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Unitarian Universalist Association Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries
July 2010 Young Adult Newsletter
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Letter from the Editor
Multigenerational Movement
It was great to see so many young adults at General Assembly, at Young Adult Caucus events, in other programming, on committees and the Right Relationship Team, and at the microphone in plenary! GA 2010 in Minneapolis was a powerful one and young adults played a critical role. This is a great example of why multigenerational community is so important to our faith. For all of you who were not at General Assembly or did not follow it online, I hope you'll read through this issue of our newsletter to see the outcomes of a number of questions addressed by our annual meeting of congregations. General Assembly revealed that we are indeed a vibrant and active community built upon our shared commitment to affirming the inherent worth and dignity of all human beings. In this time of change and controversy, when UU values are challenged by events at home and abroad, the voices of our young adults speak powerfully. At General Assembly this year many young adults rose to the call to act against injustice and invigorate our movement. There is much we need to do on issues of immigration policy, energy and environmental policy, and conflicts around the globe, and we can do so much so powerfully when we do it together. Keep it up! In faith,
Erik B. Kesting UUA Youth and Young Adult Ministries Director |
General Assembly!
What happened?
"Not GA but JA in AZ '12" - Justice Assembly in Phoenix 2012 - Delegates approve the Youth Caucus Responsive
Resolution. The UUA General Assembly will be held in Phoenix,
Arizona in 2012 and it will be a GA unlike any other with a strong
focus on acts of public witness and protest against the
anti-immigrant Arizona State Law SB1070 and similar measures enacted at a State level, and to call for federal immigration reform.
General Assembly 2011: Here we come,
Charlotte! GA '10 in Minneapolis is barely over and planning
for GA '11 in Charlotte, North Carolina has already begun! We will keep
you informed so you can participate fully!
Action: Delegates Vote on the Issues. At General Assembly delegates debated on five Actions of Immediate
Witness. Here are the results: Approved: Oppose Anti-Immigrant Measures at the State Level and Hasten Federal Immigration Reform. Gulf Coast Environmental and Economic Justice 2010. Clean Up the Clean Energy Bill. Not Approved: End Blockade of Gaza and Growth of Israeli Settlements on Palestinian Territory. End the War in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Guests: Addresses to GA by members of the Minneapolis delegation to the United States
Congress. Video - Senator Al Franken Addresses GA, "You are my favorite kind of church". Video - Congressman Keith Ellison's Stirring Address to GA.
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Young Adult leadership @ GA
New Leaders
The Young Adult Caucus at GA elected two new leaders: Laura Welles Gillmore, YA Caucus Co-Moderator and Bethany Lowe, CUUYAN Steering Committee Liaison to GA.
Laura Welles Gillmore, 25, lives and works in San Francisco and serves on the Board of
Directors of the First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco. Laura sees the next two years as a period of pivotal transition for the Young Adult Caucus and the UUA at large as we address issues of internal governance and external challenges. She ran because she felt as someone who has leadership experience on the congregational level she could bring a fresh perspective to YA Caucus at GA. As co-moderator she hopes to facilitate expression of the diversity of point-of-view and experience that is part of the UUA while creating an inclusive environment that strengthens multigenerational ties of our congregants. She reminds young adults of all ages that "YA Caucus is our resource - let's use it to discuss how to make things better for us!"
Our congratulations and heart-felt welcome to Laura!
Next month meet Bethany Lowe, your new CUUYAN Steering Committee Liaison to GA!
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Events
Opportunities Trainings Gatherings
Job Opportunities The UUA has posted four newly open positions on our website: Director of Congregational Development (Off-site / Mass Bay and Clara Barton Districts) Witness Ministries Director (Washington, D.C.) Congregational Justice Administrator (Washington, D.C.) LGBT Ministries Program Coordinator (Washington, D.C.)
Con-Fusion, July 23-25, Davis, CA. FUUN's summer conference. More details to come!
Choral Singing: The Art of Community, August 1-5, Highlands, NC. "Choral Singing: The Art of Community" is led by Dr. Ken Nafziger.
Musical directors, choir members and congregants who enjoy singing are
encouraged to attend. Bring instruments (if you can) to make joyful music with a warm, welcoming
community of people.
OPUS 2010, "Roots and Wings" August 4-8, 2010, Camp Shawwawnasse, Kankakee, IL. Opus is social action and spiritual renewal! This
year we explore and honor our roots as a religious community,
a young adult network and as individuals to find ways to
spread our wings as a movement of
inspired and empowered citizens of the world. Friday, August 6 is "Environmental Action: Humans Heal the Land at OPUS 2010", we will plant, seed, weed, and tour at the Midwin National Tallgrass Prarie. Visit our Facebook event pagefor more information! LDC for Youth and Young Adults of Color, August 13-17, Boston, MA. Annual Leadership Development Conference for Youth and Young Adults of Color.
Ohio Meadville District Summer Institute, July 11-17, Kenyon College, Gambier, OH. A family-friendly camp with programming for youth, young adults, adults, and children.
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Announcements
Association-wide International Regional Local
Take part in shaping the future of the Unitarian Universalist Association The UUA relies upon energetic, committed, visionary Unitarian Universalists to serve on the committees, commissions, boards, task groups and panels that work in partnership with staff to carry out the mission of the Association. Application for Nomination to a Committee, Commission, Task Group, or Panel.
Skill-Building Camp - Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) JustWorks Camps Through JustWorks Camps, participants work directly with people in local communities on direct-service projects, learning about human-rights issues firsthand. Short-term (usually week-long) projects help participants examine and understand the root causes and damaging effects of injustice, with an eye to promoting intercultural understanding. Participants are taught advocacy skills for addressing issues of poverty, discrimination, and racism in their own communities. Usually ages 16+ (varies).
Travel - Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) Civil Rights Journey An inspiring intergenerational trip that takes you to sites of significance in the U.S. civil rights movement. Participants travel by bus from Atlanta, Georgia to the historic cities of Birmingham, Montgomery, and Selma, Alabama. Participants will meet and hear directly from some of the courageous people who worked to desegregate schools, register new voters, and bring an end to racial discrimination in the United States. Along the way, learn about the progressive, nonviolent organizing techniques used by civil rights activists and how they are still being used today. (14+)
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Thanks!
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