Our Board and Auction team voted to approve an engaging, community response project for the Fund-A-Need. We want our community to grow together in serving and giving to the local Eastside community, and connecting with organizations and people to help make a difference, today!
What does this project have to do with Unitarian Universalism?
This project has everything to do with Unitarian Universalism and East Shore! We are a faith of open mind, loving hearts, and helping hands. Our Unitarian Universalist principles call on us to respect all who are in need, offer fair and kind treatment, and act on our ideals. We believe in the bounty of the Earth, the generosity of spirit, and the inherent worth and dignity of every person.
Unitarian Universalist congregations come together to answer the call for justice, and right now, COVID-19 is a justice issue. Food insecurity, always an issue, has been made worse by the COVID pandemic. The COVID Food Relief Project serves our neighbors in the community we are a part of – Bellevue and the Eastside – who are in need of direct food support. By working to eliminate the anxiety and challenges of getting food on the table, East Shore helps to support interconnection and growth in the local community.
How is this different from what ESUC already does to serve needs?
The COVID Food Relief Project builds on East Shore’s strong legacy of food insecurity efforts, whether it’s the P-Patch, Sophia’s Way, or Crossroads Meals. This project differs in that it is an appeal for mission-driven church wide giving that also includes learning and sharing opportunities. It is focused on relieving an imminent need and offering our congregants a path towards spiritual growth and community building through service to others.
When we pool our community’s time, treasure, and talent and pour it into the vibrant community of nonprofits and community agencies, we serve our neighbors. Lending a helping hand and engaging in relationships outside our church walls helps to build stronger local communities.
Is this project anti-racist?
A disproportionate number of people needing food relief are people of color. In King County, Latinx, Black, and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander populations are disproportionately represented among callers to 211 seeking food assistance. By August of this year, 31% of callers seeking assistance with food identified as Black and 21% of callers identified as Latinx, when 7% of the overall King County population identify as Black and 10% identify as Latinx. By working to address food insecurity, ESUC is also working to dismantle inequity and white supremacy.
What is Food Insecurity in Western Washington?
You can tell by reading about our partner organizations, food insecurity is alive and well in Western Washington and King County. Learn more now about why those organizations exist. Food insecurity occurs when individuals or households lack reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food. The CEO of Food Lifeline said on September 10, 2020 that the number of people facing hunger has doubled since the pandemic started and we likely haven’t seen the worst yet. Potentially one in five Washingtonians could be facing hunger by the end of the year. About half the people in Western Washington who are turning to the food bank system have not needed to use the system before.
Since strategies to slow the spread of COVID-19 were implemented, families with children are particularly at risk of food insecurity. National and state policies have enabled new resources or expanded existing resources, but some are set to expire. For example, the CARES Act money has ended and the WA State Legislature won’t be convening until January.
Sometimes families that are homeless need food, and sometimes families that are housed need additional food support. This food support may be in addition to other state and federal benefits, and helps to fill the gaps of those programs.
How much of a need is there for Food Relief in King County?
Even before COVID-19, 12% of King County adults experienced food insecurity. Among those who did receive free food, the most common sources of free food were:
a school or other program for children (the percent varied by week, ranging between 28%- 67% of adults reporting that their household received free food);
a community organization (ranged from 13%-45%);
friends, family or neighbors (ranged between 18%-36%);
and a food bank or food pantry (ranged between 11%-33%).
Tell me more about why the COVID Food Relief Project Partners were chosen:
Working within the existing network of community organizations is the best way to maximize our dollar and time. It is a way to interact with other faith communities with a common purpose. All of the partners and projects chosen can be done during COVID restrictions with precautions and safety measures considered.
Covid Food Relief Project Partners Info & Links
Mobile Meal Alliance: The Mobile Meal Alliance is a food truck meal voucher program. Organization funds donated by a church or other non profit entity are converted into food truck meal vouchers that are given to individuals and families in need of food support. Food trucks are then scheduled by the state food truck association to be hosted at churches, food banks or other residential area businesses. East Shore will work with the Bellevue School District Family Connection Centers to distribute meal vouchers to children, youth, and families who are experiencing food insecurity. East Shore would host a food truck and welcome neighbors, voucher holders, and our own congregants to a meal. https://www.wafoodtrucks.org/mobile-meal-alliance
Backpack Meals for Kids: The school meal program started off in the 1960s by the Black Panthers as one of their 10 point programs. It has since grown into a huge national effort to make sure that during the week, all children in school are given access to free or reduced cost breakfasts and lunches. For many Bellevue School District kids, the only meals they get are at school. On the weekends, they don’t have enough to eat. When children are hungry, everything else is harder, including learning. This program is working to fill that gap; Backpack Meals for Kids provides free, easy-to-make food packs and meals so children have food to eat over the weekend. During COVID-19, Bellevue School District has had to close many of their resources that families rely on. Right now, only two Family Connection Centers (FCC) are open: at Stevenson Elementary and Lake Hills Elementary. These are where Backpack Meals for Kids distribute their weekend meal packs for prek-12. Backpack Meals for Kids buys prepackaged weekend meal packs and stores them in their Bellevue Warehouse for weekly distribution. The program does pack pre-K meal packs on a monthly basis. East Shore would host volunteer parties for hands on packing. http://backpackmeals.org/
Jubilee Reach: Groceries for Families began in March to serve families financially affected by the pandemic. Over 25 organizations and churches have partnered with Jubilee REACH to provide families with groceries, hygiene items, and supplies. Spaced out over three days a week, nearly 700 families come on either Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday to pick up bags of pantry and staple items. What began as an 8 week program, grew to 12 weeks, stretched through the summer and then continued into the fall and winter. Jubilee REACH also partnered with BelPres to fund a food truck on site. Jubilee REACH does not, outside of COVID, provide food to families, but does serve the needs of families, youth, and children in other capacities, such as job training and English Language Learning. For now, this grocery program is essential. East Shore would be able to pre-puchase items for the grocery bags, pack at our church, and then volunteer to help distribute at their site location, just 2 miles east of East Shore. Depending on our funding, we will be able to determine how many grocery bags per week ESUC can contribute ongoing. https://www.jubileereach.org/blog/2020/10/29/groceries-for-families-week-31-day-3
Food Bank Farm: Located in Snohomish county, just across the road from Bob’s Corn Maze and Pumpkin patch, this ten year old farm grows food for Food Banks and works to support other farms and farmers in gleaning efforts to help bring even more food to the food banks. Started by Fr. Jim Eichner and funded as a ministry of the Episcopal Church of the Holy Cross in Redmond. This project delivers most of its food to food banks through the organization Food Lifeline, but also works with Hopelink Food Bank, who harvests food once a week as well. Volunteer individuals and teams harvest the food, and during COVID, also help to pack it directly into large produce bags to eliminate the need for food bank sorting. Food Bank Farm shares land on Chinook Farms with Lowland Farm and One Leaf Farm. During winter months, Food Bank Farm will be welcoming volunteers to harvest beets, and sign ups for Field Trips through East Shore will be provided. https://www.facebook.com/VeggiesforFoodBanks/
Tell me more about how the Auction Fund-a-Need dollars will be spent
The Covid Food Relief Steering Team will determine how the dollars raised at the 2020 Auction will be spent. The team’s choices will be impacted by both how much money is raised and how many volunteers support volunteer activities. Consider how you might give to this project, and what impact you’d like East Shore to make on food insecurity on the Eastside. By giving generously, you help to ensure that the groundwork the Steering team has laid will be put to good use. All of our partner organizations are excited and looking forward to our contributions to this good work.
Ways we will use allocated funds:
Cash donation to Backpack Meals for Kids to pay for pre K-12 weekend food packs. A group of ESUC volunteers also can work to put the packs together. One weekend food pack for kids preK-12 costs $6. Backpack delivers about 680 food packs a week.
To pay for prebagged groceries directly which would then be packed and delivered by ESUC volunteers to Jubilee Reach. Packing can happen at ESUC and be delivered as a group effort. One family grocery bag costs $35. Jubilee Reach distributes nearly 700 of those per week.
To pay for meal vouchers through Mobile Meal Alliance. ESUC volunteers would then host a food truck at church and neighbors and ESUC congregants would join voucher holders in purchasing a lunch or dinner. One food truck voucher, distributed at the Bellevue School District Family Connection Centers, costs $10. To feed a group of 50, which is approximately 12 families, costs $500.
Cash donation to Food Bank Farm. Donate money for seeds and other farm supplies to grow food that is given to food banks. One bunch of beets is about $2. Food Bank Farm donated 360,000 pounds of food last year to food banks in our area. ESUC can offer a field trip for families, children and youth, adults of all ages to go to the field and harvest beets.
I really love this project, how can I support it?
We’re so happy to hear that! We need people at every level to get engaged and involved. We want GIVERS, LEARNERS, AND SERVERS! And, you can be them all! You don’t just have to pick one way of engaging. If you’re able, we invite you to consider giving generously to this project during the Auction! Help continue making East Shore connected to its local community in a visible and profound way! If you’re motivated by having a sense of the bigger picture, of helping out your community, and by having fun and learning throughout, come volunteer in our efforts!
What are the different ways of getting involved and volunteering?
Inspired by the success of East Shore Gets Out the Vote, COVID Food Relief Project offers a variety of simple ways for congregants of all ages to give, learn, and serve the need for food relief. There’s room on both the Steering team and for one-time volunteer roles.
Do you want to help with a one-time position, like attending a food truck event on campus or volunteering during a beet harvest?
Do you want to partner with the Steering Team to coordinate one of those events?
Do you like to do volunteer outreach?
Want to help this project in some way, but don’t know how? OR
Want to help this project in a way that we haven’t listed?
Get in touch! Contact amanda alice uluhan or Grace Colton to indicate you are interested in volunteering for the COVID Food Relief Project Team.
A volunteer at Jubilee Reach said about their experience:
“ I was overwhelmed by the scope, and “reach” of Jubilee Reach. Thousands and thousands of families/individuals were positively touched on just one day. I had no idea. I was impressed by a number of factors- the collaboration of church bodies on the Eastside, the number of families from each of those churches, the ability, of someone, to materially include non-church groups and obtain enormous assistance from Sysco/USDA. The leadership is virtually omnipresent, as well as omniscient. Also, to realize that there is that magnitude of need in Bellevue and environs. Wow, wow.“
How safe is it to participate in the COVID Food Relief Project? I want to be able to protect myself from the risk of COVID.
How safe is it to participate in the COVID Food Relief Project? I want to be able to protect myself from the risk of COVID.
Only you can decide the degree of risk you are willing to take. The ways to participate with the least amount of risk are to volunteer from home and financially donating to this project or volunteering from home to would be for many the options with the least amount of risk. All our project partners have set up protocols and processes that comply with WA State guidelines. Participating in activities coordinated in groups will mean traveling to/from a site on your own or with people you are already living with, and volunteering with social distancing at the site.
Get in touch! Contact amanda alice uluhan or Grace Colton.to indicate you are interested in volunteering for the COVID Food Relief Project Team.
You most likely have received your ballots at the time of reading this brief. Please notice Referendum 90, which will decide whether Senate Bill 5395 — colloquially known as Washington’s sex-education bill — will be enacted into law.
At East Shore, we support SB 5395 and ask that you vote YES on Referendum 90. SB 5395 was passed by the state Legislature earlier this year. Approving the referendum would enact the law, which, in short, requires all school districts in the state to teach “comprehensive age appropriate sexual health education” by the 2022-2023 school year.
We’re fortunate to be in a faith community that has for decades provided comprehensive age appropriate sexual health education to our congregation and the larger community, and we know that not all children, or adults, have access to the empowering information and safe conversations they need to navigate life in a sexual body. By supporting SB 5395, which again has already been approved over years of careful and diligent work from Washington State Legislature, more children, youth, and adults will have access to this much needed and valued information.
We can use OWL to understand the potential of what we mean when we say comprehensive age appropriate sexual health education. The Unitarian Universalist Association created “About Your Sexuality,” in 1971. AYS, as it was called, responded to what was going on in popular culture and made it clear for the UUA how important it was to offer a values based education about sexuality to our community. AYS lasted for many, many years, and East Shore used this curriculum. In 1993, the United Church of Christ wanted to team up with UUA to develop a curriculum. Using the Guidelines for Comprehensive Sexuality Education developed by the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States, the two denominations developed a research-based program that aligned with the values of both faiths: Our Whole Lives. This curriculum continues to be co-developed and improved, with new editions and volumes being released this year and last. This year conversations have centered around the pandemic, affirming OWL values at home, OWL and multiculturalism, and decentering whiteness in OWL and our UUA educational material.
OWL affirms the self-worth of each of us, and is a welcoming sex education program, discussing gender and sexuality in ways that encourage self-discovery, allyship, and coming-out. OWL focuses on the importance of sexual health, and healthy, safe relationships. Its’ lifespan scope encompasses kindergarten through older adult. OWL includes relationships and personal skills in addition to sexual health and behavior. OWL addresses decision-making, clarifies values, builds interpersonal skills, and deepens understanding of spiritual, emotional, and societal aspects of sexuality, which can influence the decisions we make. Its “three Rs” are Responsibility, Respect, and Relationships, and OWL discusses how they all inform one another to empower each other and ourselves.
While all of our OWL programs are on hold during the pandemic, our faith and congregation certainly continue to affirm OWL values, ethics, and practices. By offering resources in your home through developmentally appropriate reading and viewing material, as well as directly in supportive, safe, and loving conversation, parents and caregivers are able to continue providing some of what OWL hopes to provide in the home.
Have questions? We’d love to hear what’s coming up in your homes with regards to OWL related content. We’re happy to help partner with you on this journey! Each of us with bodies, minds, and hearts are sacred, and we deserve to have the support we need to help navigate and understand that. Remember, our whole lives we are on a journey of learning and discovery, so let’s equip ourselves to live out our values and treat each other with deep kindness.
Are you interested in joining a group of parents and caregivers next year (2021) to work through the OWL curricula “Parents as Sexuality Educators”? Write to Amanda Uluhan to get a sign up going. [email protected]
Written by Amanda Uluhan, Director of Religious Education
9:30-10:15 a.m.: Religious Exploration Classes for Children and Youth, Ages 3-8 & 8-12
Every Sunday morning, we will be offering virtual children’s programming. We have classes for ages 3-8 and 8-12. Kids will log in and be put in smaller rooms based on ages. Volunteers (which you can be!) will also be assigned to rooms to help our amazing children and youth learn about Unitarian Universalism through Spirit Play and Holidays & Holydays.
Youth Helpers wanted: Each One, Teach One! You’ve got something worth sharing. Come drop in or sign up to get connected and start building relationships. We want to hear from you.
10:30-11:30 a.m.: Sunday Service Worship
With Zoom, we are not limited by space, and want all our members, friends and visitors to have an opportunity to see each other on Sundays. The pandemic has made connecting with our beloved community even more important. So until we are back worshiping in person, we will continue to have one service on Zoom. This service will be in the same room as the RE programs are, so if you log in early, you will be placed in a zoom waiting room. Our services this fall focus on the upcoming election.
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Coffee Hour
After worship—around 11:30 a.m.—we will have coffee hour: an informal and age-old Unitarian Universalist tradition. Use this opportunity to get to know someone new and enjoy the diversity in our community. Coffee Hour is a great opportunity to connect with visitors, welcome them to East Shore, and learn more about one another.
12:30-2:30 p.m.: Family Covenant Circle with Martin and Carrie (sign up in advance)
The ESUC Family Covenant Circle is a group of East Shore families with children 0-18 where the adults are seeking to share and support one another in the journey that is family life. We talk, listen deeply and really connect in a leader-led small group discussion. Topics range from spiritual parenting to smart phones to issues of our children’s health and our own. Currently we are meeting by zoom every other Sunday. Families of every stage and configuration are welcome. For more information contact Martin Cox.
Weekdays
Mondays, 8:15-9:05 p.m.: Parent/Caregiver Drop in with Leta
Parents & caregivers are invited to join a Zoom call led by Leta Hamilton to connect, recenter & offer support to one another. We will have themed calls each week. The first Monday will always be a guided meditation. Second Mondays are education & remote learning challenges. Third Mondays are open discussions with a favorite beverage intended for laughter & deeper personal connecting. Fourth Mondays will feature an inspirational book or video to uplift our spirits & offer hope. Please join us on Mondays from 8:15-9:05 p.m. Sign up here.
Wednesdays, 6:15-7:00 p.m.: Gather: Family Programs with LeAnne and Amanda (sign up in advance)
Come circle round the table and share and learn together. We’ll spend six weeks at a time uncovering and growing ourselves as a family unit. This is a time to be intentional about play, creativity, and cultivating joy in our relationships. From September 16-October 28, we’ll talk each week about our family rituals and activities, and share in a variety of fun, community building activities and curious conversations. Sign up here.
Wednesdays, 7:00-7:30 p.m.: Wind Down Wednesdays Service and Social Hour (following) with Amanda and Guests
We’ll kick-off the year with a new midweek service to wind down and rejuvenate. For the fall, we’ll start with an aloud reading of Book 1 of the Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Get your copy to follow along. Grab your PJ’s and a favorite stuffy, or tune in while you’re making dinner at home. No cameras necessary for this Zoom service. It’ll be sure to delight your aural senses alone. After the service, there will be an opportunity for social time. All Ages are welcome! Sign up here.
Fridays, 6:30-9 p.m.: Youth Groups Ages 13-15 and 15-18 with Doug, Alex, and others
Join as we kick off fall quarter with middle school and high school youth groups, both happening at a new time on Friday Nights from 6:30-9:00 p.m. Doug Strombom and Alex Langrock are leading up our virtual youth groups, and other volunteers are needed. Each call will offer break out rooms for age and activity-based small groups.
On the 1st and 3rd Fridays, we’ll play Dungeons and Dragons and JackBox games. On 2nd Fridays, we’ll focus on world issues and social justice, starting with voting and elections. On 4th Fridays, we’ll have an intergenerational fishbowl dealing with fun, engaging, and relevant “pick your-brain” topics. On 5th Fridays, we’ll have a movie night (November). You don’t have to turn on your cameras, and you can still have fun on Zoom!
On Select Saturdays, 10 a.m.-2:00 p.m.: Social Distance Soul Saturdays: September 12, October 31, December 5 (sign up in advance)
Be sure to pick up goodies and supplies for online/offline engagement with East Shore children and youth programs! Throughout the year, we’ll offer fun, social-distance, drive-thru friendly pickups. You’ll get what you need for each seven week cycle of programming.
We’re kicking off the fall on September 12th from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. You’ll find Blessing of the Backpacks stickers and Water Communion jars (open to all ages of congregants!) Find us in the Upper Parking lot at East Shore. Sign up here.
Next cycle starts on Halloween! So stay tuned for details about October 31st’s Soul Saturday from 10:00 a.m. -2:00 p.m.! We’ll have a hauntingly good time.
Save the date for Saturday December 5th from 10:00 a.m. -2:00 p.m., too, for gingerbread house kits and winter solstice goodies.
On Select Sundays: 4:00-5:30 p.m.: Coming of Age Ages 12-14 & 14-18 (sign up in advance)
Starting in our second seven week cycle Coming of Age will welcome two distinct age groups, along with congregant mentors, to develop and nurture self, community, and spirit. Sessions will be held starting on November 1st, for four weeks. The program will continue into Winter and Spring, with a total of three, four-week sessions. CoA this year will incorporate self-awareness and empowerment, adult companionship, and peer community development. CoA will culminate in an church worship service in May.
Children and Youth Programs have shifted during the pandemic to create online, offline, and hybrid programming. We continue to lift up our mission of building community, promoting justice, exploring spirituality, and practicing love.
Our fall programs for children and youth are up and running, but we need some more adults to volunteer to keep them going. For each of our online Zoom rooms, we need two safe and loving adults over 25. Offline, we need your help organizing materials for classes and reaching out to our families to stay connected.
With your curiosity and dedication, we create offerings that are accessible to children and youth and that help to build our beloved multigenerational community.
There are lots of different size commitments available, from one-off facilitation roles to consistent, deep engagement with programming.
Volunteer for middle youth group on Friday night from 6:30-7:30pm and high school youth groups on Friday night from 6:30-8:30pm, Coming of Age on select Sundays starting November 1. Read up on our current offerings to see how you can plug in today;
Volunteer on a weekly, biweekly, quarterly, or annual basis;
Volunteer as a co-facilitator, involved in content sharing and creation or volunteer as our safe and loving second adult in the room;
Help organize our social distance Soul Saturdays with engaging content and safe, drive-thru friendly hand-offs;
Help to include children and youth in our Worship services;
Support and create all ages activities and intergenerational activities by asking your ministry team today “How can we include children and youth in these activities today?
Volunteer in the Children and Youth Team (see below)
To volunteer in any of our programs for children or youth, and to learn about volunteer opportunities, get in touch with Director of Religious Education Amanda Uluhan or fill out the form below.
OUR COMMUNITY’S SAFETY IS A PRIORITY
All our staff and volunteers are trained in East Shore’s Safe Congregations procedures and background checked. We provide regular training and on boarding for adult volunteers. We use annual background checks for all volunteers who work with vulnerable populations, such as our children and youth! We use the detailed UUA Safety Guidelines to help steer our own safety procedures. East Shore is a safe and secure place where children are loved and accepted because of who they are! As we engage more in our online spaces, there is still a need for volunteers who go through our teacher training and youth advisor process.
SAFE CONGREGATIONS – TRAINING & EXPECTATIONS
Here at East Shore, we value the personhood of everyone who walks through our doors. We must also be intentional in making our faith community safe. Our congregation cannot ignore this reality. With love at the center, we must respond with direct, positive, and preventative actions to build and sustain our congregation as a safe place for all children, youth and adults. We do this through Safe Congregations Training.
Creating a Safe Congregation community at East Shore includes:
A screening process to assure that all persons working with children, youth, and/or vulnerable adults can provide a healthy and safe place.
A training component to build awareness and provide skills that help us be sensitive and alert to our unique role, power, and abusive situations and appropriate loving, respectful relationships.
An expectation that all those who provide care for those under 18 and vulnerable adults will undergo training and participate in learning opportunities through East Shore and the UUA regularly.
All adults working with our children and youth programs need to attend our Safe Congregation training one time. Safe Congregation training is conducted throughout the year so all have a chance to attend prior to working with our Salt House Kids programs.
This RE core team visions and plans! We are a diverse team of congregants, parents, teachers, and RE staff. Our groups meets weekly to to support children and youth at East Shore.
The team supports ESUC on issues such as:
Visioning a lifelong path of faith development for children
Advocating for involvement of children and youth throughout the congregation in programs such as Sunday worship, ministry team events and teams, and community service opportunities
Gathering, Training, and On boarding Adult Volunteers
Providing programming for children and youth in peer and affinity groups
Evaluating how our RE programs can live into anti-racist, anti-oppression, multicultural ideals
Getting feedback from parents and teachers about religious exploration at ESUC
Disclaimer: I’m not a mental health practitioner or a healthcare professional. This site is not intended to provide medical advice or replace your regular healthcare routine, so keep seeing your medical provider(s) and taking any meds you need, please!
If you use this site and can afford to help support it, please consider doing so! May your shitty times be few.
With you in shitty solidarity,
-Amanda
Additional Resources & Help Lines
You’re not alone. There is someone that’s willing to listen to you without judgment. Teen Link is a program of Crisis Connections that serves youth in Washington State. Talk it out! Call or text TeenLink at 206-461-4922 or 866-833-6546 (TEENLINK) Evenings: 6:00pm – 10:00pm
Our teen volunteers are trained to listen to your concerns and talk with you about whatever’s on your mind – bullying, drug and alcohol concerns, relationships, stress, depression or any other issues you’re facing. No issue is too big or too small! Calls and chats are confidential.
Tips for Self Care
Staying mentally healthy is just like staying physically healthy – there are a lot of things we can do. Some things to try are:
Pay attention to your diet – lots of sugar and processed foods or not drinking enough water can lead to anxiety, depression, insomnia, and inability to focus
Get sleep. Being tired can ruin our best attempts for self-care.
Take time away from technology. Talking in person through something tough or sharing an experience with a friend helps us connect and be present
Notice your thoughts. Are you being mean to yourself? Obsessing over something instead of taking action? Try treating yourself as well as you would a good friend.
Exercise – physical activity increases blood flow to your brain for better concentration and sleep, creates endorphins (happy chemicals), and helps process feelings like stress and anxiety.
Trust your instincts if your thoughts or feelings are getting overwhelming. Talk with a friend or someone you trust, and if you need to, you can connect with us, a doctor, or therapist for additional support.
The resources below have been compiled to help you unpack racism and oppression and to facilitate in aiding a community to do so as well. They will guide you in your own learning about childhood development, media, race, racism and other oppressions, as well as in being a parent, caregiver, or educator. Talking about race is not racist. It’s OK — and important. A lot of the resources below are helping to move us from a color-blind framework to building shared vocabulary around race to move us closer to justice.
“Until the killing of black men, black mothers’ sons, becomes as important to the rest of the country as the killing of a white mother’s son, we who believe in freedom cannot rest until this happens.”
― Ella Baker
We need an ecological approach to justice that includes inner work, interpersonal work, and intercultural systemic work—meaning, working within ourselves and between ourselves, and then working to change the systems that we’re living in.
― Rhonda Magee of “The Inner Work of Racial Justice”
Below, you will find resources for facing, feeling, understanding and responding to the suffering of racism. Please consider this a living document…one that will keep evolving!
Congregational Resources for Unitarian Universalist Spaces
