Black History Month Speaker Series

February 5, 2022 – Join us for a two-part session as we kick off our speaker series:

 Session I - Racial Covenants in Housing:  Are They Really a Thing of the Past? 

Phil Wheeler will provide a detailed examination of a local volunteer effort to identify and map racial covenants in Olmsted County. Learn about their local prevalence and their enduring impacts on segregation and wealth accumulation. Can a city be “inclusive” if it’s neighborhoods are “exclusive?”

 Session II – The Counting is Done and Now the Redistricting in Local Government Entities Begins:  We are Watching.   Now that the 2020 Census data has been tabulated, changes in municipal, local and state government district boundaries is taking place.  Join host Ray Schmitz for important updates on the redistricting process, where things stand and how your voice can be heard. 

 February 12, 2022 – DMC:  What’s in It for Me; Questions and Answers for the Community of Color.  Join W. C. Jordan as he moderates a panel of representatives from DMC, the City of Rochester and members of the community. Hear an update on Destination Medical Center and its impact on Rochester, most specifically the impact on the community of color. 

February 19, 2022 – Let’s Take Time to Remember:  A Memorial for the Freedom Fighters and Those Lost to Violence in our Community, Our State and Our Nation in 2021.  The Rochester Branch of the NAACP has a legacy of paying homage to our heroes, our freedom fighters and those who have lost their lives due to violence.  We will mark their passing through spoken word, poetry, song and tributes shared by community voices. 

February 26, 2022 – The Rochester Branch NAACP featured guest is Mr. Najee Dorsey, Artist, Collector, CEO / Founder of Black Art in America™ (BAIA), as we present our final session in the Black History Month Series, entitled “Black Art Excellence: A Celebration of Black Art” moderated by Wale Elegbede and Barbara Jordan.

Many descriptive titles could attempt to sum up the profile of Najee Dorsey—World-class Artist, Founder and CEO of Black Art In America (BAIA), Collector, Producer and Arts Advocate would only be the tip of the iceberg. Those experiences and many more are what have shaped his unique perspective on the art market and its various art worlds. Najee has successfully carved out an individual space for himself. BLACK ART IN AMERICA™ (BAIA) is the leading online portal and social network focused on African-American Art with nearly half a million visitors from over 100 countries. Social media pages include Black Art In America, Do You Basel?, EveryThang Black and Garden Art for the Soul. BAIA amplifies thought-provoking commentary on today’s visual arts news from a variety of perspectives. Learn more at www.blackartinamerica.com

An “in solidarity” performance will be done by ARKAI at closing of event. ARKAI’s genre-bending music fuses classical virtuosity with contemporary technology, forging new possibilities for what a violin and cello can be. Winners of the 2021 Astral Artists National Auditions, their past engagements have included performances at The MET Breuer, Rockwood Music Hall, Juilliard School, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and the 92nd Street Y. Their electronic debut composition, “Letters from COVID”, was featured at TED@PMI for a global audience of over 30,000 people from 182 countries. ARKAI is currently creating its debut album, Aurora, in collaboration with seven-time Grammy-nominated producer Joel Hamilton.