Yesterday evening the U.U.A.s People of Color organization known as DRUUMM (Diverse Revolutionary Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Ministries) celebrated its annual meeting with a large gathering of over seventy people. There were youth and young adults, there were several older veterans of the struggle, and all the generations in between.
As a sign growth and maturity each of DRUUMM's several identity caucuses was well represented: Latino/a, African descent, Native peoples/ American Indian, Asian and Pacific Islanders, Youth, and Young Adults, and Queers of Color.
The meeting was brought together by Manish Mishra, DRUUMM's outgoing President who told of the experiences of being President and some of the accomplishments of the Steering Committee in the last year.
The Mel Hoover "Beloved Community Award" for outstanding service to the People of Color in the UUA was given to two persons this year, Dr. Norma Poinsett and Rev. Dr. Bill Jones. Norma is a long time African American activist having served on the Black Concerns Working Group, and Professor Jones is well known for his penetrating analysis of racism within American society and within our own Unitarian Universalist Association. Both also served on the UUA Board of Trustees.
A new steering committee was elected that included:
President -- Danielle Di Bona
First Vice President -- Leslie Takahashi Morris
Second Vice President -- Mel Hoover
Treasurer -- Robette Ann Dias
Recording Secretary -- James Coomes
Corresponding Secretary -- Joseph Santos Lyons
Multicultural / Families of Color Coordinator -- John Gilmore
Communications Coordinator -- Monifa Johnson
GA Coordinator -- Clyde Grubbs
Outreach Coordinator -- Tony Blumfield
UUA liaison --- Sofia Betancourt
The meetings sent prayers and well wishes to Leno Sottile, son of Robette Dias who was injured while on duty as a fireman the day before, and to Robette who left Fort Lauderdale to fly home to be with Leno.
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