This page is for events training, workshops, rallies, and events where we are present to make our voices heard. Newest is generally at the top. To find a specific topic, use the control-F command (alt-F on a Mac), or simply scroll down.

Training for Social Justice Leaders

Join us on Wednesday, July 15th from 7pm - 9pm to learn about It Starts with Faith: Summer Organizing School for social justice leaders with all levels of organizing experience. In this first session, we'll outline the program and sign you up for the sessions, share tools that you can take back to your congregation, and gather information to help us customize the sessions for your needs.

Register at this link: https://secure.everyaction.com/Dwl7CU9qEkmz5l8XU7EA4g2

Food Drive (and July School Supply Drive)

Location: UUCF Sanctuary (UU Church of Fairfax)

Date/Time: Sun., July 12, 2020 from 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Description:

This month UUCF will collect food for La ColectiVA, which is supporting approximately 180+ undocumented and mixed-status families and individuals experiencing significant difficulty during COVID-19. In addition to being at higher risk of contracting the virus, many of these individuals have a limited support network and are excluded from many existing relief efforts. Sign up to bring requested groceries here.

In addition, UUCF will be accepting school supplies for Beacon House. Needed items include: backpacks, 3×5 ruled index cards, pencil pouches, composition notebooks, folders with pockets, spiral notebooks, block erasers, plastic rulers, crayons, ballpoint pens, loose-leaf paper (both college- and wide-rule), glue sticks and bottles of glue, blunt-tip scissors, washable markers, 1-inch 3-ring binders. No sign-ups necessary to donate school supplies.

Your Comments Needed on Proposed Asylum Seekers Rule!

In a recent Washington Post opinion column by Nickole Miller, a clinical teaching fellow at the University of Baltimore School of Law, it was disclosed that the Trump administration has quietly announced a new set of rules to remove most legal protections for asylum seekers.

These rules would "Deny claims where the applicant suffered persecution on account of gender... Allow immigration judges to deny asylum applications without a court hearing and testimony from the applicant... Create new barriers to obtaining asylum for anyone who attempts to enter the United States unlawfully."

Says Ms. Miller, "The proposed rules were published in the Federal Register on June 15 and will be open to comments for only 30 days. A robust response against these proposals is critical to delaying the rule-making and providing support to the legal challenges that are sure to come."

Submit your comments here. The comment period closes on July 15, 2020.

Poor Peoples' Campaign June 20th

We are just five days away from the Mass Poor People's Assembly and Moral March on Washington Digital Gathering, and we need your help! Sign up below to make art, send texts and make phone calls.

Use our Digital Toolkit to spread the word far and wide to invite your friends, family, community and networks to what is shaping up to be a massive, generationally transformative event.

Now, more than ever, we must come together – accepting death is not an option anymore!

Get involved...

We Rise Together Virtual Art Build

Join us today, June 15th, at 9am PT / 12pm ET to learn tips for how to make Window Signs, Sidewalk Chalk Messages, Repurpose Yard Signs and more as we come together this week and spread the word about June 20, 2020!

We will be joined by movement artist, David Solnit, who will guide us. Please have art materials with you so we can create together!

Click Here to Register!

Can you give a few hours this week to text people around the country about the Mass Poor People's Assembly?

Sign up for a 30-minute training tonight at 7:30pm ET / 4:30pm PT and you can join hundreds of others in our national textbank!

Click Here to Sign Up!

In case you missed it...

‘America, Accepting Death is Not an Option Anymore!'

"When we all heard George Floyd say “I can’t breathe,” it was as if the democracy itself took a collective gasp and so many people who’ve seen so much death said, “I can’t breathe either.”

Listen to the Rev. Dr. William Barber's full sermon, ‘America, Accepting Death is Not an Option Anymore!' given live from the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. on Sunday June 14th.

Click here to listen

Poverty Amidst Pandemic Special on MSNBC

Yesterday, Rev. Dr. William Barber and Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis, joined Joy Reid, and state leaders from across the country for a special on the double crisis of pandemic and poverty and how poor & low-income people are being impacted, and fighting back. Listen to a highlight here...

'We are Called to Be a Movement'

Rev. Dr. Williams Barber's rousing sermon 'We are Called to Be a Movement," implores us to come together and renounce the politics of rejection, division, and greed – to lift up the common good, move up to higher ground, and revive the heart of democracy. It is now available as a published book from Workman Publishing.

Get your copy here!

Forward together, not one step back!

Rev. Dr. William Barber and Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis

Co-Chairs, Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival

Follow the Poor People's Campaign on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!

Poor Peoples' Campaign June 20th

We are just five days away from the Mass Poor People's Assembly and Moral March on Washington Digital Gathering, and we need your help! Sign up below to make art, send texts and make phone calls.

Use our Digital Toolkit to spread the word far and wide to invite your friends, family, community and networks to what is shaping up to be a massive, generationally transformative event.

Now, more than ever, we must come together – accepting death is not an option anymore!

Get involved...

We Rise Together Virtual Art Build

Join us today, June 15th, at 9am PT / 12pm ET to learn tips for how to make Window Signs, Sidewalk Chalk Messages, Repurpose Yard Signs and more as we come together this week and spread the word about June 20, 2020!

We will be joined by movement artist, David Solnit, who will guide us. Please have art materials with you so we can create together!

Click Here to Register!

Can you give a few hours this week to text people around the country about the Mass Poor People's Assembly?

In case you missed it...

‘America, Accepting Death is Not an Option Anymore!'

"When we all heard George Floyd say “I can’t breathe,” it was as if the democracy itself took a collective gasp and so many people who’ve seen so much death said, “I can’t breathe either.”

Listen to the Rev. Dr. William Barber's full sermon, ‘America, Accepting Death is Not an Option Anymore!' given live from the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. on Sunday June 14th.

Click here to listen

Poverty Amidst Pandemic Special on MSNBC

Yesterday, Rev. Dr. William Barber and Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis, joined Joy Reid, and state leaders from across the country for a special on the double crisis of pandemic and poverty and how poor & low-income people are being impacted, and fighting back. Listen to a highlight here...

'We are Called to Be a Movement'

Rev. Dr. Williams Barber's rousing sermon 'We are Called to Be a Movement," implores us to come together and renounce the politics of rejection, division, and greed – to lift up the common good, move up to higher ground, and revive the heart of democracy. It is now available as a published book from Workman Publishing.

Get your copy here!

Forward together, not one step back!

Rev. Dr. William Barber and Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis

Co-Chairs, Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival

Follow the Poor People's Campaign on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!

Jennifer Mitchell Memorial Scholarship Awards 2020

This year’s joint effort of UUCR and four other Reston-area religious congregations resulted in scholarship awards to 11 high school seniors, five from Herndon H.S. and six from South Lakes H.S., in late May. This was the 31st year students have benefited from gifts from the Jennifer Mitchell Memorial Fund; the fund was established to recognize graduating seniors who have attained a solid record of achievement despite economic, family, linguistic, or other difficulties that would have impeded less dedicated and determined students.

The following seniors at the two schools received scholarships (ranging from $1,200 to $1,900):

At Herndon High School (with intended major and college):

• Lucilla Antwie, biology at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)

• Martha Castro-Hernandez, education or music education at George Mason University

• Rayan Elmisurati, civil engineering at George Mason University

• Karly Fuentes-Paredes, political science & economics at University of Virginia

• Judith Velasquez, nursing at Hood College (in Frederick, MD)

At South Lakes High School in Reston:

• Weyam Ali, business information systems at VCU

• Emeli Avallos-Barilla, humanistic services at Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC)

• Kaynat Khattak, medicine at NVCC

• Nicol Salinas-Perez, dental hygiene at NVCC

• Daniel Tolessa, computer science at Virginia Tech

• Nia Winston, mechanical engineering at NVCC

UUCR members contributed $5,200 to the fund in the April special collection; and the four other congregations (Good Shepherd Lutheran, St. Anne's Episcopal, St. John Neumann Catholic, and St. Thomas à Becket Catholic Churches) and individual donors provided an additional $8,000. The fund is named after Jennifer Mitchell (daughter of Terry and Linn Mitchell of the UUCR community), who was a Herndon H.S. senior when she died in an automobile accident in 1990.

The Social Action/Social Justice Committee here at UUCR appreciates the donations made by individuals and families from UUCR in this year of much need, as well as those from the other four religious communities and other “friends of the fund.” Thanks to all!

Terry Mitchell and Paul Baumgartner

Vote For Our Lives

On Tuesday, June 9th, the Declaration for American Democracy and the Leadership Conference of Civil and Human Rights are holding a “Vote For Our Lives” virtual rally event featuring Speaker Nancy Pelosi, voting rights leader Reverend Barber and labor and civil rights legend Dolores Huerta to talk about the need for swift action from Congress to secure our right to safely vote in our elections and the solutions that will allow us to do just that.

We’ll also discuss the impact that the ruling in Shelby County v. Holder has had upon communities of color, and the importance of passing policies that combat suppression and disenfranchisement.

This is a FaceBook Live event.

RSVP here: https://www.facebook.com/events/600744160850537/

Join here: http://dfadcoalition.org/0609townhall

SPEAKERS

• U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi

• Reverend Dr. William Barber II, Co-Chair of the Poor People’s Campaign

• Dolores Huerta, Labor Activist and Civil Rights Leader

• Vanita Gupta, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, President and CEO

• Wendy Fields, Democracy Initiative, Executive Director

• Rev. Leslie Watson Wilson, Director of African American Religious Affairs at People for the American Way

• Jennifer Epps-Addison, Center for Popular Democracy, Network President and Co-Executive Director

MODERATORS

• Leigh Chapman, Voting Rights Program Director, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

• Jana Morgan, Director, Declaration for American Democracy

The town hall will serve to educate the public on the importance of enacting reforms to break down barriers to voting and enable voters to vote safely during the pandemic.

Inclusion Alliance Coalition Presents Covid-19: Implications for Black and Latino Communities

May 27, 2020, Webinar -- 4:30 PM Eastern Time

On April 17^th, the CDC began reporting national data on coronavirus cases by race and ethnicity, confirming the earlier state data that the virus was having a disproportionate impact on communities of color. The data also highlighted the higher risks COVID-19 poses for communities of color due to underlying health, social, and economic disparities. Over the past month, as states updated their data and additional states began reporting data by race and ethnicity, the picture became even more bleak. CNN sounded the alarm in a one-hour special on the “The Color of Covid” illustrating how the pandemic is exacerbating racial inequality.

The Inclusion Allies Coalition will focus on this issue in a two-part series on the impact Covid-19 is having on communities of color. On May 27, In this first part of the series, the emphasis will be on the impact of this pandemic on African Americans and Latinos/Hispanics, using data from health care organizations, medical experts, and research companies, coupled with the real-life experience of business leaders in these communities of color. The impact of the virus from a social, cultural, medical and economic perspective will be examined, and participants will learn what organizations are doing to address the unmet needs of these communities. In the second part of the series, on June 9, the impact of this virus on the Asian community will be examined.

The Coalition looks forward to your participation in this highly interactive webinar where you will have the opportunity to ask questions and engage with your peers on the important role that you can play to mitigate the unprecedented impact of coronavirus on communities of color.

Panelists include:

Donna Pedro, Worldwide Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer; Worldwide Chief Ethics Officer, Ogilvy

Claudia Romo Edelman, Founder and CEO, We Are All Human

Nia Lewis, Co-chair, Colgate Palmolive Black Leadership Network; Global Talent Acquisition Sr. Specialist

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0udOitqTMsHtX9VS-eb_ccz23dhF_bo6rI

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

UU the Vote Online Event: How We Thrive

Tuesday, May 12th 7:00pm

Online Event: Register Here

What does it mean to practice our principles during a pandemic? What are we doing to guarantee free and fair elections in states targeted by voter suppression? How is UU the Vote rising to the challenges of COVID-19, while creating a movement towards UU values in the 2020 elections?

Join UU the Vote live for a special update on Tuesday, May 12 at 7:00pm. This event will feature musicians from across the country, a message from UUA President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, and opportunities for you to get involved and make meaningful impacts in 2020! Click here to register.

UU the Vote is a non-partisan faith initiative to engage our neighbors, educate our communities, mobilize voters, and rally around key ballot initiatives. All through 2020 the UUA is supporting congregations and UU organizations in activating thousands of Unitarian Universalists to mobilize for electoral justice at the local, state and national levels.

Write Here! Write Now! Event on May 8th, 3-4PM ET

Join our UUSJ and UU Ministry for Earth Zoom online climate action Write Here! Write Now! (WHWN) letter-writing event on Friday, May 8, 3-4pmET.

RSVP Now! During this session, we will write-letters to send to our senators.

We will host a 15-minute briefing followed by Q&A on our WHWN May climate action topic, to tell our senators to address global warming by taking action to phase down the production and replace one of the most dangerous “super pollutants” — hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), a powerful greenhouse gas with vastly more heat-trapping capacity than carbon dioxide — with safer alternatives. Following the briefing, we will provide time for questions and writing your letters.

Download the WHWN Handout about the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) 2019 Act S.2764.

During this session, we will ...

• provide a briefing on the issue senate bill and why it is important that we reach out,

• share examples of letters and how to personalize your letters,

• explain how to submit letters and show you how to upload your letters to our online submission form on our website, and

• provide ample time and breakout groups to write your letters.

Go to our WHWN 50th Anniversary of Earth Day information page for more details about climate action letter-writing campaign and resources for your own virtual letter-writing event for your congregation.

After you register you will be sent the Zoom link and sign-on information.

Questions? Contact: advocacy@uusj.org

Please join us! Register HERE for our online advocacy training - Issue Briefing & Virtual Letter-Writing Party this Friday, April 24 at 3-3:50 pm ET.

We will:

• Share ideas about virtual letter-writing and advocacy tips

• Provide you with the information to educate your Senators on why they should pass legislation to phase down dangerous “super pollutant” hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)

• Share tools for mobilizing for the elections through a climate lens

• Provide you with information on an Action Alert to provide regulatory comment on a proposed rule by EPA to “silence science”

We’ll start our letter-writing now to address global warming by taking a major step to phase down the production and replace HFCs by passing the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2019 (S.2754). This bill will help address air quality and the health of vulnerable people, many of whom are impacted by COVID-19. For details, see our Write Here! Write Now! issue handout.

COVID-19 update letter from Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions (FACS)

These are difficult times. Speaking as the Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions board chair, I am very grateful to create opportunities for youth and adults to act from their deepest spiritual beliefs to preserve and protect the interdependent web of life. We build community to sustain activists in this hard, often discouraging work. We are partners in sustained advocacy for local solutions to the climate crisis.

FACS is a community that cares for one another. You’re welcome to participate in our weekly supportive Zoom calls on Monday mornings at 10:00. Here is the link to join the call. We welcome all from UUCR who may wish to participate. We’ll keep holding these calls as long as people find them helpful.

Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions (FACS) is responding to the pandemic. The health and economic impacts of the pandemic are falling most heavily on the most vulnerable. The same workers, government services and businesses that are essential to keep us safe during this public health crisis are the ones that we will need to be resilient in climate crises. FACS is encouraging each of us to thank those workers who do their jobs, keeping us safe, fed and healthy.

FACS is working with organizations that are directly providing services to and advocating on behalf of people struggling to meet their basic needs. We are setting aside our specific local climate advocacy to be as supportive as possible to the organizations that are on the frontlines of serving those that are severely impacted. We’ve just rescheduled our June sustainability champion awards event.

We are monitoring the county budget. A revised budget will be presented April 7 to the Board of Supervisors. Public hearings will still be held April 14-16. We will continue to advocate for climate solutions in county and school operations through the Joint Environmental Taskforce and the Community-wide Energy and Climate Action Plan (CECAP).

As many of us hunker down in place, I’m thankful that people in the county’s health department, public works, law enforcement and fire departments are out putting themselves at risk for us. We at the Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions are grateful for their service and sacrifices.

Peace and gratitude,

Eric Goplerud

Chair, Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions

Write Here! Write Now!

Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice

UU advocacy in the nation’s capital

A Reminder: this Sunday, February 16, after service at UUCR: We Will Ask our U.S. Senators to Provide a Pathway to Legal Permanent Status for TPS holders.

Even if you will be out of town or unavailable to attend on Sunday, you can still write your US Senators using the attachment to this message. It is important, though, to return the letter through Terry Grogan so UUSJ can hand deliver it.

Background: The Trump administration is dismantling major aspects of the U.S. immigration system, by trying to terminate legal protections relied upon by immigrants who have lived in the United States under Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Hundreds of thousands of people who have escaped war and natural disasters in their home countries are at risk of being deported. Many family members are at risk of being separated.

We must tell our senators to consider legislation which would create a pathway to citizenship for these neighbors.On Sunday, February 16, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM, we will provide information on this crisis, provided by the UU Service Committee (UUSC) and UUs for Social Justice (UUSJ), including a short film about the children of TPS holders. You will also have the opportunity to write our senators. Letters will be hand-delivered by UUSJ's Advocacy Corps on March 10.

Join Washington Plaza Baptist Church to Learn about Gun Control

Saturday, February 15th, 11 AM

We all feel the need to do something about all of the issues of the day. All of the things going on around us can make us feel overwhelmed. This is one small thing we can do to make a difference to the things that matter most to us.

One morning every few months Washington Plaza Baptist and other interested community members will take time out to educate ourselves on an issue and take action about it. Our first action will be on the issue of gun control. As we know, over 100,000 people are shot every year, and one out of three of those people will die from their injuries.¹ There have been 2128 mass shootings since 2013, or roughly one every day.²

It's time for us to take a stand. If, like us, you feel that something has to be done about this, please join us on February 15th. Together, we'll watch a movie which describes the power of the NRA in America, and afterwards, we'll write letters to the Virginia legislators about how we feel about assault weapons and high capacity magazines. Our legislators have heard from those who openly carry assault weapons in public, now they need to hear from those of us who care about the rights of our children to be safe in our schools.

Point of contact: Morris Smith

¹ https://www.bradyunited.org/key-statistics

²https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/

Ask our U.S. Senators to Provide a Pathway to Legal Permanent Status for TPS holders

Hold the Date: Sunday, February 16, after service at UUCR.

Time is running out!

The Trump administration is dismantling major aspects of the U.S. immigration system by trying to terminate legal protections relied upon by immigrants who have lived in the United States under Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Hundreds of thousands of people who have escaped war and natural disasters in their home countries are at risk of being deported. Many family members are at risk of being separated. We must tell our senators to consider legislation which would create a pathway to citizenship for these neighbors.

On Sunday, February 16, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM, we will provide information on this crisis, provided by the UU Service Committee (UUSC) and UUs for Social Justice (UUSJ), including a short film about the children of TPS holders. You will also have the opportunity to write our senators about the issues that are so important to us. Letters will be hand-delivered to our Federal representatives by UUSJ's Advocacy Corps on March 10.

Questions? Contact Terry Grogan at terrymgrogan@gmail.com.

Join the January 12 Kickoff to Mobilize for "UU the Vote" in 2020!

Calling Unitarian Universalists to join forces with those organizing our communities and nation to #VoteLove and #DefeatHate. Let’s help get out the vote this year!

The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) and partners, including UUs for Social Justice (UUSJ) are joining to “UU the Vote” in 2020. This national campaign will support UU congregations and organizations in activating thousands of UUs to mobilize voters. It’s aimed at fighting voter suppression, and engaging in spiritually grounded, values-based issue conversations with voters and candidates.

Join the online campaign kickoff January 12 at 4 pm ET. Register to get more information.

Consider hosting a watch party in your congregation or home. Share your plans about your watch party and download a congregational toolkit for tips on hosting (see pages 5-8). Learn about the UUSJ’s UU the Vote initiative. Join our Defending Our Democracy (DRD) team. Contact Fred Van Deusan (fredvandeu@gmail.com).

Join Us on Fire Drill Friday, December 20th, to Commit to Climate Justice

Rev. Dr. Debra Haffner will lead a group of UU Reston members to the Capitol to join Jane Fonda and others in support of Climate Justice. Meet at the Wiehle Metro Station on December 20, 2019, at 9:30 AM with your metro card loaded and ready to go. Help to make a difference by making our voices heard.

This description comes from the Code Pink Website:

Inspired by urgent action needed to address climate change, Jane Fonda is upending her life and spending 4 months in Washington D.C. this fall. Every Friday she's there will be "Fire Drill Friday" to bring urgent attention to important intersectional analysis around Climate Change.

Funding endless war is an existential threat to human life and one of the leading causes of climate change, which is why it’s urgent that we come together in Washington D.C. and make the connection between U.S. militarism and climate change. November 8th was focused directly on this issue but we continue to support these events as the war economy is the driving force that fuels Climate Change.

On Jane's birthday, December 20th, we will be there to celebrate her life, and her giving it to peace and the planet.

Hypothermia Prevention Project Needs Volunteers

Help prepare and serve meals for the homeless. UUCR volunteers will serve on Saturday evenings from December 7th, 2019 to March 21, 2020 at the overflow shelter in Reston. Use the comment section for specific information or questions. If serving, plan to arrive by 5:30 so the meal service can begin at 6:00.

Please list a cell phone number in a comment when you sign up so your Team can contact one another.

Sign up here.

Capital Steps to Perform at Cornerstones' Gala

Don't Miss an Evening of Laughter!

Sunday, January 19, 2020 at 6:00 p.m.

Hyatt Regency Reston

As we approach 50 years of service to the community, Cornerstones invites you to join us for this annual fundraiser benefiting the families, children, and individuals at our Embry Rucker Community Shelter.

In addition to a night of comic relief, your evening includes delectable desserts, outstanding wines, and chances to win valuable silent auction and raffle prizes!

Contact Annie Simpson (as6699@hotmail.com) for more information.

LGBTQ+ Book Club Kickoff Meeting: January 5

Sunday, January 5, 11:30am - 1:00pm

Youth Room

We are launching a new book group! The first meeting is set for Sunday, January 5 at 11:30am. Bring your coffee, a book suggestion, a book to swap or a list of topics you are interested in and join us in the Youth Room to share ideas within a nurturing environment. At this first meeting we will select a regular meeting time and the books for our reading list. If you have questions, please contact Social Action & Justice Chair Annie Simpson (as6699@hotmail.com).

Seeing White & Racial Justice Strategy Meeting-12/1 at 11:30 a.m. at UU Reston

Due to many people being out of town over Thanksgiving week, we're having a joint Seeing White last class/Racial Justice Subcommittee meeting on Sunday, December 1st from 11:30 a.m.- 1 p.m. in the sanctuary.

We invite all attendees to listen to Episode 14 of the Seeing White podcast (details below) and come prepared to plot out a calendar of monthly racial justice LLE evening offerings beginning in February, running through the end of the church year. We hope to leave the meeting with a road map of topics, potential speakers, and designated leaders.

Seeing White, Episode 14 Transformation

The concluding episode in our series, Seeing White. An exploration of solutions and responses to America’s deep history of white supremacy: addressing white fragility, and some possible responses by government, including reparations for descendants of enslaved people

Episode: https://www.sceneonradio.org/episode-45-transformation-seeing-white-part-14/

Infographic: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SYDRNQRCYh_BhUQUw7Nef-xRzB3JQ-Jj/view?usp=sharing

Transcript: http://www.sceneonradio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/SeeingWhite_Part14Transcript.pdf

Join us for the 2019 Alternative Gift Market on Saturday, December 7.

Our 19th Annual Alternative Gift Market (AGM) will be held Saturday, December 7 from 10:00am - 2:00pm. This unique event provides our community with a way to purchase “alternative gifts” and to give to others in a different and more meaningful way.

The AGM offers more than 60 gift opportunities from 30 local and international organizations, including Cornerstones, FISH, OAR, Helping Hungry Kids, Kids R First, Friends of Homeless Animals, Lift Me Up, Heifer International, and many more.

More information is available here: https://www.uureston.org/agm

• Click here for the AGM Shopping List

• Click here for the KIDS Shopping List (with gift options starting at just $1!)

• Click here for the AGM Flyer. Help spread the word!

• Click here to sign up to volunteer for the AGM!

Hold the Date: Cornerstones Sponsors 2020 Capital Steps Gala Event

Mark your calendars: the Reston Capital Steps Gala event takes place Sunday, January 19, 2020 at 6:00PM, at the Hyatt Regency Reston. Proceeds benefits Cornerstones, and UU Reston plans to have at least one table at this memorable event. More info at https://www.cornerstonesva.org/capsteps/

Contact Annie Simpson at as6699@hotmail.com to reserve your space at the UUCR table!

UUCR Congregant Steve Ewart Receives Lifetime Achievement Award from UUSJ

At the October Gala of the Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice, Steve Ewart received their lifetime achievement award for "spearhead[ing] UUCR’s active involvement with VOICE – Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement. As chair of the UUCR worship committee he organized and led the summer worship service program. In that role he recruited others to give (and also personally delivered) sermons on social justice topics such as the injustice and inequality of the death penalty, immigrant and refugee rights, racial and economic inequality, and the Black Lives Matter movement." For more about Steve's award and others, visit the UUSJ page on this subject.

We are so proud of you, Steve!

Justice in the Middle East

Visit Towson Unitarian Universalist Church for an opportunity to hear more about what UUJME (Unitarian Universalist for Justice in the Middle East) and ADORE (A Dialogue On Race and Ethnicity ) are doing and what they have already achieved. UUJME shared some of the work they do at General Assembly over the summer. Come join us for a chance to hear from them first hand about their work toward Justice in the Middle East.

On Sunday, December 8, at 1 pm, representatives from UUJME will be joining the TUUC congregation to talk about many things including what UUJME is doing to promote a peaceful and just resolution of the Palestine/Israel conflict, affirming the equality, dignity, freedom and security of all peoples involved. Please plan on joining us for a fascinating look at how UUJME supports human rights of all peoples in the Middle East. There will be some short video clips and a Q & A period at the end of the talk.

Light refreshments will be served and childcare is available if you rsvp letting us know your needs. Contact:

• Kathleen Ramirez, Chairperson of ADORE

• (443)935-2727

k18alicat@yahoo.com

Upcoming Training in Support of a Sanctuary Congregation

At the recent UUCR meeting on immigration action opportunities, we mentioned how our neighbors at Cedar Lane UU Church In Montgomery County are providing physical sanctuary for Rosa Gutierrez Lopez and her family. They understandably require many volunteers to help provide support for the family, and UUs from around the region have responded.

If you are interested in learning how you can help in this, here are some upcoming training dates:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf3EN8if8x9DXNPHBj85szHaB8nJ-DcnzpCV9ese3bZnuE3nA/viewform

Pastoral Care Workshop

Helping Families Cope with Depression and Bipolar Disorder

Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019

9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

For lay Pastoral Care Team members, ministers, seminarians, and others in helping roles

Location: Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington

4444 Arlington Boulevard (US 50 at George Mason Drive), Arlington, VA

Presenters:

Kate Ives and Jennifer Ives presenting “Let Me Tell You What It’s Really Like”

Representative from NAMI Northern Virginia

(National Alliance on Mental Illness)

Cost: $31, includes lunch. Register NOW at:

https://accotinkuu.org/pastoral-care-workshop-registration

Siding with Love with Rev. Mark Kiyimba, Ugandan LGBTQ Activist

Mark Your Calendars for Nov 9-10: Siding with Love with Rev. Mark Kiyimba, UU Minister and LGBT Activist from Uganda!

Join Bull Run Unitarian Universalists (BRUU) on the weekend of November 9-10 to welcome Reverend Mark Kiyimba, founder and leader of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Kampala, Uganda.

Rev. Kiyimba has been a vocal opponent of Uganda's (newly revived) Anti-Homosexuality Bill. He has traveled extensively throughout the US raising awareness of this issue, including how American evangelical churches are spreading anti-LGBTQ+ intolerance in Uganda and elsewhere. In 2010, he organized a conference in Kampala called “Standing on the Side of Love: Reimagining Valentine’s Day.” In 2012, the National Education Association awarded him its Virginia Uribe Award for Creative Leadership in Human Rights. His church also runs an orphanage and a school for children infected with HIV/AIDS and who have lost parents to the disease. You can learn more about Rev. Kiyimba here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5mEjhjhtqk

Bull Run UU will be hosting Rev. Kiyimba for two exciting events:

- On Saturday, November 9, join Rev. Kiyimba at BRUU from 10 AM - 12 PM for a screening of the documentary "God Loves Uganda," an eye-opening look on how American evangelical churches and missionaries have been complicit in promoting religious bigotry that threatens the lives of LGBTQ+ Africans. The film will be followed by a discussion and a lunch outing for interested participants. Please contact Bull Run beforehand if childcare is needed.

- On Sunday, November 10, come to BRUU to hear Rev. Kiyimba speak from the pulpit on his work, and the importance of our UU faith in the mission to affirm the worth and dignity of all people in Uganda.

10^th Virginia Immigrant Advocates Summit

WHAT: Over the past decade, the Summit has brought together immigrant rights advocates, immigrant community members and allies to discuss, motivate, educate, strategize, and identify challenges facing immigrant communities across our state

This year the summit among many topics, we will focus on possible changes to Virginia’s political landscape and legislative updates for the 2020 General Assembly including the driver’s license campaign for undocumented immigrants and in-state tuition for immigrant students; meaningful access to higher education for immigrant students. At the local level, we will focus on how local communities can be proactive to address the border crisis, family separation, ICE raids and other immigration related issues. We will also look at defending immigrant workers’ rights. At the federal level, we will also focus on the 2020 Census and changes to federal immigration policies and practices.

WHEN: Thursday, November 14th, 2019 from 8:30am to 5:00pm

WHERE: 6935 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA 22003 (Annandale United Methodist Church)

REGISTRATION: You can proceed with your registration at this link: https://10thvirginiaimmigrantadvocatessummit.eventbrite.com

COST: $ 40.00 plus a processing fee.

SCHOLARSHIPS: Limited scholarship assistance is available to cover the full event registration fee. To apply for a scholarship, please proceed with your registration and choose "scholarship". Applications will be evaluated on a first-come first-serve basis.

ORGANIZED BY:

ACLU People Power Fairfax, Centreville Immigration Forum, Congregation Action Network, Dar Al Hijrah Islamic Center, DREAMer Mothers in Action (DMIA), Just Neighbors, Legal Aid Justice Center, Mason DREAMers, Sin Barreras (Without Barriers), Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy (VICPP), Virginia Coalition of Latino Organizations (VACOLAO)

Alternative Gift Market to be held December 7th from 10 AM until 2 PM

Immigration Action Opportunities at UUCR

Meet with us in the Sanctuary after church on September 29th

You are invited to a special meeting to learn about specific ways you can live out UU values by helping our vulnerable and threatened immigrant neighbors. The meeting will be in the Sanctuary on Sunday, September 29 at 11:30 AM.

The UUCR Social Action and Justice Committee held a meeting on immigration issues on July 24, and we agreed at that time that our church’s Refugee Support, Culinary Connections, and Sanctuary Congregation projects, as well as the Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice, should join forces to highlight ways UUCR members can get more involved.

At the upcoming September 29 meeting, we plan to have speakers to share information about existing efforts to learn more, bear witness, share information, and get involved in local and national policy debates. In addition, we will provide materials that you can use to take action and display support, such as posters and sample letters to elected officials.

Following the meeting, you are invited to join interested members and friends for lunch off site, and to attend an Immigration 101 training at 2:00 PM at the Sterling United Methodist Church. (To sign up for that training, go to justneighbors.org/events.)

Rapid Response Training with the Congregation Action Network

September 3rd, 2019, in Alexandria.

Sign up here.

Exact location provided after registration.

Climate Justice Conference: Advancing Economic and Climate Justice as a Moral Issue, Building a Movement for a Green New Deal

Sunday September 15 at 11:15 AM – Tuesday September 17 at 5:00 PM Washington, DC

Advocacy & Action Conference on Environmental Justice, Class and Race Learn how climate change is an economic justice issue

• How UU values inform our justice work

• How to lobby—and then go lobby on Capitol Hill

• How to organize for upcoming actions, direct actions & strikes

• How you can take this knowledge home and work locally

• How First Nations people’s values can preserve the earth

Sign up at UUJEC.org/gndconference

Sunday only, no deadline $40

Full conference, deadline 9/5 $125

Scholarships Available until 9/5 Tickets at brownpapertickets.com/event/4255228

UU Conference Sponsors: A generous grant from UU Fund for Social Responsibility supports the conference & provides scholarships.

http://uusj.net/wp1/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/FINAL-v.2-219-09-15-Flyer-UUSJ-Advancing-Economic-Climate-Justice-as-a-Moral-Issue-Building-a-Movement-for-a-Green-New-Deal-Conference-4.pdf

Save the Date for the 2019 Virginia Climate Crisis Forum!

Tuesday, September 17, 2019, 7 PM

open to the public, free of charge

Hosted by Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions (FACS)

Join us in coming together with people of faith and community members across Virginia to engage in a deep conversation about environmental justice. As we work together to repair our damaged climate, we must make sure that everyone most impacted — including low-income people, people of color, the vulnerable, and those on the frontlines — are part of every solution.

Watch for announcements this week including the location in Northern Virginia, additional panelists, and registration information!

UUSJ Gala:

Jazzed About Social Justice

Save the date! Sunday, October 6th at 4 PM

Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice will be having their annual awards gala at the UU Church of Arlington. For more information, see:

http://uusj.net/wp1/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/UUSJ-Gala2019_SaveTheDate.pdf

Nominations for awards will be accepted until August 26th. More information here.

UU College for Social Justice Trip Announced

August 2019 -- Join the UU College of Social Justice on a week-long immersion journey to El Salvador: Human Rights, Reconciliation and Faith on January 19-26, 2020. This an opportunity for religious leaders to learn about forced migration, poverty, authoritarianism, and violence from people who have lived and experienced it. Learn more and register by November 8^th at https://uucsj.org/el-salvador/ . Generous financial aid is available.

WARMTH OF OTHER SUNS - stories of global displacement

Exhibit at the Phillips collection through September 22nd

Here are examples of special programs associated with exhibit; before you go, buy tickets online:

AUG 24, 2019 / WORKSHOP

Painting Workshop with Helen Zughaib

AUG 29, 2019 / OPEN DISCUSSION

Phillips Book Club: The Refugees

SEP 5, 2019 / PHILLIPS AFTER 5

My Migrant Soul

Save the Date! Sunday October 6th

Social Justice Awards Gala

Help the Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice make this biennial event a truly inspiring, joyous, heart-felt evening celebrating amazing people who often work in near-obscurity. We appreciate the effort to help raise awareness and money for UUSJ's programs to further such good works.

The most important event of this year: Election Day

As citizens it is our civic responsibility to VOTE, and this year it is more important than ever to just show up. Here are several links about voting, early voting, and absentee ballots, which is especially important if you are traveling or have long work hours on election day, November 5th:

Voter information:

https://vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation

Fairfax county early and absentee voting information:

https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/elections/absentee

"Be There or Be Square!"

Sponsoring immigrants and refugees

UUA's Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) and others are continuing to support the matching of sponsors with folks looking to pursue their asylum cases outside of detention. See:

http://www.newsweek.com/we-belong-together-meet-americans-opening-their-homes-caravan-asylum-seekers-995219

If you are interested in sponsorship:

https://actionnetwork.org/forms/end-family-separation/?source=uua

A team of volunteers from SURJ and some UUs are ongoingly volunteering their capacity to help vet sponsors which is a key step.

Medicaid Expansion Passes

(Thank you to Cornerstones for this post)

May 30th, 2018 -- Virginia Legislators from both sides of the aisle voted to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). 400,000 Virginians will now be eligible for healthcare under the ACA who previously were not! This is exciting news for the underprivileged in Northern Virginia, many of whom will be beneficiaries of the expansion. As many charities continue to work with individuals and families on their path to self-sufficiency, we all welcome this tremendous news and express our gratitude to those who have advocated in favor of it, as well as to our Virginia State Legislature representatives who together make this possible.

VICPP LIST OF CONGREGATIONAL AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS

There is a growing network of congregations, faith communities and organizational partners that work with the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy (VICPP) to insert a public voice and witness into the policies and practices of the Commonwealth.

Our partners pledge to work together to raise up issues of economic and racial justice in the Commonwealth. Congregational and Community Partners agree with the general approach of advocacy ministry, but do not necessarily agree with every position that VICPP takes on an issue nor do all members in the congregations agree on the issues.

Jewish

• Congregation Brith Achim (Petersburg)

• Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington

• Temple Beth El (Richmond)

• Temple Rodef Shalom (Falls Church)

Muslim

• ADAMS Center (Sterling)

• Islamic Relief USA

Baptist

• Metropolitan African-American Baptist (Richmond)

Church of God in Christ

• St. John’s Church of God in Christ (Newport News)

Episcopal

• Church of the Holy Comforter (Richmond)

• Church of the Redeemer (Midlothian)

• Immanuel Church on the Hill (Alexandria)

• St. Andrew’s Church (Norfolk)

• St. Paul’s Church (Richmond)

Friends (Quaker)

• Charlottesville Friends Meeting

• Goose Creek Friends Meeting (Purcellville)

• Hopewell Centre Friends Meeting (Winchester)

• Langley Hill Friends Meeting (McLean)

• Maury River Friends Meeting (Lexington)

• Midlothian Friends Meeting

• Richmond Friends Meeting

• Roanoke Friends Meeting

• Virginia Beach Friends Meeting

• Williamsburg Friends Meeting

Lutheran

• Christ Lutheran Church (Roanoke)

• Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (Lexington)

• Lutheran Family Services

• Muhlenberg Lutheran Church (Harrisonburg)

• Peace Lutheran Church (Alexandria)

• St. Stephen Lutheran Church (Williamsburg)

Presbyterian

• Blacksburg Presbyterian Church

• Bon Air Presbyterian Church

• Ginter Park Presbyterian Church

• Old Presbyterian Meeting House (Alexandria)

• Saint Andrews Presbyterian Church (Purcellville)

• Second Presbyterian Church (Richmond)

• Union Presbyterian Seminary (Richmond)

• Westminister Presbyterian Church (Charlottesville)

Roman Catholic

• Church of the Epiphany (North Chesterfield)

• Our Lady Queen of Peace Church (Arlington)

• PAX Community (Springfield)

• St. Bridget Catholic Church (Richmond)

• St. Edward Catholic Church (North Chesterfield)

• St. Mary’s Catholic Church (Richmond)

Unitarian Universalist

• Accotink Unitarian Universalist (Burke)

• Blacksburg Unitarian Universialist Congregation

• Harrisonburg Unitarian Universalist

• Unitarian Universalist of Norfolk

United Church of Christ

• First Congregational Christian UCC (Chesterfield)

• Little River UCC (Annandale)

• Rock Springs Congregational UCC (Arlington)

United Methodist

• Centenary United Methodist Church (Richmond)

• Doe Hill United Methodist Church

• Methodist Federation for Social Action

• Mount Olivet United Methodist Church (Arlington)

• Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church (Richmond)

• Williamsburg United Methodist Church

Non-Denominational

• Fellowship of the Inner Light (Virginia Beach)

Judicatories

• Baptist General Convention of Virginia

• Church of the Brethren Virlina District

• Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia

• Episcopal Diocese of Virginia

• Interfaith Council of Metropolitan Washington

• National Capital Presbytery

• Potomac Association of United Church of Christ

• Presbytery of Eastern Virginia

• Presbytery of the James

• Presbytery of the Shenandoah

• Synod of the Mid-Atlantic

• Virginia Conference of The United Methodist Church

• Virginia Synod ELCA

UUA Webinar on Democracy & Electoral Justice 2020

Wednesday, August 14th, 7 pm ET/4 pm PT

Speakers include:

· Adam Eichen--Co-Author of Daring Democracy (Beacon Press, 2007)

· Charlene Sinclair--Center for Race, Religion and Economic Democracy

· Everette Thompson--Side with Love Campaign Manager

· UU State Action Networks & UUSJ in DC representatives

· Susan Leslie--Congregational Advocacy & Witness Director

Join us to explore strategies and share resources from now through Elections 2020 and beyond, focusing on three phases of engagement from massive voter registration, ballot initiatives and advocacy, and all out Get Out the Vote!

Register now.