Rev. Katie Romano Griffin roots her ministry in relationships and the belief that each person is inherently good and worthy of love. She is a passionate activist who believes in centering the voices of historically marginalized communities in justice work and advocates for applying an intersectional lens as we work towards co-creating a just world for all.  

Before being called to All Souls Indy, Rev. Katie served as an associate minister at Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church in the DC Metro. Before entering professional ministry, she served as a lay campus minister at Florida Gulf Coast University, had a rich career as a nurse, and co-owned a marketing and public relations company. She also has a background in coaching and hypnosis. Crafting our monthly video meditations is a passion of hers.

Rev. Katie hails from a very loving, incredibly boisterous, multiracial family. One of her grandparents came to the US from Argentina. While she identifies culturally as Latina and Italian, she reports that her biological roots trace to the Mediterranean, Middle East, Africa, and India.  Her mother’s family spoke Spanish, Italian, and English mostly at the same time. She speaks some Spanish, a tiny bit of Italian, and a lot of English with a New York accent. She lives in Indianapolis with her husband Sean and her dog Dale (which means “go ahead” in Spanish). Her two adult children live in the DC Metro area, and she visits with them often.  Rev. Katie loves to unwind at the gym, on the dance floor, eat at a favorite vegan restaurant, read or write a book, or create a meal or baked treat for loved ones.

Reverend E.N. Hill is an Air Force veteran, social justice activist, spoken word artist, and Unitarian Universalist minister. Formally educated by both a conservative Christian College of Liberty University of Lynchburg, VA, and a ‘Subversive Leadership Academy of Starr King School for the Ministry of Oakland, CA, Rev. E.N. thrives on spreading messages of Radical Love from coast to coast.

Rev. E.N. identifies as Black, queer, trans-masculine, and multi-religious and uses he/they pronouns. E.N. is a native Floridian raised in Miami-Dade County - Carol City Class of 2001. After serving as an Air Force Aviator and Senior leader for over 15 years, E.N. separated honorably from active duty to pursue full-time theological education. In 2020, E.N. graduated from seminary and completed a parish internship in Ottawa, Canada, in 2021. After the parish internship, Rev. E.N. was called to serve as a primary caregiver for his mother, who requires 24-hour home health care. Once E.N.’s mother’s care needs were fully covered, he returned to the workforce as a hospital chaplain. In 2023, E.N. completed an Accredited Clinical Pastoral Education residency program at Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare. While completing the residency program, Rev. E.N. also served as an Affiliated Community Chaplain at the UU Church of Tallahassee, where he currently serves as a full-time Contract Minister. 

E.N. most enjoys practicing self-care by spending time with wife and family, being in nature with trees and water, listening to music or a sci-fi audiobook, pleasure reading, working out for fun, dancing, singing, praying, and daydreaming

Chat People Up About Democracy

Summer is a time for getting out and seeing some folks you haven’t seen recently or meeting new people. These encounters are a chance to discuss the state of our democracy. The election and its consequences are on most people’s minds, even if they are on the back burner.

A democracy elevator pitch will take longer than 30 seconds for an elevator to reach the next floor, but it can be done in less than five minutes while waiting to refill your plate at a picnic.

When you have the opportunity this summer, talk -- briefly -- about democracy. Here’s a rough script:

“I don’t know about you, but I’m really concerned about the long-term decline of our democracy. Regardless of party preference, most people just want a job with fair wages, a safe home, affordable healthcare, and a good education. The problem is, we’re not getting these things. The system just serves the wealthy and powerful.

It’s tragic and unacceptable. But there are possible solutions. We need to restore democracy in America, and we need a movement of people to do it -- a powerful, non-partisan coalition to demand change. 

This is why I’m working with engaged citizens to help build the growing democracy movement. If you want to learn about the democracy movement and how you can support it, you can go to this website:  Democracy in 2024 – Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice (uusj.org),

What do you think?”

And then listen quietly for an answer. Having your speech rehearsed and ready is important because you never know when you'll have an opportunity to use it!

A note of caution: If someone is wearing an oppositional candidate that hat or t-shirt, leave them be. A five-minute conversation isn’t going to upend deeply held misguided beliefs. It is better to focus your engagement where prospects for change are more apparent.

Climate Justice Coalition

During the 2024 General Assembly, the UU Climate Justice Coalition hosted two cohorts for UUs to share about the climate crisis. UUSJ is an active member of the Coalition.

The cohorts described the Coalition, how we work together to advance climate justice grounded in UU values, and how UUs can engage with our work. Our two content threads were:

• Moving from Environmentalism to Climate Justice: review the slides and recording
• Putting Love at the Center of Climate Justice: review the slides and recording.
• You can find all the resources shared during these two sessions here. 

As a next step, join the Climate Justice Revival to tie it all together.  Register your congregation: https://www.uuclimatejustice.org/

Young People are Demanding Action: Our Children’s Trust

Environmental justice is a significant concern for young people today. They are keenly aware that environmental issues do not affect everyone equally and that marginalized communities often bear the brunt of environmental degradation. For them, environmental justice means ensuring that everyone, regardless of their race, income, or location, has the right to a clean and healthy environment. Believing those most affected by environmental problems should have a voice in creating solutions. 

Young people are not just demanding immediate action; they are also advocating for long-term change through education. They are pushing for comprehensive environmental education in schools, believing that understanding the science behind environmental issues and their social impacts is crucial for informed citizenship. By participating in climate strikes and other forms of protest, they raise awareness and demand a fundamental shift in how we approach and understand the environment.

Our Children’s Trust represents and supports young people in many active legal actions in numerous U.S. states and five countries globally.

• California—Genesis B. v. United States Environmental Protection Agency
• Alaska—Sagoonick v. State of Alaska II
• Florida—Reynolds v. State of Florida
• Hawai’i—Hawai’i Department of Transportation (HDOT)
• Montana—Held v. State of Montana
• Utah—Natalie R. v. State of Utah
• Virginia—Layla H. v. Commonwealth of Virginia

A Disappointing Step Backward on Asylum

On June 4, President Biden issued an executive order that would significantly change how the United States handles claims for asylum at the southern border. The entry of migrants would be suspended when an average of more than 2,500 migrants a day crossed the border in a one-week period. See our Press Release.

UUSJ also added a quote to a press release from Welcome With Dignity declaring in part: “President Biden’s executive order is another disappointing step back from our decades-long tradition of providing asylum to people fleeing violence and persecution in their home countries,…Instead, Unitarian Universalists call on the Biden administration to expand the capability of the U.S. to welcome people truly in need of asylum.” 

DACA: 12-years of Temporary Protection for Dreamers … Still No Pathway to Citizenship

UUSJ marked the 12th anniversary of DACA on June 15 with a Press Release statement on how DACA has affected the lives of hundreds of thousands of Dreamers and the grave threats that DACA currently faces. DACA’s future is more uncertain than ever, and only Congress can provide permanent protection for Dreamers.

The statement email also summarized the work that UUSJ's Immigration Action Team has done to promote pathways to citizenship for Dreamers and provided links to further actions that UUs can take to support Dreamers.

President Biden’s Executive Action for Immigrant Spouses and Children of U.S. Citizens

On June 18, UUSJ commended with the Interfaith Immigration Coalition, on President Biden's announcement of two policy changes that will relieve hundreds of thousands of immigrants in the United States and help keep families together. Our full Press Release.

• The first program would permit undocumented immigrants with U.S. citizen spouses who have also lived in the United States for at least ten years to apply for “parole in place,” allowing them to apply for lawful permanent residency without leaving the country.
• The second measure would make it easier for DACA beneficiaries and, perhaps, other Dreamers to access high-skilled employment visas.

These changes may be the most significant relief programs for undocumented immigrants since the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program was announced 12 years ago.

The 2025 Tax Fight Looms

In preparation for the 2025 Tax Debate, which will probably ramp up in the 2024 lame-duck session after the election, the National Women's Law Center (NWLC) shares some excellent materials and a fun interactive tool you might appreciate.

• Why the 2025 Tax Fight Matters for Care Investments discusses connections between the tax debate and efforts to make meaningful federal health investments.
• A shorter infographic on why the 2017 tax law hurt women and families.
• Talking points on taxing the rich to fund care investments for everyone.
• Tax the Patriarchy is an online interactive tool. As an exercise, it allows you to "tax the rich" and then "shop" for policy and program investments. 

Tax Policy Articles:

• Trump’s 2017 Tax Cut Created a Huge Stock-Buyback Spree, New Republic
• International scheme to tax billionaires’ wealth technically feasible, study finds, Guardian
• States Should Enact, Expand Mansion Taxes to Advance Fairness and Shared Prosperity, ITEP
• Reassessing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, TPC
• Democrats’ plan to tax the rich and corporations begins to take shape, WaPo
• Corporations face reversal of fortune as 2025 tax debate heats up, Politico
• Private Foundations Gave $3.2 Billion in Grants to National Donor-Advised Funds in 2022, Inequality
• House Republicans shift message on extending 2017 tax cuts, Roll Call

US Department of Agriculture Summer Nutrition Program for Kids

Many children receive free and reduced-price breakfast and lunch through the US Department of Agriculture during the school year. When schools let out, many children are at risk of going hungry. The Summer Nutrition Program (SUN) is designed to fill that nutrition gap and provide children with the nutritious meals they need and deserve. It is a federally funded program that provides free meals to school-aged children, 18 years old or younger, living in an area-eligible location.  

Find distribution in your community HERE.