"All on One Plate: Cultural Expectations on American Mothers" with Dr. Solveig Brown

Saturday, Oct. 6, 10-11:30 a.m. in the Cummins Room

 

Come learn about the latest research on everything today's parents have to deal with such as: managing screen time; promoting achievement; work-life balance; and feelings of pressure and guilt while managing everything on one's plate. Dr. Solveig Brown is the author of "All On One Plate: Cultural Expectations on American Mothers," an anthropological study of 140 mothers. 

This is a wonderful opportunity for parents to come together to talk about the joys and challenges of parenting. The discussion will be aimed at parents of young children, birth to age 5. Parents of older children are also welcome to come and participate.

This is a free event sponsored by Congregational Care's Welcome New Child Team. Dr. Brown will have copies of her books for sale for $15.

An Evening of Learning and Reflection on the Immigration Court Observation Program

Tuesday, Oct. 30, 7-9 p.m.

 

Join us for an evening of learning and reflection on the Immigration Court Observation Project, featuring Michele Garnett McKenzie, Deputy Director of The Advocates for Human Rights, and a panel of court observers.

Learn about the racist underpinnings of U.S. immigration policy throughout history, the impetus for the court observation program and how it has evolved, and the role of court observers in bringing witness, transparency and accountability to immigration court.

Reflect on what we have learned, and how we have been impacted, and how we can organize for change. All are welcome!

FREE but please RSVP at:  https://immigrationcourtobserver.eventbrite.com

	Bree Mattson

Change is happening in the office at church. We are sad to be saying goodbye to Bree Mattson, our Operations Manager, after five years of dedicated and creative service to First Universalist. Bree was recruited for a position with the Friends of the Boundary Waters, and her new job will combine her love of the outdoors with her skills in supporting the important work of nonprofits. Bree will be with us until Friday, Oct. 19. Please drop her a note or stop by to say thank you and to wish her well.

With Bree's departure, and with Andrea Love's departure (our Finance Specialist) last month, the staff has been doing a lot of talking about the needs of the church in this moment. We've decided to restructure our operations team, and we've developed several new positions that will allow our current staff to grow and shine while also better meeting our needs for support with the database and a consistent presence and coordination at the front desk.

We hope that you will help spread the word to your circles of connection about these three open positions:

Membership Data Coordinator (40 hours/week)

Events Coordinator (30 hours/week)

Receptionist/Administrative Assistant (40 hours/week), Mon-Thu 9:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.

All three positions are fairly compensated and come with excellent benefits. We are a supportive, fun, justice-seeking team and we are committed to fostering a racially and culturally diverse staff. Members of First Universalist are not eligible to apply.

Submitted by Denise Konen

Mayra (not her real name) warmly invited me into her home. Barely taking a breath, she hurriedly told me what had happened to her family in the last two weeks. Her husband had been arrested and put into ICE jail and she was desperate. How could she help her children through the painful loss of their father? Where would they get money for his legal fees? How would she make the rent? The previous week she was so distraught she imagined walking down the highway in the middle of rush hour. Luckily, Mayra called someone she believed would listen. She called one of our community partners that works directly with immigrants. They let us know when someone has been detained and needs funds. We were able to access funds quickly because of your generous donations to the Sanctuary and Resistance Immigrant Fund. Whether you donated and received a Sanctuary and Resistance Interfaith spiritual practice bracelet, participated in an art making event this summer, or made a direct donation - you gave Mayra and other immigrants who have been detained more than money - you gave them hope. Thank you! Because our First Universalist community puts our faith into action I was able to hand Mayra $750. She was so grateful - and for the first time in a while, could take a breath.

This fund is beyond charity for individual people - it addresses the systemic injustice that is tearing families apart. From one day to the next, men, women and children like Mayra are challenged by drastic expenses which serve to fund the mass incarceration and deportation machine. We are working together with targeted people to shift the devastating impact on their lives by resource sharing and building community resistance to dismantle the system of mass incarceration. Members of our church attend hearings at immigration court to observe what happens there and collect information for the Advocates for Human Rights and the Immigration Law Center at the U of MN. Seeing the reality of the institutional forces against immigrants can help clarify and humanize the impact on immigrants we see in the headlines and help to address the inequities directed at communities of color. If you are interested in becoming a court observer please contact Joan Naymark, jnaymark@gmail.com.

We need you to continue to grow this fund! You can donate today: tinyurl.com/1U-immigrantfund. Regular monthly donations are ideal! You can also either help us develop a marketing plan to distribute T-shirts (coming soon!) to a variety of locations, staff a table at First Universalist, or hold an event to help us build the fund. Let us know how you want to get involved. Contact Denise Konen, denise@netgains.net .

Join Asamblea de Derechos Civiles (Assembly for Civil Rights) this Saturday, Oct. 6 to go door-to-door to register voters in the 2nd Congressional District (South Metro, Southeastern MN). We will meet for training at Sagrado Corazon Church (3801 Pleasant Ave, Minneapolis) at 8 a.m. and leave on a bus at 10 a.m to door knock and return to Sagrado Corazon at 6 p.m. Lunch and snacks will be provided. If you want to meet us there please call Mary and we can let you know where we will be. Our effort will be focused on families who face serious challenges due to low income and discrimination. We aim to change the fact that, all too often, the people who most need their voices heard in public discussion and decision-making are shut out because they have been strongly discouraged from registering to vote. To get the message out and have the best positive effect, we will be working in two-person teams of one Spanish speaker and one English speaker. Bring your friends! Please contact Mary McCann,  maryandalice@gmail.com, 612-723-5845, from the First Universalist Sanctuary and Resistance team and we can go together!

Are you or someone you know a caregiver? First Universalist has a  Caregiver Support Group that meets once a month. Explore your experience, your questions, your joys and frustrations, and deepen your spiritual resources with those who share a similar experience. The group has a facilitator who has over 20 years experience leading caregiver groups. If you would like more information, contact Anne Frenchick tedanne@pro-ns.net.