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Minnesota UU Social Justice Alliance
 
The Connection: Events, Announcements and News
Feb 6, 2009
Greetings!
 
What a great time to be working for justice!  A lot is happening now and in the weeks ahead.

Our game night is this Saturday evening at 6 pm, hosted by board members Lois Hamilton and Kathleen Hamilton - it's not to late to RSVP.  Now is also a great time to register for the PSD Annual Conference in Duluth.  Please come early to attend an excellent workshop on environmental justice on Friday, April 3.

Our allies are doing amazing work on moving Green Jobs as part of the growing environmental justice movement.  See the sidebar story to learn about H.I.R.E. Minnesota, and check below for details on a March visit by Van Jones to the Twin Cities.  Tickets are free but are likely to go fast!

Each of our four MUUSJA working groups continue to hold regular meetings to plan events, actions and strategies for winning systemic change - take a look below for details.

Make plans now to attend the special screening of The Education of Shelby Knox presented by the AUW/MUUSJA Sacred Choices campaign.  At 7:00 pm Friday, March 6 we hope to see UUs from across the area gather together for this inspiring documentary and the lively conversations that will follow.  You can watch a 2 minute film trailer on MUUSJA's website.  Don't miss this inter-generational, inter-congregational event!

We are expecting a great General Assembly as well.  Registration opens on March 2nd.  Our own Mark Ritchie is scheduled to appear, and our Voter Rights campaign, with the assistance of the Northern New England District, has a workshop proposal accepted!  Details soon, but register early for best housing options.

In faith,
Ralph Wyman
MUUSJA Director/Organizer
MUUSJA Action News:
 
MUUSJA Game NightMUUSJA Game Night
Saturday, February 7
6 - 10 pm
492 Montrose Lane
St Paul, MN 55116

Come to Lois Hamilton's house for Foosball, Mah Jong,
Wii Rock Band, Apples to Apples, and more.  Homemade dinner for vegetarians and omnivores served at 6:15.  A fun way to get to know MUUSJA and see how you can plug in! 

To RSVP or for details, please contact Co-Host Kathleen Hollinger: 612-701-4643 or [email protected].



MUUSJA EcoMinds
Tuesday, February 10
7-9 pm
First Universalist Church
3400 Dupont Ave S, Minneapolis


Work on Clean Cars legislation & postcard campaign, track other legislative objectives and strategize responses.  De-brief EcoMinds state-wide conference call.  Discuss H.I.R.E. colalition work.  FFI contact EcoMinds Chair Sammy at [email protected]


MUUSJA Board Meeting
Thursday, February 12
7 - 9 pm
Unity Church Unitarian
732 Holly Ave, St. Paul 55104

All are welcome to attend and to join in conversation at our monthly board meeting.  Contact Ralph at 612-998-6624 or [email protected] for more information or to request an agenda.


AUW/MUUSJA Voter Rights
Saturday, February 21
1 - 3 pm
First Universalist Church, Cummins Room
3400 Dupont Ave S, Minneapolis
 
Work on the Voter Rights proposed Action of Immediate Witness (AIW) for GA 2009 in Salt Lake.  Several federal bills on election integrity have been introduced and need the support of UUs across the nation.  An AIW is a great way to build national UU interest.  GA workshop proposal is in! We will post details of our GA workshop slot in a future Connection. Mark Ritchie is also scheduled to appear.  FFI Jenny Thomas [email protected] or Carol Johnson 612-825-3322.  


AUW/MUUSJA Reproductive Rights/Sacred Choices
Saturday, February 28, 2009Shelb Knox and parents
10 am - Noon
(Scones & social time 9:30)
First Universalist Church
3400 Dupont Ave S, Minneapolis

Final Education of
Shelby Knox preparation for this special March 6 event.  RR/SC is reaching out to area UU congregations to help build our community of people working on comprehensive sex ed and reproductive health.  See the flyer and watch the trailer at www.muusja.org/sacredchoices.  FFI Sara [email protected]


UUs Out 4 Marriage
Monday, March 2
7 - 9 pm
Unity Church Unitarian
Foote Room
732 Holly Ave, St. Paul 55104

Follow on our successful first meeting as we make plans to fulfill our UU call to stand on the side of love.  You can watch the UUA video "Standing on the Side of Love" on the UUO4M page of muusja.org.   If you can't make the meeting but would like to start receiving notes and UUO4M updates, contact Ralph and ask to be added to the Yahoo list.  FFI Ralph [email protected], 612-998-6624.  FYI: Duluth Opening Our Doors conference is March 13-14, details here.
Prairie Star District Annual Conference

PSD Conference Duluth LogoO
ur Blue Boat Home: Living the Seventh Tradition
April 3-5, 2009
Duluth, Minnesota

Just a short trip from most anywhere in Minnesota, make plans soon to attend the PSD Annual Conference!  Conference Information is now available on the PSD web site.  Early registration discount ends March 6.

MUUSJA works with the Prairie Star District Social Justice Network to support the annual Pre-Conference Social Justice Training.  This year's topic is Successful Strategies for Environmental Justice.  Pre-conference training is Friday afternoon, April 3rd, and ends in time to attend the evening's conference activities.  Training is only $5 if registering for the Conference/$10 as a stand-alone event.

Panelists have regional, national and international experience in environmental justice to share with us.  Breakout sessions will allow interaction and detailed discussions.  See the full-color flyer here.

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MUUSJA's EcoMinds, together with UU Congregation Duluth, and MUUSJA/AUW's Reproductive Rights/Sacred Choices each have  workshops during the Saturday sessions of the Annual Conference!  And MUUSJA and PSD-SJN will be offering a Saturday morning workshop as well.  Details are here and here.

Congratulations to our Working Group volunteers for having two workshops accepted for the 2009 conference!
UU & Allied Social Justice Events
 
What Would Darwin Do: the struggle for comprehensive sex education in Minnesota
Sunday, February 8
9:30 - 10:20 am
First Unitarian Society
900 Mount Curve, Minneapolis

Speaker:  Lorie Alveshere, Policy Director, Minnesota Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy


Rally: Freedom to Marry Day
Thursday, February 12th
2:30 - 4 PM
Minnesota Capitol Rotunda

Rally at the State Capitol in observance of Freedom to Marry Day, and to show support for a marriage equality bill in the 2009 Minnesota legislative session (SF 120).  Join the Impact, OutFront, many more are sponsors.  Also , take a look at the UUA's suggested 7 conversations in 7 days, for Freedom to Marry week!


NW Neighbors for Peace: "Are we fighting the terrorists in Somalia?"
Thursday, February 12th
7:00 PM
Spirit of Hope United Methodist Church
7600 Harold Avenue North, Golden Valley
(SE corner of Highway 55 and Winnetka)

Ramla Bile received her B.A. in Global Studies and Political Science from the University of Minnesota. She most recently worked for The Advocates for Human Rights and previously served on the editorial board of the Minnesota Daily. Her family emigrated from Somalia in 1989 and she continues to monitor and speak on the social, political, and humanitarian situation in the Horn of Africa.


TakeAction MN: Worldview Training
Saturday, February 21st
SEIU Healthcare Minnesota Offices
345 Randolph Avenue, Suite 100
Saint Paul

Worldview training looks at who and what has shaped the current dominant story, or worldview, about the society we live in, how that story impacts our work for justice, and how progressives are or are not connecting our work to our own narrative. RSVP required to Pamela Twiss 651-379-0748 or [email protected]


Green Jobs: Rx for a healthy economy & a healthy environmentGreen Jobs pioneer Van Jones
featuring Van Jones
Thursday, March 5th
4-6 PM
Ted Mann Hall, U of M Minneapolis Campus

Award-winning activist and environmental advocate Van Jones will be the guest speaker on behalf of the Center for Spirituality & Healing's new initiative called Whole Systems Healing. Whole Systems Healing is designed to teach about the relationship between the environment and the health of people and communities and preparing them to be agents of social healing.  FREE TICKET required for admission.  Visit http://www.csh.umn.edu/ for details.


Green the Ghetto - a Breakfast Forum on Sustainable Urban Development
Friday, March 6th
7:30 AM Reg, 8 - 9:15 AM Program
$30 ($20 for MN International Center members)
Windows on Minnesota
50th Floor, IDS Tower, 80 South 8th Street, Minneapolis

Majora Carter pioneered green economic practices in the South Bronx, NY.  By connecting the right types of training, policy, and relationships, she now helps cities across the U.S. realize the value of integrating infrastructure and the local economy in ways that benefit everyone.  Ms. Carter simultaneously addresses public health, poverty alleviation, and climate change.   Ms. Carter will be in Minnesota as a keynote speaker at the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize Forum, which will be hosted at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN.
In This Issue
MUUSJA Events
PSD Conference & Training Duluth
UU & Allied Events
H.I.R.E. Minnesota
What's up with our Web Site?
Join Our Mailing List
H.I.R.E. Minnesota
HIRE Minnesota Logo
Polar explorer Will Steger extended a special invitation to EcoMinds members to attend a January 27th meeting of H.I.R.E. Minnesota.

Five EcoMinders showed up to learn about the Healthcare, Infrastructure and Renewable Energy coalition, discovering a packed house of over 300 people enjoying free food & music.

The crowd settled down to hear from a broad and deep panel of community activists, as well as co-chairs of H.I.R.E. Will Steger and Louis King, followed by citizen input and elected officials responses.

It was an amazing night of building a powerful coalition that will support green jobs and infrastructure investments that will benefit ALL workers, and opportunities for low-skill workers to get trained for the new economy.

H.I.R.E. has set an amazing goal of 20,000 people at the MN Capitol on Earth Day, April 22nd.  MUUSJA wants to help see this happen!

See for yourself what local Green Jobs and Economic Justice work looks like:

Tues. Feb 17th:
Town Hall Meeting 6:30-8 PM
Minneapolis American Indian Center
1530 East Franklin, Mpls, MN 55404

Tues. Mar. 10th:
Town Hall Meeting 6:30-8 PM
Sabathani Community Center
310 East 38th Street Minneapolis, MN 55409
 
Details here
Thank You!
We rely on YOU, our members and friends, for at least one third of all our operating funds.

Help make MUUSJA a STRONG moral voice for justice in Minnesota.

To make a contribution to MUUSJA, download this form to mail in your donation.  Or call Ralph at 612-998-6624 for more information on memberships and giving.
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MUUSJA wishes to thank our funders.  We are supported in part by the UUSC and the First Universalist Foundation.

The Prairie Star District of the UUA acts as our fiscal sponsor.  We are grateful for the support and assistance.
Quick Links
Changes are coming to our Web Site!
We have been busy adding new content to www.muusja.org, with more improvements planned in the months ahead.

Stop by if you haven't for a while.  We have streaming video at both UUO4M and Sacred Choices pages, info on the PSD Conference, and an archive of our newsletters.

We are still looking for web-savvy volunteers: Do you know Drupal?  It's an open source, free-ware way to operate a web site.  MUUSJA is looking for assistance with www.muusja.org, which uses Drupal

Assistance will be occasional. Staff knows how update content, upload photos, etc.  We need help designing new pages & sections of the site.

Estimate for the project is 5-8 hours, then perhaps 1-2 hours quarterly.  Experienced at web design but don't know Drupal?  Let's talk - our web design contractor could train you!

Contact Ralph 612-998-6624, [email protected]