SOCIAL JUSTICE & ALLIES FOR RACIAL EQUITY TEAM MEETINGS
We meet on the first TUESDAY of the month (April 4, 2023) 12:00 to 1:30pm. via ZOOM
All are welcome to attend; these meetings are your chance to provide input and contribute to our UUFH justice efforts. Please e-mail Charlotte Corrigan for additional information – i.e., agenda, prior minutes, and Zoom link – if you would like to participate.
ARE updates and news can be sent to Charlotte Corrigan for inclusion in emails, eBlasts and Justice Worker News.
Want more JUSTICE NEWS?
Contact Charlotte Corrigan to join the email list for UUFH JUSTICE WORKER NEWS (published weekly on Wednesday)
HIGHLIGHTS in this issue include:
- “Healing the Unconscious Bias…” workshop UPDATE
- Congregational Read UPDATE
- “We Stand Together Against ANTISEMITISM” – Monday, March 20, 7pm, Agudus Israel
- UU Justice NC Action Alerts
- UUSJ Action Alerts: “Climate-Smart Farm Bill” & DACA protection
- HC LWV: Public Education and Teaching Children About Gender Identity, March 9, 3:00 – 4:30 pm (ZOOM)
- HC LWV: WE’RE GROWING—-NOW WHAT? Land & Community Planning in Henderson County & Municipalities, Thursday, March 30th 5:00 pm Main Library
- PLUS MORE… MountainTrue NEWS, Book Studies at UU Asheville and First Congregational Church, IAM needs, etc.
WORKSHOP UPDATE:
“Take Action! Healing Unconscious Bias in the Henderson County School System”
A big thank you goes out to Judy Bonner for organizing the ARE workshop Saturday “Healing the Unconscious BIAS in the Henderson County School System”. Thanks also to Donna Gatnarek for her excellent publicity efforts in the community and to others from the Social Justice Team and Fellowship who turned out to support and participate in this effort.
The event was attended by approximately 40 people – parents, teachers, retired educators, a member of the HC School Board, our new HC Superintendent of Schools, and others (jUUstice Workers) concerned about all the children of our community.
WLOS showed up and gave our workshop brief airtime on the 6 and 11 PM News 13 broadcasts Saturday night.
https://wlos.com/news/local/unitarian-universalist-fellowship-of-hendersonville-allies-for-racial-equity-group-event-henderson-county-public-schools#
Our UUFH Community Program on Eliminating Bias in the Schools “Take Action! Healing Unconscious Bias in the Henderson County School System,” was held at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Hendersonville, on February 18. The featured presenters were DeBorah Ogiste and Crystal Cauley. The objective of the program was to suggest action items toward making the educational system in Henderson County more equitable. Free childcare was provided for 6 children by Shawn Anderson and Tiara Channer.
The first part of the program consisted of presentations on topics such as the positive and negative effects of school integration on the African American community, school integration in Hendersonville and how it affects the African American community, microaggression in the school system and why we need an African American Parent Alliance.
The participants divided into breakout sessions to develop action items that can be used to create positive changes.
- Group 1
What steps can be taken to educate Staff on how they can help change the culture of racism at their school?
- Group 2
What steps can be taken to reduce microaggressions in the schools?
- Group 3
How can the school system and community reduce the inequity of suspensions of African American children?
- Group 4
What steps can be taken to assist “Grow Our Own” to attract staff that represent the African American community?
If you were unable to attend the workshop, it’s not too late to join one of the action groups listed below by contacting judybonner1@nulloutlook.com
CONGREGATIONAL READ – PART 2: February 26, Noon
“ALL THAT SHE CARRIED: THE JOURNEY OF ASHLEY’S SACK, A BLACK FAMILY KEEPSAKE” by Black historian, Tiya Miles.
UPDATE:
The services and participation in the discussions facilitated by Helen Bishop were well attended. The participants are eager to move forward and discussed other books we might read as well as actions we could take in the coming months and next year with Rev. Terry Davis.
Watch for more news on this subject.
UU Justice NC
Subscribe to UUJMNC to receive the monthly newsletter and action alerts at UUJusticeNC.org ( new link!– the NEW website is now live!)
DONATE to UU Justice NC HERE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACTION
from Rev. Lisa Garcia-Sampson, Executive Director UU Justice NC
FRIDAY ACTION HOUR
Every Friday at 11:00am UUs from across the state gather to recap the past week and take action on the issues impacting our state and country. In the coming month, we’ll be focusing on the upcoming municipal elections and will also keep the pressure on our elected officials to better promote the HOPE program. We always have good music to help us feel the justice movement in our bones! Join us via this Zoom link.
And if you can’t make it on Fridays, you can still take action at any time – just check out our UU Justice NC – Friday Action Hour 2022
SIGN-UP MAKES IT EASY: to receive weekly updates automatically. Click Here to Sign Up! Receive an email with all the details prior to Friday’s Action Hour
For more Justice opportunities, see the current UUFH jUUstice Workers News.
Check out the IAM website for current PANTRY and CLOTHING needs or to volunteer:
www.iam-hc.org: CLICK on “Current Needs” for clothing & pantry lists
FYI: An on-site DONATION “BOX” is located in the ALCOVE leading to the UUFH Quiet Room.
The more that we work together, the greater impact we have.