Cracking the Codes: Ninety UUCB members and friends attended an amazing workshop on January 7th! Amikaeyla Gaston provided warm and wise facilitation of the film Cracking the Codes: A System of Racial Inequities that focused on understanding the language of racial inequities as they are expressed in interpersonal, institutional and structural forms. Attendees’ feedback included “presentation was breathtaking and amazing.” ..”enhanced my awareness of systemic racism,” “It brought awareness to me that I can make a difference if I see something racist and speak up.”
Training in Nonviolent Communication, Saturday, February 18, 1-5 pm: Following up on the “Cracking the Codes” workshop, this training (again sponsored by the Confronting Racism Project’s LFDC group) will lead UUCB members and friends through a process of talking about race, class, power and privilege, as we learn to speak our truth with power and love. We will learn skills to enhance authentic connection as we, together, create a world where everyone’s needs matter. We are hoping that UUCB youth will be able to join us.
Social Justice Council January Potluck/Meeting: We welcomed representatives of our Good Neighbor nonprofits (that receive our plate offerings), and they were guests at our potluck. They gave us summaries of their work.
“Post Election – Are We Chaplains of the Empire or Prophets of the Resistance?” – Craig Scott and Karen Paull (and 1,000 other lawyers) attended a forum on how to be a good ally. Craig and Karen made available to us information from the forum with a summary they called “Issues for the Resistance,” to assist the Council as it aims toward a social justice priority for the congregation. They also provided a quote by Rev. William Barber III:
“WE is the most significant word in the social justice vocabulary.
The issue is not what we can’t do, but what we CAN do when we stand together.
Craig and Karen posed these two questions to the Council:
“How may we, as a faith community, be called on to resist unjust and unconstitutional measures by the new U.S. Administration?
And, “How might we as a UU congregation prioritize our efforts to resist?
Five groups met and came up with priorities after reflecting on the ten “Issues for the Resistance.”
“Stand with local communities targeted because of race, religion, ethnicity, etc.” All five groups identified this issue as a priority.
“Oppose unjust treatment of Immigrants.” Three groups identified this as a priority.
“Stand with LGBTQ brothers and Sisters.” Three groups identified this as a priority.
“Health Care for All.” Two groups identified this as a priority.
“Local Housing, Food, Poverty.” One group created this new priority.
“Oppose Efforts to limit our Free Press.” One group identified this as a priority
“Preserve Quality Public Education.” One group identified this as a priority.
SJC effort to identify one issue to focus on for our congregation continues.
LFDC (Literature, Film and Drama Contingent of the Confronting Racism Project) The Literature, Film & Drama Contingent of the Confronting Racism Project has a lively roster for the next several months. On February 5th: We will add a “Social Justice Resolution for the New Year” to our Moments of Awareness of Unconscious Bias (MAUBs), and we’ll discuss J.D. Vance’s Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis. Contact: camilleparker@comcast.net.
Social Justice February Potluck/Meeting will be on Sunday, February 12, 6 pm. All are welcome!
Social Justice Sponsored Project Applications
Each year the UUCB Social Justice Council presents proposals for “Sponsored” social justice projects to the congregation for its approval at the May annual congregational meeting. A sponsored project is one that may receive congregational support in the form of resources, such as worship time, funding, etc. Congregants are always free to pursue “affiliated projects” that are publicized by the church but lack official sponsorship.
For the second (church) year in a row, the sponsored project has been “Confronting Racism.” It has held several very successful events, plans to hold more, has put out educational materials, formed discussion groups, etc.
To apply for sponsorship of your project, you need to gather a group of members who commit to devoting time and energy to the project, and you must complete an application for submission to the Social Justice Council. The completed application must be submitted by March 1, 2017 to maw.jane@gmail.com.
More Opportunities to DO Social Justice
Ceasefire Walks 7 pm Friday nights in Richmond—contact maw.jane@gmail.com.
Volunteers Needed: to “Read Aloud” with elementary school children in Richmond and San Pablo. Contact Judy Sam at jssam47@yahoo.com
Volunteers Needed: at GRIP to prepare and serve lunch to hungry and homeless people at the Souper Center in Richmond. Monthly, fourth Tuesday – raywest2@sbcglobal.net.
Immigration Vigil: First Saturdays each month, West County Detention Facility, 5555 Giant Highway, Richmond; maw.jane@gmail to carpool.
Social Justice Table: Be sure to take a look at the Social Justice Council table each Sunday for what’s new, and encourage newcomers to check it out.
