[JTWNews] Celebrate MLK by Carrying Forward His Work

[Susan Leslie]

Dear JTW News Subscribers:

A few years ago I began JTW News and then handed off my role as editor to Rev. Bill Gardiner.  Now that he has retired JTW News has come back to me.  I am also the editor of SAC-News for social action chairs.  It has long been my contention that anti-racism and social justice work should not be separate but in fact all our social action work needs to be done through an anti-oppressive, anti-racist lens.  So, I will be writing to both lists now and plan on bringing them together.  Perhaps as Justice & Wholeness News or Transformation News or JUUST Change News. I welcome your thoughts.

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In this issue you will find a special message of hope and inspiration from President William Sinkford in honor of Martin Luther King entitled "Martin Luther King, Jr.: Remembrance, Reflection, and Renewal at http://www.uua.org/.  President Sinkford reminds us of the tragedies and setbacks that occurred in 1963 before the victories of 1964 and what we can learn from that today.

Did you know that Dr. King addressed the UUA General Assembly in 1966?  His Ware Lecture was called "Don't Sleep through the Revolution" and you can read it at http://www.uua.org/news/2005/050115_ware66.html,

On this special MLK Day site you will also find stories from UU individuals and congregations at http://www.uua.org/news/2005/050115_honor.html.  Of special note is the report from the Berrien UU Fellowship, last year's Bennett Award for Congregational Action on Human Justice and Social Action.  Thanks to Emily Bettencourt, Community Outreach and Social Action Committee Chair for her report and for her leadership in her community.  This small fellowship has established an extraordinary partnership with the African American community in Benton Harbor through their work to reform the criminal justice system there and through their efforts to register and get-out-the-vote in that community.  Together they are building an alliance across race and class that is leading to true empowerment and social change.

**Nominations for the 2005 "Bennett Award" are due March 1st.  See Bennett Award for Congregational Action on Human Justice and Social Action for more information on how to apply. The award comes with a $500 prize!

Also in this issue:

1) Let's Talk America www.letstalkamerica.org is a new initiative that congregations can use to develop meaningful conversations in their congregations and communities.  I receive many requests from UUs wanting assistance with starting conversations about social justice in their congregations and clusters.  This is also a useful program for this time when many progressive faith-based and secular folks are calling for reframing of concepts and dialogues that reach across the so-called "red and blue" constituencies. See more below for resources, manuals, phone conference trainings, and how to get involved.  

Please let me know if your congregation decides to participate and how it is going.

2) Tsunami Relief.  The UUA & UUSC have joined together to raise aid for the communities harmed by the tsunami disaster.  We have already raised over $400,000 and expect that we will raise $1 million.  I am moved by the generous response of the UU community.  For more information, see www.uua.org and www.uusc.org.  Thanks to Rev. Nancy Palmer Jones for her report and efforts of the South Nassau UU Congregation in Freeport NY.  They have already raised $3500 and started an interfaith coalition that will witness together one month after the tsunami on January 26th.  For more info. see our Monthly Feature: Congregational Social Justice Story at http://www.uua.org/programs/justice/index.html.

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LET'S TALK AMERICA

Bringing Let's Talk America to Your Congregation

Are you and others in your church yearning for more meaningful conversation? Might there be issues that have divided your congregation that you are wanting to heal? Let's Talk America offers an effective and simple way to get people in your congregation to listen - really listen - to others' points of view. You can be part of this national initiative to engage Americans in thoughtful, civil conversation across our differences. The Let's Talk America process develops conversational literacy, an essential skill for a healthy democracy. What if what unites us is more than we imagine and what divides us is less than we fear? Let's Talk America!

It is easy to begin: Look over the resources on the www.letstalkamerica.org website. Get a few partners to work with you to get the word out and build interest with a diversity of members. You may want to work with your social action committee. Practice the conversation method with each other to build your skill and confidence. All the resources and training you need are available. Go the website where you can:

--Explore all the resources for hosts: host manual, art of inviting, wallet cards, posters and more at: http://www.letstalkamerica.org/hostresources.htm

--Attend the next phone training by going to

http://www.letstalkamerica.org/phonetrain.htm

--Carefully frame the questions you want the group to discuss (check out our suggestions on the wallet card and at

http://www.letstalkamerica.org/questions.htm

--Set a date and reserve the space. Schedule your conversations on our website

http://connect.letstalkamerica.org/meetings/index.asp?intappstate=61&campid=426&mtid=13&meetid=

If you would like to engage a large group of more than a dozen or so at a time, you might consider using The LTA Café: A Design for Hosting Large Group Let's Talk America Dialogues - although this design requires some facilitation experience. This process combines elements of Conversation Café with World Café. - Let's Talk America will see if there is a trained facilitator in your area who could use World Café approach.

Feel free to contact Let's Talk America for further support, for example in framing the question. Email them at talk at letstalkamerica.org Good luck! Your congregation will experience healing mutual respect and inspiration arising from their conversations.

 

Susan Leslie

Director for Congregational Advocacy & Witness

UUA, 25 Beacon St., Boston MA 02108

617-948-4607; sleslie at uua.org

Visit www.uua.org/justice

Subscribe to SAC-News, SRI-News & Advocacy-News at

www.uua.org/mailman/listinfo