All members & friends are welcome to join the efforts of the Social Justice Outreach Team
SOCIAL JUSTICE & ALLIES FOR RACIAL EQUITY TEAM MEETINGS
We meet on the first TUESDAY ( June 7th) of the month 1:00 to 2:30pm. via ZOOM
ARE updates and news can be sent to Charlotte Corrigan for inclusion in emails, eBlasts and Justice Worker News.
Want more JUSTICE NEWS? UUFH JUSTICE WORKER NEWS Contact Charlotte Corrigan to join the email list.
Buy tickets HERE
UU Justice NC
Subscribe to UUJMNC to receive the monthly newsletter and action alerts at www.uuforwardtogether.org
DONATE to UU Justice NC HERE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACTION
from Rev. Lisa Garcia-Sampson, Executive Director UU Justice NC
UUSC’s Emergency Response Fund for Assistance in Ukraine
UUSC’s Emergency Response Fund provides vital assistance to people impacted by natural or human-made disasters yet whose access to aid is most limited. Currently, UUSC is using resources from their Emergency Response Fund to support people who have fled the violence in Ukraine after Russia launched a large-scale invasion in February 2022. They are building upon relationships they have established in Eastern Europe to respond to evolving needs on the ground and provide funding where it is needed most. You can make a donation to UUSC’s Emergency Response Fund via this link. You can also click here to learn about other ways to support this important work.
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 Keeping 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. If you can’t make it on Fridays, you can still take action at any time – just check our Weekly action list.
SIGN-UP MAKES IT EASY: to receive weekly updates automatically. Click Here to Sign Up!
MORE Opportunities for Action
Per UPDATES from Rev. Lisa Garcia-Sampson, Executive Director, UU Justice NC:
UU JUSTICE NC – MEDICAID EXPANSION ACTION HOUR: Sunday, June 5, 6:00PM.
We have never been closer to expanding Medicaid to over 500,000 North Carolinians, but we need everyone in the game to get it done! This spring, UU Justice NC is proud to partner with the NC Justice Center in a state-wide campaign writing Letters to the Editor in support of closing the healthcare coverage gap. Together we will send a powerful message to newspapers across the state. If you missed last week’s Action Hour, join us for our next event on 6/5! Register Here!
ROBB ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SHOOTING
We are all heartbroken and infuriated by last week’s school shooting at Robb Elementary School in Texas. I know folks are eager to take action. I have heard about two opportunities to participate in rallies coming up in the next two weeks.
First, there will be a rally in Raleigh, Sunday, June 5th at 11:00am in front of the state legislature. People are encouraged to wear orange in support of ending gun violence.
Our Hendersonville Wear Orange event is SATURDAY, JUNE 4 at the Historic Courthouse at NOON.
On Saturday June 11th in Washington D.C. and around the nation there will be a MARCH FOR OUR LIVES. This march is led by the survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Shooting in Parkland, Florida. Gun Control Legislation at a State-Level. Click here to find a march near you.
JUNE 11, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM — PACK SQUARE — ASHEVILLE, NC 28801 MARCH FOR OUR LIVES ASHEVILLE, NC
NC GUN CONTROL LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS:
Two bills were introduced by Democratic Reps in the 2019-2020 session, and when the bills didn’t go anywhere, they filed them again in 2021. A year later, both bills continue to be stalled in committee.
Marcia Morey of Durham’s bill models so-called “red flag” laws, and allows concerned family members, law enforcement officers or medical providers to petition a judge to confiscate firearms from someone believed to be a threat to themselves or others. and Julie von Haefen of Wake County’s bill, would require anyone buying a shotgun or a rifle to obtain a permit from their local sheriff’s office.
Raleigh News & Observer Article – After Uvalde, NC Democrats and Republicans remain divided on gun laws
GUN CONTROL LEGISLATION AT FEDERAL LEVEL:
A small bi-partisan group of senators have begun working to try to reach a deal on modest steps to limit access to guns. Additionally, the Senate could also vote on H.R.8 the “Bipartisan Background Checks Act” that has already passed in the House last year – but I haven’t heard about any serious movement on this.
Both our U.S. Senators have demonstrated loyalty to the NRA throughout their careers: Senator Richard Burr has an A+ N.R.A. rating and over the course of his career has received $7 million in N.R.A. funding and Senator Thom Tillis has an A N.R.A. rating and over the course of his career has received $5.6 million in N.R.A. funding.
TRANSGENDER JUSTICE & INCLUSION With ALEX KAPITAN Tuesday, June 14, 6:00-7:30PM.
Join UU Justice NC and the South Carolina UU Justice Alliance for this special evening with Alex Kapitan national UU leader in Trans Rights & Inclusion work. This webinar will give participants an overview of how to think about gender expansively, the experiences and needs of trans, non-binary, and gender nonconforming people, the current landscape of violently anti-trans legislative efforts, and what congregations need to do to be spaces of safety and resilience for trans people and their families. You can register here.
ADOPTION OF THE 8TH PRINCIPLE BY UUFH
At our June 2021 Annual Meeting, UUFH members approved a motion that we study the UUA’s proposed 8th Principle ahead of a vote for adoption at our 2022 Annual Meeting.
The 8th Principle: “We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote: journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountability dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.”
RESOURCES for the 8th Principle of Unitarian Universalism
Visit this UUA site: 8thprinciplorg
The section is organized by responses to these key questions: What is the origin? — Why now? — Why single out racism? — What is beloved community? — What does it mean to be accountable?
WATCH:
Paula Cole Jones speaks about the 8th Principle
Bruce Pollack-Johnson: the 8th Principle
READ:
BIPOC and the 8th Principle: https://www.uua.org/braverwiser/putting-armor
The Fall 2021 UU World contains several articles of interest, including Our Faith Calls Us to Antiracist Work – by Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, our UUA President https://www.uuworld.org/articles/antiracist-faith
2021 Statement of Conscience “Undoing white Supremacy: A Call to Prophetic Action – adopted at the 2021 General Assembly: https://www.uua.org/action/statements/undoing-systemic-white-supremacy
OUTREACH COLLECTION for GROW OUR OWN SCHOLARSHIPS
Larry Winecoff will join our UUFH service on Sunday, June 5 to promote the Outreach Collection in support of the GROW OUR OWN SCHOLARSHIPS – a program to grow our own teachers of color.
36% of our students are of color, 7% of teachers and administrators are of color.
Students need teachers who look like them, can better relate to them and who serve as excellent role models. Research is very clear: students 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.
One solution is to provide scholarships to promising local students of color who would commit to teaching in Henderson County for at least 3 years after they graduate and become certified teachers. This is an investment in our local community to make our educational system even better than it already is and to provide an opportunity for all students to reach their potential.
Please give a warm welcome Larry to UUFH; his scheduled visit in January was waylaid by a major snowstorm.
This is our first collection for this Fund and our last Collection for this year; let’s make it outstanding.
Please label your cash/checks “Outreach – Grow Our Own“ or use the website “donate” Outreach option.
“EXPLORING DIVERSITY THROUGH LITERATURE”
This SJ-ARE project launched in the past year to donate books that feature the many cultures, distinct traditions and realities of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color to local schools and other institutions.
This project will help nurture the potential of children in Henderson County by providing literature that reflects and honors their lives and experiences. We believe that our community will be enhanced by helping children appreciate themselves and others.
See the NEW project page now on the UUFH website: https://uufhnc.org/justice/exploring-diversity-through-literature/
The more that we work together, the greater impact we have.