Today is Saturday, October 17. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Friday, October 23 the Baha’i commemorate the Birth of the Bab (1819 – 1850), the co-founder of their faith, Saturday, October 24 the Baha’i commemorates the Birth of Baha’u’llah (1817 – 1892), the co-founder of their faith.
Quote of the week: “My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.” Desmond Tutu born October 7, 1931 – December 26, 2021.
Featured civil rights activist/abolitionist/pioneer: Desmond Tutu born October 7, 1931 – December 26, 2021.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Desmond-Tutu
EVENTS
We are always looking for events related to race and culture, please share with us @ tcmitch1951@gmail.com
1. 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
2. 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.
3. 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
4. George Yeadon shares information on the film “14th review” – Ava DuVernay’s galvanizing documentary, a fascinating and troubling companion piece to her Netflix documentary 13th, which takes a fiery look at American injustice. 14th is premiering at the New York film festival and will be released in cinemas on 27 November and available on Netflix on 4 December. More information is found below.
5. 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
6. We share 3 pieces from the Medium Daily Digest, (some are Opinion pieces);
a. “The Last Leading Public Execution?“ by William Spivey
b. “The Real Story of Three American Holidays: Columbus Day, Martin Luther King Day, and Juneteenth“ by William Spivey: https://medium.com/the-polis/the-real-story-of-three-american-holidays-columbus-day-martin-luther-king-day-and-juneteenth-1359d23ca722
c. “The Government Said the Quiet Part Out Loud“ by Malik Shakur
7. Find the latest Urban League of Rochester’s Interrupter Newsletter.
The Interrupter Newsletter – October 15, 2026
8. Here are 2 articles from this week’s Beacon:
a. How do university ‘melting pots’ affect native students?
https://rochesterbeacon.com/2026/10/13/how-do-university-melting-pots-affect-native-students/
b. Three-year project aims to improve 19th Ward corridor
https://rochesterbeacon.com/2026/10/12/three-year-project-aims-to-improve-19th-ward-corridor/
9. Here are 2 articles from this week’s Minority Reporter:
a. Rochester Public Library Celebrates New Mural at Lyell Branch Library
b. Person in Crisis Team to Hold Community Engagement Session
https://www.minorityreporter.net/post/person-in-crisis-team-to-hold-community-engagement-session
10. 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
11. 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”.
12. 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
13. 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:
14. 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)
15. With the holidays approaching could you use a quality photo of your family? Check out Denise Batiste Photography. See link below,
Denise Batiste Photography Rochester NY Reviews | Black-Owned In Rochester https://blackownedinrochester.com/listing/denise-batiste-photography/
If you have an item to include in the week’s sharing we need to have it by noon.