Muusja Mailing List: SJ E-Event Update for March 26, 2008

[Ralph Wyman (rwmuusja]

---------- E-EVENT UPDATE FOR MARCH 26, 2008 ----------

Minnesota UU Social Justice Alliance--Bringing UUs together to work
collectively for social change.

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This  update includes announcements about:

A.  MUUSJA & UU Social Action news:
--1 SUN Coffee Hour Action ? Support Green Solutions
--2 SAT 4/5 1:00 PM  Opening Our Doors Conference
--3 FRI 4/11 - SUN 4/13  Social Justice Workshop/PSD Conference
--4 SUN 4/13 Noon  Documentary: Uncounted
--5 WED 4/16 6:30 PM  Reproductive Rights/Sacred Choices mtg
--6 SAT 4/19 10:00 AM  MUUSJA Voter Rights meeting
--7 SUN 4/27 3:00 PM  MUUSJA Spring Meeting ? Comprehensive Sex Ed
--8 WEB UUA?s Sinkford & Riley comment on race in America

B.  Allied Social Action news:
--9 THUR 4/3 6:30 PM  Book event: Jim Hightower
--10 THUR 4/17 12:00 PM  JustFair Lobby Day Rally for LGBT Rights (&
lobbying all day)


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--1  EcoMinds Postcard Campaign - Support Green Solutions & Clean Cars
SUN 3/30 (and beyond)
Minnesota UU Congregations

MUUSJA's EcoMinds sent a packet of information and action postcards to all
26 UU congregations in Minnesota, asking that members contact legislators in
support of two environment/climate change bills -- the Green Solutions Act &
the Clean Cars Act.  Please look to see if your congregation will be tabling
at coffee hour this Sunday (or however your congregation supports social
action events).  Check with your SJ Chair to find out how you can help table
for this important global warming campaign!
For more information on the postcards or EcoMinds, contact Ralph at
rwmuusja [at] gmail.com 

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--2  OPENING OUR DOORS Conference on LGBT Inclusion 
SAT APR 5 12:30 PM ? 8:00 PM 
UU Congregation of Duluth
835 W. College St., Duluth 

Opening Our Doors Opening Our Hearts Conference: 
>From The Inside Out - A Denominational Look At Faith Equality 

Keynote by Rev. Keith Kron ? Director of UUA Office of BGLT concerns.  Day
includes denominationally based breakouts, condensed and edgy Laramie
Project performance, beautiful and inclusive worship, full dinner, and
music.  $20 suggested donation. Also, Friday April 4th Fundraising concert
by GLBT vocal ensemble OVation (reception follows)7:30 pm $15 suggested
donation.
For further information call (218) 724-0308; or e-mail Julie Morgan
turtlejmm [at] sytekcom.com. 

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--3 SOCIAL JUSTICE TRAINING & PSD Conference
FRI, APRIL 11-SUN, APRIL 13
Embassy Suites Hotel, 
Downtown Omaha, NE

Plan to arrive by 1:30pm FRI to attend the Social Justice pre-conference
Workshop - an exciting skill-building opportunity! -- INTERFAITH
CONGREGATION-BASED COMMUNITY ORGANIZING

FRI Keynote Speaker--Charlie Clements, President of the Unitarian
Universalist Service Committee.
SAT Arthur M. Judy Lecturer--Rev. Meg Riley, Director of Advocacy and
Witness of the UUA (and member of First Universalist Minneapolis!).
SAT 10:30 AM Workshop ? (A3) Affirming Social Justice in PSD-includes the
PSD Social Justice Network model and MUUSJA, UUSC, Interfaith partnerships,
etc.
SAT 3:30 PM Workshop ? (C6) Foundation of UU and U.S. Democratic Principles
? Voter Rights

http://www.psduua.org/AnnualConference2008/AnnualConference2008
http://www.psduua.org/AnnualConference2008/SocialJusticeWorkshop

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--4  UNCOUNTED Screening & Discusion
SUN, April 13
NOON - 3:00 pm
Minnesota Valley UU Fellowship
10715 Zenith Avenue South, Bloomington, MN 55431. 

Join Jenny Thomas, the MUUSJA Voter Rights group & MVUUF's Monica Williams
for this presentation of the documentary UNCOUNTED, followed by
discussion/action steps.

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--5  Reproductive Rights/Sacred Choices meeting
WED, April 16
6:30 PM
First Universalist Church
3400 Dupont Ave S
Minneapolis, MN

Meet with fellow UUs working for reproductive rights and comprehensive
sexuality education.  This group practices shared leadership, and is seeking
connections with UUs at more congregations across the metro and state.  ALL
ARE WELCOME to help plan for a successful campaign for choice & for
comprehensive sex ed!  FFI Cathy  caquilt51 [at] aol.com

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--6 MUUSJA Voter Rights Meeting
SAT, April 19
10:00 Am - NOON
Minnesota Valley UU Fellowship
Fireside Room
10715 Zenith Avenue South, Bloomington, MN 55431

Planning for Voter Rights actions.  The next election is not that far off &
there are many UUs to be educated and mobilized in support of free, fair and
ACCURATE elections! Refreshments will be served. Contact: MaryAnn Dean
mdean6 [at] comcast.net or 952-944-6401 

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--7  MUUSJA Spring Membership Meeting
Comprehensive Sex Ed
SUN April 27
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
First Unitarian Society
900 Mt Curve, Minneapolis

Learn about the issues around Comprehensive Sex Ed and it's status in the
Minnesota Legislature, and curriculum development in our UU/UCC "OWL"
program.  A new U of M survey shows that 89% of Minnesota parents polled
support Sex Ed in public classrooms that teaches young people how to prevent
pregnancy and disease.  
Learn more & what we can do to support informed youth & adults on this
sensitive topic!
(See the survey results
http://www.med.umn.edu/img/assets/24293/PEDSAHMPRC_Parent_Survey_SexEd.pdf)

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--8  WEB Alert
Rev's Sinkford & Riley on Race in America
www.UUA.org

Rev. William G. Sinkford, President of the Unitarian Universalist
Association has shared his thoughts on the intersection of religion,
politics, and race following Barack Obama's March 18, 2008 speech.
Sinkford, writing on UUA.org says, "Obama's speech, by naming the honest
concerns and fears on both sides of the racial divide, presents us with that
rarest of opportunities, an invitation to re-engage with an issue many
people would prefer to ignore. I hope and pray that we have the courage to
take advantage of this gift."

Sinkford's complete statement, as well as additional resources, can be found
at http://www.uua.org/news/newssubmissions/103966.shtml

Rev. Meg A. Riley, Director of the UUA Advocacy and Witness, comments at
http://uuasocialjustice.blogspot.com/2008/03/what-we-can-learn-from-obamas-s
peech.html 

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B.  Allied Social Justice news:

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--9 Book Reading: Jim Hightower - "Swim Against the Current"
THUR, APRIL 3
6:30 pm
St. Joan of Arc, 
4537 Third Ave. S. 
Minneapolis, MN

Acclaimed author and activist Jim Hightower will be in Minneapolis to talk
about his new book, Swim Against the Current: Even a Dead Fish Can Go With
the Flow. Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, Peace Coffee and
Wellstone Action are co-sponsoring this event.

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--10 OutFront Minnesota?s JustFair Lobby Day Rally for LGBT Rights 
THUR APR 17 
12:00 PM Rally on the Capitol Lawn
(& lobbying and education all day)  

Join other fair-minded Minnesotans in letting our leaders know that
Minnesota cares about equality for our GLBT citizens and their families.
Educational sessions will be held in the morning, followed by a rally on the
front lawn of the capitol from 12 ? 1 pm.  Appointments with lawmakers
scheduled throughout the day.  Info and Lobby Day registration at:
www.outfront.org.  Questions? Contact Jo Haberman: jhaberman [at] outfront.org
612-822-0127 x 103.

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MUUSJA Links: visit a complied Links page at http://justcomm.org/sjlinks.htm