Justice & Learning Opportunities

Mar 21, 2023 | Justice Ministry

Immigration Justice: The National Immigration Law Center is concerned about President Biden reinstituting migrant family detention at the border. Go here to learn more and share your thoughts with the President.

LGBTQ Rights: In this segment from the PBS NewsHour, parents of transgender children and youth speak to efforts made by states to restrict the rights of transgender children and the toll it takes on them and their families.   

CALENDAR
March 27th – The Redress Movement offers a webinar, “Lessons from the Field: Research for Repair”, 3 pm. Redressing segregation begins with understanding segregation. Get details and register here. 

April 11th – Pisgah Legal Services offers an “Immigration Lunch and Learn”,noon,at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church. Get details here. 

April 1st – A coalition of community groups are launching a neighborhood canvass and petition campaign to demand TDA Legacy Investment from Tourism (LIFT) funds be used for affordable housing for service workers and for worker representation on the new LIFT committee. The campaign, slated to run through April and May, seeks to collect 2,000+ signatures of support to take back to the TDA (Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority) in June. It begins with a launch party and presentation at Different Wrld (701 Haywood Road) on Saturday, April 1st at 1 pm. To RSVP, go here. More details on the campaign, the coalition, canvass dates and times can be found here.  

April 11th – 14th – “Activating Indigenous Beats: Hip Hop Nativo Festival” at UNCA. Get details here. 

April 14th – 23rd – “Faith Climate Week” sponsored by the NC Council of Churches. Get details here. 

April 22nd – 23rd – Racial Equity Institute training. Registration is now open for those interested. Complete this form to express interest. 

May 11th – “Private Plunder of Public Goods: The Threat of Medicare Privatization and the Need for Single Payer”, a presentation of Dr. Susan Rogers, 7 pm, at First Congregational UCC, 20 Oak Street. Get details from this flyer.

Call to Action

Mar 21, 2023 | Justice Ministry


Ending Gun Violence: Wear Orange is in 77 days

Moms Against Guns Violence organized the 1st planning meeting for Wear Orange on March 28th. This year, there have been 130 mass shootings. Just this month there have been 38 mass shootings with at least 57 people killed and 133 wounded. After this week’s shooting in Nashville what are we called to do to advocate for common sense gun control? Participating in Wear Orange can be a way of mobilizing with people in our community who want to prevent gun violence.

If you are interested in attending future planning meetings or learning more about the local Moms Demand Action organizers email Lead Mary Graden.

Why participate in Wear Orange?

Friday June 2nd will be recognized as the 9th National Gun Violence Awareness Day, followed by Wear Orange Weekend June 3rd and 4th.

Everyone who believes we can and must solve the problem of gun violence in America, will take action and stand together in a bold statement of resilience and fortitude as we advance our efforts to prevent gun violence. 

How Wear Orange Originated: 

On January 21, 2013, Hadiya Pendleton, a high school student from the south side of Chicago marched in President Obama’s 2nd inaugural parade. One week later she was shot and killed on a playground in Chicago. On June 2, 2015 on Hadiya’s Birthday, Wear Orange originated. Wear Orange is now observed nationally on the first Friday of June and the following weekend.

A mass shooting is defined as 4 or more people.

Oops! Ouch!

Mar 21, 2023 | Sermons

Sunday, March 19, 2023  11am
Rev. Claudia Jimenez, Minister of Faith Development
Many years ago, a youth group I worked with added “oops/ouch” to the covenant they were writing. What a concept! Join us for a multigenerational service exploring the importance of covenanting in our UU faith as well as the gifts and challenges of embracing the oops! and ouches! in our relationships.