Social Justice Forums
Past Offerings: 2024
Welcoming Congregation (June), Saving Democracy (April and February), Pink Haven Coalition Update (March), Racial Justice Conversations (January)
December 10, 2023 – “Solar Celebration”
Be inspired by the Green Team efforts, our results going Solar and be inspired to “be Green” and do our part for Climate Change responsiveness. Grace Lorentzen & Bill Sive & the Green Team
November 19, 2023 – “Supporting Trans Youth and Families: Developing our Congregational Resources”
As many of you know, our trans and gender expansive community members are under attack and being criminalized in many US states right now. The UUA (Unitarian Universalist Association – Side With Love) and UUSC (Unitarian Universalist Service Committee) are partnering directly with frontline trans-led organizing to create networks of safety and direct support for people who need to relocate, access healthcare across state lines, or stay as safe as possible where they are.
September 10, 2023 – Clergy & Laity United
CLUE, Clergy and Laity United for Social Justice https://www.
Hotel workers are striking. Learn how we can support the strikers.
For more info, please contact Grace Lorentzen or Fred Kushner
August 06, 2023 – Local Organizing and Actions of Immediate Witness
The Local Organizing forum discussed the Interfaith organizing principles involved in advocacy work. An invitation to action via postcards and letters to the editor as instrumental tools for advocacy in social justice movements, was presented. LINK to Presentation
July 09, 2023
The Welcome Back Social Justice forum discussed the purpose of the Social Justice Council, the personal testimony of a person at our Welcoming Congregation, and the process for recertification annually for the UUA Welcoming Congregation. The results of the General Assembly Acts of immediate witness and Open MIC was made available to share areas of concern. LINK to Presentation
January 08, 2023
Intersectional Challenges in LGBTQ+Aging – Raising awareness of Justice Issues Speaker: Bill Sive, an LBGTQ+ Elder Advocate and representative associated with , “Elder Circle, Sage, National Center for Aging, LA county Department of Mental Health, Queers for Climate, Pink Panthers. Social Justice Forum Video
November 13, 2022
The New Abortion Landscape
When the Supreme Court ended federal constitutional protection for people seeking abortions, trigger laws, never-repealed laws, and hastily passed new laws created a flood of circumstances where it was unclear to pregnant persons and their doctors what was legally permissible. The new laws often have life-threatening consequences because of ambiguous wording or unscientific beliefs embedded in them.
September 11, 2022
Breaking the Prison to Deportation Pipeline and Other Campaigns that Help to Promote Immigrant Justice in California – Speakers: Jehan Laner, an immigration attorney with the Immigrant Law Resource Center and Willie Lubka (not pictured), founder of the Buen Vecino and a UU immigrant justice activist from the Conejo Valley UU Fellowship.
Two dedicated and inspiring activists shared their experiences in working to keep immigrant families from permanent separation through deportation.
April 10, 2022
It was time to sound off. We came to speak of issues on our minds. We shared our passions, hopes, concerns and ideas about some social justice issues: Racial Justice, LGBTQ Rights, Climate Change, Immigrant Rights, Police and Jail Injustice, Voting Rights, Environmental Justice.
March 20, 2022
This forum was on THIRD Sunday of March.
Presenters: Members of Citizens’ Climate Lobby
Presentation:
February 13, 2022
How the South Won the Civil War – Presenter: Mercedes Ortiz
January 2022
One-to-One Campaign – Presenter: Aliyah Shaikh, LA Voice Community Organizer
Video
December 2021
Amnesty International – Write for Rights 2020 – facilitator: Norma Edwards, member of UUCLB Social Justice Council and local chapter of Amnesty International
October 2021
Trauma, Resilience and Recovery – speaker: Debora Luken LMFT – Assistant Director of Long Beach Trauma Recovery Center
September 2021
Immigrant Justice: – speakers: Josh Leach, Policy and Communications Strategy Coordinator for the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee and Rev. Ranwa Hammamy, formerly of the California Justice Ministry and now a member of the national UU Siding With Love Team
Slide Presentation (pptx) —- Video
August 2021
Environmental Justice for West Long Beach – speaker: Jan Victor Andasan – Community Organizer at East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice
Community Response to SCIG – Dear Warren Buffet
Add’l material from CCL (pptx)
July 2021
Social Justice Lessons from UUA 2021 General Assembly – presenters: Evelyn Taylor, Meltem Narter, Patricia Chen, Mimi Gephardt-Seeley, Treacy Gephardt-Seeley, Michael Lyde
Radical Curiosity Handout Radical Curiosity Mind Map
June 2021
LGBTQ Center Long Beach – speaker: Myron Day – Director of Development for The LGBTQ Center Long Beach
April 2021
Adopting the Eighth Principle – speakers: Miguel Pagan, Mimi Gephardt-Seeley, Nasreen Gagner – Members of the UUCLB 8th Principle Task Force
March 2021
Biden Administration’s Immigration Initiatives: An Immigrant Community Activist Perspective – speaker: José A Serrano – Associate Director of Immigration & Outreach at World Relief Southern California
Video Recording
February 2021
A New Way of Life Re-Entry Project – speaker: Susan Burton, Executive Director and founder of ANWOL, author and activist.
January 2021
Environmental Justice in Long Beach – speaker: Taylor Thomas, Research and Policy Analyst for East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice and UUCLB Prof. Dr. Dean Toji, environmental community activist with Long Beach 350
December 2020
Amnesty International – Write for Rights 2020 – facilitator: Norma Edwards, member of UUCLB Social Justice Council and local chapter of Amnesty International
Amnesty International Resource Document
November 2020
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals – facilitator: Nasreen Gagner, UU@UN Envoy for UUCLB
October 2020
Co-Visioning Social Justice – facilitators: Michael Sallwasser, chair of UUCLB Social Justice Council; and Rev. Lissa Gundlach, senior minister of UUCLB
While the work of Social Justice continues (It is in our congregational DNA), the character of UUCLB’s work will be reimagined in a collaboration between the Social Justice Council and Rev. Lissa Gundlach.
October’s forum will begin with team leaders and members of the Council sharing views on the work ahead and their thoughts on minister’s role in that work. Rev. Lissa will describe her experience with and understanding of successful social justice work partnerships. Together we will agree how best to integrate her unique gifts, while respecting the other responsibilities of her position as senior minister. All participants, ranging from activists with deep experience and novices eager to learn, can ask questions and make comments as we establish a framework to bring more justice, equity, and compassion to a hurting world.
September 2020
UU the Vote – presenters: Michael Sallwasser, chair of UUCLB Social Justice and Will Gagner, member of Social Justice
August 2020
Social Justice Learnings from General Assembly – speakers:
- Will Gagner – Decolonizing Wealth
- Pauline McMahon – Non-Violent Communication
- Michael Sallwasser – Sacred Mental Health Matters
- Derald Tucker – The Case for Environmental Justice
- Rev. Rayna Hamre – Water Protectors