Pride 2025 arrives at a time of deep reckoning and urgent resistance.
Across the country, we are witnessing a coordinated escalation of political attacks on LGBTQIA+ people—particularly targeting trans and nonbinary youth, families, and communities. These attacks are not isolated; they are deeply connected to intersecting systems of oppression—white supremacy, Christian nationalism, anti-Blackness, misogyny, and ableism—that threaten all of us. (See our curated resource list Preparing for Pride for workshops, toolkits, and resources on how to offer solidarity and support this Pride season).
This moment demands more than celebration—it calls us into bold solidarity. Pride was born from protest, from defiance, from the sacred truth that LGBTQIA+ lives are worthy, joyful, and powerful. Today, we carry that legacy forward—not just in words, but in our actions, relationships, and commitments.
As Unitarian Universalists, our faith calls us to keep love at the center. And love, in this moment, moves like this:
Join The Gathering: A virtual event celebrating LGBTQIA+ pride and preparing for upcoming Supreme Court decisions. Nicole Pressley from Side With Love will discuss building power through campaigns. Rev. Kentina Washington-Leapheart from SACReD will address challenges to reproductive justice and bodily autonomy. UU trans/non-binary musician Shana Aisenberg will also perform. Connect, find inspiration, and take action.
RSVP for The Gathering on June 9th at 8 ET:Register here
Congregational staff and board members, join Now What: The Gathering on June 11th at 1pm ET:Register here
Join UPLIFT Action: a Side With Love campaign advocating for bodily autonomy, Because Every Body is Sacred. Subscribe to the UPLIFT Action Newsletter to receive advocacy updates, educational tools, and actions to support LGBTQIA+ rights all year, not just during Pride. We offer guidance to help congregations and communities stay safe during Pride and year-round while showing up as public witnesses for LGBTQIA+ dignity and liberation. Subscribe today.
Renew Your Welcome: We invite congregations to participate in the Five Practices of Welcome Renewal, a powerful path to recommit to LGBTQIA+ inclusion and become ever more spiritually nourishing spaces for all.
Supporting UU Trans Religious Professionals: We encourage you to support TRUUsT — an organization of trans Unitarian Universalists who are living out a call to ministry within Unitarian Universalism. Email truust@transuu.org to learn how you might support their work.
LGBTQIA+ Resources: Visitwww.uua.org/lgbtq/resources for a growing library of resources to support LGBTQIA+ people in your congregation, community, and beyond.
Dear friends, let me be honest—for me, Pride is complicated. All throughout June, I vacillate from rolling my eyes and sissying that walk. I release a sigh of frustration when I see rainbow flags go up in storefronts while legislation strips away our rights. I feel exhausted by the commercialization of a movement that was born in the streets—by transwomen of color, by Black and brown queer people, and by people dying of AIDS who dared to fight back. It’s hard to know where the celebration ends and the co-optation begins. And still, I feel joy.
There’s a deep, abiding joy in being Black and queer. It’s in our music, our style, our stories, our survival. It’s in our capacity to love expansively, to grieve collectively, to laugh even when the world tells us not to exist. That joy is not naive—it’s a refusal to be diminished.
So this Pride, I’m holding space for contradiction. For fatigue and celebration. For grief and resistance. For the love that lives in chosen family, in congregational care, and in each courageous act of showing up for one another.
Wherever you are this month—angry, joyful, numb, overwhelmed—you are beautiful, you belong, and you are welcome here.
I’m a weather dork. I check my multiple weather apps like most folks check their social media. From two decades of organic farming where *everything* revolved around the weather to a lifetime working on climate and environmental issues, me and weather systems are tight. So I mean it when I say that predictions for the next several months are worrisome.
Summer 2025 will be a scorcher with hotter than normal temperatures across the US. This means higher electricity bills, more wildfires, worse air quality, and a greater chance of heat-related illness and death. We can also expect a more extreme hurricane season. NOAA predicts a 60% chance of an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season.
All of this spells doubly bad news when we think about the agencies that keep us safe in extreme weather. The National Weather Service and NOAA are operating with severe staffing gaps with leaders warning of potentially catastrophic consequences ahead, including “needless loss of life” if the agency enters its busiest period short staffed. FEMA has lost roughly one-third of their staff and cut disaster resilience programs that help communities prepare for climate disasters.
So what do we do? We take care of each other. If your congregation doesn’t already have plans in place for disaster preparedness and response, make it a priority this summer. We have created a Climate Resilience through Disaster Response and Community Care Toolkit for UUs to think through the challenges facing our communities, options for building resilience, and ways to partner with those most impacted.
Building community resilience through disaster preparedness and response is a crucial aspect of our work. Community Resilience is one of our Four Essentials of the Green Sanctuary 2030 program, which has been completely revitalized to support congregations with more action, less paperwork. Even if your congregation has been a Green Sanctuary congregation for twenty years, now is the time to renew your commitment to Climate Justice.
In community,
Rachel
Rachel Myslivy, UUA Side With Love Climate Justice Strategist
UU Climate Justice Revival at GA!
June 18-22, 2025
The UU Climate Justice Revival is coming to GA! We’re hosting a mini-Revival on Friday, a Revival meditation space, and a deep dive into the ways the UUA is moving climate justice forward. We’ll share more in the coming weeks, but for now, mark your calendars for:
Wear your Create Climate Justice t-shirt on Friday!Order from inSpirit Books or purchase at their booth in the Exhibit Hall
UU Climate Justice Revival at GA
Friday, June 20, 1-2:30 PM (Hybrid)
Baltimore Convention Center -- Ballroom III & IV
UUA Strategies to Address Climate Justice
Saturday, June 21, 1-2:30 PM
Virtual on Whova app
UU Climate Justice Revival Meditation Space:
Wednesday, June 18 - Sunday, June 22, 8AM-5PM
Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor -- Stone Room
Please note: all General Assembly programming is for registered General Assembly attendees only unless otherwise noted.
June 2025 update from Create Climate Justice: prepare for climate resilience
Pride Month is a powerful reminder of the beauty, resilience, and sacred worth of LGBTQ+ people. It’s a time for joy, for celebration, and for remembering that our lives and loves are nothing less than holy.
In a world that too often tries to dim that light, Pride shines all the brighter. It calls us to live our Unitarian Universalist values out loud—to embody love, to protect one another, and to build communities where everyone is free to thrive.
This month, Side With Love is sharing resources to help you celebrate and sustain that spirit—not just for Pride, but for the many ways we show up for justice and joy. From worship to public witness, spiritual care to bold action, we hope these offerings help you and your congregation feel more connected, grounded, and inspired.
May this be a season of deepening faith, fierce love, and renewed courage. We are in this together, and our collective light is unstoppable.
With love and gratitude, The Side With Love Team
The Gathering– June
Monday, June 9, 2025 at 8pm–9:15pm ET | 5pm - 6:15pm PT
Image description: A black background with white and yellow handwritten and typed text. At the bottom is a head-and-shoulders photo of Shana Aisenberg and the SACReD logo. The Gathering. Music: Shana Aisenberg. Speaker: SACReD. Monday, June 9. 8 ET, 7 CT, 6 MT, 5 PT on Zoom. “Gathering” is underlined in yellow, with yellow hand-drawn rays above it.
Join The Gathering, Side With Love’s monthly event to strengthen your spirit, make sense of the threats to democracy, and take meaningful action alongside others!
In this month when we celebrate GLBTQIA pride and brace ourselves for Supreme Court decisions, we gather with music from UU trans/non-binary musician, writer, and activist Shana Aisenberg. Side with Love’s Nicole Pressley will invite us into learning about how we build the power to intervene through campaigns (including an update on the Avelo “Abduction Airlines” campaign we talked about in May).
Rev. Kentina Washington-Leapheart from SACReD (Spiritual Alliance of Communities for Reproductive Dignity) will overview the challenging landscape of reproductive justice and abortion access and ways that folks on the ground are making pathways for bodily autonomy to flourish despite the obstacles. Come find inspiration, forge connections, and take action together!
Access & Accessibility:
Live Zoom event (no participant mics or breakout rooms)
Image description: A dark blue background with “NO KINGS” in a step-and-repeat pattern and a graffiti crown with a red “X” through it. No Kings. Nationwide Day of Defiance. June 14, 2025.
No Kings: A Nationwide Day of Action for Democracy Saturday, June 14, 2025 | Flag Day
This Flag Day, authoritarianism wants a parade. We want a democracy.
On June 14, communities across the country will gather for a powerful day of action to reject authoritarianism and affirm our deepest values: equity, dignity, and real democracy for all. With over 600 events already planned in every state, the No Kings mobilization is a chance to show that power doesn’t come from thrones or crowns—it comes from the people, organized in love.
As Unitarian Universalists, we know that defending democracy is a moral act. Whether you show up in person or amplify online, your voice matters.
Find an event and learn more at nokings.org Let your congregation know: Our faith accepts no kings.
Let’s show the country—and the world—that we are a people of principle, ready to rise for freedom, fairness, and a future rooted in justice.
Image description: Red background with a dark blue horizontal stripe above a white text bubble. Action of Immediate Witness Feedback Sessions. Join the UUA's Commission on Social Witness to learn more about each AIW, offer feedback, & connect with others interested in the issue! June 2 at 4pm PT / 7pm ET: We Declare and Reaffirm: All People Have Inherent Worth and Inalienable Rights. June 3 at 4pm PT / 7pm ET: Faithful Defiance of Authoritarianism: Reaffirming Our Covenants for Democracy and Freedom. June 4 at 4pm PT / 7pm ET: Bringing a Feminist and Womanist Lens to Resistance and Activism. June 5 at 4:30pm PT / 7:30pm ET: Funding Global LGBTIQ Freedom Amid Crisis: A Call for Immediate Action and Solidarity. June 8 at 4pm PT / 7pm ET: Voter Justice and Racial Equity for the Citizens of the Nation’s Capital. All Sessions will take place on Zoom. Register at uua.org/socialwitness.
Offer your feedback on the 2025 Proposed Actions of Immediate Witness!
An Action of Immediate Witness (AIW) is a statement about a significant action, event, or development in the world that necessitates immediate engagement and action among UU member congregations and groups. This year, the Commission on Social Witness received five proposed AIWs and will be holding feedback sessions for each one during the first week of June. Delegates and congregations and invited to join these sessions to learn about the proposed AIWs and provide feedback to the proposers. Learn more about the process, read the proposed AIWs, and register to join the feedback sessions at uua.org/socialwitness.
Image description: Preparing for Pride in yellow text on a black background decorated with colorful flowers and radiating circles. Next to the text is a photo strip with two images from Disabled And Here. Three Black and disabled folx (a non-binary person holding a cane, a non-binary person sitting in a power wheelchair, and a femme sitting in a chair) casually smile at the camera while a rainbow pride flag drapes on the wall behind them. A masked non-binary Latinx person waves a bubble wand in front of a wood panel wall. They look joyfully at the surrounding bubbles above them and wear a patterned shirt reading, “Trans joy is holy.” A teal cane leans against them, though only the top of it is in frame.
Is your congregation or community celebrating Pride this year?
Solidarity is the moral and strategic mandate of our time, and we must rise to challenge attacks on identity and these divide-and-conquer tactics that rely on the belief that one group’s safety comes at the expense of another group’s safety.
For people who work on climate change, we are accustomed to thinking long-term. When we strategize, we aren’t just addressing what’s happening right now or planning for the next election cycle. We think about what our communities will be like in ten or twenty years. We work on plans with timelines spanning the next 25 years. When we make changes - winning a solar campaign, creating a disaster preparedness plan, building partnerships in our communities - we know that the impacts of our actions may not be fully realized for years or even decades to come.
I think about the Martin Luther quote, “Even if I knew the world was to end tomorrow, I would still plant an apple tree today.” Many of us are planting trees - literally and figuratively - under whose shade we will never sit.
When it feels like everything is going the absolute wrong direction for the climate, I take comfort in the reality that we are conditioned for the long haul. Climate advocates are made for these times. When everything feels overwhelming - and it is pretty easy to feel like that now - we know that there is still - always - so much that we can do to work toward a better future.
If we ground in our faith and commit our hearts to realizing a world where all communities thrive, we can weather any storm. It’s so much easier to do these things if we’re connected to each other. In the next two months, we have opportunities for UUs to strategize what’s next after your Revival during our Revival Community of Practice. You can learn about the completely revitalized Green Sanctuary process in an orientation or at the May Community Meeting. If you’re going to GA, you can join the Revival at GA, find comfort in the Revival Meditation Space, and learn about the ways the UUA is rising to the call of climate justice. I’ll end with one of my favorite adrienne maree brown quotes,
“HUMBLE yourself to what is.
ACCEPT that this is what has unfolded so far.
NOTICE that you have your whole life to
SHAPE what comes next.”
In community,
Rachel
Rachel Myslivy, UUA Climate Justice Strategist
May’s Revival Community of Practice
May 14, 2025 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM ET
In May we’ll learn how Liesl Dees came for just one coaching call on the SAME DAY as her Revival follow up meeting and identified several ways to approach the meeting. Bonus, the team agreed on actions to move the work forward in a way that is both transformational and manageable for their small congregation in New Mexico. Learn more & register.
Working with the New Green Sanctuary Materials
May 21, 2025 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM ET
Learn how one of our Green Sanctuary teams is working through the new Green Sanctuary materials! Released in February 2024, the new materials are designed to be more manageable, accessible, and impactful for our congregations. Join us on May 21 to learn how the materials are being used by your fellow UUs! --- Come together for shared learning and mutual supports with other UUs transforming our congregations through climate justice. Green Sanctuary community meetings take place on the third Wednesday of the month at 4PT - 5MT - 6CT - 7ET for 90 minutes. Learn more and register.
UU Climate Justice Revival at GA!
June 18-22, 2025
The UU Climate Justice Revival is coming to GA! We’re hosting a mini-Revival on Friday, a Revival meditation space, and a deep dive into the ways the UUA is moving climate justice forward. We’ll share more in the coming weeks, but for now, mark your calendars for:
UU Climate Justice Revival at GA
Friday, June 20, 1-2:30 PM ET (Hybrid)
in person at Baltimore Convention Center -- Ballroom III & IV
virtually on Whova
UUA Strategies to Address Climate Justice
Saturday, June 21, 1-2:30 PM ET (Virtual via Whova)
UU Climate Justice Revival Meditation Space:
open Wednesday, June 18 - Sunday, June 22, 8AM-5PM ET (in person: Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor -- Stone Room)
We believe in a world where everyone is free and thriving. Where democracy is realized. Where bodies, our identities, and our Earth are honored and sacred. Where love is not just a feeling—but a force for liberation.
At Side With Love, we act on that belief every single day.
As we mark the first 100 days of this administration, we do so with full hearts. We lament the cruelty on display—from political repression to attacks on our rights and communities—but we also rejoice in the rising: the awakening of thousands to action, resistance, and the power of community.
Some days it feels like we’re walking through a storm with no map—moving through brutal winds of injustice and thick fogs of fear. But even in the storm, we carry something precious: a fire we refuse to let go out.
And that fire? You’ve helped tend it.
You’ve helped build a movement that doesn’t just react to the world as it is—but insists on the world as it could be.
Since the start of this year, we’ve:
🔥 Lit the path toward justice by planning our next big push with UU the Vote, launching a national survey and asset map to collectively and faithfully leverage our people power to meet this moment. ➡️ Take the Asset Map Survey and help grow our collective power. (Email love at uua.org to get the link.)
🌊 Risen with the tide by organizing across the country for reproductive freedom, trans liberation, climate action, and immigrant justice—through the Side With Love Action Center, your weekly hub for faithful action and political courage. ➡️ Visit the Action Center.
🌿 Transformed leadership into momentum by reimagining the Green Sanctuary program and nurturing networks of lay leaders through Trending SOIL, our spiritually grounded and strategically rich leadership development intensive. ➡️ Learn more about Tending SOIL and our leadership tools.
🌻 Expanded our circle by growing our canopy of collaboration—supporting UU coalitions on immigrant justice, deepening our commitment to reproductive justice through SACReD, resourcing Pink Haven, partnering with UUSJ on federal advocacy, and preparing a powerful Fall 2025 Reproductive Justice training series.
This is what Side With Love is about: not following one playbook, but listening deeply, shifting boldly, and responding with courage to what love demands—right now.
And I truly believe we are building something beautiful.
Not in spite of the struggle—but because of our fierce, faithful commitment to meet it with love, strategy, and imagination.
In a world that often feels heavy with injustice, we return to our spiritual roots for renewal, courage, and clarity. This May, Side With Love invites you to act in alignment with our deepest values—from marching for workers’ and immigrant rights on May Day, to gathering in community for reflection and strategy, to recommitting to climate justice and prophetic resistance. We invite you to connect, reflect, and take action—grounded in love, guided by faith, and held by community.
May 1st: May National Day of Action
On Thursday, May 1, join a local May Day National Day of Action! Find an event near you at maydaystrong.org. Join thousands of others who are resisting the defunding of our schools, the targeting of immigrant families, and the dismantling of public services. On May Day, we are fighting for our families, our rights, and our freedoms and for a future that works for working families.
In Support of Mohsen Mahdawi and All Imprisoned Student Activists
We join our beloveds in Vermont and beyond in supporting Mohsen Mahdawi, the latest university student to be imprisoned for his courageous opposition to the war in Gaza. These escalating attempts to criminalize peaceful protest and silence dissent—especially among young, immigrant, and marginalized voices—undermine the very foundation of our democracy.
Mahdawi’s story is deeply rooted in his Vermont community, including his relationship with the First Universalist Society of Hartland. This piece from Vermont Public offers a moving glimpse into his life and the love that surrounds him: Read the story.
We hold Mohsen and all imprisoned students in our hearts and prayers. Our commitment to the values of pluralism, justice, and equity compels us to speak out, show up, and remain steadfast in the face of repression. We echo the call to release all student activists.
The Gathering: Fortifying Ourselves for the Long Road Ahead
Join The Gathering, Side With Love’s monthly virtual event to strengthen your spirit, make sense of the threats to democracy, and take meaningful action alongside others.
This month at The Gathering, we will be anchored in the poetry of Rev. Julián Jamaica Soto and Side with Love’s Nicole Pressley will invite us into learning about strategy and what makes economic strategies like boycotts successful (or not!).
Congregational Sign-on: An Open Letter Rejecting Presidential Attacks on Nonprofit Organizations
The UUA has signed onto this open letter rejecting presidential attacks on nonprofit organizations, started by the ACLU.
From the letter: “This attack on nonprofits is not happening in a vacuum, but as a part of a wholesale offensive against organizations and individuals that advocate for ideas or serve communities that the president finds objectionable, and that seek to enforce the rule of law against the federal government. Whether the target is a church, an environmental or good government group, a refugee assistance organization, university, a law firm, or a former or current government official, weaponizing the executive branch to punish their speech or their views is illegal and wrong. It is also an attack on the very notion that government power must serve the people, not those in office.”
May 12th Deadline to Submit Actions of Immediate Witness (AIW)
An Action of Immediate Witness (AIW) is a statement about a significant action, event, or development in the world that necessitates immediate engagement and action among UU member congregations and groups.
The AIW process allows Unitarian Universalists to respond quickly to social issues deemed urgent. Adopted AIWs are used by congregations in local efforts and empower them to take action and recommend action through other departments of the UUA and other Unitarian Universalist groups.
Congregations may submit an AIW for consideration at General Assembly 2025. Deadline to submit is May 12th. Learn more.
Learn about the new Green Sanctuary Process & Materials
More manageable processes, less burden—and so much more!
All congregations are invited to recommit to their climate justice commitments by engaging with the newly revitalized Green Sanctuary 2030 process, which includes only one requirement for annual recognition.
We are moving away from the “one and done” accreditation model to an annual renewal process that celebrates incremental change and ongoing commitments. The goal is no longer accreditation—the goal is creating climate justice in our communities.
As Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt reminds us, “I am convinced that we are called to be a people of fierce love, committed to the work of justice, and grounded in the spiritual practices that sustain us.” May these events be fuel for your spirit and fire for your justice work. We’re grateful to be in this movement with you.
The Side With Love Team
May 2025 Update: Returning To Our Roots For Renewal
Spring is celebrated in many spiritual traditions as a season of renewal—a time to awaken, to begin again. But renewal can feel elusive in moments like this, when each day seems to bring fresh attacks on the communities we love and belong to. In times of anxiety and fear, tending to our spirits can feel like a luxury. And yet, it’s more essential than ever.
We must care for ourselves and one another—not just to survive, but to sustain this work for the long haul. This, too, is sacred work.
At Side With Love, we believe that spiritual renewal and courageous action must walk hand in hand. That’s why each month we offer programming, resources, and opportunities designed to nourish your spirit and equip your community for bold, justice-rooted action.
April’s updates are full of invitations—to gather, to grow, to ground yourself. I hope you’ll take time to explore what’s offered, connect with what resonates, and stay rooted in this beloved movement for justice, love, and collective liberation.
Celebrate 35 Years of Green Sanctuary
For 35 years, Unitarian Universalists have been imagining renewal through the Green Sanctuary Program, a bold commitment to climate justice launched in 1989. Today, nearly 340 congregations are engaged in the revitalized Green Sanctuary 2030, focusing on continuous renewal and meaningful climate action.
Join us as we celebrate this legacy and look ahead with hope. On Wednesday, April 16 at 7 PM ET / 4 PM PT, gather with President Sofia Betancourt for the Green Sanctuary 35th Anniversary Call for Renewal—a time to honor our movement’s past, reaffirm our shared commitments, and envision the future we long for.
The work we do together to build a world where all of us are free and thriving is deeply interconnected. When we ground our spirits, grow our skills, and act strategically for justice, we Side With Love.
That’s why every Tuesday, we update the Action Center Weekly Update—your go-to place for: ✅ Timely actions you can take ✅ Upcoming events to connect and mobilize ✅ Spiritual reflections to sustain our work
Join The Gathering – A Monthly Space for Grounding, Analysis, and Action
The Gathering is a new monthly virtual event from Side With Love, created to ground, inform, and mobilize UUs and partners in this critical moment. Each month, we come together for:
Spiritual Grounding – Strengthening our hearts and spirits for the work ahead
Political Analysis – Understanding the threats to democracy and justice
Collective Action – Organizing with others to counter anti-democratic forces and build a just and loving world
Join us every Second Monday of the month at 8 PM ET / 5 PM PT. Our next gathering is April 14, 2025.
A Statement of Fierce, Unshakable Love: UUA Responds to Anti-Trans Proclamation
In these challenging times, when trans and nonbinary people are once again being targeted by political attacks disguised as policy, our Unitarian Universalist values call us to respond with clarity and courage.
Last week, the White House issued a Presidential Proclamation that shamefully labeled gender identity as a threat to children—perpetuating harmful, baseless rhetoric that endangers trans lives and undermines families. In response, the Unitarian Universalist Association issued a powerful public statement rejecting this hateful framing and reaffirming our unwavering commitment to the safety, dignity, and sacred worth of trans and nonbinary people.
“Affirming the inherent worthiness and belovedness of transgender people is an expression of our Unitarian Universalist faith,” the statement reads. “You were not made wrong—you were made sacred, and through you we are all made more whole.”
This is a moment to deepen our solidarity and take action. Read the full statement, share it with your networks, and consider supporting trans-led and affirming organizations named in the response. Our faith compels us to protect one another fiercely and to show up with love that cannot be shaken.
Upcoming SACReD Curriculum Facilitator Training – May 5–6 in New Orleans
Join the Spiritual Alliance of Communities for Reproductive Dignity (SACReD) for their upcoming Curriculum Facilitator Training on May 5–6 in New Orleans. This two-day training is designed for individuals looking to engage more deeply at the intersection of faith and reproductive dignity through SACReD’s powerful curriculum.
As always, thank you for being part of this movement to build a more just and equal world for us all. I look forward to seeing many of you at this months events as we embrace the call of this moment to both renewal and resistance.
April Events and Opportunities from Side With Love
These are trying times. And yet, in the midst of uncertainty, I find deep inspiration in the collective action of people of faith—especially Unitarian Universalists—across the nation. The poet and activist Audre Lorde reminds us:
"When we speak, we are afraid our words will not be heard nor welcomed. But when we are silent, we are still afraid. So it is better to speak."
This is our call—to take action, protect those being targeted, and resist the rising tide of injustice with all that we have. And the truth is, we’re already doing it. Even when the impact isn’t always visible at the national level, people are showing up, organizing, and making a difference in communities across the country. That is something to hold onto. That is reason for hope.
At Side With Love, we are committed to supporting, organizing, and equipping UUs for this work. This month’s email highlights events, resources, and opportunities to sustain us as we move forward together. I hope you’ll take time to explore, find what resonates, and continue being part of this movement for justice, love, and collective liberation.
Celebrate 35 Years of Green Sanctuary
For 35 years, Unitarian Universalists have been imagining renewal through the Green Sanctuary Program, a bold commitment to climate justice launched in 1989. Today, nearly 340 congregations are engaged in the revitalized Green Sanctuary 2030, focusing on continuous renewal and meaningful climate action.
Join us as we celebrate this legacy and look ahead with hope. On Wednesday, April 16 at 7 PM ET / 4 PM PT, gather with President Sofia Betancourt for the Green Sanctuary 35th Anniversary Call for Renewal—a time to honor our movement’s past, reaffirm our shared commitments, and envision the future we long for. 🔗 RSVP today!
Growing Leaders, Growing Justice: Tending SOIL in UU Communities
How do we cultivate stronger, more effective justice leaders in our UU congregations? Tending SOIL is Side With Love’s leadership development program, equipping UUs with the skills, organizing strategies, and spiritual grounding needed to advance justice.
In our latest blog post, we explore the impact of Tending SOIL through the experiences of congregations across 13 states. Plus, Rev. Brandan Robertson sits down with Rev. Cathy Rion Starr and Rev. Ranwa Hammamy for an inspiring conversation about grassroots organizing and the future of UU justice leadership. 🔗 Read the blog & watch the interview here.
Take Action with Us
The work we do together to build a world where all of us are free and thriving is deeply interconnected. When we ground our spirits, grow our skills, and act strategically for justice, we Side With Love.
That’s why every Tuesday, we update the Action Center Weekly Update—your go-to place for: ✅ Timely actions you can take ✅ Upcoming events to connect and mobilize ✅ Spiritual reflections to sustain our work
Join The Gathering – A Monthly Space for Grounding, Analysis, and Action
The Gathering is a new monthly virtual event from Side With Love, created to ground, inform, and mobilize UUs and partners in this critical moment. Each month, we come together for:
Spiritual Grounding – Strengthening our hearts and spirits for the work ahead
Political Analysis – Understanding the threats to democracy and justice
Collective Action – Organizing with others to counter anti-democratic forces and build a just and loving world
Join us every Second Monday of the month at 8 PM ET / 5 PM PT. Our next gathering is April 14, 2025.
Join President Sofía Betancourt in Washington DC on Wednesday, March 26
Join UUA President Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt and national faith leaders for a powerful, nonpartisan vigil calling on Congressional leaders to uphold their responsibility as a check and balance and to advance the common good.
Our nation faces a growing constitutional crisis impacting communities nationwide. Faith leaders from diverse traditions will unite to offer prayers and compelling calls for courageous action from our elected officials.
When: Wednesday, 12:00 PM Where: Upper Senate Park, Area 8 (virtual option available) Register here: Sojo.net/Witness Join us as we raise our collective voices and speak truth to power. Together, we can make a difference.
📍 Faithful Witness Wednesday 📅 March 26, 12 PM ET 📍 U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C.
Side With Love & UUSJ Condemn FY 25 Continuing Resolution
On March 15, Side With Love and Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice (UUSJ) issued a joint statement condemning the passage of H.R. 1968, the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2025. This budget is a moral failure—gutting public services, enabling mass deportations, and prioritizing billionaires over everyday Americans.
As people of faith, we refuse to remain silent while our communities suffer and our democracy is eroded. We call on our leaders to demonstrate the same courage that everyday people are showing in the fight for justice.
"Spirit of Life and Love, Be with us in this time, as people suffer, as parents grieve, as violence rages. Be with us who feel the pain of loss, who feel anger at injustice. Be with the oppressed and change the heart of the oppressor, for we know that both are joined in their humanity, no matter how often we forget it. Help us remember the hope we had, the hope we have, and the hope we will have; help us remember joy in the midst of sadness, success in the midst of challenge, and good things in the midst of bad. Help us to be better people, to work for better things, and to create a better world. Amen."
As always, thank you for being part of this movement. Together, we organize, resist, and build a world rooted in love and justice. I look forward to seeing many of you at these upcoming events.
March news: faithful action for climate justice, democracy, and decriminalization.
In last week’s Action Center Update, I shared a quote from Ruha Benjamin, who encourages us to:
"Remember to imagine and craft the worlds you cannot live without, just as you dismantle the ones you cannot live within."
As the world increasingly feels like one we cannot live within, reimagining a world where all communities thrive is an act of joyful resistance—and it’s strategic. If we don’t know where we want to go, we’ll be derailed by all sorts of distractions.
The UU Climate Justice Revival, Reimagine Together: From an Extractive Age to a New Era, offers a clear call to all UUs to reimagine our communities thriving, and we do that reimagining together. Even though every blip on the news ratchets up my anxiety, every minute spent in community nourishes my spirit and refreshes my soul for the critical work of climate justice.
Community is both a balm and a buoy in these troubling times. Fortunately, there are several opportunities for you to come together for shared learning and mutual support with UUs committed to transforming our communities through climate justice.
The monthly Green Sanctuary 2030 meetings, the Climate Justice Revival Community of Practice, and The Gathering are all great ways to connect, ground in our faith, and mobilize for action.
Image description: Rachel is standing in front of greenery with brown, slightly curly hair to her shoulders, wearing glasses and a heathered blue Create Climate Justice t-shirt.
Be well, friends,
Rachel
Rachel Myslivy, UUA Climate Justice Strategist
More Action, Less Paperwork: the new Green Sanctuary 2030 materials!
The Green Sanctuary: Mobilizing for Climate Justice materials and process have been completely revitalized to encourage:
More action, less paperwork
More congregational support, less UUA approval
More manageable processes, less burden—and so much more!
All congregations are invited to recommit to their climate justice commitments by engaging with the newly revitalized Green Sanctuary 2030 process, which includes only one requirement for annual recognition.
We are moving away from the “one and done” accreditation model to an annual renewal process that celebrates incremental change and ongoing commitments. The goal is no longer accreditation—the goal is creating climate justice in our communities.
Event graphic with a light green background and the UUCB logo, a green and yellow painted circle enclosing a tree with leafy branches beneath a sun. Green and black text reads, "Working with the New Green Sanctuary Materials. Wednesday, March 19 at 4 PT / 5 MT / 6 CT / 7 ET. UU Church of Berkeley." The Side With Love and Green Sanctuary 2030 logos are below the text.
📅 Green Sanctuary 35th Anniversary & Call for Renewal
April 16, 2025 | 4 PT / 5 MT / 6 CT / 7 ET (90 minutes)
This year, we are celebrating 35 years of Green Sanctuary, starting with the revitalization of the process.
Whether your congregation was previously accredited or has never engaged, this event will celebrate and honor the work of the many organizations, individuals, and congregations that have shaped our denomination’s response to climate justice.
It will also include a healthy dose of hope, optimism, and faith—which we could all use right now!
Image description: green background with light flashes, decorated with bold, stylized cut out flowers in pink, yellow, and green. Black text reads "Green Sanctuary 35th Anniversary and Call for Renewal. Wednesday, April 16 at 4 PT / 7 ET" with the Side With Love and Green Sanctuary Logos beneath. To the right of the image is a photo of UUA President Rev. Dr Sofia Betancourt with her name and title in white below.
What’s Next After the Revival? Join the Community of Practice!
Thousands of UUs in over 380 congregations have hosted or are planning to host the UU Climate Justice Revival. Reports of its transformational impact continue to roll in, and congregations are working together to carry this momentum forward into justice ministries.
If you’ve done your Revival and aren’t sure where to go next, check out this handy documentand sign up to join the March Community of Practice.
Revival Community of Practice
📅 March 12, 2025 | 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM ET
This is a great way to connect with other Revivaling congregations for shared learning and mutual support.
Event graphic with a white background and "Climate Justice Revival" in a rainbow circle with smaller bubbles branching out that say, "Rest, Celebrate, Reflect, Synthesize, Organize," surrounding by swirling flowers and leaves. Text to the right reads, "What's Next after Our Revival? Community of Practice for Revivaling Congregations. February 12 - March 12 - April 9. 4 PT - 5 MT - 6 CT - 7 ET." The UU Climate Justice Revival logo is beneath the text.
This month, Andrew Batcher will share how he organized a Revival across multiple UU congregations—a great option for expanding your Revival’s impact. A clear next move from the Revival is to bring more folks into the dialogs! Learn how Andrew facilitated multiple congregations’ engagement in one Revival, then think about how you might host a Revival with interfaith partners or other UUs in your city, state, or region!
After the initial presentation, we’ll break into small groups based on whatever you want to talk about—this is your space, so you decide what needs discussion!
This year’s UUMFE Earth Day Service will feature Courtney Fishback, one of the UU Climate Justice Revival Art Contest winners. Together, we will imagine a world bright with kindness, joy, and climate justice for all.
Written worship materials will be available by March 1, 2025, for congregational or group use. A donation is requested for those materials.
Since we were last in touch, we celebrated the incredible work of UU congregations in 2024 and how our congregations are shifting and growing to attend to the shifting political terrain. Like so many, we are at an inflection point, discerning our collective pathway moving forward. Since our launch in late 2019, UU the Vote has been a vehicle for UUs to take collective action to strengthen the promise, the practice, and the process of democracy. We built meaningful relationships with partner organizations and contacted millions of potential voters. Now, we are in the process of reflecting on and evaluating our shared work ahead.
We want to hear from you – the people who have supported, participated and led UU democracy organizing and actions.
Our work has always been shaped by conversations with organizers, congregational groups, and individuals committed to expanding democracy to work for the many, not the few, while confronting the rise of authoritarianism.
In this critical moment, we want to hear from you! Please take our brief survey about the future of UU the Vote.
Leadership Update
Our Democracy Strategist, Nora Rasman, who joined the team in December 2023 is having a baby and will be going on parental leave this Spring. In her absence, we are thrilled to be joined by Josie Mitz who will be working with us over the next few months to offer strategic support and engagement on our democracy work. You can read more about Josie below and expect to see her at UU the Vote events and in the UUTV Facebook page soon.
Image description: Josie Mitz is smiling energetically while riding a colorful carousel horse.
Josie Mitz (she/her) joins the UUA team as the new UUTV Strategy Support. Since 2018, Josie has been involved in electoral campaigns, working on every aspect of races, from volunteering and organizing to managing two campaigns.
Recently, she managed two special election races to fill vacancies in the Delaware State Senate and led the statewide field program to elect the first trans member of Congress, Sarah McBride.
Outside of work, Josie is a passionate supporter of the WNBA and other professional women’s sports. She and her fiancée, Casey, live in Tempe, Arizona, with their dog, Panda.
Onwards together, UU the Vote
P.S. Looking for a place to gather with other UUs to make sense of this moment? Please join us for The Gathering, Side with Love’s new monthly virtual space for inspiration, connection and action. This is a space for UUs to learn, grow, and work for justice together. We’ll talk about the challenges we face, find strength for the work ahead, and take steps toward a better world. Register here.
Help us build what's next for UU the Vote! + Big News
Throughout history, people of faith and conscience have come together to resist injustice and build a better world. From the Montgomery Bus Boycott to the mass movements that brought down apartheid, collective action fueled by courage, love, and resilience has changed the course of history.
Now, it’s our time.
The Gathering is a new monthly virtual event from Side With Love, designed to offer:
Spiritual Grounding – Strengthen your heart and spirit for the work ahead.
Political Analysis – Understand the threats to democracy and justice.
Collective Action – Organize with others to block anti-democratic forces and build a just and loving world.
Like those who came before us, we must be ready—ready to resist injustice, protect democracy, and create a future where love and dignity prevail. The Gathering is a space to find inspiration, connect with others, and take action that matters.
📅 First Gathering: March 10 📍 Online – Register Now
The political terrain has shifted, but our North Star remains the same. Join us as we root ourselves in love and harness our power to rise together for justice.
In faith and solidarity, Side With Love
P.S. Side With Love has created a practical toolkit to support organizers, congregations, and individuals in their justice work. Download the Grounded, Resilient, and Responsible toolkit here.
The Gathering – Rooted in Love, Rising for Justice
When it seems like bad news is everywhere, what do you do? How do you move through the overwhelm to start something, anything, that matters to you?
Being together with kindred spirits, sharing stories, and focusing on the good and useful things soothes my soul and fortifies my heart for the long work ahead. I firmly believe that together, we can reimagine thriving communities and realize a flourishing world…even if it’s hard to believe at times. I remind myself: there are so many of us doing this good work. When it’s tempting to withdraw, let’s stay connected. Togetherness is a balm and a buoy!
That’s why I want to invite you all to join the Annual Green Sanctuary Team Celebration. This celebration is fun and fast and celebrates our wins and honors the work that was challenging, disappointing, or unfulfilled. Most of all, it is soul-nurturing to see the range of actions - from huge efforts to everyday changes - that our congregations are doing to advance faith-filled climate justice in our communities.
Here are some good things that are helping my spirit right now.
1) Thousands of UUs are reimagining thriving futures through UU Climate Justice Revivals! They’re reckoning with the challenging realities in their communities, overwhelming those challenges with community care, and figuring out how we, as individuals, fit into the larger work of UU climate justice in our congregations. And, they’re having fun while they’re at it! They’re weaving connections across teams, understanding multiple perspectives, and putting their hearts into the transformative work that we need to realize a world with love at the center. When I’m down, I flip through the photos that y’all have shared of your Revivals - check some of them out now! Read on to learn about the upcoming UU Climate Justice Revival Community of Practice Gatherings!
2) While the Revival has taken center stage, we can’t forget the longstanding commitment of our Green Sanctuary Teams! These faithful UUs are bringing life to the Green Sanctuary process: from individual to team, from learning to action - all while nourishing their spirits. There are so many positive stories that come out of the Green Sanctuary teams - come hear some at the Green Sanctuary Celebration on January 29!
3) Whew, that’s a lot, but are we resting on our laurels and patting ourselves on the back? Of course not! (We’re celebrating and plotting!) As soon as the Revival materials were sent out into the world, we turned to revitalizing the Green Sanctuary process to better respond to the changing realities in congregations and the pressing needs of our times. Join the Green Sanctuary New Materials Release on February 19 to learn more! In March and May, we’ll hear from UUs who are using these new materials so we can learn together!
4) And that’s not all! The Green Sanctuary program has inspired UUs and friends to take action on climate and environmental issues for 35 years. We’re planning to celebrate 35 years of Green Sanctuary with President Sofía and friends in April. While the next four years will challenge so much that we hold sacred, no one can take away the good work we are doing in our communities.
5) Finally, my dog is super cute. Seriously. My cats, too! And I have about a hundred beautiful plants that make my house feel like a garden. These things that bring us joy in our lives are just as important to remember
There’s always so much to be grateful for and good work to celebrate. Side With Love’s annual 30 Days of Love has begun with offerings for families, practices for journaling, art, and body, and opportunities for taking action. The week three theme is “Water is Life”.
I hope to see you all next week for the Green Sanctuary Celebration, at an upcoming UU Climate Justice Revival Community of Practice gathering, or any one of the wonderful events we have planned this spring. I promise you’ll feel so much better if you do!
Be well,
Rachel
Image description: Rachel is standing in front of greenery with brown, slightly curly hair to her shoulders, wearing glasses and a heathered blue Create Climate Justice t-shirt.
Image description: Graphic with green, blue, pink, and yellow balloons and small clusters of yellow, blue, and pink flowers on a light green background. Green and blue text reads, “Green Sanctuary Celebration. Jan. 29 at 4 PT / 5 MT / 6 CT / 7 ET." The Side With Love and Green Sanctuary 2030 logos are below the text.
Come together to celebrate the good work our congregations are doing to create Green Sanctuary in our communities!
This is one of the most beloved Green Sanctuary Community meetings of the year! You’ll hear so many stories of congregations doing the faithful ministry of climate justice all wrapped up together, plus it’s fun and exciting and inspirational! You’ll leave with a smile on your face and gratitude for the many UUs committed to this important work. Register now.
⭐ Green Sanctuary Teams! Fill out this short form to sign up to share what you’ve been up to. This can be celebrating a win or sharing how you’re reframing your work when things went sideways. We just want to hear from you! Presentations need to be no more than 3 minutes long so we can make room for everyone!
Image description: Graphic of the Green Sanctuary meeting spring schedule with text bubbles on a background of crocuses and a pink snail, yellow daffodil, and the Green Sanctuary chalice with a leaf flame. Text reads, “Green Sanctuary 2030 Community Meetings. 3rd Wednesdays. 4 PT - 5 MT - 6 CT - 7 ET. Jan. 29, Green Sanctuary Team Celebration. Feb. 19, Green Sanctuary New Materials Release. Mar. 19, Working with the New Green Sanctuary Materials. Apr. 16, Green Sanctuary 35th Anniversary & Call for Renewal. May 21, Working with the New Green Sanctuary Materials."
Mark your calendars for this year’s Green Sanctuary 2030 Community Meetings! We’re balancing our time with celebration and a deep dive into the new materials.
The Green Sanctuary 2030 materials have been revised and updated to better serve the needs of our dynamic congregations.
Join the February Green Sanctuary Community meeting to learn all about it and how these materials can help you advance climate justice and cultivate thriving communities.
March 19, 2025 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM CT and May 21, 2025 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM CT
In February, we released the new Green Sanctuary materials which are designed to be more manageable, accessible, and impactful for all congregations! During our March and May meetings, we'll feature one of the Green Sanctuary teams working through the materials. Learn from each other and build community!
Celebrate 35 years of Green Sanctuary and renew your congregation's commitment! Join President Sofía and friends to celebrate this impactful and transformative program that has organized UUs to take action on climate for 35 years, and learn about the new Green Sanctuary process that will carry our faith through the coming years. All are welcome! Renew your commitment to faith based actions that advance climate justice in our communities.
What’s next for the Revival?
If you’ve held your congregation's first Climate Justice Revival, you may be wondering what’s next? How do we go from this to that? We shared a doc to help you frame you next moves, starting with REST and CELEBRATION! If you did both of those well enough, you’re probably starting to REFLECT and making moves to SYNTHESIZE and ORGANIZE!
Yes, you can do this! And we’re here to help!
We’re hosting several Revival Community of Practice groups for Revivaling congregations. These informal gatherings will be a way for you to connect with other congregations who are asking the same questions as you are or maybe thinking about things htat haven’t yet crossed your mind. We do the work better together! So join your fellow Revivaling UUs for…
What's next after the Revival? Revival Community of Practice
Come together with other UUs who are also moving through the Rest, Celebrate, Reflect, Synthesize, Organize process following the Revival. Learn together! Make Connections! Move Climate Justice forward together. These informal gatherings will provide ample time for conversation and brainstorming next steps together.
In January 2021, immigrant communities, organizers, and their allies met the change in the US Presidential Administration with determination and courage, focused on ending the cruel, xenophobic policies from the Trump administration.
Envisioning a pathway toward healing, over 20 immigrant-led coalitions came together to launch the “We Are Home” campaign, delivering a clear message rooted in their undeniable humanity and worth. With three concrete demands and an intersectional organizing strategy shaped by youth, worker, and multi-racial coalitions, the “We Are Home” campaign not only called out the dehumanizing policies that have long criminalized immigrants and immigrant families, but centered the essentially transformative role that immigrant communities have in a free and fair society. “We Are Home” was, and is, a message of invitation - to become a country that truly welcomes, cares for, and celebrates all.
Today, the current Presidential Administration threatens to enact even crueler policies than previous administrations. As exclusion and brutality become further codified in our nation’s practices and policies, “We Are Home” invites us to reflect honestly. Can any of us feel at home in a society that continues to deny the basic rights of millions of our friends, family members, and neighbors?
Check out Week One’s offerings for 30 Days of Love 2025! We have ways to take action, something to watch, three activities for families, a body practice, journaling practice, and a creative practice.
Today, we honor the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose vision calls us to keep the dream alive through daily practice. Dr. King taught us that justice is not inevitable—it is built through continuous struggle, unwavering faith, and collective action. His dream lives on in every act of courage and compassion as we work to create a world rooted in equity, dignity, and love.
This Martin Luther King Jr. Day, as we begin 30 Days of Love, we celebrate the progress made by communities committed to justice and recognize the work still ahead. Together, we can build the Beloved Community by grounding ourselves in our shared values and collective action.
As Dr. King reminds us: “Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability but comes through continuous struggle.”
Justice requires intentional action. Yet, hope grows when we unite in community, using our shared values to challenge injustice and build a more loving, equitable world.
Inhabiting Our Freedom Dreams: 30 Days of Love As we honor Dr. King’s vision of a just and compassionate world, we are proud to launch this year’s 30 Days of Love with the theme "Inhabiting Our Freedom Dreams."
This year, 30 Days of Love will share practices we can take together to bring dreams of justice and liberation into being. New resources will be released every Tuesday, offering a variety of ways to engage with the weekly themes, including:
A Side With Love message provides political education and context for each weekly theme with lessons and inspiration to move through these times.
A journal practice to reflect and dream to chart a course with clarity and care.
A creative/art practice to ground in the beauty and abundance of imagination.
A body practice to ground us in resilience and renewal.
A family-friendly, multigenerational activity that builds community as we take action for justice.
Together, we can pace ourselves, grow our relationships, and build the spiritual discipline to sustain this work for the long haul. However you choose to engage with these offerings, we are honored to share the love and wisdom of some of our most inspiring UU voices.
A Blessing for MLK Day
We offer these words from Rev. Dr. Hope Johnson, a Unitarian Universalist minister, as a blessing for this day:
“The dream of justice and equality—the Beloved Community—is a dream worth living, worth giving our all. Let us continue to move forward, hand in hand, heart to heart, ever faithful, ever committed, ever courageous.”
May we honor Dr. King not only in our words but in our deeds. Together, we carry his vision forward, bending the arc toward justice and creating a world filled with compassion and hope.
Now is the time to practice that which we seek to grow in our world—deeply, compassionately, and at the scale of relationships in our communities. As the governing and power structures of our world rely more and more on domination, exploitation, and disposability to consolidate power, we must hold onto and grow ours. Our power is grounded in our values that proclaim the transformative power of love and harness the enduring power of community. We are the antidote to our fear. Our collective work is to practice the new world we seek to build, drawing inspiration from abolitionist and emergent strategies for liberation, as explored in Andrea Ritchie’s Practicing New Worlds: Abolition and Emergent Strategies. Liberation is our North Star guiding us through these times.
Last year’s 30 Days of Love theme was Imagining an Interdependent Future. We shared resources on growing our capacities to (re)imagine our world and our relationships. This year, 30 Days of Love will share practices we can take together to bring those dreams of justice and liberation into being. This year’s theme, Inhabiting Our Freedom Dreams, draws inspiration from Robin D.G. Kelley’s Freedom Dreams: The Black Radical Imagination, tracing the prophetic affirmations and spiritual work of justice movements as guides to how each of us can call new worlds into being. Each week, you will receive several offerings related to the weekly themes.
“We are home” From the the immigrant justice coalition lead by United We Dream
“Trans people are divine” From the creators of the Black Trans Prayer Book
“Water Is Life” From the Standing Rock protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline
“There are Black People in the Future” From artist Alisha B. Wormsley
Each week’s resources will be published on Tuesdays and include the following.
A Side With Love message provides political education and context for each weekly theme with lessons and inspiration to move through these times.
A journal practice to reflect and dream to chart a course with clarity and care.
A creative/art practice to ground in the beauty and abundance of imagination.
A body practice to ground us in resilience and renewal.
A family friendly, multigenerational activity that builds community as we take action for justice.
We share these resources hoping that you and your communities will use them in a variety of ways. The work ahead is great and we must do it intentionally. Let’s pace ourselves, grow our relationships, and build the spiritual discipline to hold ourselves and one another for the long haul.
However you choose to engage with these offerings, we are honored to share the love and wisdom of some of our most inspiring UU voices. We are deeply grateful for this annual opportunity to collectively nurture our spirits and sustain our commitment to love. Let us journey together to inhabit our freedom dreams together.
As this year draws to a close, we pause to reflect on the love, justice, and care you have brought into the world. Your dedication and compassion have been a beacon of hope, and we are deeply grateful to be on this journey with you.
During this holiday season, may you find moments of rest and renewal. Whether you gather with loved ones, reflect in solitude, or engage in acts of kindness, may this time bring peace to your spirit and strength to your heart.
As we look ahead to 2025, we are excited to continue building a world rooted in love and justice. To grow our capacity for this work, we are thrilled to announce that Side With Love is searching for a Climate Justice Fellow! This temporary, part-time role (19 hours per week at $22-$26 per hour with benefits) will help deepen our Unitarian Universalist climate justice efforts through June 2025. If you or someone you know is passionate about faith-centered environmental stewardship, we encourage you to apply today.
While we continue this sacred work together, we invite you to take advantage of the resources we’ve created to support your journey. Our Community Resilience Hub offers tools to empower and equip your congregation or community in meaningful ways. Please also consider filling out our Community Skill and Asset Survey to help us map our collective strengths as the UUA community (email love@uua.org with your congregational affiliation to get the link to the survey.)
We’re also happy to offer two small gifts from the Side With Love Team to help you center yourself as we come to the end of a turbulent year. First, we invite you to listen to this Solstice Playlist cultivated by the SWL team, filled with songs to help you reflect and find inspiration in this season. We also have crafted this small Solstice Reflection Guide, offering you a few questions to sit with and reflect upon as we come to the end of 2024.
May this blessing from Rev. Kathleen McTigue, former minister of the Unitarian Society of New Haven, guide you in your walk and work in the days to come:
“May you be blessed with good companions on the journey Kindred spirits to uphold you in the face of challenges And to share in your joy. May you find in yourself the strength to rise above fear, A commitment to do justice, And the willingness to be enlarged by love.”
Let us carry this spirit into the year ahead, as we continue the sacred work of building the Beloved Community.
As we enter the season of reflection and intention, I’d like to share some exciting news and deep gratitude for this community. This year was a stretch! Together we reached towards the highest aspirations of our faith; modeling commitment, grace, partnership and adaptation to answer the call of love and justice.
Side With Love’s power comes from our collective commitment to rise to the challenge and beauty of building Beloved Community. Today, as the world around us continues to grapple with crises fueled by hatred and indifference, we have a moral mandate to embody the principles of justice and compassion in all that we do. Together, we can be the architects of a more just and equitable future. By rooting in our faith--embodying our values through care, political action, and deep learning--we can imagine a new world and call it into being.
Like you, the Side With Love team at the UUA is growing our capacities to support the work for this long haul and that means growing our team. I am overjoyed to announce two new additions to our team.
Image description: Blue background. At the top of the imagine, in white text, reads” “Welcome” with a triple line flourish around the words. Beneath, light blue text reads “to our new team members!” There are two round photographs, headshots of each staffer: Rev. Brandan Robertson, Senior Communications manager, who is standing against a beige background with short dark blond hair, smiling, wearing a denim shirt unbuttoned and an olive green t-shirt underneath. Next, is G Williams, Sepcial Projects Administrator. They are standing in front of greenery, wearing a black top and a white and pink jacket, their hands at their hips. They’re smiling and wearing red lipstick and thin wire frame glasses.
Welcome Rev. Brandan Robertson as the new Sr. Communications Manager! This role is designed to help us keep our communities connected and informed, tell the powerful stories of our work, and build faithful and libertory narratives of the world we are building. I am overjoyed that Rev. Brandan Robertson has joined the Side With Love team at the UUA as our new Sr.Communications Manager. Rev. Brandan brings a wealth of strategic communications and advocacy experience from United Methodist Church, Faith in Public Life, and his award-wining work and ministry of LGBTQ inclusion. We are excited for all that he brings to our team in helping us articulate and connect with our values in the world.
From Rev. Brandan:
As a progressive Christian pastor, activist, and organizer, I have long admired the work of Side With Love and the broader Unitarian Universalist Association. It is a true honor to now get the chance to partner with this incredible team to help share our vital work and message with the world in the days ahead. I look forward to all of the good work we will do together as we trouble the waters to bring healing, liberation, and justice to our world.
Welcome G Williams as the Special Projects Administrator.
This is a part-time role that helps us respond to the emergent needs and opportunities of this moment. G will play a key role in supporting internal infrastructure building as well as rapid response work. G brings a variety of technical skills and organizing experience from their work at The Trevor Project and justice work in Unitarian Universalism. Most recently they have co-founded Camp Ground, a multi-religious adult summer camp that provides a retreat for folks who do the work of justice in their day to day lives. G Is a seminarian at Starr King School for the Ministry and a member of the Trans Seminarian Cohort with The National LGBTQ Task Force. They are currently working on our asset map survey which will serve to mobilize resources and activate leaders to support bodily autonomy, and immigrant and gender justice work in the coming months. If you haven’t completed it yet, please email love@uua.org to request the link.
From G:
I have spent my life in service to the communities that nourished me into being, working not just towards the absence of oppression but for the presence of justice and the hope for peace. It is both an honor and a blessing to continue that work with the incredible Side With Love team and the broader UUA. At a moment when I am certain what awaits us will bring many challenges, I take heart in knowing that we are a people whose faith calls us to action, and that when I wade into the deep to meet each challenge, I will not be alone in the water.
At the heart of our work lies the profound power of love. Love serves as both a catalyst for action and a source of solace for our communities in times of need. In these times where we are told the lie that our individual thriving requires someone else's suffering, love is the promise of Beloved Community, where all of us are whole and worthy.
Thank you for your support in the ever-evolving work and staffing of Side With Love.
Love and courage,
Nicole Pressley
Resources for continuing the work.
Partnership is critical to work. I want to lift up some opportunities and resources to help our communities remain resilient and get ready for the work ahead.
In these turbulent times, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on the extraordinary efforts of UUs across the country who contributed to our UU the Vote work during this election season. No matter the results of the election, your commitment to justice and strengthening our democracy has made a real difference. Together, we mobilized, educated, and inspired thousands of people across key states, demonstrating the transformative power of our faith in action.
A few highlights from UU democracy organizing across the US:
Arizona: UU the Vote volunteers canvassed tirelessly, focusing on pivotal ballot initiatives, including Proposition 139 (expanding abortion care) and Proposition 314 (an anti-immigrant measure). Alongside local partners and out-of-state volunteers, we knocked on doors, educated voters, and grew relationships with grassroots partner organizations.
North Carolina: With legislative and judicial races on the line, UU volunteers and partners connected with over 12,000 voters, with a chorus that uplifted spirits at early voting sites, demonstrating that resilience and hope are powerful antidotes to intimidation and fear.
National Efforts: Phone-banking efforts in collaboration with State Action Networks in MI, NC, PA, and TX ensured voters were informed and empowered to make their voices heard. In Arizona, Colorado, Florida, and Wisconsin, UU volunteers canvassed the weekend before Election Day.
Through every conversation, song, and step, you embodied our faith’s commitment to justice, love, and equity. Thank you.
As we reflect on these efforts, we also invite you to consider an essential question posed by UUA President Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt during a recent fireside chat with UUSC President Rev. Mary Katherine Morn: How do we make our interdependence faithful and value-driven? These two theologians and leaders discussed the UU theological grounding for climate justice, highlighting that interdependence is not always positive—someone upstream polluting has an interdependent relationship with those downstream. This question challenges us to align our interconnectedness with values of justice, compassion, and care.
You are invited to explore this conversation further by watching the UU Theological Grounding for Climate Justice Fireside Chat, a 32-minute recording that includes reporting from small group discussions across the UUA.
3 Resources to Empower Your Community as We Move Forward
While the election is behind us, there is still much work left to be done. The challenges ahead demand that we remain resilient, adaptable, and deeply connected to one another. In response, we have three resources to empower your community as we move forward.
1) Tap into the Community Resilience Hub The election may be over, but the work continues! The Community Resilience Hub is your go-to destination for tools, resources, and inspiration to help your congregation and community stay organized, advocate for justice, and heal together. Dive into everything it offers to stay grounded and connected as you move forward.
2) Contribute to the Congregational Asset Map Survey Your congregation’s unique strengths matter! By filling out the Congregational Asset Map Survey, you’ll help us build a comprehensive view of our collective resources. Together, we can ensure that our movement remains strong and impactful in the years to come. (Email socialjustice at uua.org with your congregational affiliation to receive the link.)
3) Share Your Insights in the UUA Community Care and Resilience Survey Let your voice shape the future! TheUUA Community Care and Resilience Survey is an opportunity to share your perspectives and help us strategically address challenges and opportunities ahead. Don’t miss your chance to contribute before the end of the year! (Email socialjustice at uua.org with your congregational affiliation to receive the link.)
As we move forward, we will continue to provide you with information, updates, and resources to empower you to be a witness for love and justice in your communities and beyond. But until then, may this blessing ignite a spark within your soul that empowers you to press onward with faith and hope:
May the love that binds us together bring the healing we seek.
May the hope that ignites our souls keep our eyes fixed on the prize of collective liberation.
May the peace that comes from knowing we are each other's strengthen our resolve.
May the joy inspired by the vision of a more just world propel us into the work ahead.
May the faith that sustains us guide our path with courage and grace.
Thank you for your unwavering commitment to our collective liberation. Your efforts are a testament to the transformative power of our faith and the boundless possibilities of what we can achieve together.
In gratitude and solidarity,
your Side With Love team
2024 UUA Social Justice Award Nominations Wanted!
Bennett Award for Congregational Action on Human Justice and Social Action
The Bennett Award for Congregational Action on Human Justice and Social Action honors a Unitarian Universalist congregation that has done exemplary work in social justice and is accompanied by a $1,000 cash award.
Submissions must be received by April 25, 2025.
Submissions consist of a short description form, and if applicable, a testimonial from a partner organization or community group, and any relevant media about the congregation's justice ministry, including news articles or photos. Learn more and submit your nomination.
Skinner Sermon Award
The Skinner Sermon Award honors Clarence Skinner, the late dean of the Tufts College School of Religion in Medford, MA. and a major voice of prophetic religious liberalism, and is presented annually to the preacher of the sermon best expressing Unitarian Universalism's social principles. It comes with a $500 honorarium.
We particularly encourage and invite sermons that speak to one of our four intersectional justice priorities (bodily autonomy inclusive of reproductive justice and trans liberation; decriminalization; democracy and electoral justice; and climate justice).
Submissions must be received by April 25, 2025.
Submissions may be offered as a document of the sermon text and/or as a video recording of it being offered. Please be sure to include the author's name, address, church affiliation, phone number, email address, and indication of when and where the sermon was delivered in your email submission. Learn more and submit your sermon.
Reflecting on 2024 & 3 Resources to Empower Your Community as We Move Forward
Tonight, the final votes will be cast in this election. As we await the results, many of us feel the weight of uncertainty. This moment brings tension but also invites us to lean into the steady presence our faith calls us to embody. Now, more than ever, your strength and leadership in your communities are essential. Together, we can be a grounding presence, steady and unwavering, whatever may come.
While the outcomes of key races are yet to be decided, we remain united by a shared commitment to our core values—values held by communities of all backgrounds, rooted in the freedom to shape our futures, protect our communities, and make our voices heard. In this moment, let us stay steadfast in our commitment to one another and to the common good, keeping our eyes on our ultimate goal: the collective liberation of all people.
As we move through this day, may this blessing spark hope within you:
On this Election Day, One of us will joyfully cast a vote, hoping we are moving closer to a just world— This act renews our inner strength, Challenges closed minds, And lifts our spirit with hope.
On this Election Day, One of us will serve as a poll worker— Guardians of democracy who show up with patience and courage, Ensuring every vote is counted and every voice is heard. A sacred act of love for every person in our country.
On this Election Day, One of us will vote with our focus on communities in need, Disrupting cycles of oppression, Loving our neighbors as ourselves, And seeking to bring peace to a world marked by division.
On this Election Day, One of us will vote with righteous anger aflame within, Encountering barriers to our right to be heard, To share our sacred stories, And feel the sting of ignorance working against our dignity.
On this Election Day, One of us will show up as our fullest self, without fear, demanding recognition and affirmation— Trusting in the power of “we the people,” Believing anew in the promise of democracy, And finding courage birthed within us once again.
As we embark on this sacred work today, Let us release that which has made us afraid, Hold close what stirs our spirit, And renew our faith in the strength of the Beloved Community. For as we bless the world with our voices and votes, we, too, are blessed in return.
As we continue forward together, here are essential actions that can support your communities during this time.
Embrace Connectedness: Remain closely connected to your faith community, using this moment to check in on one another and nurture the deep relationships we’ve formed. Whether through emails, phone calls, virtual gatherings, or in-person meetings, ensure that no one in your community feels isolated during this time.
Prepare for a Range of Outcomes: While we all hope to see a peaceful transition of power, it’s important to be ready for any unrest that may arise or the spread of misinformation. Utilize the resources we’ve developed to encourage calm and critical thinking in the days ahead.
Support Our Community: We must prioritize care for those most at risk in our communities—migrants, trans and nonbinary individuals, queer communities, and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Take time to reach out to trusted local coalitions and offer support where possible.
Mobilize When Necessary: Whether through public demonstrations or behind-the-scenes support, remain flexible and discerning in the days ahead. Keep our organizing and accountability networks active for a coordinated, compassionate response should it become necessary. Resources on risk discernment, safety at protests and more can be found on the Community Resilience Hub.
The Unitarian Universalist Association, along with our Side With Love and Congregational Life teams, is here with you through this time of unknowns. We’ve developed a broad range of tools, resources, and events to help us move forward together, and we will continue to provide thoughtful updates and support in the days ahead with a steady commitment to our shared values.
In times like these, it is natural to feel overwhelmed. Yet we’ve prepared for this. With courage, clarity, and deep love, we will navigate this journey together—whatever the outcome.
In faith and solidarity,
Nicole, Amanda, Amarin, Audra, Brandan, Cathy, G., Jeff, Nora, Ranwa, and Rachel the Side With Love staff Team
Together, we can be a grounding presence, whatever may come
Our shared values of love, justice, and compassion call on us to respond to the many threats to our future of collective thriving and liberation. While we fight the many causes of climate disasters (extractive capitalism, racial injustice), we also commit ourselves to building communities of care and resilience. As the Southeast experiences the devasting loss from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, we are grateful for the many who have taken up the sacred task of care. From spiritual support to life-saving rescue efforts to financial and material relief efforts, it is critical that we show up. If you can make a financial contribution to relief efforts, please support one or all of the vetted relief efforts at the end of this email.
It is clear that mitigation - working to reduce the polluting emissions that drive climate change - is no longer enough. We are called to expand our efforts to center justice and prioritize creating communities of care.
Our congregations must become places of refuge in the storms, hubs of resilience in times of climate disaster, and centers of nourishment when things fall apart. This, dear friends, is the work of our time.
We know that climate disasters do not affect all equally. Marginalized communities—including people of color, people with disabilities, low-income families, and unhoused neighbors—are often impacted first and hardest. Consider that people with disabilities are two to four times more likely to die or be injured during climate disasters. Or that Black disaster survivors receive significantly less government support than their white counterparts, exacerbating pre-existing inequities. This is a call to action.
As we reimagine a world where all communities thrive, we must also ground ourselves in the systems of oppression that worsen the climate crisis. Our work must include addressing FEMA accountability, the mental health crisis exacerbated by displacement, and the climate grief and anxiety that many are facing. We must not turn away from these realities but open our hearts to create a new world with this knowledge.
We encourage everyone to support efforts like the UUA's Disaster Relief Fund and mutual aid networks, such as those offered by Highlander, to uplift the most vulnerable. Additionally, the importance of voting for leaders and policies that prioritize climate justice cannot be overstated. Our collective action in these moments will shape the future.
Let us move forward with courage, faith, and an unwavering commitment to justice.
In solidarity,
Your colleagues at Side With Love
UU Theological Grounding for Climate Justice
UUs have been at the leading edge of climate action for decades, but how does our faith call us to the work of climate justice?
Image description: a green background with watercolor splotches. Blue text reads UU Theological Grounding for Climate Justice, followed by text in black that reads Wed, Oct 16, 4PT / 5 MT / 6 CT / 7ET. To the right hand side there are portrait images of Rev. Dr. Sofia Betancourt and Rev. Mary Katherine Morn. The bottom of the image has the logos for Side With Love and Green Sanctuary program.
Join the Green Sanctuary 2030 Community on Wednesday, October 16 at 4pm PT / 7pm ET for a watch party of the UU Theological Grounding for Climate Justice Fireside Chat with UUA President Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt and UUSC President Rev. Mary Katherine Morn, hosted by Side With Love Climate Justice Advocate Rachel Myslivy.
How does your faith call you to this work? Join the conversation!
Climate Resilience through Disaster Response and Community Care
We can use our gifts to offer love, to work for justice, to heal injury, to create pleasure for ourselves and others. We can recognize our mutual independence with all life. We can take actions that are grounded in justice, guided by wisdom, and sustained with hope. We can learn, act, and reflect to cultivate the beloved community.
Every community is different, and climate impacts will vary at the hyper-local level. Some neighborhoods may be devastated by a hurricane while others experience only minor impacts. Adequate preparation and response for climate disasters must center the lived experiences and impacts of climate disasters on those most at risk.
Use our toolbox, worksheets, and recorded trainings to assess your community's climate impacts and mobilize for action. Start today.
UU the Vote: 2024 Mobilization
With just 24 days until Election Day, UU the Vote continues to invite UUs around the country to join us for these important events to engage with voters.
If you are within driving distance of any of our in-person mobilizations, please join us! Each day includes spiritual grounding, training, lunch, and support (plus gas reimbursement if you bring a group!). Read about our in-person mobilizations in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Dallas!
Drop into any or all of our upcoming phonebanks - we train at the beginning of each one and provide on-going support. Your personal information is protected as you make calls through our software.
Image description: Over a navy blue background, white text reads Get Involved with UU the Vote. The image is decorated with stamp style photos of people in groups doing UU the Vote work, with yellow hearts and dotted lines connecting the images.
Our loving faith calls us to honor the inherent rights and dignity of all people and to fight forms of oppression wherever we find it. However, disabled people (who make up 26% of the population) regularly find ourselves pushed to the margins, being denied our needs, and not receiving the radical welcome UU’s aspire to provide to all members.
Lay leaders, religious professionals, and allies are invited to join us for our monthly lunchtime webinars where you can learn how to be more accessible and inclusive of your congregation’s disabled members and visitors.
Image Description: UPLIFT ACCESS MONTHLY WEBINARS in green and red letters that overly a planet made of gold grid lines and circled by a ring, with stars on the upper right.
Join us for our next UPLIFT Access Resource Webinar on Thursday, October 17 at 12:00pm ET / 9am PT for a discussion of Voting and Disability Justice. Join representatives from Side With Love, New Disabled South, and Rev. Amanda Schuber, the UUA’s Disability Justice Associate.
Join the UPLIFT monthly gatherings for trans, nonbinary, and other not-entirely-or-at-all-cis UUs and friends of UUism. Join us on October 22 at 8pm ET / 5pm PT to connect with other trans/nonbinary+ UUs and co-create support and community across our faith. All you need to bring is yourself (and other trans/nonbinary friends, if you’d like)!
This is a drop-in space, where folks can come and go as works best for them, and where people can join us at any time. You can be a regular or someone new, someone who's been curious for a while but hasn't yet checked us out, somebody who is rejoining after time away, and all other ways of relating to this space! You are welcome here, and you are loved.
In these times, where the threats to democracy and liberty devastate our communities, we are fortified by the truth that throughout history, people rise to meet the moment.
In 2024, we are rising to the challenges we face in the world.
Transforming our Climate Justice Work
We are launching a first-ever faith-wide Climate Revival that will break down silos and springboard hundreds of congregations to a move beyond extraction into a wider climate justice movement—the Revival supports congregations with tools and training to equip us to take courageous and impactful action.
Growing our Organizing Power
We’re building response networks across the country for trans people, students, and the many folks targeted by state violence and legislative attacks.
Taking mass action for democracy
We are answering the call to show up boldly and be part of the moral majority that knows another world is possible. We are taking action right now towards that future with UU the Vote 2024.
Side With Love is a public expression of our values, bringing our values to life through mobilizing leaders in congregations and our communities.
Today, it is urgent that we center love in all that we do, if we are to transform ourselves and our world toward liberation. That is the power of a liberating love.
“Everything you touch, you change; everything that changes, changes you.”
Octavia Butler, The Parable of the Sower
What happens when love is a force for change? Who must we become to embody that love?
Help Side With Love build community and campaigns centered around liberating love. Let's harness our power in the urgent times. Thanks to generous donors, all contributions made by July 5 will be matched up to $75,000.
The Mass Poor People's & Low-Wage Workers' Assembly & Moral March on Washington DC on Sat, June 29
The Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival is calling on people of moral conscience in the DMV area to join thousands on June 29th in Washington, DC to uplift and center the needs of the over 135 million poor and low-wage people and workers across the country. The UUA is one of the organizational partners for this event.
Watch the livestream on Saturday on our Facebook page.
Blessing for Queer Youth of Faith Day
Queer Youth of Faith Day is celebrated on June 30th.
According to Beloved Arise, "1 in 5 LGBTQ youth say their faith is important to them."
As a religious denomination committed to LGBTQIA+ liberation, Side With Love is pleased to share thisblessing for queer youth of faith, penned by Side With Love Leadership Development Specialist Rev. Cathy Rion Starr (they/them/theirs).
General Assembly 2024
Side With Love Cohorts
During General Assembly 2024, Side With Love offered a cohort for attendees. Twice a day, GA attendees could drop into one of Side With Love's cohort sessions which offered theological grounding, a story of congregational action connected, opportunities for discussion, and moments of movement and levity.
Recommended Resource: Collaboration is a relationship that starts with knowing what you have to offer and what you hold. See what your congregation can offer and what your congregation is currently holding:
Skill Up Workshop: Asset Mapping: Leveraging Congregational Resources for the Movement
Join Slack - our virtual field office! Slack is our primary online community for Side with Love - let’s connect!
Social Witness Statements for 2024
These statements were affirmed at General Assembly and are undergoing review by UUA legal counsel. Final text will be posted at UUA Statements by July 15th.
It is that time again. PRIDE Month! Every June, many of us celebrate PRIDE, honoring LGBTQ+ people, our lives, accomplishments, and resilience. As you read this, the streets in your hometown may be lined with banners announcing the upcoming PRIDE parade; storefront windows are abundantly decorated with affirming messages like “love trumps hate” or “love is love.” From logos to curated book displays at our local library, we can find PRIDE deeply affirming and celebratory.
Pride is beautiful! It is life-affirming to be celebrated and declare your love for yourself and your beloved. Whether it is joining an affirming community in a parade or a gentle reminder of your worth and dignity on a rainbow t-shirt, PRIDE month can bring revolutionary joy and healing to our community. Our existence and our resistance is beautiful and worthy of celebration.
We know this PRIDE month may feel different. Maybe your school has removed books that include stories with LGBTQ+ characters. Maybe the PRIDE flag that used to fly outside your church’s door or in front of City Hall has been vandalized or stolen. Perhaps you and your community are grieving the loss of a loved one, the loss of a community member who has moved for their safety, or the loss of hope that things will get better. Maybe your PRIDE celebration includes a memorial or dedication.
PRIDE is complicated. The love, grief, and unbridled joy moves through us
It is a time when many of us hold our partners, our chosen family, and our beloved close because we know that “love is love” is not just a slogan. It means offering housing to someone whose home is no longer safe. It means cards and celebration on Nonbinary Parents Day. It means learning and celebrating new names, pronouns, and bodies. Love is embracing the joy in becoming who you know you are and the humility and care of being one who may be invited to witness this transformation.
Today, it is important that we remind ourselves that the first PRIDE was a riot and lift up the legacies of Marsha P. Johnson and Silvia Rivera. In June, we witness new cycles of “No Police in PRIDE” campaigns. Some LGBTQ+ organizations will inform us of all the corporations that churn out PRIDE-themed advertisements while donating millions to legislators who vote to ban trans children from sports and trans people from bathrooms, vote for discriminatory policies that leave many in our community without homes or jobs, or healthcare, spread pinkwashing messages that worsen the genocide in Palestine, abandon disabled people to an ongoing pandemic, and use the carceral system to police our identity.
PRIDE is political. PRIDE has never represented one cohesive and aligned community. Just as Silvia Rivera gave voice to a gay liberation movement that ignored the needs and contributions of trans and non-binary people, PRIDE continues to be an important site of political struggle that calls us into accountability and the work for collective liberation.
PRIDE, like our LGBTQ+ community, is so many things. For Side With Love, PRIDE is an opportunity to faithfully continue the work of LGBTQ+ liberation and gender justice. It is an opportunity to reflect on where movements have fallen short of our highest ideals and recommit to centering BIPOC, trans, disabled, and other marginalized LGBTQ+ people who are still marginalized due to multiple and intersecting oppressions. It is a time when we honor our legacy of protest and disruption by affirming protest and disruption when communities are struggling for their liberation. PRIDE is an invitation to root in a radical history so that we may reach a liberatory future.
This month, we will share short reflections from UUs on what PRIDE means to them this year. Find these posts on our Instagram at @SideofLove.
We know that these times ask a lot of us and that we need one another to stay in the work with hope, joy, impact, and accountability. Join us if you are doing the work on the ground, if you are showing up for and with Side with Love, and/or if you are just learning about Side with Love. Come connect with one another, build community across issues, and have some facetime with our staff. Register now.
Climate Justice Revival Info Session
Thursday, June 13 at 1:00pm ET
Are you excited for the first-ever UU Climate Justice Revival ...but...still have so many questions? Is it on zoom or in person? Can kids participate? Is it a regional or national event? When we do new and different things, questions are expected! Come to the UU Climate Justice Revival Info Session and get all your questions answered! Register now.
Stop Cop City Monthly Huddle
Thursday, June 13 at 2:00 PM ET
We’ll review what’s happening and what you can do with Stop Cop City more broadly. Join us to get activated or to jump back in. Register now.
Blessing for Mental Health Awareness Month
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. We are grateful to share with you a blessing to honor all of you, from Side With Love Disability Justice Associate Rev. Amanda Schuber.
Spirit of Life, Source of Hope and Healing,
We open our hearts to the boundless love that surrounds us. Each of us is touched in different ways by the complexities of mental health. Today, and every day, let us remember that wholeness is our birthright, and each of us is a precious part of the vast tapestry of existence.
May we embrace a theology of hope, one that celebrates the wholeness within each soul, beyond any perception of brokenness. Let us acknowledge that our struggles and pains are not signs of failure, but threads in the intricate weave of our humanity.
In times of struggle, may we find the wat forward. May we hold onto the truth that we are never alone; we are part of a loving community that supports and uplifts one another. Together, we can accompany each other in this life, offering compassion and understanding to ourselves and to others.
Let us affirm that every person is deserving of care, dignity, and respect, and may we create spaces where mental health is spoken of openly and without stigma, where seeking help is seen as a strength, and where every story is heard with empathy.
Spirit of Love, guide us to be beacons of hope. May we find strength in our shared journey, knowing that we are interconnected, and that together, we can foster a world where every mind and heart can thrive.
Is your congregation/society holding a special event in 2011 or do you need to promote your organisation better? Would you like help in learning how to market this occasion or organisation, give a radio interview, write a press release and put together posters and leaflets for print and your website? If so the Unitarian Communication Coordinators’ Network (UCCN) can offer you hands on help from experts in their field. Join us on the next UCCN Workshop Weekend 25th-27th February 2011 and learn about promoting your event or group on the radio, in the press and by using posters and leaflets.
The Network has no membership or committee but has always been well supported by volunteers and those enthusiasts, from throughout the movement, who are keen to develop skills and extend networks both internally and to others on the fringes of and beyond our own movement.
Web addresses (URLs) can be very long, and if you are pasting them into an email, Twitter, or printing them in your newsletter, it's better to use a URL shortener. This creates a much shorter version of the web address, which redirects to the long version. This saves space in Twitter, prevents the problem of URLs breaking when they are wrapped round to the next line in emails, and saves your newsletter readers from typing out the long version.
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