The new Monroe Community College Institute for the Humanities is holding its inaugural event this weekend.
It's called "Rochester Remembers the 1960s: The Legacy of Social Justice Activism."
The events run tonight and Saturday at MCC's downtown campus.
Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences, Mike Jacobs, says the Institute aims to communicate the value of humanities education, and offer high quality public programming that focuses on topics of real relevance to the community.
"Central to the identity of Rochester has been its social justice activism, from the underground railroad and Frederick Douglass, to Susan B. Anthony and the suffrage movement, alll the way through the 60s and activism on college campuses to today, with Black Lives Matter and the art activist movements we see in the city," he said.
This weekend's event at the Institute at the downtown MCC campus includes the screening of "July 64," the documentary of the 1964 riots in Rochester tonight.
Jacobs says events Saturday include a keynote address by Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School President Marvin McMickle talking about parallels in 1960s social justice activism and what's happening today.
That will also be panel discussions by scholars and students, and important photographs from the 60s.
Jacobs says he hopes people see the value in humanities programming, and this weekend's events are just the beginning.
"We want to reach people who normally don't have access to that kind of educational programming. And one way to do that, and this is really on our agenda for the next few years, one way to do that is to focus on underrepresented and underserved groups, and that's what we hope to do moving forward," he said.
The events are free and open to the public
Those wishing to attend are asked to register at monroecc.edu/go/remember.