From the Director
Welcome to the June issue of Justice Center News, the update from the Justice Center at All Peoples.
We have been super busy of late — both with some of what we expected to be busy with, and then with some unexpected occurrences that has demanded some of our attention.
You all know that we launched the Interfaith Environmental Action Network last month. It’s exciting to see what is emerging out of that. All Peoples and the Justice Center also hosted the first ever state-wide UU in person Gathering, organized by the Kentucky Unitarian Universalist Justice Action Network. We had more than 25 people from 4 of the congregations in the state, and from Northern KY (who attend congregations in Cincinnati) for a day of fellowship and relationship building.
And of course we’ve been fully focused on Pride Events. This year, The Justice Center worked on 3 events for Pride Month: a Pizza/sign making party, our involvement in the Parade, and a block party (with Mandala House). See below for updates on all of these.
I/we were rocked, as I’m sure many of you were, by the report that was released by the Central Kentucky Presbytery regarding Jud Hendrix, most recently the Director of Interfaith Paths to Peace and driving force behind the Kentucky Interfaith Network. This report details a period of abusive behaviors that Jud engaged in while a minister at Covenant Community Church 10 years ago. The findings of this report are deeply concerning, as are the continuing behaviors that Jud has been engaging in since leaving his position at Covenant Community Church and resigning his ministry.
For me it has been an opportunity to actively join efforts to support the women from Covenant Community Church, the congregation as a whole, and some women who, as a result of the report, have re-evaluated some of the behaviors they experienced from Jud and identifying some grooming behaviors. As a male-identified person (and often the only male-identified person in these conversations), this is an opportunity to more deeply explore how I/we can meaningfully ally with the women who have been harmed by other men, and the women who are organizing to support these women. It means noticing when to step up, and when to step back.
It has also meant reflecting on ways that I may have inadvertently colluded with Jud. I don’t say this from a position of guilt or shame — I’m quite clear that Jud and Jud alone is responsible for his actions, and how manipulation, minimizing and denial are a part of the grooming tactics that he engages is. I’m also quite clear that Jud is not the last person that I/we will come into contact with who engages in these kinds of behaviors. Paying attention to the yellow and orange flags — rather than waiting til they become red flags — are ways that we can all do better to interrupt the harming. By reflecting on the ways that I did not pay attention to the yellow and orange flag behaviors that I witnessed, is a learning about how I can pay attention and respond, next time.
I will continue to work with the brave and strong women who are leading the effort to support the Covenant Community Church community, the other women who have been harmed, and work towards supporting our community through this!
What We’re Working On…
Interfaith Environmental Action Network
We continue to reach out and grow the Interfaith Environmental Action Network (IEAN) We are planning the 2nd meeting for later this month (given that we are largey faith organization,and its the summer, we’re expecting a smaller turnout) and are starting to plan for an initial event in Aug or Sept. We’ll be organizing a sharing session where congregations who have made some structural changes (installed solar panels or geo-thermal, put in EV charging stations, etc) can share from their experience and lessons learned, to other congregations who may be exploring what options are available to them.
As a reminder, the emerging idea for the Network is to:
A space for finding support, peer-learning/peer-teaching and more
A space to collaborate to create mutual events/programs, and also a way to promote each other’s efforts /programs, etc
Create collective impact
If you or your congregation are interested in being a part of this new working group, contact Rus here.
Pride Parade
We had an ENTHUSIASTIC turn out from both First Unitarian Church and All Peoples for the pride parade. We had lots of fun decorating the float and participating in the parade. We were also able to pass out more than 1500 leaflets encouraging participants to register to vote, with info about our congregation!
Appreciations!
Neither of these two events would have been possible without a strong and engaged team of folx who helped out. THANK YOU to: Martha Flack, Diane Guenther, Loren Crawford, Agnes Steilberg, Lisa Steiner and Barb Friedland for your help with the pizza party; and to Tony Sweazy, Martha Flack, Diane Guenther, Deb McChane, and Jennie Norfleet for ALL y’all’s help with the parade!
Trans Youth Block Party
Sunday June 23, 4:30 – 8:30
The Justice Center is partnering with Mandala House to host the first annual Trans Youth Block Party. This party to honor, and celebrate Trans Youth is open and free to all trans folx and all of us who support, value and honor trans kids! Come to have some fun and show them that they are cared for and about in our community!
Get Out The Vote/Voting Rights
The Justice Center and All Peoples is partnering with Simmons College and others to participate and promote “Freedom Summer” This is a series of events, classes and programs to promote voter registration amongst the black community in Louisville. For more information about this program, see the flyer below:
The kick off for this program is Friday June 21, beginning at 5:30 pm at St Stephen’s Church. Meet at All Peoples at 5:15 to carpool.
Louisville Freedom Summer classes on June 25th, July 2 & 9 can be viewed from All Peoples Hearth Room from 6-7: 30 pm. Please join us: https://www.allpeoplesuu.com/freedom-summer-classes-social-justice-program-three-sessions-starting-6-25-24/
If your congregation or organization is planning to engage in GOTV efforts, and you would be interested in coordinating these efforts, please contact Rus directly.
Partner Events and Opportunities
The Ali Center
Black Wellness Matters is being held June 24 – 26. More info is below:
Center for Interfaith Relations
The 2024 Festival of Faiths is set for Nov 13 – 16. More info to come!
Americana Community Center
Building a Trauma-Informed Clinic in Americana World Community Center
In 2023 Americana World Community Center (AWCC) launched a capital campaign to renovate three floors of the community center’s south wing. This project will fully integrate the Family Health Centers (FHC)-Americana Refugee and Immigrant Health Services, including its Survivors of Torture Services, medical, behavioral health, and support services into the AWCC and their constellation of services and physical space.
The AWCC Capital Campaign will more than double the size of the current clinic, increasing the number of exam rooms from four to eight, allowing for an expansion of current services, including the addition of more available Refugee Health Assessments and increased capacity for follow-up and primary care. Furthermore, the renovation will provide an updated physical space for AWCC Fiberworks Program and Ethnic Community Groups, as well as additional space for AWCC and FHC to grow.
Go here to learn more about the Americana World Community Center Capital Campaign
Please Support the Justice Center!
The Justice Center’s largest source of funding comes from individual donors. Please consider making a generous donation by clicking on the button below to support our efforts.
For more information about the Justice Center and our efforts,
contact Rus Funk, Director at justicecenter@allpeoplesuu.com