Welcome to our Pittsford PTSA, Black History Month - Black History is American History dedicated to celebrating Black Americans and other peoples of African descent.
For week two of our Black History Month Program, we proudly feature Mendon High School alumna and Rochester, New York’s own, Senator Samra Brouk.
Born in the City of Rochester, her father is an immigrant from Ethiopia, and her mother hails from Bloomfield, New York. Senator Brouk made history on Saturday, January 16, 2021, when she became the first Black woman to be sworn in to represent our District.
Senator Brouk lives a life of service that has prepared her for the role of senator of New York’s 55th District, of which Pittsford is a part, along with other towns and regions of Rochester and the Finger Lakes.
The Senator recognizes that her hard-earned achievements were made possible, in part, by the sacrifices and support of her family and community. Similarly, Senator Brouk is grateful for the many struggles, contributions, and triumphs of African American people throughout history who paved the way to citizenship and civil rights for their Black descendants and other underrepresented people in New York and across these United States.
As a student at School #12 in Rochester and as an alumna of Mendon High School, Senator Brouk had several mentors along the way. Her commitment to education and support from her family and community inspired Senator Brouk to complete her Bachelor of Arts Degree at Williams College—where she majored in psychology and Spanish— and volunteer for the United States Peace Corps. While volunteering in Guatemala and here at home, she collaborated with schools and local governments to advance these critical initiatives: recycling efforts, health habits of students, seniors' services, and address inequities in the public school system.
As Senator, she has reaffirmed her commitments to amplifying young people and seniors' voices and supporting policy change to improve mental health care access, substance abuse treatment services, and education.
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and people during the Civil Rights Era marched and organized to improve African American people's lives in the United States and create a more equitable and unified country. However, there is more work to do. Senator Brouk both reminds and encourages us to speak out about racial inequality and advance changes that will dismantle the systemic and institutionalized racial injustices that aim to marginalize people of color.
Senator Brouk is a proud member of our local community. She is dedicated to representing the needs of all in our local community and the broader region of Upstate New York. Finally, Senator Brouk encourages young people to remain engaged in their communities, understand that their voices have power, and remember that they are our future and have so much to contribute.
OUR PROGRAM - BLACK HISTORY IS AMERICAN HISTORY
Throughout February, we will share our PTSA programming. We will also include news about the exciting educational experiences that schools across our district have planned to help students and families celebrate Black History Month.
We know that it is essential to create welcoming schools and classrooms where differences in language, culture, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, unique abilities, etc., are viewed as assets rather than deficits. An awareness and acceptance of these differences are foundational to the success of all students.
Please return to our website each week. Here you will find interviews, historical profiles, and resources providing snapshots of the culture and the legacy of the African Diaspora and life in America.
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