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Unitarian Universalist Association Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries

April 2011 Young Adult Newsletter


    
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WHY GA                                              




  




Dear Friends,

 

Every month we write about issues like marriage equality, immigrant rights and free speech to show the connection between issues of social justice and Unitarian Universalist principles.   We write about faith in action transforming wrong into right because as Unitarian Universalists we are empowered to change the world into the one we want it to be: fairer, more just and happier for all.  

 

This month we write about a powerful way you as a young Unitarian Universalist can change the world into what you want it to be:

 

Attend General Assembly.   

 

 

Unitarian Universalists are committed to the future - and you are it!  Your vision, your energy and your ability to imagine the future you want to inherit as the years unfold.   

 

Of the many reasons to attend we bring your attention to seven principled ones:   

1.  Your ideas are at least as important as everyone else's.  To be heard you have to be there.

2.  Just relations requires that the fully diverse spectrum of our movement work on projects together.

3.  Supporting divergent views and spiritual growth happens only when all points of view represent.

4.  Truth and meaning don't exist until all points of view are expressed.

5.  Your voice in the debate makes plenary votes democratic.

6.  The UUA community is incomplete without your presence and active participation.

7.  Interdependence doesn't exist in our movement without your participation.   

 

You have as many reasons to attend GA as you have dreams, aspirations, desire and determination, and but a few reasons not to attend.  We can help resolve the reasons you think you can't attend with scholarships, grants, programming and opportunities.  Only you can transform your reasons to attend into a brighter future for the UUA.

 

(We will)  See you in Charlotte!

 

Happy reading!  UUA Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries.                                                             

                                                  Visit the Unitarian Universalist Youth Ministry Facebook page! Find us on Facebook 

Rev. Dr.  Monica Cummings
Rev. Dr. Monica Cummings
   Pastoral Message


 

  

 

   Leading Diversity 



  
 
 
 
 
 
Dear Family,

Last August, the Youth and Young Adult Ministries Office sponsored the first annual Multicultural Leadership School (MLS) for Youth and Young Adults of Color.  The second annual MLS will be held in Boston on August 5-9, 2011.  The MLS is open to all UUs who identify as a person of color (Native American, Asian, Arab, Latino/a, African descent, trans-racially adopted, bi-racial and multiracial) and are 15-30 years old.  Please share the following information about the MLS with your congregation, youth group, RE class, minister, DRE, district Youth Steering Committee, friends and family.
 
The Unitarian Universalist Association, like the United States, has a growing number of people of color.  As this trend continues, UU congregations, districts and continental committees will need youth and young adults of color to take on leadership.  However, there are challenges when a member of a minority group who is often marginalized takes on leadership responsibilities.  Examples of challenges are tokenism, racism, and a high rate of burn-out due to over-commitment and a lack of preparation for leadership.   Therefore, the Multicultural Leadership School will focus on leadership development for youth and young adults of color that will prepare them to lead the way in supporting a multicultural, anti-racist, anti-oppressive Unitarian Universalist faith community.
 
The MLS is a training designed specifically for UU Youth and Young Adults (age 15-30) of Color.  The goal of the training is to equip participants to be leaders in their UU congregation, district or continental committee. The three-and-a-half day school will feature experienced facilitators who will be intentional in providing participants with experiences that will foster relationship building, leadership skills, racial/ethnic identity development, inter-cultural collaboration and deepening of faith identity. At the conclusion of the training, participants will have a new community of peers, stronger and more confident leadership abilities and a stable foundation for sustainable leadership in Unitarian Universalist congregations and other Unitarian Universalist communities and organizations.
 
Applications are due May 15, 2011.  Please apply at
http://www.uua.org/religiouseducation/youth/identity-based/color/158494.shtml.

As always, I would love to hear from you.  You can message me on Facebook at Monica Cummings, email me or leave a comment for me on the YaYA of Color blog, "UU Living Mosaic."  
 
Living My Faith,
Rev. Monica
Visit the Unitarian Universalist Mosaic Project Facebook group page!  Find us on Facebook
YA Leadership 0311
   Young Adult Leadership 

 

Young Adults are the future of Unitarian Universalism and our movement to promote the causes we support.  The growth of our faith and movement depend upon your leadership - here are some places to improve your skills:

 

>  Southland Region of the Unitarian Universalist Association:   

Florida District, Mid-South District, The Southwestern Conference, and the Thomas Jefferson Districts. Two intensive leadership experiences for congregational leaders throughout the south - the Dwight Brown Leadership Experience (DBLE) and the Southland UU Leadership Experience (SUULE) are week-long programs coordinated and run each summer by the staff of the four districts.
>  Northeast Regional Group (NRG) of the UUA:  

Joseph Priestley, Metro New York, Ohio Meadville, and St. Lawrence Districts.    

Last summer each participating district offered a different model of advanced leadership development.   

The UULTI Design Team is evaluating the four 2010 experiences to re-imagine UULTI 2011.   

>  MidWest Collaboration: 

Central Midwest, Heartland, and Prairie Star Districts.

MidWest Leadership School, July 17-23, 2011 at Beloit College, Beloit, Wisconsin.  

>  Mountain Desert District:   

JoUUrneying to Leadership, July 31- August 6, 2011 at the Russell Lockwood Leadership School.

The curriculum of RLLS evolves continuously to present congregational leaders with the resources and perspectives to help them guide 21st century congregations.

>  Unitarian Universalist Association: 

Multicultural Leadership Conference, August 5-9, 2011, Boston, MA.

Workshops include identity development, creating inclusive community, worship-leading with a focus on spiritual development, facilitation, and conflict transformation.  "Beyond offering leadership skill development, this conference brings together young Unitarian Universalist People of Color," says  

Rev. Dr. Cummings, conference organizer. "Within the UUA, People of Color often find themselves isolated. They look around their congregations and may not see anyone else who looks like them. This gathering invites young UUs of Color to connect with each other in multicultural community while deepening their knowledge of UU history, continuing the rich tradition of meetings at 25 Beacon Street."

 

>  Scholarships are available through the Katie Tyson Fund for Youth and Young Adult Ministry and Young Adult and Campus Ministry Grant Resources.

YA GA 50 custom 3

   Young Adults @ GA
 

NUMBERS COUNT   

 

General Assembly 2010 Youth and Young Adult Caucus & Delegate Stats  

The Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries recently reported these statistics to the UUA Trustees.  They strikingly indicate that Young Adults currently play a role in determining our shared future as UUs and shape the future of the Unitarian Universalist Association.  They also cause one to wonder how much more influence Young Adults could wield if more Young Adults attended GA.

 

1934  Voting delegates to the GA.  

  100  Persons registered for GA who identify as Young Adult.

    92  Young Adults registered who identified a home congregation.

    10  Young Adults registered for GA who identify as ministers.

      8  Young Adults registered for GA who identify as Directors of Religious Education.

    39  Young Adults registered for GA who were voting delegates representing their congregation.

    39  Equals 2% of the entire voting body and 39% of the Young Adult Caucus.

      2  Young Adult delegates who received a scholarship from the YaYA Ministries.

    10  Congregations that sent more than one Young Adult to represent them at General Assembly:

          All Souls Church Unitarian (Washington, DC) 

          Eliot Unitarian Chapel (Kirkwood, MO)  

          First Parish Church UU (Duxbury, MA)

          First Parish UU (Arlington, MA)

          First Universalist Church (Yarmouth, ME)

          First Unitarian Society (Madison, WI)

          First UU Church of Richmond  (Richmond, VA) 

          UU Church of Studio City (Studio City, CA)

          Unitarian Society of New Haven (Hamden, CT)

          University UU Society Inc. (Orlando, FL)

 

A Message from the Young Adult Caucus Co-Moderators  Victoria Mitchell and Laura Gilmore:  

Greetings young adults!  In the midst of what will surely be an exciting General Assembly, Young Adult Caucus provides programming and opportunities to connect with your fellow young adults. We would like to personally invite you to participate in the events we host and the community we build at GA. 

You can look forward to young adult worship, sessions for the caucus to discuss GA business, and workshops on topics such as campus ministry, the future of the young adult movement, and what young adults look for in a congregation. The Young Adult Caucus room is a space for you to learn from each other, network, and make friends anytime during GA. As staff we are resources for you throughout the week. Whether this is your first, fourth, or tenth GA, we hope you'll join us! 

 

Hope to see you at GA,

 

Victoria Mitchell and Laura Gilmore

Young Adult Caucus Co-Moderators

For updates like our new Facebook page! Find us on Facebook  

SB1070 + Prop 8+ WI


 

UPDATE 04: Spring freeze







(source for graphic: http://colorlines.com)
This column follows legislative issues in specific states with national impact that decrease social justice in our nation.  This month's update adds news on the efforts by Wisconsin Governor Walker to abolish collective bargaining for public sector workers in Wisconsin, an established right since 1959.   

SB1070

A three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit issued its ruling on April 11, upholding Judge Bolton's decision preventing Arizona from enforcing provisions of the law. The panel included Judge's Paez, Bea and Noonan. Judge Paez wrote the majority opinion. Judge Noonan concurred, emphasizing the importance of foreign policy being the exclusive realm of the national government. Judge Bea concurred in the ruling that sections 3 and 5(C) were unconstitutional, but dissented as to sections 2(B) and 6, arguing that those sections were constitutional.  With the injunction remaining in place, Arizona must next decide whether it wants to seek review before the entire Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals sitting en banc ("en banc" means all judges of the circuit would hear and decide) or whether it will ask the US Supreme Court to take the case without the en banc hearing by the Ninth Circuit.

 

PROP 8   

The federal judge who struck down California's gay marriage ban has confirmed longtime rumors that he is gay, but said his sexuality was irrelevant in deciding the landmark case.  Speaking for the first time about the case since retiring from the bench in February, former Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker said he never considered recusing himself from deciding the constitutionality of Proposition 8 because of his sexual orientation, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.  "If you thought a judge's sexuality, ethnicity, national origin (or) gender would prevent the judge from handling a case, that's a very slippery slope," Walker told reporters Wednesday.  "I don't think it's relevant," he said.

 

WISCONSIN

Implementation of the law is on hold indefinitely while the courts try to determine if the hearing at which it was passed violated the state's open hearing law.  If allowed, the law would take away nearly all collective bargaining rights from public workers.


Awesome CMCampus Ministry
                      

 
  The More the Merrier!



  

 

 

Increased Campus Ministry Presence at GA 2011!  GA '11, June 22-26 in Charlotte, NC will feature more campus ministry-related events than ever before!  Read general information about GA and learn about events geared towards folks involved in young adult and campus ministry.  In addition to the wonderful presentations from campus ministry professionals in the general workshop programming, new events include a unified procession of Campus UUs during Opening Celebration, a breakfast reception hosted by the UUA, and a discussion-oriented workshop hosted by the Young Adult Caucus on campus ministry open to all folk involved or interested in becoming involved in campus ministry.  Professionals, students, volunteers and lay leaders are encouraged to be a part of all of these events.

  


Kayla Parker

Campus Ministry Associate

[email protected]

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 Events  
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Dynamic Youth Ministry: On-line course offered by Starr King School for the Ministry, Fall 2011  This course is part of a broader movement to revitalize youth ministry within and beyond Unitarian Universalism   This lively interactive course grounds students in theological, ethical and programmatic aspects of youth ministry and embodies a youth ministry that is a vibrant, robust and flexible part of every congregation.  Previous participants include graduate students, ministers, youth advisers, non-profit staff, religious educators, parents and others.  For more information and to register visit Dynamic Youth Ministry on Facebook: Find us on Facebook 

 

North American Interfaith Network: 2011 NAIN Connect, July 24-26, 2011, Phoenix, AZ
The North American Interfaith Network (NAIN) offers a unique opportunity to include younger representatives (ages 16-35) in a valuable interfaith encounter during the 2011 NAIN Connect.  This scholarship recognizes young adults across the continent who are actively engaged in important work at the high school, college, graduate, and professional level. 

 

CONSTRUCT: Build community, stimulate creativity & nourish spirit! May 21-23, Stockton, IL  

CONSTRUCT features workshops and worship on how to build positive interpersonal relationships, increase creative energy and elevate the conversations in our lives, and includes a social justice project to benefit the congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Stockton by painting and planting at the church. (Make sure to bring clothes you don't mind getting dirty.)  Saturday evening will feature a community Coffeehouse! No need to haul your Steinway- but bring your sheet music, violins (and other musical instruments), your juggling gear, your hula hoops and your best jokes to share.  We are especially thrilled to have this event at Stockton UU Church, as they have recently called Rev. Erik Carlson as minister. This event is open to individuals ages 18-35 only. Bring your sleeping bags, pillows, the snacks you love and condiments you can't live without.  Meals are provided, and we love to accommodate our vegetarian and vegan friends! Participants may sleep at the church or make other arrangements for overnight lodging. Registration fees are on a rolling scale from $35-80. Super broke? Apply for a scholarship by May 20 at: http://www.cmwd-uuyan.org  Register on Connect UU!

Questions? Contact Kimberlee Tomczak Carlson, Youth & Youth Adult Coordinator, tel: (608)225-7463.   

For more information: Find us on Facebook   

 

Common Read: "The Death of Josseline: Immigration Stories from the Arizona Borderlands"
Participate in a Common Read project: encourage your congregation to read and discuss the same book in a given period of time, or take part in an on-line group.  Common Read builds community within congregations and among Unitarian Universalists by giving diverse people a shared experience, a shared language and a basis for deep and meaningful conversations.  Purchase Margaret Regan's book in hardcover or paperback
from the UUA Bookstore.
The book is available in hardcover at public libraries.  

 Announcements

Association-wide
International
Regional
Local  



 



Unique Opportunity to Perfect the UUA Website!

IMPERFECT UUA.org  Do you have difficulty finding what you're looking for when searching UUA.org?  Well us too, so the UUA is in the process of re-shaping the website and your input as a tester is needed!

YOU ARE PERFECT(ING)  Testers are given scenarios and then look for information on a sample website structure.  It's really easy to test (there are no wrong answers!) and it only takes a few minutes, a computer and internet connection.  If interested in being a tester, please go to www.uua.org/about for more information and to apply.

PERFECT UUA.org  The Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries wants young adults to help shape the way the new UUA.org works, feels, and looks.  We are recruiting youth, young adults, parents, and lay leaders to test youth and young adult topics to make them easy to find, useful and vital.  Non-UUs are welcome, too, so please share this information with your friends!

EVEN MORE PERFECT  Please send us specific examples of what you have had trouble finding on the UUA website in the past to [email protected] and help us make a more perfect UUA.org!  With your help we will create a UUA website that works for everyone!

 

Interfaith Leadership Training  More than 40 youth/adult interfaith teams have applied for Interfaith Leader training and ten teams were selected to attend the training in February, but the story does not end there! The UUA is training teams to lead additional trainings in districts and regions all over the country, so be on the look-out for future opportunities to gain skills leading interfaith service work. If youth in your congregation are eager to become interfaith leaders, consider offering workshops from A Chorus of Faiths that include guidance on planning an interfaith service project now!

Resources

Books
Videos
Website
Organizations

  


UU World Spring 2011 Issue.  Grab your copy and check out the Tapestry of Faith insert - read about The Children and the Frogs, how a Unitarian Universalist invented the World Wide Web, the Tao of iPod, and more!  Subscribe or read UU World online!

 

Video - "A Religion for Our Time, Episode 15: "An Auction with Heart!" spotlights the Outreach Auction at Central Unitarian Church (CUC) in Paramus, New Jersey. Inspired by a charity auction at the Unitarian Church of All Souls in New York City, members of CUC are in their tenth year of holding two annual auctions. While the spring auction raises money for the congregation, every dime from the Outreach Auction in the fall goes to local charities.  "Don't listen to any naysayers, just do it," says Celia Mendelsohn, co-coordinator of the Outreach Auction. "You will raise funds, even if it's what you feel might be a modest amount, it's going to grow over the years. You will not lose money to pledging. You might even see your pledges increase, because it's a wonderful feeling to belong to a church that does this."  Download Episode 15 (MP4) (right-click to save the file).  Share Episode 15 (YouTube).

 

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

 
Evolution

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? 

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Keep reading - let's evolve together!