Today is Saturday, June 6. June is African American culture and emancipation (Juneteenth), National Indigenous History month and LGBTQ+ Pride month. Sunday, June 7 is Corpus Christi Sunday, the day Catholics celebrate the real presence of Christ in the bread and wine of the Eucharist. Friday, June 12 is the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Christians honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Quote of the week: “Be fiercely protective of your autonomy as an artist. If I didn’t have my own gut instincts telling me that I was a worthy artist, then a play like Slave Play would have never happened.” Jeremy O. Harris born June 2, 1989, American playwright and actor.
Featured civil rights activist/abolitionist/pioneer: Jeremy O. Harris born June 2, 1989, American playwright and actor.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremy_O._Harris
EVENTS
1. 60th Annual 19th Ward Square Fair hosted by the 19th Ward Community Association to take place this weekend, Saturday, June 6 beginning at 8:30 a.m. at Aberdeen Square Park. See link below for more information:
2. The draft of Monroe County’s new Comprehensive Plan, Plan Forward, the first update in 40 years is out for review and comment. See the link below for the Press Release announcing its release and Campus, R. Thomas Flynn Campus Center and virtual meeting on June 10, noon – 1:00 PM. A link to a copy of the plan is also found in the press release.
3. On June 7, Michael Oberg, a professor of history at SUNY Geneseo, will discuss ‘You Live on Stolen
Land: Indigenous Dispossession and the Revolution in New York State.’ The event will be held from 2 to
3:30 p.m. at the Pittsford Community Library’s Fisher Meeting Room, 24 State St.
Registration is recommended; go to https://calendar.libraryweb.org/event/16814596.
4. The 127th annualy Frederick Douglas Monument Commemoration celebrating 1899 unveiling of the monument will take place Tuesday, June 9 @ 10:00 AM, Frederick Douglas Memorial Square (Corner of South Ave. and Robinson Drive. Admission is free.
5. Bill Wynne shares information on this online program “250 Years Towards Racial Justice” on Monday, June 15 at noon. See details below:
250 Years Towards Racial Justice
6. Juneteenth is less than 2 weeks away. The City of Rochester 2026 Juneteenth Festival & Parade are scheduled for Friday, June 19 and Saturday, June 20. See below for details.
2026 Juneteenth Festival – Rochester Area Community Foundation https://www.racf.org/about/events/2026-juneteenth-festival/
7. Are you aware of NYS Abolition Commemoration Day? Saturday, July 11, 2026, 2:00 – 3:00 PM at Rochester’s Maplewood Park. See background information below.
NEWS, HISTORY & RESOURCE
8. From the Medium Daily Digest, we share 3 pieces (some are Opinion pieces);
a. They’re Calling Black Doctors “DEI” After America Spent Generations Making Them… by Sal in Lessons from History:
b. “LSU Coach Lane Kiffin Exposes an Ole Miss Dirty Little Secret: Racism“ by William Spivey on Medium:
c. “The Legacy of Andrew Joseph III“ by William Spivey on Medium:
9. Bill Wynne shares the link for Essay #11 regarding the Declaration’s principle of ‘Safety and Happiness’. It reminds us that the government exists to secure the rights, dignity, and well-being of all the people. Until our institutions truly do that, our work is not done.
10. Liz Brown shares this article related to the disregard for Native Americans and their culture; “Are Data Centers Bad for the Environment?”
https://katiecouric.com/news/are-data-centers-bad-for-the-environment/
11. Here is one article from this week’s The Minority Reporter:
Immigration Bill Passes, But Debate Over Anti-Weaponization Fund Lingers https://www.minorityreporter.net/post/immigration-bill-passes-but-debate-over-anti-weaponization-fund-lingers
12. Find the latest Urban League of Rochester’s Interrupter Newsletter.
The Interrupter Newsletter – June 4, 2026
13. Liz Brown shares a brief review of the Monroe County Comprehensive Plan, Plan Forward by County Legislator Rachel Barnhart. You will find a link to the plan in this document as well as a link to provide comments on the plan. See below:
Notes on the Monroe County Draft Comprehensive Plan
14. The ROC Community Table shares position on the ICE detention facility planned for the Keating Federal Building.
15. Here is one article from this week’s Beacon:
The newly enacted legislation includes a mask ban and prohibits local law enforcement from entering into formal agreements with federal immigration agencies.
https://rochesterbeacon.com/2026/06/03/state-budget-contains-restrictions-targeting-ice/
16. There are 5 articles that deal with Race, Poverty, Hate or Intolerance found in the D&C this past week.
a. Conviction tossed, but 25 years gone
b. Residents, business owners and community groups are working together to
reshape the future of Dewey Avenue into a safer, more connected neighborhood
c. A NEW APPROACH TO HOUSING CRISIS
d. Rollback of police transparency measure questioned
e. Justices: AL can use disputed GOP map
OPPORTUNITIES:
17. 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. See link below for active grant opportunities administered by the Rochester Area Community Foundation in the area of arts, culture, aging, youth, labor/management relations.
SUPPORT BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES:
19. 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)
20. It has become a wonderful breakfast and lunch spot at the corner of East Henrietta Road and Westfall Road in the Costco shopping plaza, The Toast Factory. Check it out!
The Toast Factory https://www.thetoastfactory.net/
If you have an item to include in the week’s sharing we need to have it by noon on Friday.