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General Assembly (GA) is almost here! Our second all-virtual GA will take place later this month. It will be delightful to take in the workshops, worship and keynote speakers from a cozy perch on my front porch.

GA has never been more accessible and the content is especially exciting this year. I hope you will join us and encourage others in your congregation to attend—especially those for whom travel to a destination conference is untenable.

Each year, General Assembly partners with an organization doing good work in the local community where we gather. That partnership takes a few forms, one of which is a Sunday morning offering that benefits the partner organization.

In 2020, the GA Sunday collection raised $79,250 for the Tomaquag Museum, which promotes thoughtful dialogue regarding Indigenous history, culture, arts, and Mother Earth and connecting it to Native issues of today.

This year UUA General Assembly is partnering with MICAH (Milwaukee Inner-City Congregations Allied for Hope). MICAH is a multi-racial, interfaith organization committed to justice issues of greatest importance to residents of Milwaukee, a city afflicted with racialized and concentrated poverty. Several Milwaukee-area UU congregations have long-time deep relationships with MICAH, and several UUs have held leadership roles with MICAH over the years.

The UUA’s Organizing Strategy Team shares that MICAH has “a long history of visionary Black leadership, true multi-faith collaboration, and synergistic partnership with frontline communities and organizations.” MICAH is a critical participant in the justice-making eco-system of Milwaukee. It will be a joy to share the offering from this year’s Sunday morning worship with them.

Monthly Gatherings for Trans, Non-binary UUs

Join the UPLIFT monthly gatherings focused on trans, nonbinary, and other not (completely or at all) cis UUs. Join us 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)!

These gatherings focus on getting to know each other and on sharing our collective dreams, ideas, and talents for this space. Expansive definitions of trans, nonbinary, and UU all apply. If you are interested in this space, and you aren’t cisgender, it’s a space for you. To attend the next gathering, register today, or to register youth, find the instructions here.

The Colors of Pride: Support Equality and Commemorate Juneteenth

There are three easy ways to participate:

1. Show a pre-recorded message at your weekly service or on your website or Facebook page. The messages feature Rev. Dr. Roland Stringfellow, Rabbi Denise Eger, Bishop Karen Oliveto, and the Rev. Manish Mishra-Marzetti.
2. Sign up for Pride Week Actions, June 11-19, to educate yourselves and your congregation on upcoming equality legislation.
3. Access the toolkit (Google Doc) to see the many other ways you can support the LGBTQ community this Pride Month and beyond.

If you have any questions about involving your Welcoming Congregation in The Colors of Pride celebration and actions, please email lgbtq@uua.org.

General Assembly: Visit our Booth!

It's June and officially General Assembly season. UU World has outlined the business that delegates will be considering at this year's GA. 

Your Stewardship and Development Team has booths in the Virtual Exhibit Hall and we would love for you to visit! We'll have information about Annual Program Fund contributions, individual giving options, and more.

UUA Board of Trustees Pre-General Assembly Webinars

What to Expect at GA 2021 | Thursday, June 10, 7 pm ET / 4 pm PT

Members of the UUA Board of Trustees, Commission on Social Witness, and the GA and Conferences Service Office will guide you through what to expect at this year's virtual GA. Register here.

In-Depth Look at the Rules of Procedure | Saturday, June 12, 10 am PT / 1 pm ET

Members of the UUA Board of Trustees will help you understand and answer your questions about the GA 2021 Rules of Procedure. Register here.

UU the Vote named Finalist for Enduring Impact in Business by Fast Company magazine

UU the Vote was named a finalist in the Enduring Impact (15+ years in business) category. Check out the award winner and other finalists here. The awards are described as follows:

For the past five years, Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas Awards have honored the businesses and organizations driving change in the world. This year, the entries reflect a range of exceptional work helping to fight the pandemic and to support people during the crisis—and the necessity of rethinking how society emerges from the past year better than before. We received more than 3,000 entries, an all-time record. The 34 winners and hundreds of other finalists represent the kind of innovative thinking that will help us channel the optimism and hope of this moment into a better future.

Congratulations to UU the Vote volunteers, participants, donors, and staff! 

Established in 1988, the Living Tradition Fund (LTF) provides three types of support for ministry: 

• Need-based scholarships for theological students who have completed a full year of theological education
• New minister assistance to reduce the burden of high educational debt and repayment
• Emergency assistance grants to seminarians, ministers, religious professionals, other congregational staff, retired ministers and their loved ones

Each year, the Service of the Living Tradition at General Assembly includes a collection to benefit the Living Tradition Fund.

UU@UN Seeks Volunteers for Spring Seminar 2022

Are you interested in the work of the Unitarian Universalist Office at the United Nations? Do you know any youth or young adults who might want to be involved too?

The UU@UN is seeking volunteers to organize the 2022 Intergenerational Spring Seminar, tentatively slated to take place in New York City, April 22-24, 2022.

This is a landmark event that for 63 years has provided an opportunity for Unitarian Universalists from around the United States and Canada to connect, learn, and engage with international human rights issues at the United Nations. The program has a reputation for inspiring young global activists and renewed commitment to our UU Sixth Principle: the goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all.

Network of Hospitality for Bridging Youth

The UUA’s Office of Lifespan Faith Engagement—in collaboration with the Mount Vernon Unitarian Church—is piloting of a new network of hospitality for Unitarian Universalist youth who are bridging out of their high school years. Building off wisdom from previous programs, this network aims to connect bridging youth to the congregation where they will be living. Whether they’re staying in the same place, or moving far away from home, bridging youth may appreciate connection and community in this new life stage.
 
Congregations sending forth bridging youth are encouraged to share the Bridging Youth Hospitality Network survey (Google Form) with their youth to fill out. That way, bridging youth will identify how they would like to be supported. Congregations receiving these new young adults are encouraged to also fill out the survey, to make the connection. Find additional bridging resources on UUA.org.
 
Questions about the network can be directed to Rev. Stevie Carmody, Emerging Adult Ministry Associate in the UUA Office of Lifespan Faith Engagement, by emailing youngadult@uua.org.

The Stonewall Generation wins Silver Nautilus Award

In The Stonewall Generation, Jane Fleishman shares the stories of fearless elders in the LGBTQ community who came of age around the time of the Stonewall Riots of 1969.

For Pride month, there are opportunities to hear from Dr. Fleishman. The next one is on Tuesday, June 15, at 6 pm ET / 3 pm PT. Hosted by Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, NC, Dr. Fleishman will be in conversation wtih activist Mandy Carter. Register on Crowdcast here.

Seasons of Giving is the monthly e-newsletter from the UUA's Stewardship and Development Office. Questions can be directed to Suzanne Murray at development@uua.org or (617) 948-4392.

Check UUA.org and UUWorld.org, as well as UUA regional websites, for the latest updates.