Today is Saturday, 2/28/2026. Black History Month ends today, celebrated in the United States every February to honor the achievements, culture, and history, of Black Americans, recognizing their contributions to society. Monday, March 2 – Tuesday, March 3 is the Jewish festival of Purim commemorating the deliverance of the Jewish people living throughout the ancient Persian Empire from persecution by Haman the Agagite. We are currently in the Islamic holy festival of Ramadan honoring the first revelations to the Prophet Mohammed through 30 days of reflection and fasting from sun-up to sun-down ending March 8. We are also in the 46 days of Lent, Ash Wednesday, the Christian 46-day period of preparation for the Easter (March 28) through reflection on the life and death of Jesus Christ.
Quote of the week: “Either America will destroy ignorance or ignorance will destroy the United States.”
“Either America will destroy ignorance or ignorance will destroy the United States.”
Featured civil rights activist/abolitionist/pioneer: W. E. B. DuBois born February 23, 1868 – died August 27, 1963, American sociologist and writer.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/W-E-B-Du-Bois
1. The Rochester Downtown Development Corp (RDDC) provides a list of Black History Month Celebration. See below:
2. 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
3. The Black Power Marketplace, an event in which Black-owned businesses come together to showcase their brands, promote services and sell products is held today, Saturday, February 28, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM at 398 Thurston Road.
4. ASALH (Association for the Study of African American Life and History) Rochester instead of a traditional in-person meeting will be it’ February meeting virtually via Zoom. It will be a Black History Presentation and Talk with Honorable Mayor Malik Evans. Saturday, February 28 @ 4:00 PM. Please see the flyer and Zoom link attached below.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89381705166?pwd=ZImgzP15eo9w4ddosupmabHHGlL3mM.1
5. RMAPI’s annual advocacy day in Albany will be Wednesday, March 4th. We will be focused on a few key anti-poverty state budget items throughout the day, including the Housing Access Voucher Program (HAVP). We invite you, your colleagues, or anyone else you think might be interested to join us. The flyer is attached and here’s the link to register: Register for our Anti-Poverty Advocacy Day: March 4th 2026.
6. Urban League of Rochester – March 2026 Virtual Speaker Series will be held Friday, March 6, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM. The speaker is Dr. Fred Johnson Sr. Register below:
7. Kit Miller suggests attendance at the Six Nation Spirituality seminar on three (3) days, March 11, 18 and 25 from 7:15 – 8:30 PM at the Temple Sinai, 363 Penfield Rd, Rochester. This three-part series explores Haudenosaunee history, values, and teachings through story and tradition.
NEWS, HISTORY & RESOURCE
8. As Black History month ends we need to recognize that the current admistration wants to erase that history. Read/listen to the piece at the link below.
As the Trump Administration Erases Black History, These Writers Are Keeping It Alive – Reveal
9. We repeat Erin Coffey’s sharing at the link below for the “Crash Course Black American History Preview”, an introduction to a 51 part Black American History program. This is free, take a look at this 6 minute introduction. It will be worth your time.
10. Richard Glaser shares this Substack piece by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ‘Palace Tremors, RFK’s Health [S} Care in ER, Frederick Douglass Carries the Freedom Banner’. Its worth a listen.
(1) Palace Tremors, RFK’s Health [S]Care in ER, & Frederick Douglass Carries the Freedom Banner
11. Bill Wynne shares the newsletter from the Catholic Diocese of Rochester ‘Open Wide Our Hearts’. Some important information here.
12. From the Medium Daily Digest, we share 3 pieces (some are Opinion pieces);
a. “When a Thirteen-Year-Old Starts Asking Bigger Questions“ by William Spivey:
b. “Why Black People Shouldn’t Always Carry the Burden of Civility“ by Dr. Allison Wiltz:
c. “The Malcolm X Quotes You Likely Missed“ by William Spivey:
13. Drew Saur shares this piece from CIO magazine ‘5 revealing stats about career challenges Black IT pros face’.
14. Pat Mitchell provides a video story of true compassion and empathy without a color line, ‘A Young Boys Generosity Rewarded’.
https://www.facebook.com/CBSSundayMorning/videos/a-young-boys-generosity-rewarded/2369510363259152
15. Find the latest Urban League of Rochester’s Interrupter Newsletter.
The Interrupter Newsletter – February 26, 2026
16. Here are two articles from this week’s Beacon:
a. State awards funds for violence prevention efforts here
https://rochesterbeacon.com/2026/02/25/state-awards-funds-for-violence-prevention-efforts-here/
b. ROC the Future to present 13th annual report
https://rochesterbeacon.com/2026/02/24/roc-the-future-to-present-13th-annual-report/
17. Here is one article from this week’s The Minority Reporter:
a. GoodSchoolsRoc to Host School Choice Fair at MCC Downtown Campus
18. There are 7 articles that deal with Race, Poverty, Hate or Intolerance found in the D&C this past week.
a. STYLE AND SUBSTANCE (Miss Sweet Potato Pie brings literacy to runway
b. COMMUNITY; Library offers Black History Month resources.
c. Cooperative economics as power
d. Documentary explores history of Black quarterbacks
e. Muhammad Ali Index expanding to Middle East
f. Keep hope alive as a discipline, not a slogan (THE REV. JESSE JACKSON, 1941-2026).
g. True Black history teaches about possibility
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”.
19. The Urban League of Rochester’s Scholarship Program is open. Application deadlines are approaching, so apply now. 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/
21. The Rochester Area Community Foundation also has a need and an opportunity for you to volunteer. See one of the links below to learn more and to volunteer:
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=916768047374589&set=a.272551688462898
SUPPORT BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES:
22. 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)
23. Check out Black-owned businesses at The Black Power Marketplace, an event in which Black-owned businesses come together to showcase their brands, promote services and sell products is held Saturday, February 28, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM at 398 Thurston Road. More information is found below.
If you have an item to include in the week’s sharing we need to have it by noon on Friday.