Not All Who Wander Are Lost

I’ve been on a path far from the circles of Unitarian Universalists the past 3 years.  Today I was out and about wearing a T-Shirts I bought off a C*UUYAN (young adult ministry) Steering Committee member at ConCentric (the annual leadership & business conference for young adult ministry since 1998)  in 2007.  It has that wonderful quote from J.R.R Tolkein – “Not all who wander are lost.”.  I had two folks come up and ask me about it today at the garden store and Trader Joe’s!

Arizona GA Game Changer

The letter sent from UUA President Morales and the national Boycott Arizona movement asking us to come to Phoenix in 2012 for our regularly scheduled, business-as-usual GA and go through a “transformation” is a game changer.  Added to the high consideration about the $600,000 hotel contracts (we have yet to sign convention contracts as far as I know), as well as the intense push back immigrant issues have generated in our congregations, I predict this trinity spells rejection of the proposal to honor the Arizona Boycott called for by communities of color by our dominant white religious adherents in Minneapolis next week at GA.

We still need boycott GA and PASS THE RESOLUTION to move GA out of Arizona in 2012.  We are not ready spiritually, religiously, and from a values perspective – organizationally, to achieve this transformation in 2012 years.  Consider:

• The general apathy and suspicion of racial justice concerns, and powerful pushback against immigrant and refugee rights education and social justice
• Lack of any coordinated UUA immigrant rights and racial justice programming that is accountable to communities of color within our congregations and the larger racial justice movement.  We have many individuals with relationships and personal influence, but this does not provide long-term sustainable leadership.  Disappointingly even local congregations in Arizona are disconnected and disengaged.
• Little UUA-wide accountability with immigrant communities, UU laity and clergy engaged with communities of color, immigrants and refugees.  There is no communication or relationship building with any of the ministers and lay folks I know who are deeply involved with these issues, and I’ve made and received several calls.  We appear to lack vision and structure to hold this dialogue effectively.
• There is no clearinghouse, no contact person, no issue tracking, and no leadership development plan as far as I can tell from a brief look at district and UUA materials.  Already in Oregon we are facing two copycat measures in local counties, and there is no communication or information sharing structure developing.  We need to develop a strategy and coordination to manage UU engagement on this issue if we are going to really “transform” ourselves at GA.

As a faith tradition, we share a lot of values in common with the movement to boycott Arizona.  Yet the evidence is clear that we are not ready to meet the call to have a “transformed” GA.  We do the immigrant rights movement a disservice by pretending to be so, and bringing what will ultimately be a GA with status quo activities and crossing the boycott.  We also disrespect the voices of people of color, immigrants and refugees within our congregations, who have made their position clear, it is our moral and political call to respect the boyott, and our own safety and wholeness are at stake.

I urge GA delegates to support the GA Boycott Resolution in Minneapolis AND

1) Support the move to biennial or triennial GA
2) Call on the UUA to dedicate staff resources to coordinate research, local networks, and anti-racism education
3) Commit to social witness and civic engagement now, in conjunction with local congregations and national affiliate organizations such as DRUUMM, LUUNA, ARE, Asian Pacific Islander Caucus of DRUUMM, and youth and young adult UU movements.

Push to Keep GA in Arizona

I continue to oppose having the regular general business of the UUA in Phoenix.  I strongly support re-investing the $600,000 in minimum reservation fees for the 2012 to be directed to a UUA response to SB 1070.  I wonder if we are trying to be cheap by insisting we can “do it all” by having GA and public witness?  Do we undermine the larger movement by making these rationalizations but really what we’re concerned about is money?

Lots of discussions are being generated by UUA President Peter Morales issuing a call for GA continue to be held in Phoenix in 2012.  Check out this discussion thread by Rev. Michael Tino.

UU Allies for Racial Equity(ARE) Endorses Arizona Boycott

UU Allies for Racial Equity(ARE) Endorses Arizona Boycott

May 2010

With other people of faith and concerned citizens across the country, we are disappointed and deeply troubled by the passage of recent anti-immigrant legislation in the state of Arizona.  We fear that this legislation will ultimately result in marginalization of immigrants, both documented and undocumented.   Harassment of Latinos/Latinas/Hispanics and people of color perceived as immigrants because of their race or ethnicity will be an inevitable consequence of any attempts at enforcement.   Our nation has made significant progress toward racial equity in the last fifty years.  This new law is a shameful step backwards, once again inscribing racism in the legal system and thereby in the institutions required to comply with the legal system.

Immediately upon passage of the new Arizona law, the Rev. Peter Morales, president of our Unitarian Universalist Association, issued a statement in which he wrote: We cannot stand by while those charged to protect us instead subject us to racial profiling, unwarranted searches, and unjust arrests. We must not let fear and ignorance cause our neighbors to be treated as lesser beings. We must not allow this law to violate our national constitution or America’s moral conscience.”  We are grateful for the leadership of Rev. Morales and for the leadership of our Unitarian Universalist Association Board of Trustees who quickly convened a special meeting to consider whether we should rescind our commitment to hold our 2012 General Assembly in Phoenix.  After listening to many voices and considering a spectrum of protest strategies, the board voted to present a business resolution before the delegates to our annual General Assembly this June in Minneapolis, MN asking us to participate in a widespread economic boycott of Arizona.  We encourage you to read the full text of the board’s resolution which can be found at http://www.uua.org/aboutus/governance/boardtrustees/index.shtml.

We know that some in our association are advocating alternative protest strategies, but our philosophy of accountability calls us to carefully consider requests for allied participation from Diverse & Revolutionary Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Ministries (DRUUMM) and from the Latino/a Unitarian Universalist Networking Association (LUUNA).  In doing so, we have discovered that DRUUMM and LUUNA leaders have aligned themselves with the leadership of several prominent national civil and immigrants rights organizations.  With hope and faith that a strong, united voice of protest will help overturn this law, and in solidarity with LUUNA and with DRUUMM, we affirm our support of an economic boycott of Arizona and encourage delegates to our General Assembly to vote in favor of the business resolution presented by our board of trustees.

UU Allies for Racial Equity (ARE) Steering Committee

Rev. Wendy von Zirpolo, President

Rev. Michael Tino, Vice-President

Ken Wagner, Treasurer/Stewardship Coordinator

Sharon Blevins, Membership Chair

Rev. Bill Gardiner, Education Team Co-Chair

Rev. Melissa Carvill-Ziemer, Education Team Co-Chair

Rev. James Hobart, Connections Team Co-Chair

5 Ministers of Color

I was struck by the MFC report which noted that “5 Ministers of Color were either moved to inactive status or removed from fellowship by inactivity or by their request.” [April MFC Report to Board]  I don’t doubt the MFC is following protocol and really have no quarrel here.  But it is a significant number given the 60 or so active UU ministers of color that I tracked in 2006.  That would be about 12%.

Great to see DRUUMM member and soon-to-be Rev…Jacqueline Duhart will be student liaison to MFC.  Great to see the MFC has so many POC on their review board, really amazing given where the MFC was when I first started paying attention back in 1997.  Lastly, it was a little sad to read about a candidate “losing it”, and that this was reported so widely to the Board.  Well and now I’m posting it on my blog.  Hmm…

Business Resolution on Arizona GA 2012

Here is the text of the GA Business Resolution referred by the UUA Board of Trustees.  I’m still seeking a copy of the meeting minutes to give more context to this democratic action, including the roll call of votes and motion-maker. – jsl

Business Resolution Phoenix GA by the UUA Board of Trustees

“Whereas the state of Arizona has recently enacted a law—SB 1070—that runs counter to our first principle, affirming the worth and dignity of every person,

Whereas the Association stands in solidarity with allies using a widespread economic boycott of Arizona as leverage for Love against this hateful legislation;

Be it resolved: we will not meet in a state of fear.

Accordingly, the Assembly hereby:

• Directs the UUA General Assembly Planning Committee to recommend to the Board of Trustees an alternate location for General Assembly 2012 at a location outside the state of Arizona;
• Pledges to generate from Member Congregations the amount sufficient to cancel arrangements in Phoenix for GA 2012;
• Pledges further to generate an equal or greater amount to fund ongoing efforts to Stand on the Side of Love in Arizona.
• Pledges to renew and redouble our efforts to become a multicultural, anti racist Association; to live as a people standing faithfully in opposition to systemic racism in our congregations, local communities, and in our own lives.

Boycott Arizona GA Say Asian Pacific UU’s

“It is one thing to stand on the side of love when it doesn’t cost anything.  It is a real test when it does.”
– Karen Narasaki, President and Executive Director – Asian American Justice Center

A/PIC (Asian/Pacific Islander Caucus), a caucus of DRUUMM (Diverse and Revolutionary Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Ministries) supports the stance to boycott Arizona and move our UUA General Assembly 2012.   These are not easy decisions and we have had many discussions within our steering committee, membership, and general
lists on this topic.  The elements that most influenced our decision included:
1)      Supporting LUUNA and their wish that the UUA boycott Arizona;
2)      Affirming the position of our parent organization, DRUUMM, in favor of the boycott;
3)      Concern from and for People of Color who do not feel safe traveling in Arizona while this law is active;
4)      Standing in solidarity with immigrant advocacy organizations in Arizona who have called for boycott.

We will continue the discussion and invite everyone to participate in this discussion in three ways:
1)      Add your comments to the DRUUMM conversation site
2)      Send an email to general@apiuu.org
3)      For more private consideration, send an email to steering@apiuu.org

The A/PIC steering committee will continue to monitor these channels as well as participate in the discussion during our GA in Minneapolis.

In faith,

A/PIC Steering Committee

DRUUMM: Boycott Arizona GA 2012

DRUUMM STATEMENT ON ARIZONA SB 1070

June 1, 2010

DRUUMM (Diverse and Revolutionary Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Ministries) join with other Unitarian Universalists concerned with justice to condemn the new racial profiling laws in Arizona and we urge Unitarian Universalists who identify as people of color/Latina/o/Hispanic to express their outrage individually and collectively at these laws which allow law enforcement to target people based on race.  We particularly note the statement by  LUUNA (Latina/o Unitarian Universalist  Networking Association), which states about this law that “its very vagueness will provide a means for law enforcement agencies to harass individuals on the basis of appearance alone.”

Because some of our members have indicated their concern that they would not be safe travelling to and within Arizona as long as such racial profiling laws exist, we also support the proposed boycott of Arizona and support relocating or cancelling the General Assembly scheduled to be held there.  To hold a General Assembly without the total spectrum of our members is exclusionary.  We also urge our General Assembly delegates this year to explore other options that could keep us in dialogue with the people of Arizona.

We remind our Unitarian Universalist family that such actions do have impact.  In the late 1980s, when Arizona refused to honor the Martin Luther King holiday, Unitarian Universalists cancelled the General Assembly scheduled to be held there.  After the state changed their position, General Assembly was once again held in that state.  We believe that, even in hard economic times, Unitarian Universalists must be willing to demand that their money be guided by their principles.

We as people who affirm the worth and dignity of all people must continue to fight against racism and ethnic discrimination in all forms.  A law that singles people out by race and ethnicity is by its nature racist.  We condemn this law and urge people of faith throughout our country to let their voices be heard.

The Steering Committee of

DRUUMM (Diverse and Revolutionary Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Ministries)

UU Solidarity with Arizona

I’m renaming my blog UU Solidarity with Arizona in an effort to bring attention to the harms SB 1070 is perpetuating upon the people of Arizona and the Unitarian Universalist response.  The racism, profiling, and xenophobic anti-immigrant principles guiding Arizona’s public policy is the wrong direction for our country, and the wrong direction for Unitarian Universalism to endorse.  Honestly I’m equal parts pit-of-my-stomach angry, scared for my family, and anxious about what this justice issue means for my Unitarian Universalist faith.

Democracy Ctrl-Alt-Del

A powerful civic organization developed in Oregon while I was away at Harvard for graduate school starting in 2002.  I had heard bits and pieces about The Bus Project, mostly through media reports on their political rise and effectiveness at electing progressives to the Oregon House and Senate, and from activists in communities of color who were a bit skeptical of their ability to partner and be inclusive of racial justice in their “progressive” agenda.  Ctrl-Alt-Del was a key theme, the need to “reboot” democracy, even “remake” democracy, and to do so in a way that leaves no one behind, ensures our future survival, in way in which we have equity.  And unlike a computer, it takes organized people power Ctrl-Alt-Del errors in our democratic system.

THE BUS PROJECT IS AN INNOVATIVE VEHICLE for hands-on democracy. We drive votes, drive leaders, and drive change. (And yes, we have a bus.)

Founded in 2001, the Bus Project has mobilized thousands of volunteers and activists around the state of Oregon and throughout the country. We bring voters out of the woodwork. We host zany forums to learn about candidates and policy issues.

The Bus Project is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization that implements the Bus Trips program.

They hosted their Rebooting Democracy Conference (and check out the twitter feed!) for over 300 mostly under age 30 activists from across Oregon, and a host of panels and speakers educating and firing up the attendees.  A core group of folks of color came to engage, link our issues, and advocate for racial equity.  Urban League, the Center for Intercultural Organizing, CAUSA and APANO all turned out young participants, and I spoke in 3 sessions throughout the weekend.

Rev. Lennox Yearwood, former Air Force chaplain, New Orleans native, and leader of the Hip Hop Caucus, headlined Friday with Harvard legal eagle and democracy activist Lawrence Lessig speaking Saturday.  I have to admit I’ve been out of the loop on the younger generation since I left the Unitarian Universalist Association’s Young Adult & Campus Ministry Office after 10 years, so it took a little adjusting and re-education.  It did make me think about all the intense and meaningful community building and organizing young UU’s were a part of, and how critical these were to bringing about social, economic and racial equity.  I said a prayer hoping that this intentional ministry is still being carried on by Unitarian Universalist congregations and the national association.

I took away several lessons:

• You can’t beat an event where folks are explicitly talking about progressive policy advocacy (i.e. public interest advocacy) with super engaged volunteers (who will go door-to-door hundreds of times) and a whole host of politicos including Gubernatorial candidate and former Governor John Kitzhaber, who a group of 10 POC met with to encourage his participation in our April 29 candidate forum, and probably a dozen other electeds included Rep Nick Kahl who I had a great lunch with Saturday.
• Our community building, anti-racism and community ministry are a critical step in building the world we dream about, and it must be linked directly to effective policy advocacy and civic engagement.  We need to take time to understand each other and build relationships, but we also need to put our money and time where it also matters – in elections and in legislative battles.  The Bus Project does an excellent job of doing the “math” on where people-powered door-to-door phone-banking and grassroots organizing can make a real difference in the election of progressives in key swing districts.  And they’re doing it with one of the most disenfranchised voting electorates – the 18-35 year olds.
• The struggle for equity in white progressive institutions is still very difficult and long-term.  My UUA experience taught me the need for accountability, and the value of strong anti-racism leadership development programs, both multiracial and culturally/ethnic specific.  I was particularly disappointed in the ethical and moral behavior of white progressives, so-called “allies”, who ultimately worked to undermine collective people of color leadership.  My experience today in the larger white progressive communities is that there are key white leaders committed to partnerships with people of color and a real awareness of the challenges, but a real lack of systemic training and education integrated into their leadership development programs.

This was my first experience with the Bus Project, and I would say it was overall positive.  Some of my colleagues from the community felt frustrated, tokenized, and even angry at some of their interactions, and I am sad for that.  It was a strategic decision, and there is some sacrificing that comes from putting our limited organizational resources to recruit and turnout our folks to participate.  I think we’ll benefit in the long-term, and I appreciate the efforts of Bus Project Board & Staff Helena Huang, Noah Manger, & Caitlin Baggott, as well as my colleagues from community-based organizing.