Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice of Maryland, Washington, and Northern Virginia | 8605 Cameron St. Suite 200 Silver Spring, MD 20910 Phone 301-588-1951 Contact: info@uusj.org |
A Word from the Administrator Please remember that tomorrow is the deadline for UUSJ Social Justice Award nominations. See the article under Unitarian Universalism below. Unitarian Universalists will be represented again this year with a booth at the DC Green Festival. The dates are October 10 and 11. If you would like to volunteer time or money to help with this effort, please contact UUSJ at info@uusj.org or 301-588-1951 Cyn Snavely | |
How to get a copy of the bi-weekly UUSJ Electronic E-News: Contact the UUSJ office at 301-588-1951 or info@uusj.org with your name and email address and your request. A donation to UUSJ would be appreciated. How to submit an article: Contact the UUSJ office at 301-588-1951 or info@uusj.org with your event information. Issues come out about the 15th and 30th of each month. Please have your information in a few days before. To support the work of UUSJ, go to Network for Good or send your check to 8605 Cameron St. Suite 200 Silver Spring, MD 20910. or UUSJ is part of the Combined Federal Campaign of the National Capital Area. Our CFC # is 17271.Thank You. | |
Saturday, September 26 Chesapeake Growth Committee Technology Conference Saturday, October 3, 2009 New Social Justice Committee Formation for the JPD! 10am to 4pm First Unitarian Church of Wilmington 730 Halstead Road Wilmington, DE 19803 Green Festival Washington DC October 10th-11th, Washington DC Convention Center Sunday, October 11 Marriage Equality Rally DC Saturday, October 17 Journey Toward Wholeness conference UU Church of Annapolis Saturday, October 24 Regional Green Sanctuary meeting Goodloe Memorial Bowie, MD Sunday, October 25 UUSJ Awards Gala Positano Ristorante Italiano 4948 Fairmont Avenue Bethesda, MD 20814 November 7 UULM-MD meeting UU Church of Annapolis Friday, April 16 and Saturday, April 17 JPD Spring Conference – The Park Ridge at Valley Forge, PA June 23-27 UUA General Assembly Minneapolis, MN Submit by June 30 to CSnavely@uusj.org Last year, UUSJ honored Barbara Johnson, Ann Uslmschneider, Phyllis Dogan and the Journey Toward Wholeness Team of Arlington with the UUSJ Racial Equality/Multicultural Award. The team was recognized for having enabled the congregation at the UU Church of Arlington to make strides in raising their awareness of racism and oppression. Through several years of persistent, patient education, the community learned about structural racism and internalized white privilege. All of the team’s efforts, building on one another, were acknowledged for beginning to bear fruit. This year, we'll again honor UU's whose actions inspire, support and express effective social action. Nominations are open for the Second Annual UUSJ Awards to further our vision of a vibrant and united regional community of Unitarian Universalists working for social justice. The awards are intended for those deeply committed volunteers who are the heart of the movement in the Northern Virginia-DC and Baltimore region. 2009 Awards: UUSJ Collaboration Award; UUSJ Economic Justice Award; UUSJ Giraffe Award; UUSJ GLBTQ Award; UUSJ Youth Group Award (up to age 18) Application at www.uusj.org v Unitarian Universalist Tech Summit Saturday, September 26 8:30am- 1:00pm Cedar Lane UU Church 9601 Cedar Lane Bethesda, MD 20814 Whether you are a TECHIE or someone who needs to improve your tech skills for your church work, come share YOUR best technology practices and learn from others! Topics covered may include: Social Networking and Blogging Website Management, Website Coordination and Design Web-Based Pastoral Care Content Development Internet Evangelism PLUS Learn how you can prepare your church for the JPD Google Adwords Marketing Campaign Continental breakfast and a networking lunch included with registration Childcare available upon request Details about registration, workshops, meals, childcare and workshop leaders are in development and will soon be available on the JPD website at www.jpduua.org Sponsored by The Chesapeake Unitarian Universalist Growth Committee Saturday, October 3 10:00am-4:00pm First Unitarian Church 730 Halstead Road Wilmington, DE The Joseph Priestley District is creating a District Social Justice Committee consisting of a steering committee from Social Justice/Advocacy Networks already working in the district and two social justice representatives from each congregation who would like to participate. These representatives would be chosen by the congregation and would be accountable to the congregation and also supported by the congregation in order to further the cause of social justice, in a partnership way, within the congregation and the community at large in the name of the congregation. The functions of the JPD Social Justice Committee as proposed are: Providing Ongoing Social Justice Training Opportunities for all members with the intent that they can be taken back and shared with the church social justice committee and the congregation at large. Creating a venue for communication and sharing between the various UU Social Justice/Advocacy Networks currently working in the district. Creating a venue for communication between social justice chairs from congregations and social justice advocacy representatives who are members of the JPD Social Justice Committee. Raising the level of social transformation in the JPD through learning, communication, and the exploration of several models of organizing within the UU faith community and in the larger society. This includes self care for social activists and agents of change. During the day, we will have an additional training in Coalition Based Community Organizing with Rev. Louise Green of All Souls Washington, DC, a long time community organizer and community organizer trainer. A working group will be organized to create a structure for the JPD Social Justice Committee by the following meeting which will be set soon. We are planning for quarterly meetings and hopefully a social justice conference each year. If you would like to become a part of the District Social Justice Committee contact Om Prakash, Director of Racial and Social Justice and let us know of your interest. We suggest that you choose two representatives from each congregation who can serve as alternates so everyone doesn’t have to attend every meeting. We intend to share in the growth and function of the committee to prevent burn out by the leadership. For any questions or comments please write to john@jpduua.org, or office@jpduua.org. Rev. Dr. Om Prakash John Gilmore Director of Racial and Social Justice, JPD The proceeds from the October 2008 Social Justice Awards Benefit Gala created a new way for UUSJ to meet its goal of increasing the frequency, impact and visibility of UU collaborative efforts in the region. The UUSJ Collaborative Fund supports programs promoting cooperation to enhance the impact of social justice endeavors among congregations, organizations and individuals. Priority will be giving to collaborative projects involving two or more UUSJ member congregations or organizations, to promote best practices in areas such as environmental justice and reducing oppression. The UUSJ co-chairs have authority to approve expenditures for a variety of collaborative program expenses. Contact Terrie Barr at terriebarr@comcast.net for information. |
Saturday, October 17 8am to 7:30pm Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis 333 Duboius Road Annapolis, MD 21401 This year’s theme will be multicultural families. Friday, August 14- Sunday, August 16 UU Church of Arlington 4444 Arlington Blvd. Arlington, VA This antiracism training program will start with dinner Friday evening August 14 and continue through Sunday afternoon August 16. Register by e-mailing your name and contact information to bjohnsonfilms@mac.com and sending a check payable to UUCA to Barbara Johnson 5646 N. 8th Rd. Arlington, VA 22205 The cost will be $85/person, which includes all meals over the course of the workshop. If childcare is requested the UU Church of Arlington will do our best to provide it. Questions? bjohnsonfilms@mac.com or 703-525-2196 v From H. St. to Haiti Saturday, June 27 7:00pm Universalist National Memorial Church 1810 Sixteenth Street NW Washington DC 20009 The Universalist National Memorial Church (UNMC) Social Action Committee will host an event "From H. St. to Haiti" featuring our UNMC friend Bill Baker playing original and cover country blues songs. Bill played for a previous UNMC fundraiser and received rave reviews. He will be accompanied by his lead guitarist. The proceeds for this concert will be split three ways between our Food Bank, Food for All; AMURT's Haiti project; and the Lambi fund for Haiti. We will also have a short presentation about Haiti and the work of our local food bank before the concert. Food will be served at 7:00 p.m. Suggested donation is from $5 to $20, but no one will be turned away. Come out and support our social action ministry and enjoy a great performance from UNMC's Bill Baker! Friday, October 2 at 1:30pm at the Goodloe Alumni House across from Bowie State University And Friday, October 9 at 6:30pm at Goodloe Memorial UU Congregation 1540C Pointer Ridge Place Bowie, MD. The program will consist of a brief biography of Rev. Goodloe, an introduction to Unitarian Universalism and the Goodloe Memorial scholarship fund for Bowie State University and a program with the African American musician and author Daryl Davis speaking on his conversations with members of the KuKluxKlan. http://www.daryldavis.com/ Tickets to the program ($8 student, $12 individual, $25 family) or ads in a souvenir journal may be bought by contacting Rev. Cynthia Snavely at CSnavely@uuma.ord or 240-475-2111. Donations to the scholarship may be made by sending a check to the congregation and noting Goodloe Scholarship in the memo line. |
v Washington Region Religious Coalition Against Torture (WRRCAT) Meeting Wednesday, July 22 7pm River Road Unitarian Universalist Church 6301 River Road, Bethesda, MD Directions here. The meeting is in room 32: after entering the main door of the church, turn LEFT, go across the glass bridge and then down the stairs to room 32. |
Servicemembers United is teaming up with Equality Maryland and other national, state and local LGBT organizations across the country to help our community do a better job of identifying, connecting, including, and counting the largely unknown and disconnected population of LGBT veterans among us. National estimates indicate that there are more than 1 million LGBT veterans in the United States, yet identification of and connection to this diaspora is lacking. If you have ever served in the U.S. military, please take a moment to complete the very brief National GLBT Veterans Census survey at http://servicemembersunited.org/...75%29. If you are not a veteran (or if you are and you also know other LGBT veterans), please forward this email and/or survey link and urge them be counted as well (the survey is anonymous). This initiative will help both Servicemembers United, as it seeks to identify demographic information about the population of LGBT veterans, and Equality Maryland, as it seeks to better understand its own community and resources. Thank you. David Toth Interim Managing Director, Equality Maryland Alexander Nicholson Executive Director, Servicemembers United v Prince George’s County Maryland Transgender Forum Wednesday, July 1 10:00am – 1:00pm Department of Social Services 925 Brightseat Road, Landover, Maryland Main Entrance Cost: Free! Lunch & Refreshments Provided This event is for the LGBTQ Community, Service Providers and ALL Allies. Transgender Marylanders Deserve Equal Protection Under the Law. Transgender Marylanders Do Not Enjoy The Same Protection From Discrimination In Housing, Employment, and Public Accommodations, As Gays And Lesbians And Other Minorities. We have a moral imperative to work together for change! Learn about transgender issues, the laws, the concerns, and hear it from fellow Marylanders on the front lines. Learn how to advocate for and support barring discrimination based on gender identity and expression in Prince George’s County and statewide. SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER: State Delegate Joseline Peyña-Melnyk Lead Sponsor of Gender Identity and Expression Anti-Discrimination Act Sponsored by Equality Maryland, in collaboration with the Prince George’s County LGBTQ Youth Task Force. RSVP: mindydaniels@equalitymaryland.org or call Mindy at 301-633-2113. |
v Virginia Statewide Health Care Town Halls Thurs., July 23 Colonial Heights Public Library 1000 Yacht Basin Drive, Colonial Heights 7 p.m. Thurs., Aug. 20 Chester Public Library 11800 Centre Street, Chester 6:30 p.m. Thurs., Sept 17 Christ Church Winchester 114 W. Boscawen Street, Winchester 6 p.m. Sun., Oct. 4 Congregation Beth Ahabah 1111 W Franklin St., Richmond 9 a.m. Sun., Oct. 11 Muslim Adult Sunday School class Garfield High School 14000 Smoketown Rd., Woodbridge 10 a.m. Sun., Oct. 18 Temple Ohef Sholom 14000 Smoketown Rd., Woodbridge 9 a.m. Ali Faruk, a health care policy analyst, is traveling the state building support for a "Faithful Vision of Health Care Reform" at a series of town hall-style gatherings. Attend one of the meetings near you, tell you story and join the movement for faithful reform. Or invite Ali to your congregation to explain why reform is critical for Virginia and what people of faith can do to make it happen Reforming health care should also involve you. Think of other people who may want to stay up to date on health care reform and other national issues and tell them to join here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/EmailUpdates Health care reform can't come soon enough. We spend more on health care than any country, but families continue to struggle with skyrocketing premiums and nearly 46 million are without insurance entirely. It is a priority for the American people and a pillar of the new foundation we are seeking to build for our economy. |
Thursday, August 9 5:30pm-8:30pm The Dinner Dialogues are wonderful opportunities for people of different faiths to come together over dinner to discuss their unique beliefs and practices. The purpose of these dialogues is to develop a greater understanding of religions practiced in our community and also to develop stronger bonds between the participants. The Dinner Dialogues will take place in host homes throughout the DC area and include 8 to 10 people of different religious backgrounds. To sign up for the event or for more information, please e-mail the Interfaith Conference (IFC) at ifcdialogue@gmail.com . |
v Virginia Interfaith Center News For issue No. 6 of Inter-Session, the bi-weekly newsletter of The Interfaith Center for Public Policy. >>Click here or use the headline links below. |
United We Serve, a new initiative endorsed by the Obama administration, encourages all citizens to take an active role by volunteering in the community. The Web site will show you ways to volunteer in your community and how to develop your own service projects. Click here to learn more about this exciting project to create a better future! |
UUSJ still had money available to help youth or young adults attend social justice conferences or for your congregation to hold a youth or young adult social justice conference. To apply for a scholarship to attend a conference send the name of the youth or young adult, the name of their congregation, the conference which the person wishes to attend and its dates and costs and the amount requested and reason for request to CSnavely@uusj.org. To apply for funds for a conference your congregation is hosting send a brief description of the conference, the dates, your costs, and an amount requested to CSnavely@uusj.org |