Home > Publications > Synapse > Fall 2004 > Anti-Racism in YRUU: A Timeline

Anti-Racism in YRUU: A Timeline

Compiled by Jennifer Dunmore

1985

Youth Council, the governing body of Young Religious Unitarian Universalists (YRUU) passes "Resolution to Reach Out to Youth of Diverse Backgrounds" at its annual meeting.

The Winter issue of Synapse, the YRUU magazine, includes articles concerning cultural understanding and race.
ConCon, the annual YRUU Continental Conference, is held in Tulsa, OK. Its theme is "Coloring Outside the Lines: Celebrating YRUU's Year of Interracial/Intercultural Understanding."

Youth Council passes resolutions sponsored by the Youth Council Racial Justice Working Group on:

"Resolution on Assimilating Racial Justice into Continental YRUU"
"Resolution for Exploring the Possibility of Establishing a Liaison between the Youth Council and the Black Concerns Working Group"
"Resolution for the Creation of a Youth-Specific Anti-Racism Resource"
"Resolution on YRUU Support of 'Journey towards Wholeness'"

Youth Council passes a resolution to begin funding programs which will broaden diversity in YRUU.
Spring Synapse features an anti-racism article.

Keith Kron and Christine Murphy lead Anti-racism workshop for the Steering Committee (SC).
YRUU SC starts to realize the need for AR work in YRUU (see SC letter to Youth Council 1999).

Steering Committee writes a letter to Youth council about the need for anti-racism work.
YRUU invited to "Next Steps on the Journey Toward Wholeness Meeting" in Kansas City, MO, June 5.
Melanie Griffin brings a proposal to Steering Committee that there be a Youth of Color Family Group (Identity G roup) at ConCon (the YRUU Continental Conference).

Youth Council passes a resolution: “It's Time We Do Something About Racism in YRUU!”
Mandy Jacobson cites the need for AR work in her final Position-on-Appraisal report to Youth Council.
It is decided that the new Position on Appraisal (Mandy's successor) will focus on Anti-Racism work.

Youth Council representation includes the first People of Color Caucus, and the first People of Color Advisory Council on is elected to Steering Committee.
Anti-Racism trainings for youth take place in the New Hampshire/Vermont District and Metro New York District.
General Assembly Nashville, TN: First Identity (ID) groups at General Assembly (the annual meeting of congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association).
ConCon Emory, VA: First ID groups at ConCon.
Steering Committee: First Steering Committee AR training with the Board of Trustees.
The theme of the Fall Synapse issue is “Stopping the Tides of Racism.”

YRUU Social Justice Conference in Washington D.C.—First ID Group coordinators as staff positions selected.
General Assembly (GA) Cleveland, OH: Kendra Joseph-Rodgers and Jennifer Dunmore become the first youth staff ID group coordinators at GA.
A week-long workshop is held at the Pacific Southwest District's Youth winter camp.
First Diverse and Revolutionary Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Ministries (DRUUMM) Youth and Young Adult (YaYA) conference in Atlanta, GA
Steering Committee participates in another AR training with Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) staff

Youth and Young Adult Resource meeting in Tampa, FL.
DRUUMM YaYA conference in Chicago, IL.
First White Allies Conference occurs in coordination with the DRUUMM conference in Chicago, IL.
The development of a youth and young adult Anti-racism Training is discussed at a meeting of UUA staff working for anti-oppression and youth and young adult programming, and made a strategic budget priority for the next year.
Mass Bay, Clara Barton, and Ballou Channing districts hold Joint AR training for district leadership and the YRUU Steering Committee.

A second Youth and Young Adult Resource Meeting in Portland, OR.
Youth Council passes a "Resolution to Establish a Joint YRUU/Continental Unitarian Universalist Young Adult Network (C*UUYAN) Anti-Racism Transformation Team" which would oversee and evaluate the Anti-Racism efforts of both YRUU and C*UUYAN.
The Youth and Young Adult Anti-Racism Design Team, a group of youth and young adults which will design the Transformation Team, meets for the first time.
The UUA Youth and Young Adult Anti-Racism and Identity Development Resource Working Group (ARID), a group of UUA staff, is established.

The AR Training of Trainer-Organizers occurs in Boston, MA and brings together over thirty youth, young adults, and adult mentors who will become part of the Anti-Racism Trainer Organizers Program (ARTOP).
ARTOP members begin to lead Anti-racism trainings throughout the continent at UU summer camps, continental YRUU and C*UUYAN conferences, and district/regional/local youth and young adult events.
The theme of the Fall Synapse issue is Anti-Racism

For more information contact youth @ uua.org.

Last updated on Friday, April 18, 2008.