Unitarian Universalists: June 2008 Archives

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.

People So Bold! is proud to announce that a standing caucus of Native Peoples/American Indians gathered in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday, June 26th for a late lunch and conversation about their work together.  While not all of the identifiable Native American DRUUMM members were able to make the caucus meeting, it was the first time that most of the identified Native American DRUUMM members came together.

The conversation identified three main areas of work for the caucus during the coming year: outreach to other Native American Indians within and around our Unitarian Universalist movement and congregations;  building awareness of Native American Indian history and issues among Unitarian Universalists; and advocacy work around issues of racism and cultural misappropriation as they impact the Native American Indian experience within our congregations and the denomination at large.

Those who gathered shared their stories and articulated several common concerns, and agreed that they would continue to discuss a name for the caucus.  There were several candidates for a name,  First People,  Native People, and American Indian were considered,  but it was agreed to let a decision on the name sit and see what comes up as we caucus some more.