Today is Saturday, September 9. Monday, September 11 is the Coptic New Year, a feast day that commemorates martyrs and confessors in Coptic Orthodox Christianity. Friday, September 15 through Sunday, September 17 is Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year when Jews reflect on their faith. Friday, September 15 is the start of National Hispanic Heritage Month. This month honors Hispanic and Latino Americans for their contribution to U.S. culture.
Quote of the Week:
“Life is not a spectator sport. If you’re going to spend your whole life in the grandstand just watching what goes on, in my opinion your’re wasting your life” Jackie Robinson, African American athlete (first to African American to play Major League Baseball, selected Most Valuable Player, 1949 and inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame) and civil rights activist, 1/31/1919 – 10/24/1972.
Who was Jackine Robinson? See information below.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jackie-Robinson
EVENTS:
Here is what is going on in the Rochester area:
1. The Urban League’s annual Interrupt Racism Symposium should be on your calendar for September 19 & 20, 2023. Tickets are on sale . See below:
https://www.urbanleagueroc.org/summit
2. Bill Wynne shares information on a Boston University hybrid program, Friday, September 22, 8:00 AM – 6:45 PM”Black Media: Reflecting on the Past and Reimagining the Future”
3. Leticia Fortunata shares information on the URMC diversity conference—Boundless Together: The Future of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice! It is on Friday, September 22nd, 2023 from 9am-5pm, at the Joseph Floreano Riverside Convention Center.
4. Richard Glaser shares information on Daniel’s Day, Saturday, September 23, 1:00 PM – 4::00 PM in Rochester, other tiems in Albany and Brooklyn. This is a statewide community building and mental health awareness in memory of Daniel Prude. See below,
5. The Strong Museum of Play has 2 programs of interest in September:
a. Black Dolls, organized by the New-York Historical Society, presents a landmark exhibition that explores handmade Black dolls through the lens of race, gender, and history. Exhibit opens Saturday & Sunday, September 23 & 24 and runs through January 7.
b. National Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration, Saturday, September 30, 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM.
6. George Yeodan shares information on a program offered by Harvard’s JFK Jr. program “Truth and Transformation Conference” on October 4, 5:30 – 6:30 PM. See link below.
NEWS, HISTORY & RESOURCES:
7. Bill Wynne provided a couple of items this week.
a. FTP Elders-Allies End Homelessness in Monroe County shared a program being endorsed by many organizations to address the affordable housing and homelessness. Could your organization support the initiative?
https://monroehousingplan.com/
b. Bill also provided a link to the film “Class Divided” the story of the “Blue eye/Brown eye” produced in the 1985 about a lesson plan taught to 3rd grade students following the Martin Luther King Jr. assassination to help them understand discrimination and racism. The film is 53 minutes long but well worth the investment of time.
8. Matthew Geherin shares a thoughtful prespective on diversity with this essay titled “Intelligeht DEI”.
9. Here is an opportunity with The Winters Group to gain the “Tools for Slowing Down and Reflecting on What You Really Value”.
The Inclusion Solution LIVE (wintersgroup.com)
10. One article is provided below from this week’s Beacon; “Affordability in the Suburbs”. It highlights plans for Perinton to add affordable housing. Will it be approved or will opposition delay or kill plans.
11. We are sharing just 1 item from the latest edition of the CNN Newsletter Race Deconstructed this week (there are 2 more, go to racedeconstructed@newsletters.cnn.com):
Locals see echoes of Jacksonville’s past in racist attack that killed Black residents
Locals see echoes of Jacksonville’s past in racist attack that killed Black residents | CNN
12. 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. South Union Street: (Successes and apprehension about the affordable housing located at former Inner Loop)
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=088567784_134ad1b
b. Mural shows loss to white ‘progress’ (Story in mural unveiled for Rochester’s Clarissa Street Uprooted).
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=01db92506_134ad1b
c. Hip-hop celebrates 50 years (Hiphop, a response to social and economic injustice).
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=1335e69e9_134ad1b
d. Many kids still need reading help (This could be a great opportunity for ERG particpant personal projects).
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=087d29e85_134ad1c
e. Pregnant woman’s death raises questions (Would a White woman be treated in the same manner?).
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=2e5e9e282_134ad1c
f. 1976 rape conviction thrown out after DNA test (Another instance of arrest, conviction and long term jail sentence for being Black).
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=08b2a864b_134ad1f
g. A threat multiplier (This is the first in a series of articles that provides insight into the Summer heat’s impact on street violence).
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=000cd07ca_134ad21
OPPORTUNITIES:
13. Here is an opportunity to give to help support the asylum seekers. The Western NY Coalition of Farmworker Serving Agencies and Ibero American Action League have organized a donation drive. Please see below.
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:
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)
a. Shop the Women of Color (WOC) New York. 10 women business owners coming together under 1 roof celebrating 2 years in South Wedge!
Home | SHOP WŌC Powered by Women of Color New York (square.site)
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.