Unitarian Universalist Association Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries

August 2011 Young Adult Newsletter


    
Cool Times

UUA badge LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

 

 

Summer share                                          

 

 

 


   


Dear Friends,

 

Wherever we are in life, summertime is a different time from the rest of the year.  The long, hot sunny days start us thinking about what we want to explore in the world.  One of the things that makes summer great is the availability of opportunities for youth and young adults who want to deepen their spirituality, strengthen their leadership skills, or simply gather with other Unitarian Universalists to resource and regroup before fall.  Youth gather at camps like (among others) DeBenneville Pines in Angelus Oaks, California, The Mountain in Highlands, North Carolina, Unirondack in the Adirondacks, U-Bar-U in Kerrville, Texas, and for Goldmine training in Northern New England, The Pacific Northwest and later this summer in Metro New York.  Young adults congregate at the Midwest Leadership Training School, OPUS, or on the Young Adult Water Justice Road Trip in the Pacific Southwest.  UU's of all ages congregate at events like SUUSI (The Southeast Unitarian Universalist Summer Institute), SWUUSI (The Southwest Unitarian Universalist Summer Institute), UUMAC (Unitarian Universalist Mid-Atlantic Community Conference) and UULTI (Leadership School of the Central East Regional Group of the UUA).

 

This list is not comprehensive - much more happens in our community than can be succinctly noted here.  We want to hear what you've been up to this summer - where have you been, what have you done, who have you met and what have you learned?  Write us at [email protected] and let us know.  We'll share your story and by spreading the word we are certain to make next summer even better for everyone!

 

 

Happy reading!   

 

UUA Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries.

 

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


YOUNG ADULT LEADERSHIP

By Example  

 

- "The Service Patch - the first service project organized by Ruth Appelton, Morgan Edens and Megan Stock.

 

(Ruth Appelton is a young adult who participated in Interfaith Leadership Training in February, 2011.  She serves as a youth advisor at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames, Iowa and will be working with the UUA this fall as a consultant to develop UU youth interfaith leadership. - Ed.) 

 

Hi, I'm Ruth Appleton, a youth advisor at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames, IA.  Morgan Edens, Megan Stock, and I are an interfaith team representing the Prairie Star district.  We attended the Interfaith Leadership Training in February 2011 with nine other teams from around the country and have already planned three interfaith conferences for UU youth in our district, including an interfaith service project and conversation with those from another faith.  We've developed real experience and want to share how we overcame problems to help other groups when planning and executing service projects or events. 


If you have not really started planning any events yet let me brainstorm with you or you and your advisors to put what we learned last January into action.  A service project with your youth group could be put together fairly quickly, and it doesn't have to be elaborate to succeed!  

  

If you are in the midst of planning an event I'd like to talk with you about where you are and help put together action items for the next steps you and your group needs to take.  I know that sometimes when you get a great idea it gets complicated when you add in all the players, and if needed I can help you with this part.  

 
If you have already completed an event - AWESOME!  Please share what your project was and how it went!  Think about your story contributing to a booklet of sorts with everyone's experiences.  Write what you think are the top 5 important things to know when planning an interfaith event.  If you want to talk about doing a con like we did I would be happy to talk through that with you and your group!   

 

Please email me at [email protected].  I am really into this whole interfaith thing and I would be totally willing to give you a few moments of my time!

Now, here is my list of the Top 5 Things to Know for Leading an Interfaith Project:

1. Get Help!  It is REALLY important that you get your DRE/DYCM/Youth Advisors/Ministers in on this.  Not only can they help with the details, but they know important things about reserving church spaces, rules for youth at church events, etc.  They are your best ally in making this happen!

2. Connect to the interfaith group you want to invite before you invite them, visit their house of worship with your youth group, ask them questions and get connected to their religious leaders and youth advisors.  This will help them feel comfortable visiting your group and your congregation.

 

3. Know about liability and forms.  When preparing for and doing a service project remember that - depending on the service project - there may be specific liability forms that need to be filled out by parents and guardians.  This is a good thing to know ahead of time so the interfaith youth you are inviting can be sure to bring those signed forms with them.

4. Have something planned with the interfaith youth for after the service project.  Maybe you order pizza and have a discussion (make sure to remember to take any religious dietary needs into consideration!), or maybe you just go back to your church and do one of the workshops included in the interfaith training (our group did "speed faithing" with our interfaith friends and it was WAY cool!), debrief with everyone about what the project meant and talk about the connections you made.

5. Use the resources of the UUA!  The Tapestry of Faith curriculum, A Chorus of Faiths, which was the basis for most of the work that we did at our training, is available online.  Prepare your youth group ahead of time so that they are ready to be ambassadors of peace and love!  Together we can really make a difference in this world.

It was truly amazing to see so many trained interfaith team members at GA and I hope to see you many more times in our lives.  I am posting this in several locations for others to see and be inspired.  Please contact me if I can help or just to say, "Hi!" and tell me about your interfaith work.  Thanks for being so freaking fantastic!!  

- Ruth. 


Awesome CMCAMPUS MINISTRY 
                      

 
  Rah-Rah...

 

  

 

Hi, Friends!

School will soon be back in session but it is time now to start planning for your campus ministry group! Check out the resources listed on our website, and stay posted for two new resources to be released before school starts on our Facebook page, and the YACM-Leaders listserv.

Please shoot me an email at [email protected] with your questions and comments!
 

 

Kayla Parker

Campus Ministry Associate

[email protected]

                                                                                                     Find and friend us on Facebook!  Find us on Facebook

SOCIAL JUSTICE


 

UPDATE 08:  Not vacating  

 

 

 

 

 


(source for graphic: http://colorlines.com)
Following legislative issues in specific states with national impact that decrease social justice in our nation.   

IMMIGRATION 

Arizona:  UUA president convicted in civil disobedience case.  Rev. Peter Morales  was found guilty of misdemeanor in Ariz. protest of SB 1070; calls for federal investigation of Phoenix sheriff.

Arizona:  Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer has filed a petition asking the Supreme Court to consider her state's appeal to a lower court ruling that put on hold key parts of Arizona's anti-illegal immigration law.

Illinois:  The Illinois DREAM Act, recently signed into law by Governor Pat Quinn, gives undocumented immigrant students access to privately funded college tuition assistance.  Illinois, a state with one of the highest populations of illegal aliens, is the latest to pass such a measure.  But lawmakers in other states, most notably Maryland, are working to stop similar legislation.

 

MARRIAGE EQUALITY   

Change.Org Petition: Gay Muppets Deserve Marriage Equality Too!
With all the same-sex marriage hoopla going on, it's hard to ignore the couples who have been together for 10, 20, 30 years without the rights that heterosexual couples are afforded. Which is why some think it's about time that Bert and Ernie had their moment.  The UK Daily Mail reports, "'Let Bert & Ernie Get Married On Sesame Street,' a petition at change.org started by Illinois resident Lair Scott, has already gained over 1,100 signatures" in just seven days.  But not everyone agrees.  View the petition or view other petitions in response to this one.  
California:  Gov. Jerry Brown has signed a bill making California the first state in the nation to add lessons about gays and lesbians to social studies classes in public schools.    

 

WORKERS RIGHTS 

Opinion: "Why the Republican War on Workers' Rights Undermines the American Economy"

by Robert Reich.  "This war on workers' rights is an assault on the middle class, and it is undermining the American economy.  The American economy can't get out of neutral until American workers have more money in their pockets to buy what they produce. And unions are the best way to give them the bargaining power to get better pay."  More. 

    EVENTS   

Opportunities

Training
Gatherings  



 

One Week to Fight Hunger - Together!  Imagine the good we could accomplish if young Unitarian Universalists came together from many congregations to focus our attention on one issue for one week?  The Northern New England District is leading an effort to find out!  From Sunday, September 25, 2011 to Saturday, October 1, 2011, congregations across New England are invited to come together, across ages, and collect food for local food banks or serve local organizations.  If you are not in New England but feel inspired to take part, never fear!  You, your group, and your congregation are also invited to participate.   When we all come together how much food will we collect?  How many people will we feed?  How many organizations will we support? The possibilities are endless and the need is great, so join us and be creative!  Resources include tips for successful food drives as well as a resource for discussing hunger are available at the Northern New England District site.  Creative ideas and stories will be shared on the NNED blog, "All Together Now."  Participating?  Let us know!   

  

Dynamic Youth Ministry Fall 2011 Session Registration Opens August 22.  A lively interactive full-semester on-line course offered through the Starr King School of the Ministry appropriate for young adults who work with youth.  Recommended for all religious leaders whether new or old to Youth Ministry, this 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.  Open to the public - not just seminary students!  Get more information and register here  or get more information and register by visiting "Dynamic Youth Ministry" on Facebook:  Find us on Facebook   

YA Announcements 511
 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. 

RESOURCES

Books
Videos
Website
Organizations

  


Online video resources from the Rev. Dr. Monica L. Cummings to share liberally with others!  

Introduction to Gender and Sexual Orientation for Youth
Introduction to Ethnic Identity Formation for Youth of Color   

 

UUWorld Summer 2011 Issue.  Grab your copy of the "Gold Issue" to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Unitarian Universalist Association. 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY UUA! 

UUWorld summer 11

Our 50th Anniversary "Gold Issue"

Subscribe or read UU World online

 

Video - "A Religion for Our Time, Episode 18: "Unitarian Universalists Rebuilding New Orleans" shows how three UU congregations in New Orleans, like the city itself, were devastated by Hurricane Katrina. However that devastation became an inspiration, not an obstacle, to the members of all three churches. Their resilience and determination have been in evidence every day of the last five years as they rebuild not only their churches, but the city of New Orleans itself.
Download Episode Eighteen (MP4) (right-click to save the file).

 

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? 

                                                                                                                     Tweet with us at Follow us on TwitterYAYAUUA
E-mail us at [email protected]
Keep reading - let's evolve together!