"In dreams begin possibility"
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In his reflection in
Been in the Storm So Long
, Henry Eugene Hampton, Jr., noted Black filmmaker and Unitarian Universalist, shares this line from one of his favorite plays, a powerful lesson that holds deep resonance for us as we continue to settle into the aftermath of the Harper-Jordan Memorial Symposium. Hampton goes on to say that “when you dream of something, you can begin to take it upon yourself, make it yours, change it. But you have to dream it first.” And my goodness, did we dream!!
We dreamed of an experience that would not only build us up as Black Unitarian Universalists, but that would also bolster the faith, writ large. We wanted folks to learn from all that Black brilliance in the room and connect with one another. It was our sincerest hope that people would leave changed, ready to wrestle with a Unitarian Universalism that has never told the whole truth about Black people in our movement and that has never lived up to the best pets of itself. And by all accounts so far, we did what we came to do.
As we said during the opening dinner that Wednesday evening, we are not just talking about, but believing in the possibility of that which has never been tested in the ways we’re testing it. We are investing in people, ideas, organizing, theologies, and Black futures where supremacy and colonization have no place and cannot thrive. We are saying
“
YES, ACTUALLY
”
to that which has actively been denied us as Black people and as Black Unitarians, Universalists, and Unitarian Universalists for hundreds of years. And the Symposium was just the beginning!
Now we begin the intense and beautiful work of growing BLUU Havens and Harbors -- the name we’ve given to two differing types of on-the-ground, face-to-face, in-person communities. These new communities will launch in 2020 as BLUU continues its work to meet the needs of Black UUs, UU-adjacent Black folks and their families. There has been an ask for Black UU spaces across the country since BLUU’s launch in 2015, with small groups of Black UUs gathering to support each other. We are working diligently to build a process to not only create but sustain and connect these communities so that we might continue to deepen and flourish in our shared living tradition.
As we forge ahead, BLUU is committed to building on the momentum from the Symposium to create more opportunities for youth engagement, theological inquiry, impactful organizing and meaningful partnerships. We have achieved so much together already as a community and yet, we are certain that the best is yet to come!
Takiyah Nur Amin, Content Director
Mykal Slack, Community Minister for Worship and Spiritual Care
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Financial Transparency Group Update and Office Hours
The Financial Transparency Group (FTG is continuously working to be accountable to our members and to report to those willing to know about our financial accounting.
At our Symposium held in St. Paul, MN, we conducted our first Annual Meeting where we disclosed the accounting and how finances are being distributed with BLUU. At that Annual Meeting, a proposal was made inviting Beloveds to “formally propose and vote on institutional priorities to inform the future budget creation process. These will then be integrated into the Spring budget-making process, as determined by the Organizing Collective Board (OCB). At the following fall annual meeting, the OCB will report out the ways in which priorities were integrated or reasons for their exclusion from that year’s budgetary process.” This was unanimously approved.
Currently BLUU’s annual budget is informed by BLUU’s institutional priorities. The BLUU organizational operating budget preparations begin in February by the BLUU Executive Director, staff, and the Financial Transparency Group. These groups work together in consultation with the OCB (of which all staff are a part of) to approve a budget in April for the approaching fiscal year which begins July 1. Long-term management of our investments and overall asset assessment is to be done by the Advisory Team and the Financial Transparency Group in collaboration with the OCB.
We look forward to reporting to our Beloveds and answering any questions.
Office Hours
Please mark your calendar for the FTG’s next office hours scheduled for the second Sunday of the month,
December 8th @ 4pm ET/1pm PT
. We will host these office hours in a Zoom room, so be on the lookout for the invitation! (We realize that a few folks had challenges connecting to the broadcast. Here is a
link
to help you join a test meeting on Zoom. Once your device has been set up to join a Zoom meeting, it should work for any future meeting.)
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#NEW2BLUU!
New2BLUU is an informal online info session, where you can learn more about BLUU -- who we are, where we come from and where we’re going and, of course, how you can plug in and be a part of our growing community.
The next New2BLUU session is Tuesday, Dec. 3rd @ 8pm ET/5 PT.
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BLUU Online Worship
Need spiritual healing, companionship, connection, and/or a rejuvenating space filled with words and music from Black folks across the diaspora? Come together with Black UU’s and Black UU-adjacent folks for BLUU online worship on the 1st Thursday of the month
(December 5th) @ 9pm ET/6pm PT
and on the 3rd Sunday of the month
(December 15th) @ 4pm ET/1pm PT
. Please remember that our worship is Black Sacred Space,
by and for Black people only
. (Details to join will be posted on our public-facing Facebook page.)
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Community Care
Even as we reflect and refuel from the intense spiritual and educational energy of the symposium, our commitment to justice, interruption, and inclusion does not cease. The month of November speaks to the remembrance we, as Black UUs, hold in our heart every day: Transgender Day of Remembrance and the National Day of Mourning. We cannot afford to ever pause in demanding equal rights and PROTECTION for members of our transgender community. The month of November also leads up to a day that continues to validate and perpetuate harm on our Native friends and families. We recognize that there is a complicated relationship that some of us may have with this third Thursday in November. Nevertheless, we must hold a container for mourning and acknowledging the true history of native peoples and their ancestors this month - and always.
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End of the Year Office Shut Down
In years past, the Organizing Collective Board and Staff of Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism have gone on winter break, in alignment with the UUA’s standards of operation as our then fiscal sponsor. In our first year as a newly independent organization, BLUU will do as we’ve done in the past and close down our virtual offices beginning Monday, December 23, 2019 and will reopen on Monday, January 6, 2020. May this season be filled with hope, joy, and peace.
*Please note that our pastoral care line will still be open and available for use. You can text or call 984-219-8711 to schedule a time to speak with a BLUU chaplain.
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In Faith,
The Leadership Team
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P.S. Have you signed up for your BLUU Daily Affirmations?
Text BLUU to 24251
to sign up for BLUU Daily Affirmations!
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See what's happening on our social sites
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