All members & friends are welcome to join the efforts of the Social Justice Outreach Team
The next Social Justice Outreach Team meeting is Wednesday, May 5 at 1:00 pm. All are welcome to attend; contact Charlotte Corrigan hcorrigan@nullmsn.com for more information and the virtual link if you would like to participate.
ARE (Allies for Racial Equity) Updates:
The next ARE meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 18 at 3 pm. Contact Judy Bonner judybonner1@nulloutlook.com for more information and the meeting link. New members are welcome
JUSTICE WORKERS EMAIL LIST
We’ve created a new merged list “Justice Workers”. The decision to unite was recommended by the leaders of the various groups (SJOT, ARE, Voter Justice, and Climate Justice) and approved by our UUFH Social Justice Team; our debut message was issued on Monday, April 12. The more that we work together, the greater impact we have. To join the Justice Workers list, contact Charlotte Corrigan hcorrigan@nullmsn.com with your request to OPT IN.
OUTREACH COLLECTION:
SJOT will conduct our last Outreach Collection for the year SUNDAY, MAY 16 to support Affordable Housing needs. Collection recipients will be Habitat for Humanity ( habitat-hvl.org ) and Housing Assistance Corporation ( housing-assistance.com ).
RACIAL JUSTICE FORUM: REGISTER NOW
At their March meeting, ARE approved the formation of a monthly UUFH Racial Justice Forum; Helen Bishop conducted the first forum on Monday, April 26 and facilitated our discussion about the 2018 Ware lecture by Brittany Packnett. The next Forum has been scheduled Monday, May 24, since the last Mon is Memorial Day). We will continue the Ware Lecture discussion. Contact Judy Bonner judybonner1@nulloutlook.com to register and receive the Zoom link.
***Watch this video prior to the Forum at https://www.uua.org/ga/past/2018/ware. This Ware Lecture offers much for us to reflect upon as we examine the impacts of racism and white supremacy culture within our faith.
GROW OUR OWN FUND Launch
A new initiative has started in our county to promote diversity of our staff members in our public school system. GROW OUR OWN is an informal coalition of community groups and citizens coming together to raise awareness of the needs of BIPOC (black, Indigenous and people of color) in Henderson County NC and to encourage private donations to the ‘Grow Our Own’ Fund at the Henderson County Education Foundation. The Fund has been established to support diversification of Henderson County teachers. Research is clear that children who have teachers who reflect their ethnicity do better in school, are more likely to graduate from high school, are more likely to continue their education and are more likely to become contributing members of their community, benefiting everyone.
Visit the group’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/2850939068493291; there you’ll find an informative flyer outlining the need and the path forward:
“This is an investment in our community – a community that we love and want to see grow and develop as a place in which all children/students have the best education possible. It is up to all of us to help provide such an environment.”
At UUFH, the Social Justice and Allies for Racial Equity teams have been anticipating the official launch for several months and are planning to support for this effort through a donation from UUFH.
UUJMNC: OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACTION
Action(s) of the Week –
from Rev. Lisa Garcia-Sampson, Executive Director Unitarian Universalist Justice Ministry of NC
On April 21st, Andrew Brown was shot and killed by Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Deputies in Elizabeth City, NC. Despite a massive call for the footage to be released, on Monday his family was shown only 20-seconds of footage from one body camera that was deemed “pertinent” by the County Attorney. Demand Justice for Andrew Brown’s Family and Call for new NC Body & Dashboard Camera Legislation SB510. Click here to take action.
FRIDAY ACTION HOUR
Join UU Forward Together every Friday at 11:00am for Friday Action Hour. Gather in community to recap the week and take action on issues impacting our state and country. Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/91029655107
Does the Friday session not work for you? You can still act; the link below will give you the talking points, addressee contacts and actions for this week’s Action Hour session.
Spiritual Nourishment Gathering
This Sunday, May 2nd at 4:00pm join the UU Justice Ministry of NC for our monthly gathering. We’ll create space to reflect on the difficult past few weeks in our country, including the Derek Chauvin verdict and the tragic deaths of Andrew Brown, Ma’Khia Bryant and far too many others. If this is a space you need right now, we invite you to join us via this zoom link.
SPECIAL WNC ACTION: No New Jail Campaign — Saturday, May 1
DownHome NC, a grassroots organization in WNC, is in the final days of a telephone campaign reaching out to local residents about the proposed new Haywood County jail facilities. They are asking for the help of Unitarian Universalists in Western NC to make these calls.
Haywood County is currently pushing a 16.5 million dollar jail expansion project, but residents in the region know far too well that this would negatively affect their communities. Incarceration rose 133% in Haywood County between 2000 and 2018 while the population grew just 8.4%. There is a high prevalence of substance use and mental health disorders among those jailed.
Many residents don’t want a new jail; they want to address the root causes that lead to so many of their neighbors being jailed.
Saturday, May 1, join DownHome NC calling folks with the facts on how this jail would affect them and their community. There will be training at 9:00am and followed by phone bank calling until 11:00am – using the same software as used for UU the Vote. Again, it’s this Saturday, 5/1 from 9:00 – 11:00am on Zoom. You can register here.
For more information, email Lisa Garcia-Sampson lisa@nulluuforwardtogether.org
Migrant Worker Gift Bags
“If you ate today, thank a migrant worker.”
Soon many migrant workers will arrive here in Henderson County. They will be coming in trucks and vans, weary from previous work and the long trip, carrying their possessions in a plastic bag. At this point, receiving a small gift with a welcome card showing they are not looked upon with contempt or dismissed is enough to put a smile on their weary faces. Heart of Hendersonville Immigration Task Force is coordinating a “Let’s Get Started” drive to provide some key necessities. Collection sites are at UUFH (Office porch) or Heartwood Refuge
For more information contact Anne Backer, Heart of Hendersonville Immigration Task Force and member UUFH Social Justice Outreach Team (acbacker@nullcopper.net or 828 697 0641).