“Diversity – Equity – Inclusion” building beloved community within and beyond our doors.
The Racial Justice Task Force at UUCM honors the worth and dignity of every human being, which is a fundamental principle of Unitarian Universalism. We affirm that individual and systemic racism must be actively confronted and eliminated for there to be equity, peace, and justice in our country and the world.
CURRENT PROJECTS
Land Acknowledgement Marker at UUCM
Plans are ongoing to install an Indigenous Peoples Land Acknowledgement marker near the UUCM Garden Door entrance. The land, rivers, lakes, and mountains that make up the Monadnock region are a part of the Abenaki people’s homeland, which they called N’dakinna (“our land”). Today, Abenaki tribes are working to preserve their culture, waterways, language, and traditions. Here in NH they are also working to educate people and to correct the historical record, moving to one with a more accurate and inclusive narrative.
Black Heritage Trail NH Events
We hope to plan a spring visit to the trail. BHTNH raises awareness for NH’s Black history by fostering dialogues about race, diversity, and inclusion. They offer educational programs, exhibits, curriculum development, and research that can “change the way we understand human dignity when free of historical stereotypes.” Based in Portsmouth, many events are now on Zoom and in person.
Future Projects:
- Climate change action as a racial justice priority.
- Participate in UUA’s “Knotty Conversations” curriculum
- Participate in UU the Vote
Past Projects:
- Procured a Black Lives Matter banner for our building with congregational approval, in support of the world-wide Movement for Black Lives.
- Book Group: Reading For Change
- Supported and promoted local events and initiatives such as Black Heritage Trail NH, Black Lives Matter vigils & rallies, educational events about Indigenous Peoples in NH.
- Organized congregational Zoom meetings with Rev. Michael Crumpler, UUA (Unitarian-Universalist Association) LGBTQ and Multicultural Programs Director to discuss the UUA report, Widening The Circle of Concern. https://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/committees/cic/widening
- Hosted Paul and Denise Pouliot, head speakers of the Cowasuck Band of the Pennacook Abenaki People, on a Zoom program, Saving Our Food Ways and Sacred Spaces. https://cowasuck.org/
- Read and discussed How To Be An Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi as part of UUCM book club “Reading For Change”