JPANet June 2022 Newsletter

Each month we ask UCC advocates to help us unpack the complex justice issues that we’re working on. This month Curator of Join the Movement for Racial Justice, Dr. Sharon R. Fennema, offers a reflection on Juneteenth, Hidden Histories, and the Distance between Emancipation to Freedom.

‘Do Not Forget the Things Your Eyes Have Seen’

This year offers the nation our first opportunity to honor and celebrate Juneteenth since it became a federally-recognized holiday last year, thanks to the decades-long advocacy of Opal Lee, a 95-year old community activist and cultural historian from Texas who spearheaded the Juneteenth movement. Though many communities of African descent have been celebrating the day that the news of emancipation reached the last enslaved people in Galveston, Texas for years, the value of preserving history and celebrating abolition takes on new significance this year as access to cultural historical education has become a bone of contention and a political rallying point in every setting of government from local school boards to state legislatures across the nation. Read more. 

Justice In Action

Advocate to End Gun Violence

As a nation, we continue to grieve in the wake of two senseless and utterly tragic acts of violence in Buffalo and Uvalde. The gun violence that plagues our country seems to have no end. Too many people elevate guns and protect those second amendment rights without protecting those who are affected by gun violence.

As we share in collective grief, may we also join in action. It doesn’t have to be this way. Our continued advocacy can help end the idolatry of guns. Learn about what you can do to take action in our advocacy toolkit, or by directly contacting your legislators. 

Join us in taking action now.

OWL Online Training Available to UCC Members

A dedicated number of spots are available for UCC members to attend OWL training online throughout 2022. These trainings take place over three weeks, with twice weekly evening sessions on Zoom, as well as some work outside of those sessions, and one Saturday session. We’ve already trained nearly 100 people from 28 states using this multi-platform method. Deadline for applying for the July training is June 6th! Those and other training dates can be found here.

Justice Events

Webinar—Discerning and Deciding: Bold Climate Action

With the need for a rapid reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the next few years, discernment is needed on where to focus policy efforts. To help us, this webinar will feature three leaders in the climate movement. Even if you can’t make the scheduled time of 1 pm ET on Wednesday, June 8^th, still sign-up, and we will send you a recording. Register now!

Join us in D.C. on June 18!

As a mobilizing partner for the 6/18 Mass Poor People’s and Low Wage Workers Assembly and Moral March on Washington and to the Polls, we are proud to stand with the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival, a movement led be and for the 140 million poor and low wealth people in this country. Learn more about UCC involvement here, and RSVP now! 

June is Torture Awareness Month!

January 2022 marked twenty years since the opening of the prison at Guantanamo Bay. 37 men are still unjustly imprisoned there, at a cost of 13 million per person – per year. Here at home, prisons still inflict psychological and physical torture through solitary confinement, while abroad, our military tortures from the skies through the use of armed drones. We as a nation and world have a long way to go to build a more just and humane society. Take time today to learn more on these issues and support the National Religious Campaign Against Torture, the leading faith organization on torture and a close UCC partner.

Global Ministries Mission Dash 5K

Join Global Ministries for a 5K for climate justice! You are encouraged to walk, roll, run, jog, or spiritually sprint wherever you are! You may choose to do the 5K with neighbors, friends, family, church, or on your own. The cost is $25 per person, and each registrant will receive a collapsible water bottle and magnet. Registrants may do the 5K anytime between August 1 and August 31, 2022. Sign up today!

Justice Resources

DC Action Center

Each week, the D.C. Office creates an action alert based on what is happening at that time in Congress, and offers you the opportunity to contact your legislators with just one click! You can find all the alerts here.

The Pollinator

The Pollinator is a digital platform of the UCC for the sharing of ideas and inspiration. Its focus is the building of a faith-filled and faith-rooted movement for the care of creation

Witness for Justice

Looking for up-to-date social justice commentary? Check out Witness for Justice, a weekly editorial opinion column written by the staff of Justice and Witness Ministries.

Featured Topics:

Honoring Sacred Souls: The Shooting in Buffalo and the Image and Likeness of God | Period Poverty | A True Mother’s Day