Feb 10

Feb 10 Decolonizing Our Work for Justice

It’s an uncomfortable question for those of us known as “settlers,” and one that we do not regularly have to face. Last year, as part of the UU College of Social Justice’s “Solidarity with Original Nations and Peoples” program, I had gone in considering myself someone whose eyes were open to the injustices done to the original peoples of the United States. As I stood on the rocky shorefront of the Salish Sea, listening to Lummi organizer Freddie Lane explain the history of this sacred site under threat, I realized that my knowledge barely scratched the surface.

Feb 8

Feb 8 No One is Disposable

Side With Love

It is becoming common knowledge that the United States incarcerates more people than anywhere else in the world. At any given moment there are 2.3 million people in prisons and jails across the country. Black and Pink is an organization that works with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer identified people who are currently incarcerated or involved with the criminal legal system. I founded Black and Pink just over 10 years ago after my own time in prison. I had been locked up in a queer segregated cell in a county jail in Georgia and experienced a sexual assault by a prison guard in a federal minimum security prison. When I got out there were no resources that I could turn to for support, that needed to change. As of now, Black and Pink is a nationally networked grassroots effort, involving nearly 10,000 prisoners, working to abolish the prison industrial complex while meeting the immediate needs of LGBTQ prisoners. The movement for abolition is one that we, as Unitarian Universalists, have made a commitment to understand better and involve ourselves in as we align with the Black Lives Matter movement.

Feb 2

Feb 2 We do not lead single issue lives

Side With Love

When we speak of racial justice, we are not talking about a theoretical framework. We are talking about principles and values that lead and inform the way that we do base building, create policy and monitor policy implementation. We’re talking about building power to dismantle systems of oppression.

2015 was not easy. Violence against our communities- from police brutality and criminalization to underemployment, debt and voter suppression- continued.

At the same time, a mass movement is emerging- in Ohio and across the country- calling for justice, equity and accountability. For us that means organizing centered in building power, rooted in youth leadership development & informed through strategic collaboration.

Jan 26

Jan 26 Building Sanctuary: A Duty to Each Other

Side With Love

We’re excited to share as part of the 30 Days of Love because our collaborations with the UUs have taught us so much about love in action. De-escalating through song when armed minutemen came to our joint rally outside of Sheriff Arpaio’s jail in Arizona in 2011. Opening your doors to house and feed us as we drove cross country for the undocubus in 2012. Continuing to show up in yellow shirts over and over, a constant accompaniment that doesn’t go unnoticed. Rehanging #BlackLivesMatter banners after they’ve been desecrated. And in some cases, opening your physical institutions as sanctuary for those hunted by our own government.

Jan 20

Jan 20 Our Faith Calls Us to Act

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We are living in a time when communities face heightened harassment, criminalization, detention, and deportation. As the U.S. Immigration and Customs and Enforcement continues to target, detain, and deport migrant families and children, our faith calls us to act. At a time when we wait for a decision from the Supreme Court determining the possibility of justice for millions of migrants living in the United States, our faith calls us to act.

We must stand on the side of love as advocates for hospitality, compassion, and justice. UU congregations are taking action across the country, from collaboration with local migrant-led organizing to offering and providing Sanctuary.

We share an urgent message fromRev. Peter Morales, President of the UUA, calling on each of us-- as people of faith and conscience-- to take action for immigrant justice today. May we be emboldened to take courageous action for justice.

Jan 18

Jan 18 Fourteen Steps Forward Together for America's Third Reconstruction

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Welcome to our second Thirty Days of Love: Towards Racial Justice message lifting up the inspiring, creative and movement-making work happening throughout the country. This week, we are excited to share the profound and important work of the North Carolina NAACP.

Below hear a little more directly from our hosts, Carey McDonald and Elizabeth Nguyen. Then check out fourteen tips from Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, President of the NC NAACP, with Jonathan Wilson-Hargrove. The suggested steps are an excerpt from their new book, The Third Reconstruction, that can be found here. We are also excited to share a Discussion Guide on The Third Reconstruction that complements and lifts up many of the themes in the book available here.

Jan 15

Jan 15 Welcome to 30 Days of Love: Towards Racial Justice

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We are thrilled to welcome you to 30 Days of Love: Towards Racial Justice. Over the next thirty days, we’ll be sharing content- here, on Facebook and Twitter - about urgent organizing for racial justice happening around the country. We are thrilled to have Rev. Elizabeth Nguyen, Leadership Development Associate for Youth and Young Adults of Color at the UUA, and Carey McDonald, Outreach Director at the UUA, acting as our inaugural 30 Days of Love hosts.

In their role, Elizabeth and Carey will provide a short video reflection for each of our weekly messages. Centered around the themes of gratitude and wonder, it is our hope that the content of 30 Days of Love feeds and inspires you. Beginning next Tuesday, you’ll receive weekly messages from partners at the frontlines of organizing for racial justice in the country.

Below, hear or read a little more directly from Elizabeth and Carey. To see additional resources for your observance of 30 Days of Love, click here.

Jan 4

Jan 4 Uncertainty and Solidarity: Reflections on Shutting it Down with Black Lives Matter

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This reflection was initially shared at First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis as part of the assembly on Sunday, December 27th, 2015 and published on the Quest for Meaning website here.

I was there last Wednesday, at the Black Lives Matter protests at the Mall of America, at the airport, and on the light rail.

I was there last Wednesday with my 12 and 7-year-old daughters.

I was there because we were there a year ago—our first visit to the mall with 3,000 of our closest friends. As my older daughter pointed out when I was wavering on my decision to go, “It’s our holiday tradition, Dad! On Thanksgiving we protest Walmart. At Christmas, we go to the mall with Black Lives Matter!”

And, I was there because in this season of Christmas, I believe that there is almost nothing that is more in the spirit of the man whose birth Christmas celebrates, than standing for justice with people at the margins who are fighting for their freedom.

Dec 22

Dec 22 Learning about Islam and Organizing to Combat Anti-Muslim Bigotry

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UUA and Beacon Press Resources

For Children and Multigenerational Groups

Muhammad: The Story of a Prophet and Reformer, a book by Sarah Conover. Discussion and Reflection Guide by Pat Kahn. Multigenerational workshops and religious education classes can use the book and discussion guide to explore the real Muhammad, discuss Islam today, stereotypes, and interfaith relationships.
Ayat Jamilah: Beautiful Signs: A Treasury of Islamic Wisdom for Children and Parents, collected and adapted by Sarah Conover and Freda Crane. Stories drawing on the core of Islamic spirituality and ethics, the Qur’an, and folklore could be used in religious education classes, workshops, and multigenerational worship.
Muhammad, a session from Creating Home (Tapestry of Faith). Intended for Kindergarten and Grade 1, but could be used with a wider age range of children. Workshop introduces Muhammad, and can be used with children in RE classes or as a basis for a children’s chapel service. Included stories might be used in Time for All Ages.

Dec 18

Dec 18 Welcome our new Campaign Director: Caitlin Breedlove

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The Unitarian Universalist Association is excited to announce Caitlin Breedlove as our new Campaign Director for Standing on the Side of Love.

Since 2003, Caitlin has been organizing and doing movement building work in the South with communities across race, class, culture, gender and sexuality. Caitlin began her work in the South doing popular education and organizer training at the historic Highlander Center in Tennessee. For the past nine years, Caitlin has been the Co-Director of Southerners On New Ground (SONG), where she has co-led some of the most innovative intersectional movement building work in the LGBTQ sector. Under Caitlin’s co-leadership, SONG Caitlin has led campaigns, built new alliances, trained a large cohort of new LGBTQ organizers in the South, built a membership of over 3,000, and led countless political education processes for SONG’s constituency. Caitlin is known across social justice movements as a leader, strategist, and writer connecting LGBTQ, racial and economic justice.

As we move Standing on the Side of Love to its next level of work during these historic times in our fights for justice, the UUA is proud to welcome Caitlin’s skills and experience into the newly created Campaign Director position. We look forward to welcoming Caitlin to the Campaign in January 2016.