[buy local, eat local, be local]

Obviously there are many, many reasons why you should buy your food and other goods from local farmers and local small businesses. If you need more info on this check out Sustainable Table or just google 'buy local'. I find it healthier and just more enjoyable to buy local. People selling goods locally usually have a more vested interest in their business and are very passionate about what they do. I have come across two Rochester businesses I want to share: Slim Goodie Boutique (530 Thurston Rd.) and Small World Bakery. Slim Goodie sells men and women's accessories, clothing, and shoes. Small World Bakery specializes in local and organic artisan breads and sweets. Folks in Rochester- check these businesses out. This weekend we will be biking over to Slim Goodie and to the public market so I will update in a couple days.

[The Global Female]

Rochester International Women’s Day

at Rochester Contemporary Art Center (RoCo)

137 East Avenue

March 8th, 2009- 1:00 - 3:30pm

Formal Program begins at 1:30pm

Enjoy...

*Earth Tones Woman Installation: A Modern Gypsy’s Photo Journal

by Jamie Columbus

*Blessings by multi-cultural spiritual leaders

*Peace offerings in sign language by Trinity Montessori girls

*Proclamations by offices of the County Executive, Mayor, and Town of Brighton

*Ethnic hors d’oeuvres, tea, wine coolers, beer, International music, cultural dancers & performance groups representing women of the world,

*Goddess Make up, Henna Hands, Sacred Hand Art Project

friends, conversation, and surprises

More info and other Rochester events: http://www.riwd.org/index.html

[Celebrate Black History]

Legacy: Treasures of Black History. by Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, Thomas C. Battle, Donna Wells

FREDERICK DOUGLASS -photographer unknown, ca 1850. Daguerreotype mounted in brass frame and mat. Frederick Douglass Collection, Howard University Museum.

"COME AND JOIN US BROTHERS," printed by P.S. Duval & Son Lithographers, Philadelphia, ca 1864.Broadside. General Museum Collection.

FISK JUBILEE SINGERS, photograph by Allen and Howell, ca 1890. Prints and Photographs.

WOMEN ATTENDING THE SECOND NIAGARA MOVEMENT CONFERENCE, photographer unknown, 1906. Freeman Henry Morris Murray Papers.

[reaffirm our enduring spirit]

"...people will judge you on what you can build and not what you destroy." - Barack Obama

[neighborhood ball]

[justice for Oscar Grant]

Please educate yourself on the murder of 22 year old Oscar Grant, who was shot by a police officer in Oakland, CA. Grant was shot as he lay face down on the ground, unarmed, and restrained. We cannot allow police brutality to perpetuate in our communities any longer. I am posting a few links- do your own research and make sure you speak on this senseless crime with your fam and friends: The Huffington Post, KTVU News, Color of Change, 5 Things You Can do Right Now about the Oscar Grant Shooting. I will actually be in the Bay area in 2 short weeks to visit a close friend. I will definitely be blogging about my trip and what I learn about Oscar Grant's murder while on the west coast. Demand justice!

[imani]

Happy Kwanzaa and Happy New Year! Today marks the last day of Kwanzaa and the first day of 2009. The last principle of Kwanzaa is Imani (faith) : To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle. -The Official Kwanzaa Website

[kuumba]

Happy Kwanzaa! On New Year's Eve the Kwanzaa principle is Kuumba (creativity): To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it. -The Official Kwanzaa Website

[nia]

On this fifth day of Kwanzaa the principle is Nia (Purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and development of our community in order to restore our people to their tradiitonal greatness. -The Official Kwanzaa website

[ujamaa]

Today is the fourth day of Kwanzaa. Today's principle is Ujamaa (cooperative economics): To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together. -The Official Kwanzaa Website

[ujima]

Happy Kwanzaa! Today's principle is Ujima (collective work and responsibility): To build and maintain our community together, make our brother's and sister's problems our problems, and to solve them together. -The Official Kwanzaa Website

[kujichagulia]

Today is the 2nd day of Kwanzaa. Today's principle is Kujichagulia (Self-Determination): to define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves. Check out the official Kwanzaa website to learn more.

[umoja]

Happy Kwanzaa! Today marks the beginning of the seven day celebration. Today's principle is Umoja (unity): To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race. "Kwanzaa, which means “first fruits of the harvest,” is a time of reaffirming African American people, our ancestors and our culture. We seek to honor our past, evaluate our present and commit ourselves to a more productive future. Africans and African-Americans of all religious faiths and backgrounds practice Kwanzaa." -Baobab Cultural Center

Celebrate Kwanzaa in Rochester, NY:

Kwanzaa 2008: A Change is Gonna Come

Umoja (Unity): December 26 - Wheatley Library, 3-5 pm. 33 Dr Samuel McCree Way.

Kujichagulia (Self-Determination): December 27 - Baobab Cultural Center, 3-5pm. 728 University Ave.

Ujima (Collective Work & Responsibility): December 28 - Memorial Art Gallery, 12 noon -5pm. 500 University Ave.

Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics): December 29 - Rochester Museum and Science Center, 6-9 pm. 657 East Ave.

Nia (Purpose): December 30 - North Street Recreation Center, 3-6 pm. 700 North St.

Kuumba (Creativity) December 31 - Dunwoody Studios, 6-9 pm. 34 Elton Street.

Imani (Faith): January 1 - Celebrate at home with family.

For more information: call the Kwanzaa Hotline at 585-234-KWAN (5926).

[Petal Power]

The other day I was browsing at Abundance Co-op when I discovered four locally made products- Petal Power Salve/Balm and Green Power Salve/Balm. Each formula comes in a thick salve for the body and a lip balm. The amazing thing about these products is that they are made by Rochester students who are enrolled in a school-community garden project. Their pamphlet and website describe the program:"An...organic farmer and an educator work with elementary school students, teachers, and the community to develop school-community gardens on or near the schools. Students learn sustainable agriculture techniques. The gardens are located in low-income areas where food insecurity is high. Having the students research, design and process a product that is marketed and sold to the public is one of the goals of the project." Wow. Not only is this an incredible project that benefits local kids, schools and our communities but the products are natural and beautiful. Plus 100% of the proceeds from every purchase go back into the Rochester Roots program. Make sure you purchase Petal Power/Green Power products- they will make excellent stocking stuffers and help someone survive that dry skin and chapped lips we deal with in the winter! I'm giving them to everyone on my holiday list. These products are super affordable and can be purchased at the Abundance Coop (62 Marshall St. ) or online: Rochester Roots.