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Youth Ministries Updates
A monthly newsletter of the UUA Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries December 2009
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Chrysalis Trainings
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The Chrysalis Training Program offers youth and adults the opportunity to gather, build community, learn, and enhance the skills needed to be effective youth ministry leaders. These are current upcoming trainings:
- Chaplain Training: January 8-10, 2010, hosted by the Pacific Central District YRUU. Contact Jason George for more information.
- Chaplain Training: January 8-10, 2010, hosted by the Metro New York District Youth Adult Committee. Contact Kierstin Homblette for more information.
To find out how your district, organization, or congregational cluster can host a Chrysalis Training, contact Jeremie Giacoia, Leadership Development Associate. |
Leadership Roles for Youth and Adults at General Assembly!
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The December 15 deadline for applying for General Assembly 2010 Youth Caucus Staff positions is fast approaching. Positions are available for youth and adults of all ages. Find out more and APPLY NOW! We want to see YOU at General Assembly 2010 in Minneapolis, MN!
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| Greetings from the Director |
| Greetings all,
In this season of celebration and community, there is much to share. I have two news items I especially would like to raise up for you this month:
1. For those of you who contact our office regularly, we will welcome our new Office Administrator, Deborah Neisel-Sanders, on Monday, December 14. Deborah is a Unitarian Universalist who comes to us with a wealth of experience and commitment and we are excited for her to join our team!
2. Applications are now being accepted for those wishing to serve on the Youth Ministry Advisory Committee. This committee, as recommended by the Youth Ministry Working Group, will advise the UUA Administration on issues related to youth ministry and help guide our Association's progress in this area. You can find more details below!
Happy holidays!
 Erik B. Kesting
Youth and Young Adult Ministries Director
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From the Associate for Ministry to Youth and Young Adults of Color
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Hello Family,
Happy Holydays! In the month of December, Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Christmas and Kwanzaa will be celebrated. The diversity of traditions celebrated in the month of December is truly amazing. What is diversity? Is it as simple as being open to celebrating the holiday tradition of a friend? Perhaps, educating people of different religious traditions and ethnicities to better understand each other? Or, does it go deeper into all aspects and areas of our lives? According to William Chase,
Diversity, generally understood and embraced,
is not casual liberal tolerance of anything
and everything not yourself.
It is not polite accommodation.
Instead, diversity is, in action, the sometimes painful
Awareness that other people, other races, other voices,
Other habits of mind, have as much integrity of being,
as much claim on the world as you do...
And I urge you, amid all the differences present
to the eye and mind, to reach out to create the bond that
...will protect us all.
We are meant to be here together.
I encourage you to make a special effort to learn and embrace a holiday tradition that is unfamiliar to you. I also encourage you to reach out to family and friends who may be struggling to be joyful during a time of year when we are expected to be jolly. For Youth and Young Adults of Color who are interested, I have a list of UU ministers and religious professionals of color who are willing to provide chaplain support during the holidays. Please contact me for a list of their names. I wish you all a safe, serene and happy holiday season. Living My Faith, Rev. Monica mcummings@uua.org http://uuyayaoc.blogs.uua.org/ | |
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| Advise the UUA President: Youth Ministry Advisory Committee |
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Application forms are now available for those interested in serving on the UUA Youth Ministry Advisory Committee (YMAC). The Youth Ministry Advisory Committee will support Unitarian Universalist youth ministry by:
- serving in an advisory capacity to the UUA President on Associational progress in implementing the recommendations of the Youth Ministry
- Working Group, the future needs of Unitarian Universalist youth ministry, and becoming a truly multigenerational faith;
communicating a vision of vibrant youth ministry to our congregations and leaders; and
- researching current best practices in youth ministry and faith identity development within and outside of Unitarian Universalism.
The following individuals are encouraged to apply:
- High school aged youth with leadership experience and a commitment to Unitarian Universalist youth ministry.
- Religious professionals who have led successful youth ministries and are familiar with the developmental and spiritual needs of adolescents.
- Adult lay leaders with academic or professional experience in mental health, adolescent development, working with youth, education, theology, or other relevant fields.
For more information or to apply, visit UUA.org/YMAC. Applications are due January 15, 2010.
Questions: Contact Erik Kesting, UUA Youth and Young Adult Ministries Director at ekesting@uua.org or 617-948-4359. |
| Resources, Consultation, and Funding to Support BGLTQ Youth of Color |
Advocates for Youth, an organization who partners with the UUA on various projects, is a national organization dedicated to creating programs and advocating for policies that help young people make informed and responsible decisions about their reproductive and sexual health. Advocates provides information, training, and strategic assistance to youth-serving organizations, policy makers, youth activists, and the media in the United States and the developing world.
In response to the needs of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (GLBTQ) youth of color, Advocates launched its Anti-Homophobia and Transphobia Project three years ago. Advocates seeks to build the capacity of organizations interested in and committed to improving the sexual health of all young people, including GLBTQ youth of color.
Through Advocates' Anti-Homophobia and Transphobia Project, your organization may receive culturally relevant publications and materials on HIV/STI and teen pregnancy prevention programming for GLBTQ youth; strategic technical assistance and training; and a seed grant in the amount of $7,000 to create safe spaces for GLBTQ youth of color 13-24 years old and redress homophobia within the local community, including schools and agencies.
The application form and/or proposal are due by December 15, 2009, 5:00 p.m. EST. | |
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| Contact the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries |
Erik B. Kesting, Youth and Young Adult Ministries Director (617) 948-4359 ekesting@uua.orgRev. Dr. Monica L. Cummings, Associate for Ministry to Youth and Young Adults of Color (262) 705-5786 mcummings@uua.orgNancy DiGiovanni, Campus Ministry and Bridging Associate (617) 948-4629 ndigiovanni@uua.orgJeremie Giacoia, Leadership Development Associate (617) 948-4352 jgiacoia@uua.org
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