Today is Saturday, June 20. Juneteenth, the emancipation of enslaved African Americans across the United States is celebrated this coming Friday, June 19. Wednesday, June 24 is the Nativity of John the Baptist a Christian solemnity that honors the birth and death of St. John the Baptist and his example as a follower of Christ. Thursday, June 25 through Friday, June 26 is the Islamic holiday of Ashura marking the day in which prophet Musa was saved by Allah when He parted the Sea while leading the children of Israel to the land of Israel. June is African American culture and emancipation (Juneteenth), National Indigenous History month, Caribbean American Heritage month and LGBTQ+ Pride month.
Quote of the week: “Self-doubt is real. Everyone has it. Having confidence and losing confidence is real, too, and everyone has been in that position.” Venus Williams born June 17, 1980, American tennis player.
Featured civil rights activist/abolitionist/pioneer: Venus Williams born June 17, 1980, American tennis player.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Venus-Williams
EVENTS
1. Juneteenth was officially yesterday but the City of Rochester 2026 Juneteenth Festival & Parade continue today Saturday, June 20. Join the parade at 11:00 AM. See below for details.
2026 Juneteenth Festival – Rochester Area Community Foundation https://www.racf.org/about/events/2026-juneteenth-festival/
2. George Yeadon suggests joining the Independence Week Town Hall: The American Idea at 250, Wednesday, July 1 | 6:30 p.m. ET | In Person and Online. See below for details and to register.
3. 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
4. “The U.S. at 250, Juneteenth, and the Contradiction of Freedom”, posted by Mareisha N. Winters Reese | Jun 17, 2026 | Point of View, Recent Posts
The U.S. at 250, Juneteenth, and the Contradiction of Freedom | The Inclusion Solution
5. Richard Glaser shares this information on the single and video by Danielle Ponder “Power”
6. From the Medium Daily Digest, we share 3 pieces (some are Opinion pieces);
a. “Karmelo Anthony Verdict Exposes Myth of Race-Neutral Defense“ by Dr. Allison Wiltz on Medium: 98
b. “When White People Enter Black Spaces“ by Jeffrey Kass on Medium:
c. “How the Circle of Seven, the US Organization, Kwanzaa, COINTELPRO, Fake FBI Organizations, the…“ by William Spivey:
7. From Democrat & Chronicle: NY ranked among worst states for racial equality in education
8. Find the latest Urban League of Rochester’s Interrupter Newsletter.
The Interrupter Newsletter – June 18, 2026
9. Last Friday, the ROC Community Table hosted Deputy Raymond Ruiz, Community Liaison for Immigrants, Refugees, Resettled Residents, and Asylees for the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), to discuss MCSO’s role in immigration enforcement and community safety. If you are interested in attending the next open Table meeting on June 26 at 2:00 PM, please email mndoole@ulr.org.
10. Here are two articles from this week’s Beacon:
a. Charter Schools Contribution to Rochester’s Schoolchildren
https://rochesterbeacon.com/2026/06/15/charter-schools-contribution-to-rochesters-schoolchildren/
b. Charlotte Street Developer Hopes to Break Ground Next Spring
https://rochesterbeacon.com/2026/06/16/charlotte-street-developer-hopes-to-break-ground-next-spring/
11. Here are two articles from this week’s Minority Reporter:
a. City Celebrates Juneteenth with Block Party and Flag Raising
https://www.minorityreporter.net/post/city-celebrates-juneteenth-with-block-party-and-flag-raising
b. Valedictorians and Senior Scholars Poster Display at Central Library
12. Pat Mitchell shares this video from ‘Reel by Smith Carlos’ with us. “Racism isn’t always hate. Sometimes it looks like love. And that might be the most dangerous version of it.”
13. Drew Saur shares an album review from Riff magazine: ‘Jon Batiste faithfully reinterprets the classics with ‘Black Mozart’’
https://riffmagazine.com/album-reviews/jon-batiste-black-mozart
14. There are 6 articles that deal with Race, Poverty, Hate or Intolerance found in the D&C this past week.
a. Ontario County’s 1st family homeless shelter opens
b. FreedomWalk2026 honors Underground Railroad legacy
c. Judge orders halt to ‘censorship’ at parks
d. Library reopens for next chapter
e. GA lawmakers ditch redistricting plans (GOP speaker cites need for public input and transparency)
f. Path to freedom (Juneteenth reminds us of Black Americans’ long struggle for education following the end of slavery)
OPPORTUNITIES:
15. 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”.
16. The Center for Governmental Research has undertaken an important survey ‘Understanding Black & African American Participation in Health Survey’ Please share with your network: https://www.cgr.org/understanding-black-and-african-american-participation-in-health-survey/
17. 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:
18. 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)
19. Check out this new Southern, Soul and Island inspired restaurant located in the 19th Ward, ‘Table 19’. See below:
https://www.facebook.com/p/Table-19-Restaurant-Wine-Bar-61570259849785
If you have an item to include in the week’s sharing we need to have it by noon on Friday