by Fatima Rodriguez Johnson | May 21, 2026 | Staff
Dear Members of the Canisius Community
The 6th annual Juneteenth Celebration at Canisius University will be held on Thursday, June 11, 2026. All faculty, staff, and students are invited to share in a day of solidarity in honor of our African American community. This year’s event begins at 9:00 a.m. in the Science Hall Commons with a welcome by President Stoute and concludes with lunch. All are welcome and encouraged to participate, and we ask that you RSVP by Monday, June 8th.
In collaboration with Juneteenth Inc. of Buffalo, Canisius will host a Sankofa Day for the city-wide recognition. Sankofa means to “go back and get,” it recognizes the past while focusing on the future. Members of the campus and local community will participate in workshops and engage in service projects. Lunch will be provided.
Juneteenth commemorates the anniversary of the date when news of emancipation finally reached most enslaved African Americans in Texas, and Canisius is proud to honor this day. It was on June 19, 1865, when Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger, along with more than 1,800 federal troops, arrived in Galveston, TX, to take control of the state from the Confederate rebellion, nearly two months after the war’s last major battle. Gen. Granger issued an order confirming the freedom promised in President Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 Emancipation Proclamation and denied to them by the Confederate government.
Canisius’ Juneteenth celebration hopes to inspire conversation, action, and hope in our ongoing work toward anti-racism, diversity, and inclusion.
Members of the university are also invited to attend activities held throughout the month. For more details on events and opportunities to volunteer for the city of Buffalo Juneteenth Celebration, please visit Juneteenth Buffalo.
by Fatima Rodriguez Johnson | May 12, 2026 | Staff
Dear Campus Community,
On May 14, 2022, a tragic and racially motivated mass shooting occurred in Buffalo, NY, at Tops Market on Jefferson Avenue, targeting African Americans. This act of hate claimed the lives of 10 individuals and physically injured 3 others. As we approach this solemn anniversary, we honor the memory of those lost and reaffirm our commitment to justice, healing, and unity.
We invite students, staff, and faculty to participate in the following events on Thursday, May 14:
- 5/14 Day of Service & Remembrance Food Giveaway, 12:00 p.m.- 2:00 p.m., Frank E. Merriweather, Jr. Library, 1324 Jefferson Avenue
- Ecumenical Prayer with Father Fredrick G. Betti, SJ, after Mass, beginning at 12:45 p.m., Christ the King Chapel. Peace print Doves are on display outside the chapel.
- Pre-Ceremony Remembrance Observance & Reflection Space, 1:30 p.m.–6:00 p.m., Frank E. Merriweather, Jr. Library, 1324 Jefferson Avenue
- 5/14 Day of Service & Remembrance sponsored by the Clementine Gold Group
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- 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Acts of Service
You can serve from anywhere, and how you serve is up to you:
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- Write & mail notes of encouragement to elders or students
- Deliver care kits to East Side neighbors (snacks, socks, affirmations)
- Refill a community fridge with fresh food + water
- Support Black-owned East Side businesses
2. 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.: Community Gathering
E Utica St, between Jefferson & Dupont:
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- Live Music from Tru Journey
- Reflection station: post-its, poetry, art, intention-setting
- Local food vendors (free)
- Kids Zone: bubbles, chalk, books, art table
- And More
Counseling services are also available at the Frank E. Merriweather, Jr. Library from 12:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
Our Jesuit mission calls us to be people for and with others. Let us come together in remembrance and solidarity with the East Side of Buffalo.
by Fatima Rodriguez Johnson | Apr 16, 2026 | Staff
by Fatima Rodriguez Johnson | Mar 20, 2026 | Staff
Las Voces de El Salvador Education & Film Series is a project inspired by the ICP encounter experience of President Steve K. Stoute and Fatima Rodriguez Johnson. The project is designed to explore themes of justice, solidarity and global citizenship. The film series hopes to serve as a foundation for deeper institutional engagement with our Salvadoran brothers and sisters in El Salvador and in the immigrant community of Buffalo, in the spirit of solidarity.
Please join us on Tuesday, March 24, at 12:05 p.m. for Mass in honor of Moñsenor Oscar Romero, the fourth Archbishop of San Salvador, who was martyred on March 24,1980.
Special thank you to Borders & Migration, the department of Religious Studies and Theology, the department of Sociology/Criminal Justice/Environmental Studies, and Mission Integration for supporting this project.
by Fatima Rodriguez Johnson | Feb 18, 2026 | Staff
Ramadan is a holiday observed by Muslims* during which they focus on introspection, communal prayer, and religious fasting. This year, Ramadan will take place from Feb. 18-March 19**.
Here is some information about Ramadan:
- Individuals refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, and intimate contact from dawn to sunset.
- Individuals increase their focus on personal restraint, proper conduct, and empathy with the less fortunate through giving to charity and engaging in local projects.
- Muslims who have reached puberty are obligated to fast. Individuals who are not at puberty may choose to fast anyway. Exemptions are made for individuals in situations where fasting would be a hardship, such as illness, pregnancy, nursing, etc.
In an effort to support the members of our community, here are some items for your consideration:
- New York Education Law section 224-A outlines the requirements for academic accommodations.
- Please be flexible with scheduling, as individuals may need to pray during class, meetings, etc.
- Due to fasting, individuals may struggle to concentrate. Consider allowing individuals to keep their cameras off during any virtual classes, meetings, etc., or to take a quick break if needed.
- Individuals may begin to wear hijabs during this month. Remember, it is not the individual’s responsibility to educate the community.
- Prayer rooms are available in the library for individuals to use if needed. Additionally, there is group prayer on Fridays from 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. in Science Hall Room 105. Offices may also want to consider identifying a designated space for prayer. If you would like signage to help identify these spaces, please reach out to the ALANA Student Center.
- Please contact Chartwells for the availability of Halal sourced food options in the Social Dining Hall and review the hours of operation for all campus dining locations.
The Muslim Student Association and USA J.U.S.T.I.C.E. Committee will be hosting an educational event, “Understanding Ramadan,” on Friday, February 20, 12 noon-2 p.m., in front of the Dining Hall.
Consistent with our institutional statement on diversity and inclusion, these efforts will help us achieve our goals of “creating a culture of acceptance, awareness, learning, respect, and understanding inside and outside of the classroom.”
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Fatima Rodriguez Johnson, Associate Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, at rodrig23@canisius.edu.
*The term Muslim refers to individuals who practice the religion of Islam.
**Dates may vary depending on the individual’s religious school of thought.
