May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and we recommend the following books for adults and children that center and honor the stories and histories of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. In response to the continuing escalation in xenophobia and bigotry resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is even more necessary to lift up these stories and reckon with this nation’s anti-Asian racism. Here are some books to help you learn:
We Are Here: 30 Inspiring Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Who Have Shaped the United States by Naomi Hirahara and illustrated by Illi Ferandez
Asian American is Not a Color: Conversations on Race, Affirmative Action, and Family by OiYan A. Poon
We Who Produce Pearls: An Anthem for Asian America by Joanna Ho and illustrated by Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya
Made in Asian America: A History for Young People by Erika Lee and Christina Soontornvat
On Gold Hill: A Personal History of Wheat, Farming, and Family From Punjab to California by Jaclyn Moyer
The House Before Falling into the Sea by Ann Suk Wang and illustrated by Hanna Cha
And check out the trailer of Vivien Hao’s documentary “Invisible No More” which was partly filmed at East Shore. We’ll have the documentary premiere in September at East Shore.
Yes, we celebrate Cinco de Mayo on May 5th. However, did you know that day is also the National Day of Awareness of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls? Also known as Red Dress Day, May 5th honors the thousands of indigenous women and girls missing or murdered in the US. We encourage you to learn more about the causes, issues and efforts to combat MMIWG and sex trafficking.
Grassroots advocates call on us to wear RED to make visible the indigenous women, girls and other people who have disappeared and been murdered in this country and Canada. The entire month of May is Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Awareness month to include in addition to women and girls, two-spirit and gender diverse people. We hope to see a surge of red at the Sunday morning service at East Shore on May 5th!
During the month of May, East Shore will celebrate our partnership with the Khasi people, who live in the rain-blessed hills of Meghalaya, India. On May 5th we will dedicate our worship service to the bond that East Shore has with these Unitarian friends.
Rev. Morgan McLean, the Global Connection Program Manager for the UUA’s Global Connection and Emerging Community Office, will describe a new approach to global partnerships.
Our Khasi Hills Ministry Team will share how transformational their partnering experience has been.
This is a special Share-the-Plate service, where all donations will be shared with our two partner churches.
Please give especially generously on May 5th to support their community projects and educational programs.
Our Khasi partnership is a truly precious bond that transcends borders and cultures, a bond that embodies the essence of our Unitarian Universalist values. More than anything, this partnership is about deepening relationships between people. Amidst the rolling green Khasi Hills, live teachers, students, and members of the Khasi community—a people who are deeply committed to shaping their own destiny. Their dreams embody their aspirations of self-sufficiency, sustainability, and empowerment. Despite differences in faith and culture, we celebrate their Unitarian beliefs and long-upheld indigenous perspectives.
Our connection with the Khasi People runs deep, rooted in mutual respect and solidarity. From the humble beginnings of our partnership to its evolution over the years, we have embraced cultural humility, setting aside our egos to listen deeply and learn from one another. Trust is central to our partnership… trust that has grown through years of building relationships and honoring each other’s voices.
This partnership is not about charity but about shared humanity and shared dreams. Through this partnership, we expand our horizons, find common ground and discover new ways of understanding the world. Our journey with the Khasi People has been a transformative one. Through deep reflection and cultural exchange, we have gained insights into our own privileges and biases, fostering a spirit of deep humility and empathy.
At the heart of our partnership is a commitment to education, to nurturing the hunger for learning among the youth of the Khasi community. Witnessing their growth and success fills us with profound joy and reaffirms the transformative power of education. Our shared endeavors in education and community development have thrived, creating hope and opening doors to new opportunities. Here at East Shore right now, we have 20 members who are connected with a Khasi student whose education they sponsor. They stay connected through writing and sending letters.
We extend a heartfelt invitation to each member and friend of our congregation to join us in the Khasi partnership. I encourage you to explore new horizons, and to discover the surprising joy that comes from connecting with individuals whose lives may seem worlds apart from our own. Here are some ways you might join in:
Volunteer for projects like the upcoming Trinkets and Treasures rummage sale, donate items to the sale, or just come to shop at the sale!
You may be able to travel with us on a transformative journey to the Khasi Hills, where you will experience the richness of their culture firsthand.
Join a youth pilgrimage to the Khasi Hills in the summer of 2025 — as a youth, a parent, or a youth advisor — or contribute to support the youth service project.
Sponsor a Khasi student who is selected from the neediest families by the local sponsorship committee and enable them to stay in school.
Immerse yourself in a spiritual journey by studying the history, culture and religion of the Khasis. We have some fascinating resource materials to loan you.
Together, let us recommit to East Shore’s partnership with the Khasi People. Your presence, your passion, and your willingness to engage not only will shape the future of our partnership but also helps widen the path towards a more interconnected and compassionate world.
Please bring your curiosity and enthusiasm and join us at the May 5th East Shore worship service.
Khublei! Doug Strombom and Barb Clagett, Co-leaders, Khasi Hills Ministry Team
The April 21st church service was an Earth Day celebration of the spirit of the earth, our need to collaborate to nourish and sustain her, and a call to action for East Shore to continue our tradition of direct climate action. The Earth and Climate Action team (ECAM) has worked since late last year to solicit ideas and concerns from the congregation about our dreams for healing the Earth, what we can do as a group to collaborate to have an impact, and how those actions can take place. ECAM talked to almost all ministry teams, had listening sessions with other members, solicited one-on-one feedback, and conducted an online survey, to give all of us the opportunity to participate and share our feelings and ideas.
The work resulted in a lot of great feedback, that fell roughly into five categories. The most consistent areas of interest and concern were:
Developing deeper Connection with Nature
Embracing Indigenous Wisdom about the natural world
Acknowledging our grief, and shifting to Hope and Action
Advancing Environmental Justice
Assuring a sustainable planet for future generations
This feedback gives all of us at East Shore a core set of values and priorities to further our positive climate action. ECAM will continue to organize the feedback and share ideas in more detail, and more climate action sessions are certain to arise from what our congregation has said.
To top off the Earth Day activities ECAM hosted a Climate Action Celebration in the sanctuary, featuring live music with multimedia, composed by John Chmaj and performed by an all-East Shore ensemble, featuring more extended sharing of congregational feedback and personal observations from all of us. The more we can share our passions for the Earth, and find ways to work together to heal our world, the greater our impact and commitment will be. Hoping your Earth Day was filled with gratitude for the miraculous ‘blue boat’ we find ourselves sailing in!
by John Chmaj, Earth & Climate Action Ministry Team
The Indigenous Connections Team* invites you to the Duwamish Longhouse (4705 W Marginal Way SW / Seattle) on April 20, 1pm, to hear about the work of the Wisdom Keepers, an international team of indigenous leaders and activists. This is an opportunity for adults and youth to learn more about an indigenous perspective on climate change and the urgency combined with optimism that guides indigenous efforts worldwide. Please join us!
The Duwamish Longhouse & Cultural Center opens at 10 on Saturdays – come early to explore exhibits and browse the shop!
Jacob Johns (Akimel O’Otham and Hopi) and Jeff Ferguson (Spokane) will share stories and media related to their work as part of the Wisdom Keepers Delegation at the 2023 United Nations Conference of the Parties in Dubai (UNCOP28).
The Wisdom Keepers are pushing for the inclusion of indigenous perspectives in global climate policy discussions. The delegation asks governments to prioritize the active participation of indigenous peoples while recognizing and respecting traditional knowledge and practices in climate mitigation and adaptation efforts. The Wisdom Keepers promote holistic approaches that consider the well-being of workers, communities, and the environment.
During COP28 In Dubai, the Wisdom Keepers collaborated with peers in US Climate Action Network (USCAN), participated on panels, graced event openings, and brought spiritual depth to closings with their unique mix of song, dance, and prayer.
The Indigenous Connections Team is especially grateful to the Duwamish Tribe for their collaboration and for sharing the Longhouse with all of us.
This event is sponsored by JUUstice Washington (JUUstWA), a network of Unitarian Universalist congregations, organizations, and partners. Local churches are participating, including University UC, Northlake UUC, and Woodinville UUC.
* Submitted by the Indigenous Connections Team:
Kristi Weir
Lynn Roesch
Marilyn Mayers
Erika Jackson Kirkendall
Donna Johnson (Woodinville UUC)
Kari Ann Hailey (ESUC and Northlake UUC)
Maury Edwards
Carrie Bowman
