Today is Saturday, 1/10/2026. Although Monday, January 19 is the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. national birthday commemoration. His actual birthday is this Thursday, January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968. See the many observances throughout the month of January below in the EVENTS section.
Quote of the week: “When you don’t have money, anyone can make false allegations in court and criminalize you while you are unable to defend yourself. The court system is NOT a place of equity. It is proof of the failure of capitalism.” Tiffanie Drayton born January 12, year unknown – present, American journalist and author.
Featured civil rights activist/abolitionist/pioneer: Tiffanie Drayton born January 12, year unknown – present, American journalist and author.
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/671853/black-american-refugee-by-tiffanie-drayton/
Attention; New Half Day ERG program: Below you will find a link to a 90 second video message from the CEO of a private company in the Rochester area introducing an ERG Exploring Racism Group special half-day seminar on Thursday, January 15. Please talk to and share with friends, colleagues and relatives requesting that they consider attendance. https://drive.google.com/file/d/11aGqFQKLakBFEkpdLWnMQUvlY0wTw5Cq/view?usp=sharing
To register, use this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd3og5iNzdUz9qoG2e45FRliVE9l1WfEMR70DVVbGTRJW41Mw/viewform?usp=header
EVENTS
1. Action for a Better Community’s Signature Event will continue virtual sessions take place with on 15th and awards breakfast on January 22nd. See below for details. You do not have had to attend the January 8th session to benefit from the session on the 15th.
2026 Signature Conference Series – Action for a Better Community
2. George Yeadon and Frank Staropoli share that the Pittsford CommUNITY is pleased to announce: The Martin Luther King Jr. Living the Dream Series. The 2026 series will kick off with the Mobile Museum of Tolerance showing short films and having a discussion on Wednesday January 14th 7-9pm. The next week we will have a Spoken Word Performance followed by an open mic/poetry slam Wednesday January 21 7-9pm. The series concludes with an interfaith service on Sunday January 25th from 3-5pm. All events are free and open to the public. ASL interpreting will be provided. See flyer below:
3. George Yeadon shares this information on censorship at a major publice university that impacts race and racism. Join the program via video on Wednesday, January 14 at 5:00 PM. See link below for information.
[NY Times] Shocking censorship at major public university
4. Rochester Museum & Science Center will host their Martin Luther King Jr. Day Weekend, Saturday, 17 through Monday, January 19.
https://rmsc.org/events/mlkday-2/
5. RIT is hosting “Let Freedom Ring” on MLK Day with keynote speaker Nickesia Gordan on January, 19, 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM at the Ingle Auditorium. See below for details and registration.
https://www.rit.edu/events/let-freedom-ring-4
6. The Strong National Museum of Play will host the MLK Jr. Day of Compassion on Monday, 19, see below for details. https://www.museumofplay.org/event/mlk-jr-day-of-compassion-2/
7. Greater Rochester Martin Luther King Jr. Commission will host its 2026 commemoration on Monday, January 19, 2026, 10:30 AM at the Eastman Theater. See the link below for more information.
8. Kyle Palmer shares that the film “Being Black in America: Discussion & Collective Action” will be shown at the Legacy Drama House, January 19 at 3:00 PM. This is a free event, but you must register in order to be admitted.
9. Nazareth University is holding its “King for a Day” community service day as well as other events starting January 19. See below for details.
https://www2.naz.edu/culture-community-belonging/mlk-day-celebration
10. RIT is holding its annual “Expressions of King’s Legacy” with keynote speaker Dr. Eddie Glaude Jr. on Thursday, January 29, 2026, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM at the RIT Gordon Field House. Please see below for details and to register.
https://share.google/HRSUWzSluEt68eigD
11. The University of Rochester, Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Address with keynote speaker Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, President of Repairers of the Breach and Co-Chair of the Poor People’s Campaign held Thursday, January 29, 2026, 5:30 – 6:30 pm in the Strong Auditorium at 417 Alumni Rd. See below for more information and to register.
https://www.rochester.edu/oee/martin-luther-king-jr-commemorative-address/
https://events.rochester.edu/event/mlk-address-2026
12. George Yeadon shares this information on a number of programs offered by America’s Town Hall. We suggest the The Declaration of Independence and the Push for Racial Equality offered on Monday, February 2, 1 p.m. ET. See below for this one and others.
NEWS, HISTORY & RESOURCE
13. RMAPI, Rochester Monroe Anti-Poverty Initiative asks your help in spreading awareness about their ‘Our Voices, Our Power’ initiative through your network. Critical safety net programs are at risk, please see the link below and sign up to receive the “stories” of impact and other information.
14. We repeat Bill Wynne’s sixth essay from the Declaration of Independence series. The one is titled ‘Safety and Happiness’. Find it at the link below.
15. Kyle Palmer suggests this video that he found valuable ‘A conversation between a white cop and a black protestor’.
https://youtu.be/z-bdrPXOYy8?si=hCncE6dvp9YAgoSy
16. From the Medium Daily Digest, we share 3 pieces (some are Opinion pieces);
a.“Education Doesn’t Close Racial Employment or Earnings Gaps“ by Tim Wise
b. “How Redlining and Restrictive Covenants Impacted a Single City and an Individual Family“ by William Spivey
c. “They Didn’t Kill Malcolm X for Hate — They Killed Him for Power“ by The Kye Effect:
17. Pat Mitchell shares a couple of positive racial interactions that probably aren’t about race but are unexpected.
a. https://www.facebook.com/reel/1134753142081550/?referral_source=external_deeplink&surface_type=reels
b. https://www.facebook.com/reel/1169485358700714/?referral_source=external_deeplink&surface_type=reels
18. Find the first Urban League of Rochester’s first Interrupter Newsletter of 2026.
http://eepurl.com/jwheiI
Here is one article from this week’s The Minority Reporter:
a. William Warfield Scholarship Fund 2026 Benefit Concert: “Let Freedom Dream”
19. Here is one article from this week’s Beacon:
‘Why schools need programs like ShinShinim’
https://rochesterbeacon.com/2026/01/06/why-schools-need-programs-like-shinshinim/
20. There are 3 articles that deal with Race, Poverty, Hate or Intolerance found in 9 D&C this past week.
a. REMARKABLE ROCHESTERIANS JOHN W. THOMPSON (1861-1926) (Waiter led effort to build Douglass monument in Highland Park).
b. With ‘Trump babies,’ Dr. Oz said the quiet part out loud (Opinion piece)
c. Edith Renfrow Smith dies at 111 (Black supercentenarian has historical upbringing).
OPPORTUNITIES: We share opportunities to get involved in addressing some of the communities challenges. Please share any opportunities for employment, assistance, grants, etc. that you are aware of with the community by sending them to “tcmitch1951@gmail.com”.
21. The Urban League of Rochester’s Scholarship Program is open. It is not too early to consider and apply. See below for information and application.
https://www.urbanleagueroc.org/scholarships
22. The Rochester Area Community Foundations Scholarship Program is now open. Check out the link below for Rochester Area Scholarships and Award Resources – Rochester Area Community Foundation
https://www.racf.org/scholarships/search-for-scholarships/
SUPPORT BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES:
23. 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)
24. Planning a corporate retreat or a strategic planning session? Check out MYRetreat Chocolate Mindfulness program:
https://www.chocolatemindfulness.co
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If you have an item to include in the week’s sharing we need to have it by noon on Friday.