Housing Low-Income People

Lori Rosendahl, Chief Operating Officer for the Grand Junction Housing Authority, will speak at the Mesa County League of Women Voters’ program on Monday, January 11th at 7:00 pm at UUCGV. A social with light fare and refreshments will precede the 7:00 pm program.

MLK Youth Summit: The Sleeping Giant, Or Why Black Lives Matter Location: First Unitarian Denver, Jan 16, 2016 @ 2:00 pm through Jan. 18th, 2016 @ 12:00 pm. Cost for this weekend-long event, which includes meals, is $50 early or $60 late registration. 

     Each year at First Unitarian Denver there is an anti-oppression / social justice overnight for youth culminating in the parade march on MLK day. After 6 years of incredibly successful programming ranging from economic justice to GLBTQ bullying to immigration justice to racial equality, MDD has expanded this event to encompass 3 days of growth, learning, activism, and advocacy. This year, the MLK Summit will focus on Black Lives Matter. The Denver poet, Suzie Q, has written an amazing song with the help of NO Enemies (Flobots) promoting racial activism.  The words go, “I am a sleeping giant, there lives a riot in my bones.”  Suzie’s words are a call to action in the work against oppression. And, as a faith community, we are called to work for an end to the injustices faced by people of color in our communities, so that every person is treated equally and has a fair chance at life.

     Outside of this intentional learning, there will also be free time, non-themed workshop time, and opportunities for youth to connect between tracks and share about their experiences. Will you join with us to make a difference in our world?

     Registration has THREE steps!  Go to www.mdduua.org for registration and more information.

CROP Walk
We have been contacted by the representatives of Koinonia Church to see if we would like to assume the major organizing role for a 2015 CROP hunger Walk campaign. Last year we were designated co-organizers but the Koinonia people did the yeoman’s work. There is a great framework to make this year much easier for organizers. There are several roles requiring volunteer leadership:

1.Recruitment – contacting church, civic, school groups to do fundraising within their organization. There is a great data base with contact info. for over 125 local groups.
2.Business sponsorship – soliciting  financial support via donations & donation boxes at retail locations.
3.Promotion/Publicity- developing plan to relate ongoing campaign &  to get walkday media exposure.
4.Web activities- update existing website, utilize social media and obtain online donations.
5.Education- develop activities/ materials  to make the public aware of hunger and sustainability efforts needed.
6.Walkday logistics- accommodate registration, safety, all activities on the actual day of the walk.
7.Treasurer- maintain fund collections, do reporting and remittances to Church World Service (CROP hunger Walk’s operating agency).

UUCGV needs commitments for some of these leadership roles if we are to be a co-organizer. The campaign and planning would start soon and culminate in a mid- October walkday. Some Koinonia and other churches/groups may have volunteers willing to assume some of the leadership roles mentioned. If you are able to assume a role contact Joel Prudhomme (jphomme@earthlink.net; 970-628-4699) ASAP. Church World Service will need to know details of a Grand Valley 2015 campaign before mid-June.

2015 Pride Parade

All hands on deck!

 Help to complete our float for the 2015 BGLTQA Pride Parade in downtown Grand Junction! This is the first time that UUCGV has entered the Western Slope Pride Parade. We will need to complete the float by May 16th. Materials, GLITTER, and tools will be provided.

·Meet at UUCGV on May 2nd, and May 9th, Saturdays, at 10am.

·On Saturday May 16th we will meet at 2:00pm to add the finishing touches to the float, trailer, and tow vehicle. This is also a good time to make a posterboard sign to carry while walking.

We’re goin’ to the Chapel, Gonna get Married…

Pride Parade Sunday, May 17th at 12:00 noon

Come March (only 6 blocks) to show your support for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities! It is exciting for us to show our support for Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, Transgender, Queer, Questioning and Allied people. Our theme is “Going to the Chapel…” to celebrate the advent of Marriage for All in Colorado! There will be a street fair at the M City Lounge after the Parade, we will be sharing a booth with the UCC group to get our welcoming message out.

We need a BIG turnout to show our enthusiasm!

Meet at 1st and Main, then walk with our float, or with our local interfaith group! Wear good walking shoes, and either “wedding attire” or a UU t-shirt. This is the time to pull out your Standing on the Side of Love, or Purple UU     t-shirt!

We need to fill 15 more overnight spots, plus more food donations to fulfill our commitment to the Emergency Shelter Program, please sign up now in the admin hallway!

We will be hosting men from the shelter overflow at our church! Around 20 guys will stay with us for 2 weeks from 7pm to 8am. We need folks to host (stay overnight), to donate food (for breakfasts and evening snacks), and to cook a hot breakfast early in the morning. Everyone can help! Sign up at church, or call Coordinator Robert McDonald at 201-5798.

Tuesday Night RE is a 5-week course on practices of mindfulness meditation as well as discussion of the latest neuroscience research. Instructor Shannon Gass has completed training as mindfulness curriculum specialist and is completing MBSR certification through UC San Diego. Meet with us at 7:00 every Tuesday evening in March! (There will be no Childcare provided.) Hope to see you there!

Looking Ahead: The Emergency Shelter Program March 29- April 11. We will be hosting men from the shelter overflow at our church! Around 20 guys will stay with us for 2 weeks from 7pm to 8am. We need folks to host (stay overnight), to donate food (for breakfasts and evening snacks), and to cook a hot breakfast early in the morning. Everyone can help! Sign up at church, or call Coordinator Robert McDonald at 201-5798.