Today is Saturday, 1/31/2026. February is Black History Month, celebrated in the United States every February to honor the achievements, culture, and history, of Black Americans, recognizing their contributions to society. Monday, February 2nd is the Feast of the Presentation of Christ (Candlemas); a Christian feast day commemorating the presentation of Jesus at the Temple. Monday, is also the Pagan and Wiccan, celebration, Imbolic, the beginning of spring and the goddess Brigid.
Quote of the week: “Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody’s going to know whether you did it or not.” Oprah Winfrey born January 29, 1954 – present, American television personality, actress, and entrepreneur.
Featured civil rights activist/abolitionist/pioneer: Oprah Winfrey born January 29, 1954 – present, American television personality, actress, and entrepreneur.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Oprah-Winfrey
EVENTS:
1. No plans this afternoon? Practicing ‘Dry January’? Consider this: Sat Jan. 31st, Chocolate Mindfulness & Mocktails gathering at AltBar 3-4pm. Enjoy our chocolate-subscription favorites, sip a zero-proof mocktail, connect with new friends, explore chocolate pairings, and unwind with restorative mindful moments. Tickets $45:
https://buy.stripe.com/14A14m7ewgy8dcvg3A8Zq0r
2. 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.
3. Author Bill Wynne will present his essay “The American Creed: Promise and Paradox” premised on the key principles of the Declaration of Independence and portrayed through the collective lenses of three famous black icons: orator Frederick Douglass, activist Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., and poet Langston Hughes.I wanted to let you know of a presentation I will be doing on Thursday, February 5th, 2:00 PM at the Webster Public Library. Please see the details below as posted on the library’s website event page for February (see https://websterlibrary.libcal.com/event/14994246).
4. The Urban League of Rochester invites you to join their upcoming INTERRUPT RACISM™ Speaker Series on Friday, February 6, at 12:00 PM on Zoom, featuring Jeffrey M. Wice, Adjunct Professor and Senior Fellow for the New York Elections, Census, and Redistricting Institute at New York Law School. Join Mr. Wice for a conversation about the Census and the importance of participation to ensure fair representation in Congress. Register below:
5. The Rochester Museum & Science Center Black History Month Celebration marks a century of Black History celebrations! Join them in commemorating local black leaders and innovators. Saturday and Sunday, February 7-8, 11am-3pm. Black History Month Celebration | Rochester Museum & Science Center
5. Memorial Art Gallery Hosts Black History Month Celebration Day: A Salute to Black Excellence, Sunday, February 8 from 12:00 – 4:00 PM. See information below:
6. George Yeadon shares that The Little Theatre Black Cinema Series is featuring:
a. ‘Floyd Norman: An Animated Life’, Screening and Q&A, Monday, February 9, 2026 @ 7:00pm, Little Theatre 1 (240 :East Ave.), Doors open at 6:30pm.
b. ‘Ain’t No Back to a Merry-Go-Round’, Wednesday, February 11, 2026 @ 7:00pm, Little Theatre 1 (240 East Ave.), Doors open at 6:30pm
7. Registration is now open 5th Annual Antiracist Education Conference: Action for Equality to be held, Saturday, February 28, 8:45 AM – 12:20 PM. This event is virtual and free. See below for more information and to register.
2026 Conference 8.5×11 Flyers – Google Slides
NEWS, HISTORY & RESOURCE
8. Here is a piece that may underscore the need for a reparations commission:
“The Trouble With DEI“ by Dick Dowdell on Medium: https://medium.com/the-polis/the-trouble-with-dei-5f3d63e4d7f6
9. We repeat this information. Are you aware of the New York State Community Commission on Reparations Remedies? Check out the webiste and the legislation that commissioned it at the links below.
New York State Community Commission on Reparations Remedies | The State of New York
The New York State Community Commission on Reparations Remedies is tasked with examining the legacy of slavery, subsequent discrimination against people of African descent, and the impact these forces continue to have in the present day. Governor Hochul signed bill S.1163-A/A.7691 establishing the Commission on December 19, 2023.
9. If you missed Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, President of Repairers of the Breach and Co-Chair of Poor People’s Campaign speech last night at the U of R, Sue Staropoli provides a link to the recording of it below>
10. 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.
11. This might be of interest of our readers, “My 2025 Summer Reading List“ by Barack Obama:
https://barackobama.medium.com/my-2025-summer-reading-list-bb25331e761b
12. From the Medium Daily Digest, we share 3 pieces (some are Opinion pieces);
a. “Black Progress, Nothing But Virtual Reality“ by Fazer Domino:
https://medium.com/@fazer4541/black-progress-nothing-but-virtual-reality-5de9d3850c51
b. “The Forgotten Slavery of the South“ by William Spivey:
c. “Why So Many White Americans Seem Desperate to Hide Black History“ by Dr. Allison Wiltz:
13. Pat Mitchell shares this positive race relations video from Reel by On the Road with Steve Hartman:
14. Find the latest Urban League of Rochester’s Interrupter Newsletter.
http://eepurl.com/jx2Q9g
15. Here are two articles from this week’s Beacon:
a. Loose rules let State Police hand out lax penalties for serious misconduct
b. Evans doubles down as gun violence drops sharply
https://rochesterbeacon.com/2026/01/27/evans-doubles-down-as-gun-violence-drops-sharply/
16. Here is one article from this week’s The Minority Reporter:
a. Memorial Art Gallery Hosts Black History Month Celebration Day: A Salute to Black Excellence
17. There are 7 articles that deal with Race, Poverty, Hate or Intolerance found in 9 D&C this past week.
a. Conservative group sues LA district (Claims desegregation policy in city’s schools hurts White students).
b. FEATURED OBITUARY ISAIAH JACKSON (Conductor broke barriers in Rochester and beyond).
c. Here’s the real reason crime is down in U.S.
d. PEAKER DEMAND (Polluting plants — disproportionately located in low-income communities — forced back into
service)
e. NY TEEN: ‘WHEN THERE’S HATE, BE THE LIGHT’ (Marking Holocaust Remembrance Day)
f. ‘They didn’t leave us anything at all’ (Israel has the right to exist but what do Palestinians have?)
g. ‘Oneida Indian Nation heroine on new $1 coin’ (A piece of history I was unaware of. I wonder if Haudenosaunee would honor this heroine?)
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”.
18. The Greater Rochester Community of Churches Faith in Action Network Voices of Faith on Immigration Team is providing a venue for requesting help for area Haitian families.
19. 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
20. 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:
21. 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)
22. 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.