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Unitarian Universalist Association Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries
September 2011 Youth Newsletter
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 Letter from the Editor
Back on the beat
Dear Friends, September is here, vacation is over, and everyone is back to their regularly scheduled business. Even though January 1 is months away, this is the beginning of a new year for a lot of us. This year promises great opportunities for youth and young adult Unitarian Universalists to participate and lead in growing our faith and our movement. The Multicultural Leadership School for Youth and Young Adults of Color (MLS), Common Read - lifting up the work of Eboo Patel and the Interfaith Youth Core, revised Chrysalis trainings, and Youth Ministry Advisory Committee (YMAC) are a few examples of how you can lead. Participating in reflection and discussion in advance of the Justice General Assembly to be held in Phoenix, Arizona in June 2012 (Justice GA) is another great opportunity to make a difference. So say goodbye to summer and hello to an exciting new year together deepening our faith, sharing our values, broadening our movement, and being the change we want to see in the world.
Happy reading!
UUA Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries
Visit the Unitarian Universalist Youth Ministry Facebook page! 
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Pastoral Message
(We all need) Seasonal Support Hi Family, I am sitting in my home office in Southeast Wisconsin, watching trees dance with the wind, trying to wrap my mind around the fact that summer is over. Summer's end brings the beginning of school, congregational ingatherings, the gradual shift from outdoor to indoor activities and shorter days. I confess I am not one of those people who loves the fall and enjoys watching leaves turn colors and taking walks in the cool crisp air. However, I admire the lovers of fall and their enthusiastic attitude related to the change of the season. For some people this time of year is energizing and spiritually renewing. For others, it is the season that begins the annual challenge to not hit the snooze button on their alarm clock five times or sit in their favorite chair playing Super Mario Brothers. all day while missing meals or eating cookies (or other carbohydrates) because their brain is in a fog and their energy level is on empty. Sometimes the person feels so empty they consider suicide. If the above description sounds familiar, you may be experiencing something called seasonal depression. If you are experiencing seasonal depression, there are things you can do to combat it. For example, exercise, eating a balanced diet, attending a support group, therapy or talking with your family, friends, minister, or DRE and letting them know how you are feeling. If you are suicidal and you have a plan, call 911. However, if you are considering suicide and you do not have a plan call: - National Suicide Prevention - 1-800-273-TALK (8255) - LGBT and questioning youth - 1-866-4-U-TREVOR (1-866-488-7386) I want you to remember that a significant number of people feel what you are feeling and have gone through what you are experiencing. So keep in mind that you are not alone and ask for help. You can contact me on Facebook at Monica Cummings, email me at mcummings@uua.org, or leave a comment for me on the YaYA of Color blog, UU Living Mosaic. I Love You, Rev Monica Visit me on Facebook |
Youth View
YOU are needed to lead a read! COMMON READ: Acts of Faith by Eboo Patel, founder of the Interfaith Youth Core. Following up on last year's Common Read in congregation and groups focusing on immigration of "The Death of Josseline: Immigration Stories from the Arizona Borderlands," this year's selection focuses on the role of youth in bridging interfaith connection through service work. Find out if your congregation plans to participate and, if not, suggest they do. The Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries is making available grants for youth to form and lead Common Read groups and will publish guidelines and applications for this over the next few weeks. YOUTH GRANTS: Money for change Paint a mural. Write a hymn. Run a food drive. Host a children's day. Plant a garden. Organize a letter-writing campaign. Develop a weekend retreat. Schedule a film screening. These are just a few of the things that Unitarian Universalist youth will do this year. As you think about how you can make a difference remember that the Youth Project Grants Program can help fund your project! This program exists to supply grants of up to $2,000 to UU youth for opportunities to grow in faith, deepen in spirit, develop skills and offer leadership and service to Unitarian Universalist communities. So ask yourself: what are you passionate about? What change can you make in your community? We are accepting applications now, so check out sample project ideas and the application at |
Social Justice
UPDATE 09: Unsettled
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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 youth 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 including 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 also be shared on the NNED blog, "All Together Now." Participating? Let us know! |

Announcements
Association-wide International Regional Local
UUA Youth Project Grant Program - Apply Now! As called for in the Youth Ministry Working Group Recommendations, the UUA has established a grant program for local youth-led projects giving Unitarian Universalist high school age youth opportunities to grow in faith, deepen in spirit, develop skills and offer leadership and service to Unitarian Universalist communities. Grants up to $2,000 will be awarded to youth who pair with an adult advisor in a sponsoring congregation, district or Unitarian Universalist organization. We are accepting applications now, so apply immediately! Deadline to apply for the next round of funding is December 1 - don't delay! Learn how to apply, including sample project ideas, at Youth Project Grants. |
Resources
Books Videos Website Organizations
Online video resources from the Rev. Dr. Monica L. Cummings Introduction to Gender and Sexual Orientation for Youth Introduction to Ethnic Identity Formation for Youth of Color UU World Fall 2011 Issue available now! Featuring stories about changes to the UUA voted upon at the last General Assembly, sustainable ecotourism the UU way, and more!
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).
Grants - Youth Project Grants Grants are available ranging in value from $200-$2,000 to help support congregations and districts by creating opportunities for youth, including service and spirituality projects. Next application deadline is December 1, 2011.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! |
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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?
E-mail us at youth@uua.org Keep reading - let's evolve together!
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