“We have always been a faith community with a spiritual center and a civic circumference.”
-Rev. William G. Sinkford, past President of the UUA
-Rev. William G. Sinkford, past President of the UUA
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Our shared faith carries us beyond Sunday mornings and into our homes, work, schools, and broader Arizona community, including the voting booth. Starting with our affirmation and promotion of the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large we are called to look at the issues facing our state through the lens of our Principles and values.
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Thank you to everyone who joined us in Surprise for Issues and Action Day! Below are some of the resources from the day that you are welcome to share with others in your communities.
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UUJAZ's Annual Meeting Video
UUJAZ's Year In Review 2017-2018 from UUJAZ on Vimeo. |
Edna and Dave Weigel's presentation on Water Use and Gardening
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Info sheets from Kristen Wolfe's afternoon workshop on Ecological Water
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AZED101 info |
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Saturday October 27th, 2018 | 9:00am-4:15pm
Unitarian Universalist Church of Surprise
17540 N Avenue of the Arts, Surprise, AZ 85378
Unitarian Universalist Church of Surprise
17540 N Avenue of the Arts, Surprise, AZ 85378
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Agenda:
9:00 Registration 9:25 Welcome and Roll Call 9:30 Opening Worship: Democracy 10:00 What’s on the Ballot: Propositions: Anne Schneider 10:30 Our UU Values and Education: Rev. Dr. Andy Burnette Rev. Andy is Senior Minister at Valley UU where he and the congregation have been very active with the Red4Ed protests, collecting signatures on education related propositions, and working in opposition to school vouchers. 10:45 Break 11:00 What to Expect at the Legislature Next Year: Anne Schneider |
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11:30 Our UU Values and Immigration: Rev. Matthew Funke Crary
Rev. Mathew, Minister at UU Congregation of Green Valley in Amado, was responsible for the design and implementation of Justice District Assembly 2017 with a focus on the borderlands. The congregation in Amado has also companioned three transgender asylum seekers over the last three years.
11:45 Our UU Values and Water: Rev. Lisa McDaniel-Hutchings
Rev. Lisa has been a director of UUJAZ since its inception in 2014. She previously served an environmental ministry, and is the convener of UUJAZ’s Water Action Team.
12:00 Our UU Values and Racial Justice: Rev. Karla Brockie
Rev. Karla is the recently retired Minister of the Granite Peak UU Congregation in Prescott. Under her leadership, the congregation engaged in “Building the World We Dream About”, an adult faith development course on anti-racism and multiculturalism, as well as white supremacy teach-ins.
12:15 Lunch
1:00 UUJAZ Annual Meeting
1:30 Issue Action Teams and UUSC & UUJAZ Shared Priorities: Rev. Lisa McDaniel-Hutchings
2:15 Workshops - Presented by partner justice organizations. UUJAZ Issue Action Teams will also provide brief updates.
Water | Ecological Water presented by AZ Water Future
AZ Water Future is a coalition of the towns, tribes, individuals, community groups, and businesses striving to modernize Arizona's water law. Winners of the Arizona Capitol Times’ 2018 Leaders of the Year Award in the Environment Category, they are the force behind HB 2581, the “Ecological Water Bill” that was introduced to the AZ Legislature this session but did not receive a hearing. Learn more at azwaterfuture.org
Water is life. In Arizona’s arid environment, rivers and streams are vital arteries that sustain our diverse flora and fauna. The health of these fragile waterways is also intimately tied to the well-being of human communities and local economies. Sadly, the vast majority of Arizona rivers have already been dried up over the past century, and our remaining flowing rivers are at significant risk, especially in places like the Upper Verde and the San Pedro, which are threatened more than ever by surface water diversions, groundwater pumping, drought, and climate change. This is happening despite that fact that Arizona’s $20 billion-dollar tourist economy relies on healthy rivers and riparian habitat for boating, fishing, hunting, hiking, birding and sightseeing, all of which will be negatively affected by continued diminishing flows. Join us to learn more about the importance of ecological water, the various factors influencing its use and allocation, what we can do to protect it in Arizona.
Racial Justice | White Fragility, presented by Rowdy Duncan
Rowdy Duncan has worked in the field of diversity and inclusion for over a decade. He is the founder of Paradise Valley Community College’s Diversity, Incorporated, a program that teaches students how to present the MOSAIC inclusiveness program, and he is an active member of the Healing Racism Public Dialogue Series, winner of the 2008 National League of Cities Promoting Inclusive Award. He sits on the curriculum board for Anytown AZ, and was a 2014 winner of the Arizona Diversity Alliance’s Diversity Champion Award, as well as the 2015 winner of the John and Suanne Rouche Award for Excellence for the Community College from the League of Innovation. He currently produces and delivers his bi-weekly Inclusive Activism Podcast about how the intersections of Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity work are a form of Personal Leadership, as well as teaching Communication and Public Speaking at Phoenix College.
Fragility: Do you know that thing that just GETS to you? That area where you constantly over and over fall for, lose your composure, and you just can’t keep from taking the bait? Those places we protect, those areas we want to deny exist are the places we are weakest and most susceptible to threat. Many times, those places are our own places of Privileged Fragility. This workshop explores Fragility, what is it, how does it manifest, and what can we do about it to become a better human being?
Education | Education Funding presented by Libby Goff of AZ Ed 101
AZED101 is a non-partisan volunteer group of parents committed to improving Arizona’s education funding. Libby Goff is a member of UUC Phoenix and is working to restore funding for Public Education for Arizona schools because she believes public education is vital. Public education created the middle class. It is essential for democracy, and it is the how we ensure a good future for our state. Libby, her husband and her children have all been educated by public schools in Arizona (through college). She knows public schools can work well for all of us!
AZED101’s presentation is jam packed with facts about the history of education funding in Arizona and where we are today. Some parts of our Arizona funding situation are confusing and complex. This workshop clarifies the difference between tax credits and vouchers, charter schools and our neighborhood public schools, override elections, and more! Here at AZED101, we realized that to change the status quo, we had to understand the situation, and soon we had a presentation to share with friends and neighbors, who were shocked at how our schools are funded. You will be, too.
3:45 Evaluations
4:00 Closing Reflection
Rev. Mathew, Minister at UU Congregation of Green Valley in Amado, was responsible for the design and implementation of Justice District Assembly 2017 with a focus on the borderlands. The congregation in Amado has also companioned three transgender asylum seekers over the last three years.
11:45 Our UU Values and Water: Rev. Lisa McDaniel-Hutchings
Rev. Lisa has been a director of UUJAZ since its inception in 2014. She previously served an environmental ministry, and is the convener of UUJAZ’s Water Action Team.
12:00 Our UU Values and Racial Justice: Rev. Karla Brockie
Rev. Karla is the recently retired Minister of the Granite Peak UU Congregation in Prescott. Under her leadership, the congregation engaged in “Building the World We Dream About”, an adult faith development course on anti-racism and multiculturalism, as well as white supremacy teach-ins.
12:15 Lunch
1:00 UUJAZ Annual Meeting
1:30 Issue Action Teams and UUSC & UUJAZ Shared Priorities: Rev. Lisa McDaniel-Hutchings
2:15 Workshops - Presented by partner justice organizations. UUJAZ Issue Action Teams will also provide brief updates.
Water | Ecological Water presented by AZ Water Future
AZ Water Future is a coalition of the towns, tribes, individuals, community groups, and businesses striving to modernize Arizona's water law. Winners of the Arizona Capitol Times’ 2018 Leaders of the Year Award in the Environment Category, they are the force behind HB 2581, the “Ecological Water Bill” that was introduced to the AZ Legislature this session but did not receive a hearing. Learn more at azwaterfuture.org
Water is life. In Arizona’s arid environment, rivers and streams are vital arteries that sustain our diverse flora and fauna. The health of these fragile waterways is also intimately tied to the well-being of human communities and local economies. Sadly, the vast majority of Arizona rivers have already been dried up over the past century, and our remaining flowing rivers are at significant risk, especially in places like the Upper Verde and the San Pedro, which are threatened more than ever by surface water diversions, groundwater pumping, drought, and climate change. This is happening despite that fact that Arizona’s $20 billion-dollar tourist economy relies on healthy rivers and riparian habitat for boating, fishing, hunting, hiking, birding and sightseeing, all of which will be negatively affected by continued diminishing flows. Join us to learn more about the importance of ecological water, the various factors influencing its use and allocation, what we can do to protect it in Arizona.
Racial Justice | White Fragility, presented by Rowdy Duncan
Rowdy Duncan has worked in the field of diversity and inclusion for over a decade. He is the founder of Paradise Valley Community College’s Diversity, Incorporated, a program that teaches students how to present the MOSAIC inclusiveness program, and he is an active member of the Healing Racism Public Dialogue Series, winner of the 2008 National League of Cities Promoting Inclusive Award. He sits on the curriculum board for Anytown AZ, and was a 2014 winner of the Arizona Diversity Alliance’s Diversity Champion Award, as well as the 2015 winner of the John and Suanne Rouche Award for Excellence for the Community College from the League of Innovation. He currently produces and delivers his bi-weekly Inclusive Activism Podcast about how the intersections of Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity work are a form of Personal Leadership, as well as teaching Communication and Public Speaking at Phoenix College.
Fragility: Do you know that thing that just GETS to you? That area where you constantly over and over fall for, lose your composure, and you just can’t keep from taking the bait? Those places we protect, those areas we want to deny exist are the places we are weakest and most susceptible to threat. Many times, those places are our own places of Privileged Fragility. This workshop explores Fragility, what is it, how does it manifest, and what can we do about it to become a better human being?
Education | Education Funding presented by Libby Goff of AZ Ed 101
AZED101 is a non-partisan volunteer group of parents committed to improving Arizona’s education funding. Libby Goff is a member of UUC Phoenix and is working to restore funding for Public Education for Arizona schools because she believes public education is vital. Public education created the middle class. It is essential for democracy, and it is the how we ensure a good future for our state. Libby, her husband and her children have all been educated by public schools in Arizona (through college). She knows public schools can work well for all of us!
AZED101’s presentation is jam packed with facts about the history of education funding in Arizona and where we are today. Some parts of our Arizona funding situation are confusing and complex. This workshop clarifies the difference between tax credits and vouchers, charter schools and our neighborhood public schools, override elections, and more! Here at AZED101, we realized that to change the status quo, we had to understand the situation, and soon we had a presentation to share with friends and neighbors, who were shocked at how our schools are funded. You will be, too.
3:45 Evaluations
4:00 Closing Reflection