First Unitarian Universalist Society of Syracuse is once again hosting its annual Building Beloved Community Beyond the Binary conference on February 8, 2020 8:30 am – 4:30 pm. Pre registration is open.

This year our keynote speaker is Robyn Henderson-Espinoza, PhD. Robyn Henderson-Espinoza, PhD, is a Transqueer Latinx activist scholar. Their dynamic and inspiring presentations explore the Intersections of queer justice and anti-racism, dismantling white supremacy and displacing whiteness, gender justice as human rights work, and bridging differences within our communities, campuses and churches.

Whether speaking to universities, communities, writing for HuffPost or Religion Dispatches, Dr. Robyn uses tools learned in both the academy and activism to stand in the hybrid space of higher education, communities, and movements for justice, curating activist scholarship with deep intention of bridging with difference.

Robyn takes seriously their call as an activist scholar and theologian to bridge together theories and practices that result in communities responding to pressing social concerns. Robyn sees this work as a life-orienting vocation, deeply committed to translating theory to practice, and embedded in re-imagining our moral horizon to one which privileges a politics of radical difference.

Knowing intimately that the borderlands are a place of learning and growth, Robyn draws on their identity and heritage in everything that they do. From doubt to divine and everywhere in between, their call as an activist scholar demands the vision to disrupt hegemony and colonialist structures of multi-layered oppressions. This work is important to Dr. Robyn because their own life has been lived with the ongoing challenge to be grounded in the center of their own difference as a non-binary Trans mixed-raced Latinx. This has required the thoughtful intention of bridging with their white ancestors and Mexican ancestors and with those in the queer community. As a result, their life’s vocation is one that is committed to the deep relationality of bridging with difference.

Robyn is currently at work on the forthcoming book, Activist Theology: Recognizing the Prophetic Edge in the Streets. Trained as an interdiscipilnary scholar, they are the founder of the Activist Theology Project, incubating sustainable change for social healing. They are also a Visiting Scholar at the Vanderbilt University Divinity School . Robyn was named one of 10 Faith Leaders to Watch in 2018 by Center for American Progress.

As a congregation it is our hope that this one day conference will be both a place where Trans and gender non-conforming folk can gather, connect and learn and where cisgender folk can learn about being better allies.

It is also our goal to help make you feel welcome and safe.

Possible Workshops to be offered this year:

• I'm new to all this - Trans/Nonbinary/Gender Non-Conforming 101
• Being a Trans Ally
• Medical Interventions for TG/GNC people
• “Loving the Hell out of the World” a De-escalation Workshop
• Creating a Welcoming Environment for Trans and Gender Non-Conforming Children
• Transgender Law & Policy
• Micro-aggressions
• From There to Here stories from parents of Trans Youth on their journey supporting their child’s transition