In 1920, Harriet E. Ware of Milton, MA, bequeathed $5,000 to the American Unitarian Association (AUA) for its unrestricted use. Two years later, on the evening of May 24, 1922, the first Ware lecture was given by the Rev. Frederick W. Norwood, pastor of the City Temple in London, England. The lecture has been given almost every year since then at the former May Meetings of the AUA and after 1961 at the General Assembly.
East Shore UUs met in Spring Hall on Friday, March 9th, to watch the 2008 Ware Lecturer, Van Jones. Among many other accomplishments, Van Jones has founded, or been part of, the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights and the Center’s Books Not Bars campaign; Color of Change, the nation’s biggest e-advocacy organization tackling Black issues; and a “Green Jobs Corps” that will train youth for eco-friendly “green-collar” jobs. In his Ware Lecture, Jones called for a green economy that includes urban farms, rooftop gardens, and other “ways to lift people up.” His concern about issues such as the economy, the environment, and racial disparities was an inspiration to all of us who listened to the talk. Afterwards, we had a lively discussion about what we could to do to improve things in our own communities as well as right here at East Shore.
The next Ware Lecture will be on Friday, April 13th, so watch for further details. It’s free, and everyone is invited!