True Fraternal Love
This story is re-posted from Boston.com. – Ed. Emerson College fraternity members raise money for one brother’s gender reassignment surgery By Martin Finucane, Boston Globe Staff Members of an Emerson College fraternity are raising money so one of the fraternity brothers who is transitioning to become a man can get gender reassignment surgery, a college official said. Donnie Collins, class of 2015, was denied insurance coverage this month to remove breast tissue and restructure his chest, said Jason Meier, director of student activities at Emerson. Collins is now being helped out by fellow members of Phi Alpha Tau, “guys in the fraternity who care deeply about one of their brothers,” Meier said. (Read the…
Resourceful Preparation for Justice GA
Justice General Assembly (GA) is near, with only a bit more than a month until kick-off, Wednesday, June 20th. Unitarian Universalists and the Unitarian Universalist Association have created many online and interactive resources on current immigration issues in the United States, its complicated history and how this affects us today. There are so many resources, in fact, that it is hard to remember them all! We hope this list of resources helps you and your community prepare for Justice GA. -Ed. ” The Doctrine of Discovery—the legal justification for the colonization of the Americas and the subordination of aboriginal people—is a narrative unfamiliar to many Americans.Yet the Doctrine is so deeply embedded in American and Western culture that…
Come Into the Quiet
Connecticut College alumna Samantha Herndon tells a moving narrative of the importance UU campus ministry played in her life. -Ed From my first weeks on the neo-gothic, arboreal campus of Connecticut College, I found myself drawn to the chapel there. Its stern spire and stone exterior gave way to warmth, deep-seated sofas and a calming sense of spirit inside. I had several friends who attended the chapel’s weekly meeting of the Unitarian Universalist group – “Come into the quiet,” the posters featuring chalices proclaimed. I welcomed the thought of a break from the stress of preparing for graduation, studying abroad, choosing and changing majors, and constant reminders that I was 1,200 miles away from my family….
Justice GA Preparation Webinar Tue. 5/8
Our regularly scheduled webinar for campus ministry leaders this month will be open to all young adults and those who work with us. The webinar will be on Tuesday, May 8th at 4pm EDT, and we will be discussing and learning about Justice General Assembly, taking place this June in Phoenix, Arizona . Joining us will be: Laura Gilmore: Young Adult Caucus Co-Moderator Emrys Staton: Young Adult Caucus Justice Liason Carey McDonald: Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries They will all give us some important information about Justice GA and then there will be plenty of time for questions. You will NOT need to register for the webinar beforehand, as I know this causes problems for folks. You will have…
Voices From the Margins
This week Rev. Dr. Mark Morrison-Reed was in Boston on his book tour. And I got to see him – twice. What a privilege. What a groupie I am!-Ed. Mark is a retired Unitarian Universalist minister, currently “retiring” as Affiliate Faculty at Meadville Lombard Theological School. He is known for his research and writings on people of color in Unitarianism, Universalism and Unitarian Universalism. (Didn’t know these groups were ever different? Read about our two parent denominations that merged.) His newest book with Jacqui James Voices from the Margins: A Reflection of Meditations, is a collection of meditations and reflections from Unitarian Universalists of color. Over ten years ago Jacqui and Mark collaborated on Been…
A Safe Place to Question and Explore
This is the story of one student who is currently a part of FOCUUS, the Unitarian Universalist campus ministry group at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, VA – and a larger presentation of what this and other UU campus ministries are about. – Ed. Re-posted with permission, original article found here.By Corrie Mitchell News Editor, The Captain’s Log Christopher Newport University Searching for FOCUUS Sophomore Erin Gallagher knew she had to abandon her Catholic roots after meeting with Father Dave, the priest at her hometown parish in Washington, D.C. Gallagher has taken leave of Catholic Mass in the name of freedom and personal religious exploration. The Fellowship of Campus Unitarian Universalist Students (FOCUUS) at Christopher…
Summer Opportunities for Young Adults
Below is a compilation of different training and internship opportunities for young adults that have heard about over the last couple of weeks. Feel free to let us know of other opportunities and we’ll be happy to update. -Ed. Interfaith Training with Interfaith Youth Core College students who are interested in establishing an interfaith group on campus are encouraged to apply for Interfaith Leadership Institute, a spectacular summer training with Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC, Eboo Patel‘s organization). This is open to both students who are involved in a campus ministry and those who are not. Please contact Kayla directly at ya-cm@uua.org if you are interested in attending or know someone who you think would be enriched…
UU POV on Occupy @ UC Davis and Beyond
Thank you to the UU Campus Minister to UC Davis for bringing to our attention this post by Tom Zolot, Campus Ministry Student at University California Davis.– Ed. I was recently sucked into the movement iconically known as Occupy, also called Decolonize or sustained assemblies. As a UC Davis student that meant that I got myself in a trial by fire introduction to social inequality, radical community building and police brutality. The major question I get asked is why? Why do what you’re doing? Why isn’t there more focus, what’s the point? In the many hours of conversations I have had I have come up with a couple of answers, but there is one that…
Youth Valentines to NY Legislature for Love
On Sunday, Feb 12th, Senior High Youth from the congregation at First UU in Brooklyn, NY led an educational service project with youth from the congregation, as part of the Standing on the Side of Love campaign. After teaching our children a bit about love, marriage equality, and justice, we made Valentines to send to the NY State representatives who voted to support the Marriage Equality Act, passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor in June, 2011. First UU being a Brooklyn congregation, cards were addressed to Brooklyn representatives, as well as New York’s Federal Senators, the Mayor of New York City, Governor of the State of New York, and the four state-wide…
Youth Observer to the UUA Board – Apply by 3/21!
Youth Leadership Opportunity: YO to the UUA Board of Trustees A new Youth Observer (YO) to the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) Board of Trustees is elected by Unitarian Universalist (UU) youth in a national election every year before General Assembly. The Youth Observer to the Board is an important, national leadership position held by a UU youth. Youth Observer 2012-’13 Election Timeline March 21: Youth Observer candidate applications due March 30: Youth Observer candidate info, voting ballots available; voting opens April 23: Youth Observer voting ballots must be received (postmark Apr. 20) April 27: Youth Observer election winner announced To apply to be a candidate see the Apply to Become a Candidate For Youth Observer page…
