Muusja Mailing List: E-EVENT UPDATE FOR NOVEMBER 14, 2007

[Lauren Culbert (lculbert]

MUUSJA E-EVENT UPDATE FOR NOVEMBER 14, 2007
 
Minnesota UU Social  Justice Alliance--Bringing  together UUs to work
collectively for social change.
 
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This  update includes announcements about: 

A. Local Social Justice News
B. NATIONAL UU ADVOCACY
C. Social Justice Links

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A. LOCAL SOCIAL ACTION NEWS

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1.
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CALLING FOR A GATHERING OF UU REALTORS, mortgage bankers, builders,
architects and those in related services who want to live their UU
principles and work for affordable housing and solutions for the homeless
population with legislative action. Please contact Monica Williams or Nan
Corliss at Minnesota Valley UU Fellowship in Bloomington with your interest.
Monica at williams7487 [at] comcast.net or Nan at ncorliss41 [at] aol.com . 
Affordable
Housing subcommittee, Social Justice Committee 

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2.
SAT, NOV 17
9 AM TO 5 PM--COFFEE AT 8:30
FIRST UNITARIAN SOCIETY CHALICE ROOM
900 MOUNT CURVE, MINNEAPOLIS

WALK-INS WELCOME!

A WORKSHOP ON WHITENESS: a UU program on anti-racism & racial justice. The
last census revealed much about the changing face of Minnesota's racial mix.
Much growth is in groups known as people of color. And it is now possible to
check more than one racial category ~ "multiracial" is becoming the highest
percentage of children in many parts of the country.

While we can know intellectually that we are all part of the human race, few
would claim that racism in our country and our congregations has been fully
eliminated. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s words ring true: Sunday morning
remains the most segregated hour of the week.

Many of us long for authentic diversity in our communities, wishing to be
people making the journey towards wholeness.  A first step in dismantling
racism is the ability to articulate our own heritage, moving on to our
community history and/or our congregation's past regarding issues of racial
justice. 

Participants in the Workshop on Whiteness will have the opportunity to
reflect with others on their own personal experiences of race and explore
how to move forward to a more inclusive future. Presented by the Rev. Dr.
William Gardiner. Dr. Gardiner is an anti-racism consultant for the
Unitarian Universalist Association and past Director of the UUA's
anti-racism and Social Justice Empowerment programs.

Registration is $15, payable to Prairie Star District (write "MUUSJA
Workshop" in Memo line). Pre-registration preferred, however walk-in
registrations will be available day of the event.  

Mail registration to:
Catie Chi Olson
attn: Workshop on Whiteness
4344 Oakland Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55407

Registration includes continental breakfast and a light lunch (vegetarian
option available).
FFI: Jo Haberman - 612-822-8870  jojane [at] juno.com

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3.
SAT, NOV 17
10:30 AM
MERRIAM PARK LIBRARY
CORNER OF MARSHALL AND FAIRVIEW, ST. PAUL
FREE

Sponsored by Wilderness Connections, WALKING AWAY FROM THE KING (the "king"
being the current endless-growth, neoliberal economic/cultural paradigm that
is destroying the environment, communities, and human aspirations
globally.)COFFEE AND DONUTS.

Viewing of first half of 132-minute new film, "What a Way to Go: Life at the
End of Empire" (a middle class white guy comes to grips with Peak Oil,
Climate Change, Mass Extinction, Population Overshoot and the demise of the
American Lifestyle). Showing of second half will be scheduled for end of
November. Discussion, reporting, and ideas for action after each half.

Film features interviews with Daniel Quinn, Derrick Jensen, Jerry Mander,
Chellis Glendinning, Richard Heinberg, Thomas Berry, William Catton, Ran
Prieur and Richard Manning. It looks at current global situation and asks
the most important questions of all:
* How did we get here?
* Why do we keep destroying the planet?
* What do we truly want?
* Can we find a vision that will empower us to do what is necessary to
survive, and even thrive, in the coming decades?

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4.
MON, NOV 26
6:30 PM
PLYMOUTH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
JACKMAN ROOM

PEOPLE OF FAITH ROUND TABLE:SO WHAT'S WITH THE "T" IN GLBT? Is it a drink
with jam and bread?... A note to follow "la"?.something that's thrown in the
sea at a Boston Party?

Could your faith community unknowingly be unwelcoming.not including.actually
discriminating against the "T" in your community?

Did you know that there are unique health and social justice challenges
faced by this important group of people?

Want to learn more? So do we!!

Join us to view the "Call Me Malcolm" movie. This is an award winning
documentary of Rev. Malcolm Himschoot recounting the struggle and journey of
self-discovery as a transgender person and a person of faith called to
ministry. This informative and enlightening movie addresses not only the
physical and emotional challenges of coming to terms with one's gender
identity but also intertwines the spiritual and relational aspects of this
same journey. 

This is the first of several opportunities that the People of Faith
Roundtables will offer to raise awareness and education about the various
aspects of the transgender community. We will also seek to offer ways that
faith communities can support, minister to and be more welcoming presence
for transgender people. 

Mark your calendar now for the January 14th Round Table at Hennepin Ave.
United Methodist Church for a continuation of the conversation and more
opportunities to learn from members of the transgender community. 

Please feel free to forward to others or advertise in faith
newsletters/bulletins. For more information email
faithfamilyfairness [at] yahoo.com.

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5.
BIBLE SELF DEFENSE COURSES
TUES, DEC 4TH AND 11TH AT 7:00 PM
OR
WED, DEC 5TH AND 12TH AT 7:00 PM

Tired of arguing with friends about sexuality or gender? Dread going to
family gatherings? Learn how to turn those jousting arguments into
conversations that helps bring understanding and improve your relationships.

Attend an upcoming Bible Self-Defense Course and learn:

Nonviolent principles of communication 
Strategies that help you guide the discussion 
Understanding fundamentalist views of scripture 
How to de-fang Hebrew and Christian texts 
Scholarly insights that support LGBT identities 
Open to all ages and backgrounds

Two-part courses offered at two different locations: 

Tuesday, December 4th and 11th at 7 p.m.
Louisiana Oaks Apartments Community Room
7201 Walker St. West in St. Louis Park  
(Hwy 7 and Louisiana Ave. Parking available
at the park across the street)

Wednesday, December 5th and 12th at 7 p.m.
Pi Bar and Restaurant 
2532 25th Ave. S. Minneapolis
(3 blocks east of Hiawatha and 26th street)

Hurry! Space is limited, so register early.

* Food and beverages available.
Donations are welcome.

Sponsored by
Faith Family Fairness Alliance
Soulforce Q
OutFront Minnesota

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NATIONAL UU ADVOCACY

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1. 
NOV 23rd
BUY NOTHING DAY

This November, environmentalists, social activists and concerned citizens in
as many as 65 countries will hit the streets for a 24-hour consumer fast in
celebration of the 15th annual Buy Nothing Day, a global cultural phenomenon
that originated in Vancouver, Canada. 
http://adbusters.org/metas/eco/bnd/view.php?id=403

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C. SOCIAL JUSTICE LINKS
To learn about other local and national social justice events, check out
these websites.  

UU SOCIAL JUSTICE AND OTHER UU LINKS:
Unitarian Universalist Association:  http://www.uua.org/

Unitarian Universalist Service Committee:  http://www.uusc.org/

UUA Washington Office for Advocacy http://www.uua.org/uuawo/new/

UUA Congregational Advocacy and Witness:
http://www.uua.org/programs/justice/

Minnesota UU Social Justice Alliance (MUUSJA):  http://www.muusja.org/

Prairie Star  District: http://www.psduua.org/

FOR UU SOCIAL ACTON CHAIRS, sign up for regular e-news from the UUA, called
Sac-news www.uua.org/mailman/listinfo
 
UU Ministry for Earth http://uuministryforearth.org/index.shtml

UUs for a Just Economic Community http://www.uujec.net/

UU Committee for Socially Responsible Investing
http://www.uua.org/finance/sri/ 

UU Gulf Coast Advocacy http://www.uua.org/news/gulfcoastrelief/advocacy.html

OTHER SOCIAL JUSTICE LINKS: 
*note: if you are  member of a group who would like us to list your web
site, send it to muusja-editor [at] muusja.org

Alliance for Sustainability www.afors.org

Citizens for Election Integrity Minnesota www.ceimn.org

Minnesota  Alliance of Peacemakers  http://www.mapm.org/

Minnesota Metro Branch of Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
www.wilpfmn.org 
 
Women Against Military Madness at  www.worldwidewamm.org
 
Progressive Calendar subscribe by emailing  shove001 [at] tc.umn.edu.
  
Planned Parenthood of Minnesota:   www.ppmns.org
 
NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota:   www.prochoiceminnesota.org

Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing (MICAH):
http://www.micah.org/
 
Code Pink: www.codepink4peace.org

Center for Victims of Torture: http://www.cvt.org/main.php

Congregations Caring for Creation http://www.c3mn.net/

Network of Spiritual Progressives: http://www.spiritualprogressives.org/

Network of Spiritual Progressives, local chapter http://www.nspmn.org/