UPCOMING EVENTS
ANNUAL JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION AND 5K
Come celebrate freedom day in community. This family event offers:
– Free kids activities, including a bounce slide and laser tag
-Enjoy food and refreshments from over 13 vendors
-Shop crafts, apparel, and homemade goods from local black owned businesses
-Dance, sing, and clap along with performers, including a drum line, DJ, and spoken word
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PAST EVENTS
LEARN ABOUT WHAT WE’VE DONE
Irondequoit’s first Juneteenth event in its history was organized by E.R.A.S.E. and sponsored by the Town of Irondequoit summer of 2020. Though this day is typically a day of celebration, E.R.A.S.E. paid tribute to the numerous lives lost by the hands of the police with a candle lit vigil. Students from both East & West Irondequoit schools along with community volunteers helped to make this event a success. 
E.R.A.S.E. and the Town of Irondequoit took to the streets, marching against systemic racism in our community. Powerful speeches were given by various community leaders sharing their experiences and knowledge regarding racism and police brutality. There is no space for racism in our neighborhood, our schools, social media and our police. 
E.R.A.S.E. and the Town of Irondequoit gathered at the Heyer-Bayer Memorial Park for a panel discussion on various racial issues including: the murder of Daniel Prude, combating racism in our communities and racial equity goals. Guest panelist included: Dr. Nicholas Robertson – Criminal Justice Assistant Professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology and Policy and Research Chair of E.R.A.S.E, Robin Reynolds Wilt – Town Council Member of Brighton, Adrianne Santucci – Hochstein Dance Faculty Member and Activist, and Marcus Dames – West Irondequoit Central School graduate. 
E.R.A.S.E collaborated with Jackie McGriff, Founder and Cinematographer and Deborah Alvarez, Cinematographer and Editor, and the Mosaic Club of West Irondequoit High School (IHS) and brought to the forefront, hidden heroes in Black history during Black History Month February 2021. We heard students voice their research of Maria Stewart, Bass Reeves, Jeremiah Hamilton, and Tupac Shakur’s mother, Afeni Shakur. The program was so well-received that IHS chose to re-aire all four films each Wednesday during Peak classes throughout the month of February at IHS. This allowed for new and exciting class discussion. Available on the Our Voices Project social media pages, other area high schools were able to share each filming for their students to learn from, as well as local news outlets such as WXXI’s Evan Dawson Connections. 
Thanks to the generosity of Irondequoit Town Supervisor Dave Seeley, E.R.A.S.E. was given permission to create a wall mural on the side of the former Ridge Road branch of the Irondequoit Public Library on the East side of Irondequoit. E.R.A.S.E. commissioned local artist Jelani Michael O’Connor to create a unique work of art focused on the power of voting. Using bold colors and instantly recognizable Rochester imagery, Jelani created a striking statement piece along Ridge Road adding color and art to what was otherwise a vacant an empty space along our town’s primary thoroughfare. 
Thanks to Mike and Wendy Nolan, E.R.A.S.E. was given permission to put up a mural on Bakers Park next to the Imaginarium. With a concept of creating a cooperative community piece of art, numerous E.R.A.S.E. created a ‘chalkboard’ space that was centered by art created by Irondequoit High School students and IHS art teacher, Susan Jacobs, displaying the message “I VOTE Because”. Chalk was left at the mural by E.R.A.S.E. to give community members an opportunity to leave their own messages about why voting is important to them. This ongoing available space gives the community the opportunity to keep this art and this message alive! 
I-Vote was held in October to provide information about BIPOC history in the fight for voter rights. Bipartisan information was provided to Irondequoit voters about candidates on the ballot. E.R.A.S.E. shared information on the importance of early voting and having a plan to vote. There was also raffles and activities for children around voting and civic engagement. Your country. Your future. Your vote! 
Special guest Shane Weigand and West Irondequoit Central School District provided information to parents about what an Anti-Racist curriculum will look like in our schools. This curriculum will allow students to explore and interpret our history through rich primary sources. Our graduates will learn about the contemporary realities of structural racism and have an opportunity to build a more just and equitable community through their education. 
E.R.A.S.E. hosted a virtual panel discussion with leaders in the Rochester Latino/a community to express how racial injustice impacts the local Latin community. Facilitated by E.R.A.S.E. Vice Secretary Michael Huntone, this powerful conversation explored impactful topics including race and ethnic identity in the Latin community, experiences with racism in Rochester suburbs, interactions with law enforcement, and the relationship between the Latino/a community and the Black Lives Matter movement. 
This event was kicked off with a rap performance by East Irondequoit teen and rap artist, Brendan Howe. Youth students convened for a zoom panel discussion regarding their experiences with racism in their daily lives at school and in the community . The conversation was facilitated by West Irondequoit parent and coach, Matthew Robinson and sophomore, Tyleea Panye-Harley to create a safe space.