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Young Adult News
A monthly newsletter of the UUA Office of Young Adult Ministries January, 2009 - Issue 65 | |
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| January Action of the Month: Living Wage |
| For January's Action of the Month, we invite you to prepare for Living Wage Days, January 10th and 11th, 2009. This month's action will help bring the minimum wage closer to a living wage by supporting the Let Justice Roll Living Wage Campaign to raise the federal minimum wage to $10 in 2010.
In hard economic times it is more important than ever for people of faith to stand with low-wage workers and their families. Join hundreds of congregations around the country and hold a Let Justice Roll Living Wage Worship Service or Event: invite low-wage workers and their families to share testimonials at your services and events; gather signatures for Faith Leaders, General Public & Business Leaders Letter for $10 in 10 to Congress to be delivered in 2009; consider holding a special offering for the Let Justice Roll Living Wage Campaign. Visit the Social Justice Page on the UUA Website for more information. | |
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| Greetings! |
Greetings all,
The news media often presents us with "the year in review" for the nation and the world. I have been thinking about what a year in review for Unitarian Universalism might look like for 2008. Several salient moments, both joyous and sorrowful, come to mind quickly. A Program Associate for Ministry to Youth and Young Adults of Color was hired; the Ralph Waldo Emerson Unitarian Universalist Chair of Divinity was established at Harvard Divinity School; General Assembly was both one of the most controversial General Assemblies in years as well as one of the hottest and sweatiest; the tragic shooting at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Congregation reminded us of our fragility and the community's response to that tragedy reminded us of our faith and resilience; and President Sinkford's trip to Unitarian congregations across Africa reminded us of our interdependence around the globe.
There are many more events and moments that come to mind, and a good number I am certain to have overlooked. For sure, we have much for which to be grateful and much to look forward to in 2009. What do you hope for Unitarian Universalism in 2009? Share your hopes for Unitarian Universalism in 2009 by emailing them to me at ekesting@uua.org and your ideas may end up in the next issue of Young Adult News! Also in the February issue you will find information on Anchor Congregation nominations, important revisions to the Bridge Connections program, and more!
In faith,
Erik B. Kesting
Acting Co-Director of Young Adult Ministry
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| Letter from Monica Cummings, Program Associate for Ministry to Youth and Young Adults of Color |
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Happy New Year! I wish all of you a Happy New Year mindful of all the wars being waged in many parts of the world and the worsening world wide economic crisis. There are indeed myriad matters to occupy our minds and unleash our fears, negative thoughts and feelings. Layer that with life transitions and just getting out of bed in the morning can be challenging! An additional challenge for some of you who identify as a person of color or ethnic minority is gaining a deeper understanding of your identity and your place in the world.
I mentioned in my introduction column last month some of the programs and groups I will work with this year. I again invite you to contact to me if you want to host a workshop or training in your congregation or district focused on the following:
- issues faced by multicultural and multiethnic families,
- education related to leadership development for people of color
- the effects of American culture on the identity development of people of color and ethnic minorities in the United States.
Together we can realize our goal of becoming a truly anti-oppressive, anti-racist and multicultural faith community.
Living My Faith,
Monica
mcummings@uua.org
or friend me on facebook!
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Nominations for 2009 UUA Elections |
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As required by the Unitarian Universalist Association Bylaws, the Nominating Committee announced last month its nominations of candidates for elected positions to be elected at General Assembly 2009 in Salt Lake City, UT. These include candidates for Board of Trustees, General Assembly Planning Committee, Financial Advisor, Commission on Social Witness, and more. View the Committee's full list of nominees as well as information on running by petition (deadline is February 1, 2009) online. If you are planning or hoping to go to General Assembly 2009, tell your congregation's Board of Trustees that you would like to be a delegate so you can vote for these candidates and the next President of the Unitarian Universalist Association!
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| Summer Employment at Camp Unirondack |
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If you are eager to work in a close-knit community whose mission is to broaden and deepen the lives of young people, Unirondack might be the place for you. Most staff must be at least 18 years old to be counselors and at least 16 to be on kitchen or maintenance crew.
Being a certified lifeguard or having a specialized skill that can contribute to a positive experience for campers is always a plus. In addition to counselor and crew positions we are also looking for people interested in being our Waterfront Director, Cook and Art Shop Director. All of the positions at camp require interpersonal and communication skills as well as a strong commitment to work for the well-being of others and desire to create a safe, welcoming and affirming community for all. Interested applicants should visit our website and explore our summer employment page. On our website applicants can download an application form, fill it out and email/mail it back to the Directors at director@unirondack.org or at our off-season address: Unirondack P.O. Box 795 Nyack, NY 10960 We are currently accepting applications and setting up interviews. We look forward to hearing from you! |
| Faiths Act Fellows Application Due Jan 15 |
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In Spring 2009, thirty outstanding young people will be chosen to serve as inter-religious ambassadors for the Millennium Development Goals.
The Faiths Act Fellowship will empower thirty religiously diverse young leaders from the US, UK and Canada to embark together on a 10 month journey of interfaith service. Training begins with a 2 month intensive initiative that includes training in London and Chicago and fieldwork with primary health care partners in Africa. Fellows will return to their home countries for 8 months to mobilize young people of faith to raise awareness and resources to promote the Millennium Development Goals. They will focus on fighting deaths due to malaria.
Halting and reversing the spread of Malaria is one of today's most urgent moral challenges. 500 million people contract the disease each year and one million die from it. The vast majority of malaria's victims are African children under the age of five. Yet, malaria is preventable and treatable. Intervention is as simple as providing bed nets that protect sleeping families. Progress in the fight against deaths due to malaria will speed our collective success toward achieving 6 of the 8 Millennium Development Goals.
In their home countries, Fellows will be hosted by a local organization whose mission fits closely with this project. Host organizations in the UK include Muslim Aid, World Vision UK, Tzedek, and the Christian-Muslim Forum. We are now seeking host organizations in the US and Canada. Interested organizations should submit an application. For more information or to fill out an application, visit the Faiths Act Fellows website. | |
| Young Adult and Campus Ministry Resources |
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Be sure to check out the Resources Page on the UUA Website which indludes an updated Young Adult Ministries Resource Catalogue. There you can also find the new Full-color, vinyl campus ministry banners (PDF). These banners are a great way to raise your group's visibility on campus, whether hanging from a table at an event fair or on display in your office, congregation, or event space. Contact the Office of Young Adult Ministries at youngadults@uua.org to purchase.
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| Contact the Office of Young Adult Ministries |
Hallie Andrew - Young Adult Ministries Office Administrator (617) 948-4645 - handrew@uua.orgNancy DiGiovanni - Acting Co-Director of Young Adult Ministries (617) 948-4629 - ndigiovanni@uua.orgErik B. Kesting - Acting Co-Director of Young Adult Ministries (608) 467-6886- ekesting@uua.org | |
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