Noelle E. C. Evans

Friday marks the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, and some families are finding ways to celebrate together, even when they have to be apart. It’s a day that Gail Wolk celebrates every year with relatives.

“It’s having everyone together and talking about all different things and laughing,” said Wolk. “It’s just family.”

The American Red Cross is urging more Black people to donate blood to help sickle cell disease patients, whose treatment depends on closely matching blood types. 

Sickle cell disease is a genetic blood disorder that affects about 100,000 people in the U.S., most of whom are African American. 

Melanie Funchess, director of community engagement and family support for the Mental Health Association, says that when she saw the police bodycam footage of Daniel Prude’s in-custody death, she could see that he was having a mental health crisis. His behavior was irrational. He was naked in the cold.

“They couldn’t even do so much to put a blanket, show the slightest bit of kindness to put a blanket?” Funchess said. “Because they got him down and put the handcuffs on him, they could have covered him.”

Activists gathered outside of Rochester City Hall on Thursday morning, demanding that more be done to ensure justice is served for Daniel Prude, his family, and the Black community.

Prude died in March after Rochester police officers restrained him.

The Rev. Lewis Stewart with the United Christian Leadership Ministry said it’s still unclear why it took nearly six months for Prude's death, which was ruled a homicide, to become public knowledge.

Monique Mendes wasn't aware that she was the first Black woman to receive her Ph.D. in neuroscience from the University of Rochester until after she completed her dissertation. 

“It was pretty lonely to be, sometimes, the only Black woman in the conference room or at U of R,” said Mendes. 

In July, a Twitter campaign began with an account called @BlackinNeuro with a focus on highlighting Black excellence in neuroscience. 

The Strong National Museum of Play is offering a ten-week Strong school club for elementary students whose schooling will be virtual this fall. 

First through fifth graders will receive supervision and support from museum staff. Kids can take part in museum activities during breaks and during after school care.

The Urban League of Rochester is holding a city-wide “Make Black Count Day” on Sunday, to encourage people to register to vote and complete the 2020 Census.  

“This opportunity only comes up every ten years for us to be able to make ourselves count, make Rochester count, so that many organizations in our area including the Urban League continue to receive the federal dollars that support our most at-risk population,” the Urban League’sRivera-Bloodworth said.