Quote from UUCB Board President Deborah Schmidt “I love this aspect of who we are becoming—a gathering place for the community, a curator and host for important and inspiring events…. “
Ghost Town to Havana – Although the film has been described as a “heart-wrenching and hopeful documentary – a poetic love letter to inner-city mentors who give so much of themselves to help others,” the reality is that there are not enough coaches for inner city kids and being on a well supervised ball team can change their lives! Roscoe Bryant, devoted coach of the Oakland Royals baseball team, and Gene Corr, director, were featured at our April 8 event along with Rontral, a former Royals player. Three hundred people of all ages and backgrounds attended. Beth Jerde had worked tirelessly to spread the word to a multi-targeted, prospective audience. The Oakland A’s heard about the event and came, gifting us with two sets of tickets, hats and autographed balls that were auctioned off. Fito Reinose & Los Clasicos played phenomenal Cuban tunes; people danced. A guest gave a donation for the Royals when he checked in. At the Q&A following the movie, Bob Adams ignited a spontaneous collection among the audience; $1,072 was collected. New uniforms for the team! http://www.berkeleyside.com/2016/04/04/with-ghost-town-to-havana-berkeley-filmmaker-eugene-corr-raises-important-questions/
Social Justice Council Meeting – At the April meeting, SJC small groups reported what they had learned from the last three months of events. Comments included: We can organize events, bring in people from outside and have people who’ll volunteer to help. SJC member impact included CCISCO Ceasefire walks, Berkeley Global Campus Working Group, and participation in the Contra Costa County Racial Justice Coalition. They want to involve and hear from youth; get involved when racism appears close to home; share more with the congregation; co-sponsor events with those beyond UUCB. Maybe include a film series? Raise funds for baseball coaches in Richmond/Oakland? Focus on the high recidivism rate in Richmond? There was one SJC Sponsored Project Application received. It was for continuing the Confronting Racism Project and was approved by acclimation. This proposed project goes before the congregation in May for final approval.
The Confronting Racism: Literature, Film & Drama Contingent (LFDC) – After the lighting of the chalice at the April 3rd meeting, Beth Jerde was acknowledged and thanked for her outstanding leadership in bringing the film Ghost Town to Havana to the church. We then viewed the excellent film Cracking the Codes: The System of Racial Inequity, with discussion during and following the video. Participants shared personal insights and, because of the depth and stirring content of the film, a follow-up at next month’s meeting will take place. Many thanks to Lynne Henderson and Helen Tinsley-Jones for leading the meeting, and to Lotez Franklin and Austin Henderson for their technical support! The book we are reading for our May meeting is “Just Mercy” by Bryan Stevenson. camilleparker@comcast.net
Ceasefire Walks: Friday nights in Richmond at 7, contact maw.jane@gmail.com
GRIP: UUCB volunteers prepare and serve lunch to hungry and homeless people at the GRIP Souper Center in Richmond on the fourth Tuesday of every month. Want to volunteer? raywest2@sbcglobal.net
Read-Aloud: Volunteers needed to read aloud at local elementary schools in Richmond and San Pablo. Contact Judy Sam at jssam47@yahoo.com
Good Neighbor for May: Impact Fund (www.impactfund.org). The Impact Fund provides strategic leadership and support for litigation to achieve economic and social justice. They provide funds for impact litigation in the areas of civil rights, environmental justice, and poverty law. They offer innovative technical support, training, and expertise on issues that arise in large-scale impact litigation.
If you want to be added to the Social Justice email list contact maw.jane@gmail.com
