| Greetings!
With less than four months to go until the presidential election, this is a great time to be registering voters!
MUUSJA urges you to help make this as broad and representative an election as possible. If you live in the Twin Cities area you can connect to our voter registration drive beginning August 2nd! Check out our Events calendar below.
The promise and potential of democracy was a central theme of Van Jones' recent lecture to UUs at General Assembly. I was very fortunate to be in the hall with 3,000 others to be "charged" with his inspiration and challenge.
Challenges that arise when government fails in its response to crises was highlighted in another visitor to General Assembly. The KatriaRitaVille express was parked in front of the Convention Center offering daily tours of a former FEMA trailer.
Explore all this and more here in The Connection.
In faith,
-Ralph Wyman
MUUSJA Director/Organizer
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| MUUSJA & UU Action News: |
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 UU EcoMinds Meeting Tuesday, July 29
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
First Universalist Church
3400 Dupont Ave S, Minneapolis
Follow up on the June potluck brainstorming for the coming year. Now it's time to group, rank, prioritize -- and strategize! We've got a facilitator lined up and this should be a great time for making plans.
We hope to have representatives from as many UU congregations as possible so that we can coordinate efforts and work together for effective Climate Change education, advocacy and implementing some solutions!
AUW/MUUSJA Voter Registration DriveSaturdays - August 2, 9 & 16
11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Minneapolis Urban League
2100 Plymouth Avenue North
Minneapolis, MN 55411
Parking is on east side of building
Join the Voting Rights working group in a non-partisan voter registration drive in partnership with the Urban League and Election Day Community Coalition. We hope to get at least 150 UU's joining the effort, in honor of the Minnesota Sesquicentennial and 150 years of Universalism in the Twin Cities. Training at 11:00 am. We'll go out in small groups to register voters Noon-4:00 pm. If you can't stay till 4, join us for as long as you can!
Carpooling available from First Universalist, 3400 Dupont Ave S, Minneapolis at 10:30 to arrive at the Urban League at 11:00. FFI: Contact Carol Johnson at 612-825-3322 or cjkjohnson@peoplepc.com.
 AUW/MUUSJA Voter Rights Meeting
Wednesday, August 6
7:00 pm
First Universalist Church
3400 Dupont Ave S
Minneapolis.
Monthly meeting of the Voter Rights working group. Finalize plans for Stealing America: Vote by Vote premiere in Minneapolis (Aug 29-Sept 4, @ Lagoon), other non-partisan voter integrity work timed to coincide with media opportunities that will relate to the Twin Cities RNC. Also, plans for Sept-Oct voter registation drive with the Election Day Community Coalition.
T-Shirts!
Raise your voice by buying a Standing on the Side of Love T-shirt.
Shop here to support the UUA and make a statement when you attend public witness events, rallies, or just out about town. |
| Allied Social Justice News |
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KatrinaRitaVille Express
Tour
Organizing meetings Mondays
July 21 - Aug 25
6:00 - 7:30 pm
3800 37th Avenue S,
Minneapolis
Looking for a non-partisan way to respond to the RNC visit Aug 1-4? This former FEMA trailer from the Gulf Coast will be in the Twin Cities to bring awareness of failed government policies as they relate to issues of race, environment, water quality, infrastrucutre and more.
Multiple events are being developed. Come to these planning meetings to help support site visits, design outreach, music, visual arts, voter registration drive and more. This is the tailer that visited UUA GA this June. Read a recent UUSC blog post about the trailer and ongoing Gulf Coast rebuilding efforts. MUUSJA is one of many supporters of this stop on the KRVExpress tour.
Stop the Disparities: Making Minnesota's Children a Political Priority in the 2008 Election
Tuesday, July 22
2110 Plymouth Ave N
Minneapolis, 55411
This is a Minnesota Pipeline event sponsored by the Minneapolis Urban League, Every Child Matters, and the Minnesota Children's Platform.
Complimentary supper for Pipeline participants.
FFI: Urban League 612-302-3100
Green Jobs Rally featuring Jim Hightower
Sunday, July 27
1:00 - 4:00 pm
Saint Paul College
235 Marshall, St. Paul
Free event! The Blue Green Alliance and labor and environmental leaders are having a Green Jobs Rally with Jim Hightower. It is time to raise our voices and rally for green jobs in Minnesota - to improve our economy and protect our environment. You are invited you to be part of this historic event, including the LARGEST HUMAN WIND TURBINE ever in Minnesota!
Summer Social Justice Book Club
Wed, Jul 30 & Tues Aug 26
11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Green Institute Rooftop Garden
2801 21st Avenue S., Minneapolis
Join the Alliance for Metropolitan Stability and Headwaters Foundation for Justice for a Social Justice Summer Book Club! Forget the light summer reading, our first book is Tools for Radical Democracy by Joan Minieri and Paul Getsos. July 30: discussion of parts 1 & 2: Building Power and Base. August 26: discussion of parts 3 & 4: Campaigns and Strategy. Limited number of free copies available (tell them you're from MUUSJA)! RSVP and pick up your book from Headwater's Jennifer Vogel. |
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"Prepare to Govern"
Van Jones at
UUA General Assembly |
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"In these difficult times we have a duty to do more than curse the darkness. We must ourselves shine a new light."
So said Van Jones, green jobs advocate and founder and President of Green for All, at the Ware Lecture, GA 2008, Ft. Lauderdale.
View streaming media of his powerful speech about true leadership and preparing to govern in these troubled times:
Don't have a fast connection? Read UUA GA reporting on the Ware Lecture here. |
| Thanks to our Funders and Friends! |
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MUUSJA wishes to thank our Funders. We are supported in part by the UU Service Committee, the UU Funding Program, and First Universalist Foundation.
Support the UUSC
Learn about the UUFP
We are sustained by our memberships, gifts and by congregational giving. For membership, gift and congregational giving information, please contact Ralph Wyman at 612-998-6624 or ralph@muusja.org.
The Prairie Star District of the UUA acts as our fiscal sponsor. We are grateful for their support and assistance!
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| Action of Immediate Witness: Iran |
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Each year, General Assembly takes action on several issues that need immediate attention in the realm of social justice.
In 2008, six Actions of Immediate Witness (AIWs) were passed. Over the months ahead, we'll feature will each of the AIWs.
Today we start with tensions between the USA and Iran.
This Resolution says that UUs affirm the right of all nations and peoples of the region to peace and security and it calls upon member congregations to urge Congress to oppose an attack on Iran. Read the full AIW.
Then contact your congregational leaders to let them know about the Action of Immediate Witness on Iran and ask for action! | |
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