Yesterday was the Coptic Orthodox Christmas. Today is the Christian celebration of the Epiphany. Next Sunday is Makar Sankranti, the Hindu festival dedicated to the god of the sun, Surya. Next Sunday is also World Religion Day, a celebration in the Baha’i faith to highlight common themes across various faiths and religions worldwide.
There are many events over the next few weeks and much information to share with you.
1. If you are not aware of Rochester poet and artist Grequan Carter, I feature two of his poems here, “Black Lives Matter/Questions to what we are” and “Mist” from his book of poetry “Journey of a Maturation Rollercoaster”. My apology to Grequan, there was a word that was translated incorrectly, “seizing” in the file for “Black Lives Matter” last week. The poems are attached and information on how to obtain his book can be found immediately below:
https://store.bookbaby.com/bookshop/book/index.aspx?bookURL=Journey-of-a-Maturation-Rollercoaster
EVENTS:
2. The ABC Signature event “Empowerment, Equity and the Journey Ahead” starts this week! The link to register for the , January 12 & 19 (virtual) and Award Celebration (live), January 26 is found below.
3. The National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI) Rochester is hosting a workshop Thursday, January 12 from 9 am to noon on Zoom co-facilitated by Steve Jarose and Laura Robinson on Critical Race Theory +. Here is the link to the registration: https://ncbirochester.org/critical-race-theory-workshop-january/
4. The Community Foundation is sponsoring an in-person Watch Party (see link immediately below for invitation to register by January 12) and virtual program (if you can’t be in-person) held on The National Day of Racial Healing, January 17, 7:00 – 8:00 PM with the author of the “Sum of Us”, Heather McGee with a program titled “Why Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together”.
See this link for virtual program. https://thesumofus.virtualvenue.ca/?utm_content=buffer5f19f&utm_medium=social&utm_sou-rce=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer#/preliveHome
5. We have failed to recognize and promote the outstanding programming for the 2022 – 2023 RPO season. Curt Long, President and CEO of the RPO and ERG alumni has put together a season-long series of concerts featuring Black composers, vocalists, instrumentalists and conductors. Please plan on supporting an upcoming program. See the attached listing.
6. Dan Drmacich shares information (attached) on the Premiere of Spirit of Mandela’s “About the People” grassroots audiovisual broadcast, January 14 from 5-8 PM.
7. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is Monday, January 16. There are several opportunities to honor Dr. King listed below. Please forward any information that you may have that I can share with others.
-Martin Luther King Jr. Storytelling (in-person) – The Blackstorytelling League of Rochester will present stories relating to the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (Audience: all ages)
- Date: Saturday, January 14, 2023; Time: 2:00pm–2:45pm
- Location: Pittsford Community Library, Fisher Meeting Room
- Event information: Martin Luther King Jr. Storytelling
-MLK Day Free Dance Classes at Garth Fagan Dance Studio
- Date: Monday, January 16, 2023; Time: 12:00pm
- Location: Garth Fagan Dance Studio, 50 Chestnut Street
- Event information: Garth Fagan Dance Studio: MLK Day Free Classes
-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Documentary (in-person showing) – Watch King in the Wilderness, a documentary that follows Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during the volatile last three years of his life, from the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965 to his assassination. (Audience: adults)
- Date: Monday, January 16, 2023; Time: 1:00pm–2:00pm
- Location: Brighton Memorial Library, Learning Center
- Event information: King in the Wilderness Showing
-6th Annual “Let Freedom Ring” Commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. – speaker Katrina Overby
- Date: Monday, January 16, 2023; 10:30–12:00pm
- Location: RIT Ingle Auditorium, The Quarter Mile Walkway, Rochester, NY 14623
- Event Information: https://www.rit.edu/diversity/let-freedom-ring
2023 Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Address – Instituted in 2001 to promote diversity, freedom, civil rights, and social justice, by the University of Rochester, The Office of Minority Student Affairs & The Office of the President
- Date: Friday, January 20, 2023; Time: 6:00pm–7:30pm
- Location: University of Rochester, Feldman Ballroom, Douglass Commons, Rochester, NY 14627
- Event information: University of Rochester – 2023 Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Address
-2023 Expressions of King’s Legacy – The 41st Annual Expressions of King’s Legacy featuring keynote speaker Nikole Hannah-Jones, the Pulitzer Prize-winning creator of the 1619 Project and a staff writer at The New York Times Magazine. The program will include RIT student Daniel Aisogun, spoken word artist, and the RIT Gospel Choir. This event is free and open to the public. It will not be live streamed.
- Date: Tuesday, January 31, 2023; 12:00–2:00pm
- Location: RIT Gordon Field House, The Quarter Mile Walkway, Rochester, NY 14623
- Event Information: 41st Annual Expressions of King’s Legacy
8. Bill Wynne, author of Understanding and Combating Racism: My Path from Oblivious American to Evolving Activist will be at the Mercy Spirituality Center on Wednesday, January 18, 10 AM – 11:30 AM via Zoom. See attachment (Session 3 on page 6) for registration.
9. Melanie shares information on a University of Central Florida DEI in the Workplace certificate program. See the information at link below.
https://exploringracism.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/UCF-DEI-in-Workplace-Certificate-program.docx
10. Richard Glaser shares information on a program at the Kusler-Cox Auditorium 3rd Floor Rundel Memorial Library, Saturday, February 18, 2023, 1:00 – 2:30 PM. Lavelle Lewis will speak about his ancestor, John W. Thompson a dedicated activist, abolitionist and politician.
NEWS, HISTORY & RESOURCES:
11. I had included in last week’s sharing information Will Wallace shared on a new CNN Race Newsletter. I share the information on how to sign up for it and the first article I received below.
12. Sandy Mayer shares the database below published by Resources Search | ADL showing symbols of anti-black and antisemitic hate, some seen even locally on a ride in upstate NY. Take a look.
https://www.adl.org/resources/hate-symbols/search
13. There were two articles appearing in the Beacon that should be of interested:
a. The breakfast and brunch spot owned and operated by Keith Brown II aims to offer a unique French toast experience. https://rochesterbeacon.com/2023/01/04/the-toast-factory-expands-from-pop-up-to-restaurant/
b. Teen Empowerment Rochester’s plans for expansion include a new headquarters named for Barack and Michelle Obama. https://rochesterbeacon.com/2023/01/03/a-new-building-with-an-empowering-name/
14. There were a few articles appearing in the D&C this past week. I list in order of appearance:
a. Meeting benchmarks in special education
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=22f8352cb_134a9fb
b. Program aims to add more BIPOC teachers
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=0570a7df1_134a9fd
c. Bragg reflects on year as Manhattan’s first Black DA
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=02cffa304_134a9ff
d. Childcare worker shortage keeps parents out of jobs
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=15403ffff_134aa00
e. Trial set for Black soldier, police suit
https://rochesterdemocrat-ny.newsmemory.com/?publink=0c66776e6_134aa00
Have a great week!