Here's a highlight of our Racial Justice Program offerings:
#BlackLivesMatter - more than a slogan
On September 18th there will be program on BLM-history, purpose, and connection to UU principles. On September 25th there will a more open question and answer session led by members of the Racial Justice Steering Committee.
These programs will be helpful in having a better understanding of the Black Lives Matter movement as we prepare for our vote on the Public Witness Statement supporting BLM on October 2nd.
Facilitators
: Christina Rivera (18th); members of the Racial Justice Steering Committee (25th)
Date and time: September 18th & September 25th at 12:45-2:15 in Lower Hall 2
Seeing With New Eyes: racial justice as a white necessity
The majority of White Americans rarely, if ever, thing of themselves as "White." Instead, we generally think of ourselves simply as "Americans." This is problematic, because institutional racism is build on the idea of "whiteness." If white people don't see their "whiteness," they can hardly be in a position to dismantle the systems that have been built to defend it. This "color blindness" also perpetuates the notion that racism is a problem for people of color, where as the truth is that the full freedom of people of color will only be achieved when white people recognize their role in the systems of oppression and understand that our full freedom is at stake too.
Faciliator
: Rev. Wik Wikstrom
Date and time
: Thursday October 13 - November 10 7:00-9:00 PM in the church parlor
Poets, Writers, and Activists on Race 
Watch short videos about racial justice by poets, writers, and activists. After each video we'll share our responses both emotional and intellectual in a supportive environment, listening to each other with an open heart and a curious mind.
Facilitator
: Kate Fraleigh
Date and time: Choose EITHER Wednesday October 19th at 6:30pm OR Saturday October 22nd at 10am at Kate Fraleigh's home
Waking Up White - a covenant group 
For the 2016-2017 year one of our covenant groups will use as its focus Debby Irving's book,
Waking Up White, and Finding Myself in the Story of Race.
This will not be an ordinary book study group but, instead, a true covenant group with all that that means.
Facilitator:
Ann Salamini
Date and time: the initial meeting is still to be scheduled; ongoing times will be decided by the group at the first meeting
Note:copies of the book are available on Amazon.com for $18.12. Financial support is available to support anyone for whom this would present a challenge to participating.
Just Mercy - a look at our criminal justice system
The Rev. Jamie McReynolds will facilitate a three-session study of Bryan Stevenson's book,
Just Mercy: a story of justice and redemption
. Stevenson was a speaker at the 2016 Virginia Festival of the Book, and
Just Mercy
has #1
New York Times
Bestseller and was named one of the Best Books of the Year by
The New York Times * The Washington Post * The Boston Globe * The Seattle Times * Esquire * Time
Facilitator:
Rev. Jamie McReynolds
Date and time: October 30th and November 1st at 12:45 pm in Lower Hall 2
Note: copies of the book are available on Amazon.com for $10.87. Financial support is available to support anyone for whom this would present a challenge to participating.
register by clicking here
Other course offerings this semester include: Being a UU Parent, Parenting Circle for Parents of Teens/Pre-Teens, Soul Matters Sharing Circle, Welcome to TJMC, UU 101, When 2000+ UUs are Gathered, Creating--Just for Fun!, That Danish Girl, Pre-Holiday Renewal Retreat, and an introduction to Covenant Groups.
To see all of this semester's offerings, click HERE
These programs are co-sponsored by the Adult Faith Development Program & the Racial Justice Steering Committee.
Questions?
