| | | | And the People Stayed Home And the people stayed home. And read books, and listened, and rested, and exercised, and made art, and played games, and learned new ways of being, and were still. And listened more deeply. Some meditated, some prayed, some danced. Some met their shadows. And the people began to think differently. And the people healed. And, in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless, and heartless ways, the earth began to heal. And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new images, and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully, as they had been healed. by Kitty O'Meara Kitty O’Meara wrote "And the people stayed home" in one sitting, the byproduct of months of built-up anxiety while watching the pandemic brew on the news. After years working in palliative care, O'Meara is especially concerned for her friends who still work in the healthcare profession and are on the frontlines of battling the virus. She shares her home in Madison, Wisconsin with her five rescue dogs and her husband. A former teacher and chaplain, O'Meara is retired. | | | | | | Holding Hope and Each Other Close – Rev. Karen Lee Scrivo | | | | Login, rejoice and Zoom in
Login, rejoice and Zoom in
Today will be a joyful day
Login, rejoice and Zoom in These were the words of the opening song for a recent online worship service by the Unitarian Universalist Justice Arizona Network (UUJAZ). They reflect how quickly our lives have changed in the last several weeks as we face the challenges of staying safe and yet connected during the rapid spread of the coronavirus in our congregations and communities. Singing these new words to the familiar UU hymn from my home some 2,000 miles away, I felt some of the tension leave my shoulders. I was smiling and my foot was tapping. It was a simple and uncomplicated moment of joy and connection during this time of uncertainty and physical distancing. That experience reminded me of how important it is to find moments of joy and connect with others each day. Keeping a daily gratitude journal has long been one of my spiritual practices. I’ve noticed how even more important this simple spiritual practice is in keeping me grounded and centered in these uncertain times. | | | | | | | | | | | | | Advocacy Day in support of TPS holders From December through March, UUSJ’s Immigration Team and Advocacy Corps partnered with the UU Service Committee and the TPS Alliance to deliver letters, gathered from across the US to the Senate. The letters urged immediate action on legislation providing a pathway to permanent legal status for people holding temporary protected status (TPS). A bill introduced almost a year ago (S.879) is languishing in the Senate Judiciary Committee due to political reasons. Its 32 sponsors are all Democrats. Seventeen Advocacy Corps volunteers along with three guests delivered over 1,700 constituent letters to 53 Senate offices and conducted 15 meetings with Senate staff. Ulises Ramirez, a TPS holder from El Salvador, who lives in Virginia, joined several meetings to share his story. Ramirez owns a small business that employs U.S. citizens. His two children are U.S. citizens. The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs initially argued against immediate action on the bill due to the two current court cases challenging the Administration’s termination of TPS and the extension of TPS holders’ deadlines to early 2021. However, Rameriz’ story alerted them to the harm that delays pose for TPS holders. | | | | | UUSJ Advocacy Corps members and volunteers have been busy! Over the last three years, UUSJ Advocacy Corps members and volunteers have made over 1,850 visits to Capitol Hill offices, conducted 430 scheduled or drop-in meetings, and delivered 9,870 "Write Here! Write Now!" letters from UU constituents. Pictured above: "Write Here! Write Now!" letters from UUs around the country are organized for Advocacy Corps visits to Capitol Hill. | | Advocacy Corps Changes Schedule Due to Pandemic In order to keep Advocacy Corps members safe, the April 14 Advocacy Day is canceled, and WHWN letters being written for April will be delivered by UUSJ when conditions are safe. The focus for April is a bipartisan, bicameral bill in the House, the American Innovation and Manufacturing Leadership Act (H.R.5544). The measure is aimed at reducing potent greenhouse gas hydrofluorocarbons emissions and creating jobs through the production of alternatives. The WHWN handout will be available on April 3 via a link to the UUSJ website home page. For details contact: Advocacy@UUSJ.org. Some congregations are already planning creative alternatives to in-person letter writing, such as gathering a “green group” to share ideas. UUSJ will explore arranging phone calls with congressional staff in place of face-to-face meetings with Advocacy Corps members. | | | | | | | | Advocacy Corps and
WHWN Plans for May Write Here! Write Now! will focus on the companion bill in the Senate, S.2754 (materials will be available on our website April 3). This month's campaign is in partnership with UU Ministry for Earth (UUMFE), which will launch the campaign in its April 14 newsletter as part of Earth Day “Spring for Change” efforts. | | | | UUSJ Board Meeting June 13 UUSJ’s annual Board meeting is scheduled for June 13 at the Washington Ethical Society. Depending on the pandemic situation, the meeting may take place via Zoom. All Board members will be kept up-to-date. Watch for an announcement in the June edition of eNews. All UUSJ members are welcome to attend and participate. | | We Thank You, We Appreciate You -- Immigration Justice Task Group Covering our Immigration policy priority, the Immigration Justice Task Group is one of UUSJ’s oldest and most consistently active volunteer policy teams. They were among the first teams to engage Capitol Hill and the Executive Branch. The team provided an early example of how UUs could engage federal policymakers as we made a pivot from educating UUs about federal policies to influencing the federal policy ourselves with the support of letters from all over the country. Since then, they have been setting the standard for how we want teams to operate. We thank them for all they have done and will do! | | | | | | | Unitarian Universalist News and Event | | Side with Love: Love Resists in These Times Thursday, April 2, 2020
6:30 PM ET This webinar will offer the interconnectedness of spiritual sustenance and movement organizing as a means to live into the values and principles of Unitarian Universalism. Join UUA President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, UUSC President Rev. Mary Katherine Morn, Emma’s Revolution, Side with Love Campaign Manager Everette Thompson, Organizing Strategy Director Rev. Ashley Horan, Dr. Charlene Sinclair of Black PAC & Intern Minister at First UU Richmond, a Detention Watch Network Organizer, and UUs from across our black, brown, LGBTQ and justice networks. Online Registration. | | | | | | UU United Nations Office Intergenerational Spring Seminar April 17-18 is going virtual. This year's theme is Climate Justice. Registration & Information | | | | | | | | | Immigration and Covid-19 The federal emergency bill (CARES Act) that authorized $2 trillion for individuals, small businesses, health facilities, and large corporations affected by the coronavirus has a glaring omission. It excludes families that are undocumented and even those with mixed status. Under the bill, immigrants considered "resident aliens" (which now can include DACA and TPS holders) are potentially eligible for the cash relief (depending on income levels) but not access to Medicaid. However, families that are undocumented or those with mixed-status (those with both legal status or US citizens and undocumented members) apparently will not have access to cash relief or Medicaid support for medical testing and health services. Coronavirus does not distinguish by citizenship status. Everyone will be at risk if part of the population cannot avoid contagion or be treated if exposed. Immigration allies are circulating petitions challenging this provision as contrary to good public health practices and short-sighted. In addition to signing the petitions, individuals can urge elected officials to find alternative health services and propose follow-up emergency legislation that expands relief coverage to all people at risk in the US. The UU Service Committee’s website provides a listing of these and other steps. | | | | | | | | | Environmental and Climate Justice | | Earth Day 50th Anniversary, April 22-24 Join people around the world online for a three-day mobilization to stop the climate emergency. There will be teach-ins, musical performances, divestment, and more. All you need is an internet connection. Join Online And here are some things you can do while waiting for Earthday: 11 Actions for the Planet During a Pandemic | | | | | | | | | Poor People's Campaign Goes Digital The Poor People’s Campaign will not be deterred. PPC is taking its nationwide June 20 Mass Rally, originally scheduled to take place in Washington, DC, online and to social media. RSVP: www.june2020.org - let the PPC know you will be part of this nationwide effort. PPC expects this to be the largest digital and social media gathering of poor and low-wealth people, moral and religious leaders, advocates, and people of conscience in this nation’s history. The 140 million poor and low-wealth people across this nation deserve to be heard. Rev. Dr. William Barber of the Poor People’s Campaign, observes “The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us into an unprecedented national emergency. We are calling on government officials to fulfill their moral and constitutional responsibilities to the American people: join your voice to expand the emergency provisions and enact our Moral Agenda. Sign on to the Poor People's Campaign's demands in response to COVID-19.” | | | | How Does the Pandemic “Cares Act” Favor the Wealthy Over the Worthy? Deep inequities in our society are being laid bare by the coronavirus pandemic, and the "Cares Act" misses the mark in addressing this gap, according to “Inequality this Week” by Chuck Collins (a UU).
Here’s the full analysis. | | | | | | | | | Defending Our Democracy Task Group Local congregations continue their UU the Vote work in this time of physical distancing. They are partnering virtually with outside organizations to register voters, holding letter-writing campaigns, conducting ‘Voting our Values’ workshops, and more. Defending Our Democracy (DRD) Task Group Chair Fred Van Deusen is working with a group aimed at increasing youth voting that includes Ian Simmons, a founder of All in Campus Democracy Challenge allinchallenge.org. This non-partisan organization has signed up more than 600 colleges across the country to engage students in increasing the percentage of students registered to vote and actually voting. UUs can help by encouraging colleges near them to sign up for the program and then working with those colleges. UU the Vote Program Manager B. Loewe says the UUA will continue to coordinate local efforts through weekly call-ins, utilizing social media, encouraging the use of UU State Action Networks and other partners. How has your congregation adapted its UU the Vote campaign in this time of physical distancing? We want to hear from you! Email your strategies to Administrative Assistant, Paulette DeMers. | | | | | | | | Community Now The Church of the Larger Fellowship (CLF) has created a nation-wide space for UU organizations, congregations, and people to announce and publicize their events. It’s easy to add your events to the page and the distribution is widespread. Community NOW | | | | | |  | Love is Not Canceled - Justice is Not Canceled - Conference is Not Canceled April 24-26 The Revolutionary Love conference -- which was to be held at All Souls, Unitarian in Washington, DC - will continue through a series of interactive webinars April 24-26; the faculty is prepared to bring their very best in this new format. Conference organizers will provide updates with logistical and scheduling information in the coming days at RevolutionaryLoveConference.com. The conference will still present, This Moment: An Artistic Uprising, on Saturday, April 25, from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., with BETTY and Nona Hendrix leading the way. | | | | | | | | Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice (UUSJ)
7750 16th St NW, | Washington, District of Columbia 20012
202-600-9132 | info@uusj.org | | | | | | | |
