Fall Programming from Side With Love: Learn, Gather, and Connect
This can be a bittersweet time of year for so many, but we are taking joy in what UUA President Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt reminds us is the time when we “come back to each other in our congregations and communities.”
Whether you are coming back to your community after a long time away or whether you have been there all summer, we are grateful for your shared ministry toward collective liberation and beloved community.
This summer, Side With Love program and field staff created a wealth of events, resources, and opportunities to balance the need to rest and play with the necessity of honing our skills and staying informed and prepared to respond to the ongoing attacks on communities and people beloved of us.
Whether you need a space to grieve and pray, the opportunity to gather with others doing the work, or dedicated time to learn, we have something that will serve you.
Learn
Image description: Graphic with an illustrated cloud of Zoom screens with people waving, posing, and showing off their pets. Text reads, “Fall 2023 Skill Up Series. Summoning Courage. Oct. 15: Risk Discernment for Congregations. Nov. 19: Faith Out Loud. Jan 21: Community Safety & Security.”
Skill Up Series: Summoning Courage
Skill Ups are our monthly training series on various organizing skills to help strengthen our congregational and community justice teams. These trainings incorporate spiritual fun and hands-on exercizes to help deepen the lesson. Skill Ups occur every 3rd Sunday for 90 minutes, starting at 4 ET / 3 CT / 2 MT / 1 PT.
Nov 19: Faith Out Loud
Jan 21: Community Safety and Security
Check out the collection of past Skill Ups here.
Gather
Image description: Graphic with a candle painted in warm watercolors on a beige watercolor background. Text reads, "Faithful Grounding. Monthly virtual gathering. 4th Thursday of the month. 4:30 PT / 5:30 MT / 6:30 CT / 7:30 ET. An hour of spiritual sustenance & grounding with others organizing on the side of love."
Faithful Gathering
Join our Side with Love Fun & Spiritual Nourishment Squad for an hour of spiritual sustenance and grounding with others organizing on the side of love.
Show up as you are, with whatever is in your heart, and have your camera on or off as you need.
Come drink in the music, meditation, play, and prayer.
We end with a Connection Cafe for those who wish to talk together.
This gathering happens monthly on the 4th Thursday of the month at 4:30 PT / 5:30 MT / 6:30 CT / 7:30 ET.
Register Now
Connect
Image description: Graphic with tangerine and white nodes and links forming a network on a black background. Text reads, "Side With Love Monthly Mixer. Monday, September 11. 5pm PT / 6pm MT / 7pm CT / 8pm ET."
Monthly Mixers
Following the success of our virtual and in-person mixers for General Assembly, we're thrilled to announce our virtual monthly Side With Love Mixer.
This mixer will be held the 2nd Monday of every month at 5pm PT / 8pm ET.
We know that these times ask a lot of us -- and we know we need one another to stay in the work with hope, joy, impact, and accountability. Join us if you are doing the work on the ground; if you are showing up for and with Side with Love; and/or if you are just learning about Side with Love. Come connect with one another, build community across issues, and have some facetime with our staff.
Register now!
We continue to be committed to our four intersectional justice priorities, work that is even more urgent as we daily see attacks against our climate, democracy, reproductive rights, and our trans and non-binary beloveds.
Create Climate Justice
Image description: Green and white graphic showing an equation made up of Side With Love logos and text, reading “Side With Love + Climate Justice = Create Climate Justice.”
Register for our Green Sanctuary 2030 Community Meetings, view past trainings, download our Climate Resilience through Disaster Response and Community Care toolkit, subscribe to our dedicated email newsletters for climate justice and the Green Sanctuary 2030 program, and plan a screen of our powerful event, Abolitionist Visions on Climate Justice, with UUA President Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt. Learn more.
UPLIFT Action
Image description: Dark blue and white graphic showing an equation made up of logos and text, reading “Side With Love + Reproductive & Gender Justice (Including Trans Rights) = UPLIFT Action.”
Sign up for our dedicated email on reproductive and gender justice (including trans rights), download our Congregational Reproductive Justice Action Guide, learn about our monthly gatherings for Trans/Non Binary+ UUs, and view our past trainings including Responding to Far Right/White Christian Nationalist Threats; “Moral Obligations Transcending Legal Codes”: The Clergy Consultation Service on Abortion; and The Body Politic: Faithful UUs Showing Up for Trans Justice. Learn more.
Love Resists
Image description: Red and white graphic showing an equation made up of logos and text, reading “Side With Love & UUSC + Decriminalization = Love Resists.”
Find spiritual practices for challenging moments, connect with Stop Cop City organizing, subscribe to our dedicated Love Resists newsletter, download our curriculum for the 2021-2022 Common Read Defund Fear: Safety Without Policing, Prisons, and Punishment; and view our training on arrestee support, What do we do when our conscience goes to jail?: UUs showing up for UUs who show up. Learn more.
UU the Vote
Image description: Light blue and white graphic showing an equation made up of logos and text, reading “Side With Love + Democracy & Voting Rights = UU the Vote.”
UU the Vote is now a proactive, year-round program to advance voting rights and democracy. Subscribe to our dedicated newsletter for campaign updates, learn about how UUs are protecting democracy throughout the year, and stay up-to-date on events and trainings. Learn more.