| Greetings!
This week I was on a call with Myrna Greenfield of the UUSC, Susan Leslie of the UUA, and social justice folks from several UU State Advocacy Networks. We heard a disturbing number -- 55 million. This is the number of people eligible to vote in the US who may not be registered to vote this fall! Estimates are that of these, 24 million are young people.
But there is still time to help get people registered for the November Presidential election. The UUA has just updated their Faithful Democracy Guide for organizing voter registration. In it the Rev. Bill Sinkford says:
There is work to be done. I'm not talking about simply affirming the importance of voting, nor of simply promising to vote ourselves. I'm talking about mobilizing to get out there and work to prevent the travesties of recent elections from recurring. We want to see this nation's promise of democracy restored, and to do what we can to ensure that everyone's vote gets counted.
You can help support Rev. Sinkford's call to action. Please join us for a voter registration event in the weeks ahead. And check out a meeting of MUUSJA/AUW's Voter Rights campaign. This is vital work -- from teaching about the threats to ballot integrity, to supporting voter rights partners, to organizing UU participation in voter dirves -- this work group is on for the challenge of the 2008 election.
And registering people to vote can make a big impact. Once people are registered they do vote: 89% in 2004!
Saturday, October 4th will be a big day of voter registration -- please join us, Mark Ritchie and other UUs for this important work! We also need UUs for Saturday, September 27th. Come to one, the other, or both!
MUUSJA Director/Organizer
As always, you can E-mail suggested news and calendar items to me at rwmuusja@gmail.com. Thanks!
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| MUUSJA & UU Action News: |
 Documentary: Divided We Fall, America in the AftermathThursday, September 11
7:00 pm
White Bear UU Church
328 Maple Street, Mahtomedi
Divided We Fall follows the journey of 20-year-old college student Valarie Kaur as she documents hate violence against Sikhs and Muslims in the immediate aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001 and examines the larger question of "who counts" as American. Opening remarks by Rev. Victoria Safford. Facilitated discussion after. FFI Catie Chi Olson
Reproductive Rights/Sacred Choices
Saturday, September 13
10:00 - 11:30 am
First Universalist Church Chalice Room
3400 Dupont Ave S, Minneapolis
C.H.O.I.C.E.S. 2008-2009 planning. Reports from partner organizations, supporting events such as In Her Shoes. Help kick off a great year for RR/SC! FFI Sara McMullen
MUUSJA EcoMinds
Monday, September 15
7:00 - 9:00 pm
First Universalist Church
3400 Dupont Ave S, Minneapolis
Get ready for another year of work towards greening our congregations, neighborhoods and our government policies! Finalize our work plan for the year. FFI Ralph Wyman
AUW/MUUSJA Voter Rights Thursday, September 18 2:00 - 4:00 pm First Universalist Church Library 3400 Dupont Ave S, Minneapolis Help turn the uncertainty of "I Voted?" or "Am I Registered?" into I Voted!! Monthly meeting of the Voter Rights working group. Finalize plans for October voter registation events with the Election Day Community Coalition. Prepare for October MUUSJA membership meeting--Voting Rights will be the focus. FFI Jenny Thomas
Voter Registration Day #1
Saturday, September 27th
10:00 am - 3:00 pm
True Love Church
1525 Glenwood Ave. N., Minneapolis
Jojn with the Election Day Community Coalition (25 non-profit groups) working on voter registration and education in the underrepresented 5th Ward of Minneapolis. Our goal is 15-30 UU volunteers on Sat, Sept 27th. 10 am Coffee, 10:20 Training; 11-2:00 Canvass, then reflection & Cook-Out. FFI Carol Johnson
Voter Reg Day #2 will be Sat, October 4. See The Connection sidebar here.
SAVE THE DATE! SAVE TWO!!
Details in upcoming Connections:
- MUUSJA Fall General Membership Meeting - Sunday, Oct 19, 3 pm
- MUUSJA Training - Organizing in a Movement Moment - Saturday, November 15, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm.
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| Have Fun and Support Our Allies! |
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At Thoreau's Doorstep
Music and Musings on Henry David Thoreau
Saturday, September 20
7:30 pm
328 Maple Street, Mahtomedi
Story teller and musician Dan Chouinard, singer-songwriter Peter Mayer and soprano Maria Jette. Reception after concert. $25 donation benefits WBUUC Social Action focus on poverty and economic justice. FFI/tix 651-426-2369 In Her Shoes  Steping Out for Choice
Thursday, September 25
5:00 - 8:00 pm
Jitters Cafe and Martini Bar, 205 E. Hennepin Avenue
$25 in advance, $30 at the door
Please join the Minnesota Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice for a musical celebration of Sexual Health, Religious Freedom, and Reproductive Justice in Minnesota. Lori Dokken, Roy Colbert and Andrew Walesch will share their musical talents. Appetizers will be served. Cash bar. Event will feature a silent auction (cash and checks only). FFI/Reservations kelly@mnrcrc.org or call (612) 870-0974 |
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September 27th: Green Jobs Now! |
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The UUA recently signed on to support the "Green Jobs Now" campaign - co-sponsored by 1Sky, Al Gore's WE campaign, and Van Jone's Green For All. Join us on September 27 for a national day of action for Green Jobs Now. Learn more and sign up now!
We need a new economy - one that invests in clean, renewable energy, creates millions of green-collar jobs and addresses the challenges of climate change. The next President and Congress will have a lot to say about if and when we get that new economy.
This September we have a chance to make sure those leaders know: America is ready for green jobs now! On Saturday, September 27, 1Sky, Green for All and the We Campaign are joining with tens of thousands of Americans for Green Jobs Now: A Day to Build the New Economy.
Together, UUs can help make it clear that America is ready to build an inclusive green economy, strong enough to lift people out of poverty and solve the climate crisis. You can be part of a giant leap forward, by joining other UUs on September 27th (or another date close to that...).
DVD Study Guide: Following are questions prepared by UU Ministry For Earth Board Member Nancy King Smith that may help stimulate an exchange of ideas:
- How would you describe the intersection of environmental and social justice?
- Is it our turn? Are we capable of governing, not just protesting?
- Can there be a Green New Deal? What are the challenges?
- How do we create a no throwaway society?
- What is happening to create green jobs in your community?
- What initiatives are taking place to work with incarcerated and released prisoners on becoming employable?
- How do we apologize to the indigenous people of the world?
- What is the availability of healthy food in all neighborhoods in your community?
- If we are feeding what weʼre fighting what to do we do about it?
- At the end, Bill Sinkford says that Van has given the 2008 General Assembly its charge? How would you describe that charge?
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Voter Registration and Canvass Day - A Partnership with Southside Churches |
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Join UUs from Across the Metro on Saturday, October 4, 2008
Our goal is 150 UUs for this outreach event to our neighbors across the Southside!
 Macedonia Baptist Church 3801 First Avenue South in Minneapolis
We will work in pairs as we knock on doors and work in high traffic areas in the precincts. We'll register new voters and canvass all voters to provide information on voting and voter rights.
Two shifts available: 8-12:30 or Noon-3:00. Training and food offered when you arrive at Macedonia Baptist Church.
For those who come to our 8:00 a.m. gathering,  join our Minnesota Secretary of State, Mark Ritchie, who will give us a rousing send off at 8:45. Morning schedule: 8:00-8:30 Coffe, Juice & Rolls 8:45-9:00 Mark Ritchie
8:45-9:45 Training, team assignments, maps distributed
9:45-10:00 Walk or ride to canvass sites
10:00-12:00 Canvassing doors
12:00-1:00 Return to Macedonia for food, fellowship, & debrief.
Afternoon Schedule:
12:00-1:00 Pizza, soft drinks & fellowship
1:00-2:00 Training and preparation for canvass
2:00-2:15 Walk or ride to canvass site
2:15-3:45 Canvassing doors
3:45-4:00 Return to Macedonia for snacks, fellowship, & debrief.
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| 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. |
| UUs Speak Out for Comprehensive Sex Ed |
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Several UUs, including the Rev. Rob Eller-Isaacs and Unity R.E. student Libby Arnosti, pictured here with Brigid Riley of MOAPP, called on national and local leaders to recognize the failures of Abstinence Only sex education in our schools. They instead called for education that will support well informed youth and young adults as they negotiate the complex choices of growing up.
At a September 4 press conference in St. Paul a few blocks form the Xcel Center, Rev. Eller-Isaacs of Unity Church Unitarian made clear that recent news should not focus on one 17 year old. "This is about the millions of teens who are at risk because their education does not include information beyond abstinence only" said Eller-Isaacs.
17 year old Libby Arnosti, a member of Unity Church and a student at St. Paul's Central High, has completed the full youth curriculum of Our Whole Lives. She compared it to her experiences in three public school grades: "none of these public school classes taught us anything about relationships. They only focused on disease and medical knowledge. The difficulties in relationships is where teens, especially girls, need support to make healthy choices."
Brigid Riley of the Minnesota Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy, Prevention and Parenting discussed the data that now shows Abstinence Only programs are proving to be ineffective despite the investment of over 250 million federal dollars over the past few years. Now that the data show the failure of Abstinence Only, Riley and others on the panel said, it is time for faith leaders and others community leaders to call for comprehensive sex education funding for our schools.
Rev. Debra Haffner, a UU minister in affiliation with the UU Congregation of Westport Connecticut and director of the Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice and Healing flew to the Twin Cities to deliver her organizations message that over 2,500 congregations in the U.S. support sexuality education that is comprehensive and helps all our youth develop healthy sexuality.
"It is time to provide all of our young people with comprehensive sexuality education that respects the diversity of values in a community and provides full and medically accurate information. It's the only moral response" said Haffner. "This is a teachable moment for the nation," she added. | |
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