Postings from the minister and staff See also: CUUC Website
2020-06-04
Racial Justice Resources and Opportunities for Families, June 4, 2020
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Religious Education & Faith Development Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at White Plains June 4, 2020
Dear Families and Volunteers, I'd like to share some thoughts and resources with you related to current events. First, some opportunities to act, grow, share, learn and connect - four tonight!
Tonight/Thursday, June 4th at 6:30pm Zoom Gathering for UU People of Color led by Central East Regional Staff Dr. Rev. Hope Johnson and Paula Cole Jones. E-mail Hope at hjohnson@uua.org or Paula at pcolejones@uua.org for Zoom information.
Tonight/Thursday, June 4th at 6:30pm Circle White Plains With Love – Stand Against Racism hosted by White Plains Religious Leaders. Click herefor the FB event page. Click here for the flyer and map. Family friendly!
Tonight/Thursday, June 4th 7:00-8:00pm Westchester SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice) is hosting an action and discussion meeting https://NewSchool.zoom.us/j/99972136353 Phone: +1-646-558-8656 with Meeting ID 999 7213 6353#
Tonight/Thursday, June 4th 7:15-8:45pm 4th Universalist Society NYC is hosting a panel, How to Be an Antiracist Parent, open to all via zoom.us/j/8972538131(a recording will be shared later)
Saturday, June 6th 11:00am CUUC Religious Education and Racial Justice teams in conversation about racial justice programming for children, youth and families, zoom.us/j/817388428
Saturday, June 6th 3:00pm Rally in Peekskill’s Depew Park
Sunday, June 14th CUUC RE conversations about racial justice following worship for children and youth then at 1:30pm with parents and adults who are talking with children and youth, additional information coming
Watch the CUUC Forum FaceBook group for regularly updated opportunities, as well as the e-Communitarian newsletter. Stay tuned for a live doc we'll update regularly.
Our Unitarian Universalist faith calls us into the work of naming and dismantling racism and systems of white supremacy culture. Our UU faith calls us into naming and learning about the roots of racism. We have a rich opportunity for that work as a multiracial community through conversations about the 1619 Project the CUUC Racial Justice – In the Spirit of Truth team is holding. I cannot stress enough how important it is for our youth to be included and participate in discussions. If we want our future to be different, we need to invest in our young people and be in conversation with them about moving forward together. I know these are challenging times as we have endured physical separation from each other and hold painful truths. Still, please make these conversations ongoing at home. There are many good resources and events to support you, and some are listed below. Especially note the youth/adult conversation about the 1619 Project led by the CUUC RJ-ISOT team this Sunday, June 7th at 4:00pm in Zoom room 7899. June 14th, RE will also hold conversations with our children, youth and families.
To our families of color and biracial families, I am holding you in my heart through these especially painful times. I honor and lift up spaces set aside for People of Color only, offering comfort, strength, healing and resilience among those who share similar experiences. Tonight, there is a gathering for UU People of Color led by Central East Regional Staff Dr. Rev. Hope Johnson and Paula Cole Jones. Email hjohnson@uua.org or pcolejones@uua.org for Zoom info. In our broader Unitarian Universalism community, Black Lives of UU (BLUU), Diverse Revolutionary Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Ministries(DRUUMM), and Thrive Leadership School for Youth and Young Adults of Color offer worship, community and support for UUs of color. At CUUC, we have an active multiracial working group in the Racial Justice-In The Spirit of Truth team, leading work in our congregation.
To our white families, if you are in conversation with People of Color, listen. Listen. Not debate. Not question. Not Dismiss. Listen. Witness. Respect boundaries. Get curious. Center voices and experiences of color. Then do what you can do. Stretch into something that makes you a little uncomfortable. Stumble. Be grateful for those who love you enough to offer you feedback. Grow. Do better next time. We are on a life-long journey of peeling back layers of socialization that prevent us from seeing or fully understanding the depths of white supremacy culture and systems, that inhibit us from naming our white privilege. This is our work. This is work our faith calls us to do. At CUUC, the Racial Justice – In the Spirit of Truth team offers resources and opportunities for grounded learning and action, as does the UU Allies for Racial Equity (ARE).
I look forward upcoming conversations about embedding this work in Religious Education at CUUC for all ages. And I am grateful to be among you and with you as I continue my own journey of learning, stumbling, and growing, and as we all live into the values of our faith, speaking truth and acting together in love.
in faith and justice, Tracy
Resources:
UUA Virtual Prayer Vigil #WeCantBreathe,View the recording of the livestream and Download the accompanying slides
Subscribeto Side With Love to stay connected with UUs and other people of faith and conscience in this work for justice and equity
Subscribeto UU the Vote to support local organizing, electoral justice, and democracy in this time and watch for information from the CUUC Social Justice teams
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