Today is Saturday, October 10. . Indigenous Peoples’ Day, honoring the history, resilience, and cultures of Indigenous peoples is Monday, October 12. Hispanic Heritage month, honoring the history, culture, and contributions of Hispanic and Latinx communities is celebrated September 15 – October 15. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Quote of the week: “You will never find scientists leading armies into battle. You just won’t. Especially not astrophysicists – we see the biggest picture there is. We understand how small we are in the cosmos. We understand how fragile and temporary our existence is here on Earth.” Neil DeGrasse Tyson born October 5, 1958 – present; American astrophysicist and writer.
Featured civil rights activist/abolitionist/pioneer: Neil DeGrasse Tyson born October 5, 1958 – present; American astrophysicist and writer.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Neil-deGrasse-Tyson
EVENTS
We are always looking for events related to race and culture, please share with us @ tcmitch1951@gmail.com
1. The Gateways Music Festival with Rochester as the center for the nation’s Black professional classical musicians takes place from October 9-12 at the University of Rochester’s Eastman School of Music. Check out the performances today, October 10 through Monday, October 12 at the link found at the beginning of the previous sentence. Also read more about this unique festival at item #14a “Chamber music with soul” below.
2. Today, the Monroe County Family Coalition is hosting a FREE Youth and Family Wellness Conference on Saturday, October 10 from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM at Monroe County Hospital. Dr. Ibram X. Kendi will be the keynote speaker. Here is a link to register for the conference: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfrGtASckme_4MD6Vwkym9cmqz8Ko-bKC3HVCKEgocVtywnqA/viewform Here also is a link to MCFC’s website that describes the conference in more detail: https://mcfamilycoalition.org/
3. Kit Miller reminds us that October 12 is Indigenous Peoples Day and shares that the Rochester Museum and Science Center (RMSC) with activities from sunrise to sunset with most of the activities at 657 East Main St. from 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM. See below for details.
4. Michael Boucher shares that the film “The Injured Body: A Film About Racism in America”, a screening and director Q&A will take place Wednesday, October 14 from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM at RIT. See link below for details.
5. Are you aware of the plans for the Minister Franklin D. Florence Civil Rights Heritage Site Project at Baden Park. This project aims to create an educational and cultural landmark that honors Rochester’s significant contributions to the Civil Rights Movement and the legacy of Minister Florence, a revered community leader. We encourage you to complete this survey to help shape the design and amenities of this important landmark. Additionally, consider attending the next public meeting for the Civil Rights Heritage Site project on Thursday, October 15, at 6:00 PM at the Trenton & Pamela Jackson R-Center. Your voice is essential in ensuring this site accurately reflects and celebrates our shared history.
6. The University of Rochester will convene its Annual Conference: Boundless Together 2026 will be held Friday, October 23 2026 at the Joseph A. Floreano Rochester Riverside Convention Center. Kit Miller provides an overview of the event below:
The public is welcome but must register. See details at the link below.
Annual Conference: Boundless Together 2026 – Office of University Engagement and Enrichment
7. George Yeadon suggests this free virtual event provided by the Constitution Center on Monday, October 26 at 1:00 PM, “1876 at 150: The Long Shadow of the Election of 1876”. For more information and to register, see link below.
8. The Urban League of Rochester’s 7th Annual Interrupt Racism Summit is scheduled for November 2, 8:30AM to 4:30PM at the Hyatt Regency 125 E Main St, find the flyer below.
https://www.urbanleagueroc.org/interrupt-racism-summit
9. Check out this interpretive program at Genesee Country Village & Museum intended to share and engage with the history of enslavement in New York State. The initiative shares the powerful stories of enslaved individuals, freedom-seekers, Black and white abolitionists, and even enslavers, highlighting a history that has shaped our society in ways we cannot ignore.
Seeking Freedom – Genesee Country Village & Museum https://www.gcv.org/interpreting-enslavement/
NEWS, HISTORY & RESOURCE
10. Gary Domenico shares this opinion piece that appeared in the NY Times written by John McWorter that castes doubt on reports of possible lynching.
11. We share 3 pieces from the Medium Daily Digest, (some are Opinion pieces);
a. “WHO IS HANGING BLACK PEOPLE?“ by Me’Shell Baylor | Writer • Author • Advocate
b. “Why Has Segregation Never Disappeared in America?“ by William Spivey
c. “Fortified Against America: The Rise and Destruction of Black Forts“ by William Spivey
12. Find the latest Urban League of Rochester’s Interrupter Newsletter.
The Interrupter Newsletter – October 8, 2026
13. Pat Mitchell shares two videos that to many are unknown pieces of the Black history.
a. Most people use computers every day. At work. At school. At home. And now in their pockets. But here’s the part people miss. A Foundational Black American engineer helped shape the early computer industry in Silicon Valley. His name was Roy L. Clay,
b. Most people know the White House as a symbol of power. But not many people know who dressed the woman inside it. In the 1860s, the most sought-after dressmaker in Washington, D.C. was a Foundational Black American woman who had bought her own freedom just five years earlier.
14. Here are 2 articles from this week’s Beacon:
a. Chamber music with soul: the fall 2026 Gateways Music Festival.
Chamber music with soul: the fall 2026 Gateways Music Festival – Rochester BeaconRochester Beacon
b. Decline in city’s crime numbers overall continues
https://rochesterbeacon.com/2026/10/07/decline-in-citys-crime-numbers-overall-continues/
15. Here are 2 articles from this week’s Minority Reporter:
a. Memorial Art Gallery Announces May 1, 2027, as First Day of Permanent Free Admission https://www.minorityreporter.net/post/memorial-art-gallery-announces-may-1-2027-as-first-day-of-permanent-free-admission
b. ROC With Your Hands
https://www.minorityreporter.net/post/roc-with-your-hands
16. There are 3 articles that deal with Race, Poverty, Hate or Intolerance found in the D&C and U.S. Today this past week.
a. Taking off the mask
b. Sanctioned Rochester homeless encampment to reopen
c. ‘BORDERS’ ARTISTS PUSH BACK (Exhibit turns immigration fears into political protest)
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. Check out many of the programs available for City students to prepare for their education and careers. See link below.
Urban League of Rochester https://www.urbanleagueroc.org/youth
19. It is not too early to start planning and preparing for the many scholarships available to support students education. See link below.
Youth Education and Development — Urban League of Rochester https://www.urbanleagueroc.org/scholarships
SUPPORT BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES:
20. 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)
21. Get your car or truck looking good for the upcoming holidays. Check out Touch of Perfection On the Go – Car Wash and Detail Shop. See link below,
If you have an item to include in the week’s sharing we need to have it by noon.