Greetings!
HIRE at MN Capitol, Wednesday, March 17  | MUUSJA has been very active at the Capitol, with the HIRE Minnesota coalition as a central focus of our economic justice efforts. A significant hiring equity bill is making its way through the legislature - including successful passage by the policy committees in each chamber, both big wins!
This bill requires contractors to plan for and then report back on efforts to diversify their workforce on all capital-bonded projects. This year that translates into $680 million in public investments, and that has our work getting noticed! HIRE is working closely with Senator Higgins and Representative Champion, our two lead authors, now that many stakeholders (cities, counties, contractors, state agencies) are seeking input on this bill.
There is much work yet to do, including finding a way to pay for the modest cost of implementation during a tough budget-cutting session. MUUSJA support for this legislation continues to be very important to the success of HIRE. Thanks to everyone who, via EcoMinds, has been able to attend a hearing or contact a legislator! We may be mobilizing more soon!
 HIRE Minnesota coordinator (and award-winning Organizer of the Year) Alessandra Williams will be at the MUUSJA Spring Meeting - Sunday, April 11 at 1 pm - to update us all on this exciting work with HIRE.
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Events of note in the days and weeks ahead: Pro-Choice Good Friday vigil, MUUSJA's Spring Meeting, OutFront Lobby Day, and the Prairie Star District Conference. And of course, General Assembly!
We hope to see you at these and other UU and allied events detailed below!
Ralph Wyman
MUUSJA Director/Organizer
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| MUUSJA Action News |
 UUs Out 4 Marriage
Wednesday, April 7
7:00 - 9:00 pm
First Universalist Church
3400 Dupont Ave S, Minneapolis
Plans are moving ahead towards having 500 UUs march, with a float, in the Pride Parade on the Sunday of GA. There is also a Pride booth to staff so we can reach out and connect to LGBT people and allies who may be looking for our unique liberal religious communities. We're exploring outreach at MayDay in Powderhorn park, too! FFI Ralph: 612-998-6624 or rwmuusja@gmail.com
MUUSJA Board Meeting
Thursday, April 8
7 - 9 pm
First Unitarian Society
900 Mount Curve, Minneapolis
All
are warmly welcomed to attend and to join in conversation at our monthly board
meeting. Contact Ralph at 612-998-6624 or rwmuusja@gmail.com for information or to request an agenda.
  MUUSJA Spring General Meeting!
Sunday, April 11
1 - 2:30 pm
Minnesota Valley UU Fellowship
10715 Zenith Avenue South
Bloomington, MN 55431
Featured speaker: Dane
Smith, President, Growth & Justice
Dane is a member of Unity Church Unitarian in St. Paul and the organization he leads "believe[s] that at a time of deep partisan division, Minnesotans can
unite around one goal: a strong and growing state economy that provides
a decent standard of living for all. Social justice cannot always be
imposed by governments. It more often flows naturally from widespread
access to economic opportunity."
We will also get up-to-the minute news from the Capitol from HIRE Minnesota on our collaborative work for equity in hiring. Also, we'll distribute our annual report and hold elections for open MUUSJA board seats. If you'd like to apply for a MUUSJA board position, contact Kathleen.
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Prairie Star District Annual Conference
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Roots and Wings: Weaving Multigenerational Dreams
April 23-25, 2010
Davenport, Iowa
Join your fellow Minnesotans! Registration is still open for the District's Annual Conference. On-line registration deadline is April 8, and adult full-time is still only $160 and includes most meals and all events! Young adults (18-35) are only $100, and youth are $50. This conference is committed to making multigenerationalism more affordable!
If you are interested in ride-share from the Twin Cities, contact Ralph.
Friday Pre-Conference Workshops:
Anti-racism
Winning Marriage in Iowa
MUUSJA works with the Prairie Star District Social Justice Network to support the annual Pre-Conference Workshops. Pre-conference training is Friday, April 23rd, 9 am - 3:30 pm, and ends in
time to attend the evening's activities. There are two sessions: Roots and Wings for Anti-Racism (morning) and Politics of Marriage Equality (afternoon), with lunch available. Pre-conference event registration is just $5-$13 depending on sessions selected and optional lunch.
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UU & Allied Social Justice Events
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 Multi-Faith
Pro-Choice Prayer Service
Friday,
April 2
10:00 am
Planned Parenthood Clinic
1965 Ford Parkway, St. Paul, MN 55116
If you were able to join us last year at the first vigil/prayer service, you witnessed the power of many faiths standing on the side of love for women's right to all reproductive health choices. This second annual event will again bring the powerful witness of many faiths for choice.
 Weekend of Human Rights
with Rev. Bill Schulz
Saturday-Sunday, April 17-18First Universalist Church
3400 Dupont Ave S
First Universalist Church's Sesquicentennial committee and the Center for Victims of Torture invite you to a weekend of events with former UUA President, former Executive Director of Amnesty International USA, and current Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, Dr. William F. Schulz.
Saturday: Workshop "Could the Other Side Have a Point?" 9:30 - 11:30 a.m., suggested donation of $10 includes materials. Registration (required, space limited) to be posted ASAP on First Univ's 150th Anniversary web page. Saturday: Public Lecture "Barack Obama and Human Rights" 7:00 p.m. Free and open to the public. Sunday: Dr. Schulz will be the worship leader at 9 and 11 a.m. services.
 Earth Day at WBUUC - scholar/activist Bill McKibben
Sunday, April 18
9 and 11 am
White Bear UU Church
328 Maple St.
Mahtomedi, MN 55115
Bill McKibben, internationally
known author, environmentalist, and co-founder of 350.org will present Eaarth: Making a Life on a Tough New Planet as the Earth Day Sunday
speaker at WBUUC.
OutFront JustFair Lobby Day
Wednesday, April 21
Lobby appointments all day
= Rally at 1:00 pm =
Minnesota State Capitol, South lawn
St. Paul
Join with UUs Out 4 Marriage and all of MUUSJA as we lobby and rally for Marriage Equality in Minnesota! You can register here for lobby appointments (appointment times vary by legislator
and may change - check in at the OutFront tent Wednesday morning).
Registration is not required for the 1 pm Rally. If you have a "Standing on the Side of Love" T-shirt (blue or yellow), please wear that, too!
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MUUSJA is dedicated to building the UU social justice movement in Minnesota. Please contact us with your event suggestions, questions about how to get involved, or to update your information with us.
Sincerely,
Ralph Wyman, Director/Organizer
MUUSJA
612-998-6624
ralph@muusja.org
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Getting ready for GA in the Twin Cities
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If you want to be an official GA volunteer to receive free registration, applications are accepted Mar 1 - Mar 31. Volunteers work 24 hours during GA. MUUSJA is hosting three workshops during GA! The workshops are scheduled for 1 pm, 2:45 pm and 4:30 pm, on Thursday, June 24th. This summary program grid is a handy way to get an overview of the whole sequence of GA. Hope Community will be the service project this year, and there are hands-on opportunities during GA. The UUSC is holding a Just Works week right in Minneapolis the week of June 12-20, helping build a Habitat house. The UUSC welcomes contributions towards the $6,000 project goal. Twin Cities Pride Weekend is during GA! There will be a public witness event in Loring Park at lunchtime on Saturday, June 26. And on Sunday, June 27th, right after the morning worship, MUUSJA and the other UU State Advocacy Networks invite GA attendees to join local UUs as we march with a float in the annual Pride Parade.
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Like seeing UUs take action on your issues?
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Support us!
Help make MUUSJA a clear moral voice for justice with your donation to MUUSJA. We accept secure, tax deductible, online donations via Paypal: Checks can be mailed to: MUUSJA c/o PSD 122 W. Franklin Ave Suite 303 Minneapolis, MN 55404 Thank you to the Prairie Star District of the UUA, our fiscal sponsor. |
Would you like MUUSJA to speak at your congregation?
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Representatives of MUUSJA are available to speak at adult forums, RE classes, and for Sunday morning worships.
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Contact Ralph to find out more:
612-998-6624
ralph@muusja.org
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