Today is Saturday March 18. Sunday, March 19 is St. Joseph’s Feast Day. This day Catholics celebrate Jesus’ surrogate father and Mary’s husband. Tuesday, March 22 is International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Tuesday is also Naw Ruz the day that marks the Persian and Baha’i New Year, which also occurs on the vernal equinox. Tuesday also marks the Wiccan holiday of Ostara, one their eight Sabbats. It celebrates the spring equinox. Wednesday, March 23 Ramadon begins. This is the start of Islam’s sacred month. During Ramadon Muslims abstain from eating and drinking fro dawn until dusk. Wednesday is also the beginning in the Hindu faith of the festival of Navarati that celebrates the Goddess Durga.
Quote of the Week:
“I merged those two works, Black and feminist because I was surrounderd by Black women who were very tough and who always assumed they had to work and rear children and manage homes.” ~ Toni Morrison
Events:
Here is what is going on this week in the Rochester area:
1. Bill Wynne shared the attached program; “Affordabe Housing: A Human Right?” to be held on Sunday, March 19 @ 2:00 PM.
2. George Yeadon shares a program scheduled for March 22 at 6:00 PM presented by Harvard University’s Institutional Anti-Racism and Accountability Project titled “The Great Outdoors? Tackling Structural Racism in National Parks”
3. Sandra Katz shares a link to National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI) of Rochester’s series of one (1) remaining Friday workshops. Next one is Friday, March 24, titled “Engagement”. You can sign up for the event at this link:
https://mailchi.mp/47a997898363/right-around-the-corner?e=5a02a19f93
4. Richard Glaser shares this program about Harriet Tubman coming up on March 27 at 6:00 PM. It’s open to all. Please note you must copy the link below and paste in your browser to locate this program on March 27.
5. The FIRE organization provided information on a program in Webster on Saturday, March 28, 8:30 AM – 11:00 AM, titled “A Webster Community Convening on Equity in Education” sponsored by Webster Central School District in conjunction with FIRE. More information next week.
6. Dr. Frederick Jefferson informs us of a 8 course program series sponsored by the URMC starting on Wednesday, March 29 and running through May 24 titled “Structural Racism in Healthcare and Research Course”. See the link below. You must sign up for the program by March 20.
7. Barb Glassman of The Commissary and RocGrowth share information on this special event on March 31:
The Commissary is a shared kitchen incubator in Downtown Rochester helping to reduce barriers for food startups. Many of The Commissary member businesses are BIPOC and woman-owned; all excited to share their talents and cuisines with the Rochester community.
The Secret Ingredient: A Benefit for The Commissary, will be held on March 31 at the historic Sibley Building and will feature 30+ Commissary member chefs, bakers, makers, and entrepreneurs. Experience delicious culinary creations, participate in kitchen tours, view live demos, drink custom libations, and groove to a live DJ on vinyl.
This is a great chance to support and meet some of the best up-and-coming food entrepreneurs in our region. Checkout our 2022 Impact Report
This party will celebrate the optimism and rebirth of Rochester’s food industry. We hope to celebrate with you at The Secret Ingredient on 3/31. If able to attend, we hope you’ll grab a ticket for you and a friend.
8. The City of Rochester is sponsoring the Black Heritage Gala on April 1, 6:00 PM – 12:00 AM. See below for ticket information.
NEWS, HISTORY & RESOURCES:
9. Highlights from the Antiracist Education Conference. Over 450 people, several ERG participants and alumni attended this 2nd annual conference last Saturday, March 11. We have provided links below to the list of the breakout sessions, as well as a link to the curriculum. Many wonder about the antiracist curriculum that are being or will be introduced into many area schools. You will be information at the link below.
a. FINALIZED 2023 AEC Breakouts and Panel – Google Docs
b. Access to all the curriculum at http://resistancemapping.org/s/m/page/welcome .
10. This sharing from Bill Wynne forwarded me an item shared by Dwain Wilder is worth repeating; a message from Arnold Schwaarzenegger speaking out against hate.
“Nobody who has chosen the path of hate has ever gotten to the end of the road and said, ‘Oh! What a life!’ No. They die as miserably as they have lived.” —Arnold Schwartzenegger, on the looming danger of Americans choosing autocracy over democracy
11. Here is an item shared by George Yeadon: A discussion of Whitaker’s book, Saying It Loud: 1966—The Year Black Power Challenged the Civil Rights Movement,
(148) Saying It Loud: In Conversation with Mark Whitaker and Eugene Robinson – YouTube
12. We share 1 article from this week’s Beacon;
a. Even with a mild winter, snowy days have shown failings in the Rochester shelter system.https://rochesterbeacon.com/2023/03/16/inside-the-struggle-over-code-blue/
13. Here are 2 items from the latest edition of the CNN Newsletter Race Deconstructed:
a. A Black soccer player keeps facing racism during matches:
https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/15/football/vinicius-jr-racism-in-spanish-football-spt-intl
b. Sudden unexpected infant deaths surged among Black babies in 2020:
https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/13/health/sids-rate-2020-disparities
14. Bill Wynne recommends this book by Mary Frances-Winter:
Racial Justice at Work – Racial Justice at Work
15. Dan Drmacich shaes a link to the Mandate from the Afro Descendant People Issues to the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent:
16. Once again there were many informative articles in the D&C. We list 21 such articles in order of appearance:
a. Golden Cup shop witnesses change (Insights from Buffalo’s Eastside following the “Tops Massacre”)
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=2deadaeb4_134aacc
b. Missing their window (Impact from the loss of childcare)
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=0deadaeb4_134aacc
c. Historic sites are reckoning with NY’s slavery
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=07f68e8a4_134aacc
d. Rochester to invest $750K for tiny homes at Peace Village
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=06e91a167_134aacc
e. Chris Rock wasn’t the only one Will Smith hurt. Where’s our apology? (Opinion piece)
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=095cb9565_134aacc
f. Voting rights for felons a rare bipartisan effort
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=176855e55_134aacc
g. Lasting Legacy (540WMain art exhibit honoring legacy of 2 notable Black women)
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=08b65a7d8_134aacc
h. Ex-Navajo president honored in funeral procession, reception
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=20ef4257c_134aacc
i. Schools say American kids are hungry
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=05b17ea7c_134aacd
j. The rise of Black skateboarders
https://usatoday-va.newsmemory.com/?publink=1b6fd0842_134aacd
k. My dad, Muhammad Ali, won his bout, but so many fall to mass incarceration
https://usatoday-va.newsmemory.com/?publink=066cfec75_134aacd
l. What do race and ethnicity mean?
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=032ffca75_134aace
m. School pulls test question equating politics to race, gender
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=132ffca75_134aace
n. REPARATIONS FIND AUDIENCE
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=28ca973e4_134aacf
o. Drag story hour prompts armed confrontation
https://usatoday-va.newsmemory.com/?publink=15a82aee5_134aacf
p. Ireland’s ties to Frederick Douglass
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=11ae09693_134aad1
q. More laws in US seen as threat to free speech
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=1bb25d083_134aad1
r. Black voters demand more action
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=0aadc9940_134aad1
s. Asians mark a crushing milestone with hope
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=1e60ad129_134aad2
t. Native American groups blast appointee
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=23465bb56_134aad2
OPPORTUNITIES:
No new opportunities this week. If you had’nt read about Venture Jobs before, please do.
17. Are you aware of the Venture Jobs Foundation? This foundation is revitalizing underserved neighborhoods and improving the quality of life by supporting and investing in entrepreneurs and growing businesses to foster job creation. See the file below for more information:
Support Black owned businesses:
18. Support the Black Community by supporting their businesses. I haven’ received any new businesses so I keep the Black owned businesses on the list that I have. Please share ones you know about with us!
a. Tom Mitchell shares again that one of his best experiences had in the last few years is being introduced to a Black owned barbershop, “Whitmore’s International Barbershop” by friend Grequan Carter. The shop is located at 212 Monroe Avenue just 2 blocks west of the Strong National Museum of Play. He receives the best cut, great conversation and a new world of wonderful acquaintances. By appointment only, call or txt Tom at 585-739-2750 if you would like an introduction.
b. Could you use a reliable, efficient and professional janitorial service? Try Clark
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 Friday. Please send items to “tcmitch1951@gmail.com”. Please place “Weekly Sharing” or “WS” in the subject line. Thank you!
Enjoy the weekend!