All members & friends are welcome to join the efforts of the Social Justice Outreach Team
The next Social Justice Outreach Team meeting is Wednesday, June 2nd 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:
Contact Judy Bonner judybonner1@nulloutlook.com for more information 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 list is comprehensive and contains actions, events, and links that will inform and enable your justice efforts. 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.
UUJMNC FAIR REDISTRICTING Campaign Volunteer needed
The N. Carolina UU Justice Ministry is calling UU congregations across the state to participate in helping assure FAIR REDISTRICTING. Congregational representatives are asked to attend two “zUUm” events – a learning session about Redistricting/Mapping in June or July and the second in September or October to write (letters/email/text) public comment to the Commission. Kitten Bulen has agreed to coordinate our UUFH effort, but she needs a co-leader to help and attend the two training sessions with her. Please call or email Kitten to participate: (828-890-8454) or buckeyebbobulen@nullbellsouth.net
OUTREACH COLLECTION:
SJOT kicked off our last Outreach Collection for the year on MAY 16 to support Affordable Housing needs. Collection recipients will be Habitat for Humanity ( habitat-hvl.org ) and Housing Assistance Corporation ( housing-assistance.com ).
Watch our collection launch on the recorded Sunday May 16 service; ( UU Youtube channel ) UUFH members Stefanie Kompathon and Rich DeSimone presented an insider’s view of the work of these two organizations during the service.
Henderson County has a severe shortage of decent, affordable housing. This problem affects people in all walks of life, young and old, renters and homeowners who are living in substandard housing – decrepit, unsafe, unhealthy or overcrowded. Per HUD guidelines, the monthly payment for housing (mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities) should be no more than 30% of household income. Individuals paying more are deemed ‘cost burdened’ and sacrifice food, clothing, healthcare, home upkeep, heating and insurance to pay their rent/mortgage. In Henderson County, 43% of renters and 18% of homeowners are considered cost burdened. Sadly, in HC almost 50% of the jobs don’t pay enough to enable a family to rent a 2 BR apartment – these include jobs in food service, child care, construction, and health care. Finding a place even if you have the money is a difficult search as vacancy rates are quite low. Home prices are even more out of reach. Average home prices in Henderson County are above the national average, nearly twice the state average, and still rising. There is a great need for houses priced under $200,000 for those with incomes below $60,000.
The positive effects of living and growing up in a safe, stable and healthy home have been extensively documented: better outcomes in education, health, jobs, community involvement. Beyond this, home ownership is the primary means by which American families build wealth; an avenue long denied to large segments of our population.
UU Forward Together — The UU Justice Ministry of North Carolina
Subscribe to UUJMNC to receive the monthly newsletter and action alerts at www.uuforwardtogether.org
UUJMNC: OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACTION
Action(s) of the Week –
from Rev. Lisa Garcia-Sampson, Executive Director Unitarian Universalist Justice Ministry of NC
Protect our Right to Free Speech & Protest:
Tell your State Senator to Vote NO on HB 805. This bill would discourage North Carolinians from exercising our constitutional right to peaceably assemble and increase the felony charges for simply participating in a protest that is classified as a “riot.” We also know that this would disproportionately impact Black and Brown community members who are calling for racial justice in our country. Click here to take action.
FRIDAY ACTION HOUR – May 14
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.
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.
JUNETEENTH EVENTS in Henderson County — Black History Collective
When we learn and grow culturally together as a county, we will become stronger intellectually, better role models for the present and future generations, and interact with civility toward one another when knowledge is gained,” organizer Crystal Cauley stated.
Proclamation for Juneteenth in Hendersonville: Thursday, June 3, 5:45 pm – City Operations Building, 305 Williams St., Hendersonville Proclamation requested by the Black History Collective of Henderson County
Black History Collective of Henderson County: Saturday, June 12, 2-4 pm – Hola Community Arts, Jackson Park, 801 Fourth Ave. E. Hendersonville
The event can be viewed live on the Black History Collective of Henderson County’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com
Educational exhibit: “Juneteenth: Celebrating 156 Years of Black History” Henderson County Public Library – 301 N. Washington St., Hendersonville June 1-30 – Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Friday, Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; closed Sundays
Cultural exhibit: “The African Dream of an Emancipated Descendent” June 1-30 – Exhibit hours: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Hola Community Arts, Jackson Park, 801 Fourth Ave. E. Hendersonville
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.
Migrant Worker Gift Bags
Migrant workers are arriving now to work in the orchards, fields and produce operations in Henderson County. The Heart of Hendersonville Immigration Task Force has worked for several months coordinating a “Let’s Get Started” drive to provide some key necessities. The participating groups include members from UUFH, First Congregational Church, St. John in the Wilderness, St. James Episcopal, Calvary Episcopal, Progressive AllianceOf Henderson County, True Ridge, Heartwood Refuge and Migrant Education program, Blue Ridge Health, The League Of Women Voters, Senior Democrats and many citizens of Henderson County.
For more information regarding current needs, contact Anne Backer, member – Heart of Hendersonville Immigration Task Force and member – UUFH Social Justice Outreach Team (acbacker@nullcopper.net or 828 697 0641). Collection sites are at UUFH (Office porch) or Heartwood Refuge.