exploring Popular Critiques Of DEI
(27) Is Elon Musk Right About DEI? Exploring Popular Critiques Of DEI | LinkedIn
8. Here is the latest Interrupter Newsletter from the Urban League of Rochester, Equity and Advocacy division.
ACP and Resistance Mapping (mailchi.mp)
9. We share one item from the latest edition of the CNN Newsletter Race Deconstructed this week, there are two more at “racedeconstructed@newsletters.cnn.com”.:
The nation’s largest credit union rejected more than half its Black conventional mortgage applicants.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/14/business/navy-federal-credit-union-black-applicants-invs/index.html
10. One article is provided below from this week’s Beacon; A new affordable housing tool.
11. Here are 7 of articles that deal with Race, Hate or Intolerance found in D&C over the past week. We list in order of appearance:
a. Confederate memorial to be removed from Arlington (Why was a memorial to the confederacy introduced in 1914?).
b. American journalism is rooted in bias and harm (An Opinion piece worth considering).
c. Laws without consequences fuel chaos (An Opinion piece from the Monroe Co. Sheriff also worth considering).
d. HOW PENN ENDED UP AT EPICENTER OF CLASH OVER ANTISEMITISM (Free Speech vs. Hate Speech).
e. Young Black voters press Biden on Gaza (Explains why Blacks may not support Israel).
f. ‘A good haircut builds confidence’ (Doing little things to show belief in children can enable better achievement).
g. NY state panel will study legacy of slavery, possible reparations (Whether you agree with reparations or not, we should understand New York’s history with slavery).
OPPORTUNITIES:
12. Jennifer Suppe shares information on the 2024 Greater Rochester Chamber MWBE Awards. See information at the link below:
13. Joseph Searles shares information on the 2024 Ibero American Action League Scholarhip program. See below.
14. The Community Foundation (RACF) provides scholarships and awards helping students achieve their goals in education and life. Check out the link below.
Rochester Area Scholarships and Award Resources – Rochester Area Community Foundation (racf.org)
Please share any opportunities for employment, assistance, grants, etc. that you are aware of with the community by sending them to “tcmitch1951@gmail.com”.
SUPPORT BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES:
15. 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)
16. Looking for a program to immerse your employees in experiential wellness practices that decrease stress to increase productivity and improve retention? Check out MYRetreat, a wellness app that pairs chocolate with mindfulness to dramatically improve habit formation. Also, see the business case for MYRetreat below that.
That is all for this week!
If you have an item to include in the week’s sharing we need to have it by noon Fridays.