Racial Justice Initiatives
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Each year our Racial Justice Coordinating Team reviews and revises the racial justice initiatives for the congregation.  It is the teams mission to educate and engage our congregation in this work.

Please review the initiatives below.  If you have a passion for any of them and would like to join in those efforts, please contact the Lead person listed.  If you have any comments or questions on the initiatives overall, please email: [email protected]. 
​We welcome feedback.
Racial Justice Initiatives 2024-2025
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Organize and provide an anti-racist educational program (with discussion) for UUSRQ Board, Team Leaders, and members on:
  • Elements of the 8th Principle
  • Systemic Racism
  • White Allyship
  • Multi-cultural Competency
  • Characteristics of white dominant culture

​Leads: 
​Catherine Bonner
​[email protected]

Rev. Brock Leach
​[email protected]

​Becky Van Der Bogert
[email protected]

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Support our BIPOC community through a UUSRQ Volunteer Placement Program
  • Post a list of BIPOC organizations and volunteer opportunities on our website
  • Assist members in identifying interests for volunteering.
  • Connect members to volunteer training.
  • Provide a list of UUSRQ members with techincal skills and leadership experience to help support  BIPOC  organizations. 

Leads:
​Nina Tortelli
[email protected]

Aubrey Phillips
[email protected]

Rev. Brock Leach
​[email protected]

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Co-sponsor/ Host/ Promote Anti-Racism Events with community Anti-Racism partners.
  • Identify and participate in coalition partner events.
  • Offer UUSRQ venue and streaming services for anti-racism events.
  • Promote coalition partner events in UUSRQ newsletter and social media.
  • Sponsor community-wide Racial Justice event(s).

  
Leads: 
​Sharron Howard
[email protected]

​​Dale Anderson
[email protected]
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Network with Regional UU Justice and Racial Justice Groups
  • Connect with other UU congregations' Racial Justice leaders and teams.
  • Organize and host online meeting(s) of the regional racial justice teams.
  • Explore opportunities for mutual support & collaboration on racial justice initiatives. 

Leads: 
​Sharron Howard
[email protected]

​Nina Tortelli
[email protected]

​Aubrey Phillips
[email protected]

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Explore Opportunities to enhance the impact of the Community Remembrance Project Lynching Memorial Installation
  • Explore ways to honoring Dr John and Dorothy Chenault at the site. 
  • Advise and counsel Manatee UU as they consider a Bradenton memorial marker. 
  • Explore the development of an annual Racial Justice Essay Contest in collaboration with community partners hosted at UUSRQ.
  • Explore organizing a trip to the Peace and Justice Memorial in Montgomery, Alabama

Leads:  
Dale Anderson
[email protected]

Becky Van Der Bogert
[email protected]
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Explore ways to incorporate BIPOC Community Priorities into UUSRQ Racial Justice Planning. 

Develop a collaborative plan with individual organizations in the community to address Racial Justice issues that impact their community. 
Explore ways to build a strong congregational relationship with the Hispanic Community, and our surrounding community.

​Leads:
Nina Tortelli
[email protected]

​Aubrey Phillips
[email protected]
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