Unitarian Universalist Association Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries

July 2010 Young Adult Newsletter

 
Wow!
Kesting Headshot 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:
 Askew Headshot 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.
 
 Askew Headshot 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.
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!
 Events

Opportunities
Trainings
Gatherings


Askew Headshot
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.)

Askew HeadshotCon-Fusion, July 23-25, Davis, CA.
FUUN's summer conference.  More details to come!
Askew HeadshotChoral 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.
Askew HeadshotOPUS 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.
 Announcements
Association-wide
International
Regional
Local


Askew HeadshotTake 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+)

Resources
 
Books
Videos
Website
Organizations


Askew Headshot Resource - "Standing on the Side of Love Activist Toolkit" -
download application for your FREE memory stick!
This toolkit gives you tools to further the Standing on the Side of Love campaign in your community and it comes on a cool memory stick!


B
uilding the World We Dream About
- A Tapestry of Faith Program.
Ours is an increasingly multicultural world and experience has shown that the transformational work necessary to become the "antiracist/multicultural faith community" Unitarian Universalists seek to be begins with ourselves-as individuals, congregations, and members of diverse communities.

Video - A Religion for Our Time, Episode 6: "A Passionate Commitment to Young Adults"
A profile of programming at the First UU Church of San Diego serving the unique concerns and needs of Young Adults.

Video -  A Religion for Our Time, Episode 5:  "Celebration Worship Service"
This episode of the UUA's multi-part series explores the creation of an alternative worship service at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church (ORUUC) in Tennessee.

Video -  A Religion for Our Time, Episode 4:  "The Theology of Star Wars!" is a compelling and fun way to engage a discussion of theology and Unitarian Universalist principles from a curriculum designed around the Star Wars movies. It's working like a charm at UUWF.  Check it out!

Video
- "Ogden Unitarian Universalists Reach Out to BGLT Youth"  The Ogden OUTreach Center drop-in program for bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender youth and young adults has created a safe space for BGLT youth in this conservative Utah town.  Watch UU values in action during this six-minute video and see how ours is truly a religion for our time!

Noticed our new look?

We are working on making your newsletter more fun to read and use, with more opportunities to get involved, connect with other UUs, and deepen your faith.

Let us know what you think!  What's missing?  What are you tired of seeing? 

E-mail us at youngadults@uua.org

Keep reading - more changes are on the way!
 
Thanks!