I’m learning and growing – join me? Announcing Side with Love’s Skill Up Spring Series
As we gear up for UU the Vote 2022, I am excited to tell you about our Spring 2022 Skill Up Series!
But first, let me tell you about my learning journey last week, participating in the UU Ministers’ Association Institute for the Learning Ministry. I immersed myself in worship and thought-provoking keynotes. I played cello as part of a ritual of lament with fellow members of the Committee on Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression and Multiculturalism. I had FOMO (fear of missing out) as I made dinner for my children during seminar time, but I also got to take in some parts of it that fed my soul and challenged my mind in evocative ways.
Lifelong learning and the ever-unfolding of our paths is central to Unitarian Universalist practice. For me as a “good student,” my habit is to want to show up on time, fully, for everything, and do it all right.
The lesson I keep learning – with many of you all as my teachers and community of accountability – is that there are no “good students” in organizing for love and justice. There is no such thing as straight A's in organizing (or in life, for that matter!). There are simply learners and fellow learners.
There are those many of us who ”have to cast [our] lot with those who age after age, perversely, with no extraordinary power, reconstitute the world,“ (to quote white queer poet Adrienne Rich)
I am so grateful to have cast my lot with you all and am honored to join the Side with Love staff team as a permanent staff member – this will allow us to keep building our learning and organizing opportunities like the Skill Ups, Squads, and Action Center gatherings. Our Skill Ups are designed to help you learn AND practice a concrete skill so that it’s in your toolbox when your organizing calls for it.
What is a Skill Up?
This is our monthly series of trainings on organizing skills to help build our UU the Vote and Side with Love Volunteer Squads and help YOU build stronger teams in your congregation and community. We'll start the session with some spiritual fun and then launch into our training. This is also a chance to find out how to get more involved as a Side with Love volunteer and meet members of the Volunteer Squads.
Sign up now to come live, or be the first to get the recordings!
Hosting Events on the Action Center with Sarah Berel-Harrop, Squad Leader
Creating Effective Guest Opinions and Letters to the Editor with Jeff Milchen, UUA Justice Communications Associate
Grounding, Welcoming & Energizing with Canedy Knowles & Rev. Kristina Church, Side with Love Fun & Spiritual Nourishment Squad Coordinators.
The Art of the Ask with Nicole Pressley, UUA Side with Love Field & Programs Director
"How Do I Get People to Care?!" Building Strong Grassroots Actions for Justice with Susan Leslie, UUA Side with Love Partnerships & Coalitions Organizer
View past Recordings and resources on our Skill Up Resource Page . Topics include Slack, Canva, Zoom, recruitment, faith framing, one-on-ones and more!
I look forward to seeing you in a Zoom or in Slack soon!
In service of faith, love, and beauty,
Rev. Cathy Rion Starr
they/them
Side with Love Squads Coordinator / UUA Leadership Development Specialist
