Social Justice Council, 2/1/22

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Attending: Mark Bussolini, Jim Bigelow, Alyssa Bell, Diana Borrero-lowe


Agenda:

  • Notes from the Jan 11, 2022 meeting
  • Chalice lighting, check-in and introductions
    • chalice
    • ingathering “in a world where you can be anything — be kind”
  • Plate Partners
    • 2021-22 Plate Partners –spreadsheet here
      • March: Mészkő Scholarship Fund 
      • April: Boise CCL –  Sharon and Dennis Rockwood
      • May:  Brown Like Me
        • Brown Like Me provides mentoring, mirroring, cultural enrichment, and educational and social activities for Black youth in the Treasure Valley.
        • Shari Baber, (208) 870-0441, treasurevalleybrownlikeme@gmail.com
        • Eileen Oldag BUUF contact
    • 2022 – 2023 Plate Partners
      • Nominations are being accepted: https://boiseuu.org/justice/plate-partners/plate-partner-nominations/
        • 5 nominations so far:  Idaho Prison Art Collective,   Breaking Chains Academy of Development, Boise Hive, American Red Cross of Great Idaho,  Boa Ogoi Cultural & Interpretive Center, Brown Lile Me
      • Jim is out of town starting May 3 until May 31.
        • How will we handle the May 3rd  meeting ?
          • Have a meeting the last week April so that nominations are open for the entire month of April
      • Timeline:
        • Feb – March- accepting nominations
        • April  – nominations reviewed & voting form created
        • May – voting
  • Social Justice Resolution to Defend and Advocate with Transgender, Nonbinary, and Intersex Communities.
  • Idaho Interfaith Power and Light affiliate
  • Social Justice Special Appeal and other ideas
    • discuss process, transparent and accountable for the funds in general and the social justice appeal in particular — this will be a major topic in the March meeting
    • Ongoing discussion on funds, funding and fund management
      • Policy Definitions
        • Policies are the rules for handling funds, agreed on and then not subject to change except as determined  by the council
        • Guidelines are the recommends which can be set aside after discussions
      • Social Justice Fund Policy
        • group/organizations met the following criteria based on the plate partner criteria
          • They have a mission that clearly falls under one or more of the UU’s 7 principles
          • They do not violate any of our UU principles or previous UUA statements of conscience.
          • The following may be waived by a the social justice council:
            • They are a 501(c)(3) organization
            • They are local rather than national
            • They do not have a strong religious component and/or a zealous advocate for a particular creed
            • No duplicates with plate partners.
        • Requests come through a SJC member so that we can have a frank discussion during a meeting.
        • Monies spent are reported once a year to the fellowship.
      • Social Justice Fund Guidelines
        • No group/organization gets more than 25 percent of initial fund amount
        • The maximum amount per request is 10% of initial fund amount
        • Reporting information will  include: date, name, amount, rationale
        • spending cap per 3 mon period.
    • 8th Principle/Land Acknowledgement fund, Duck Valley Fund, Social Justice Fund, Social Justice Budget
      • don’t need Reverend Sara to guide this meeting, just figure this out among ourselves
      • Questions:
        • Are these funds in competition for donors?
        • Should they all exist, asking for donors, at the same time or should they be consolidated?
  • Round table
    • Diana —
      • Reverend Sara will have IJI speak at a service
      • working on getting co-signers for refugees along with IRC, Agency for New Americans
      • Romel’s hearing April 11, yes/no on staying
    • Mark
      • January plate partner – Create Common Good, found out that Women’s prison needs books.  ID Botanical Gardens works with women who are transitioning to freedom.
        • Books, children’s books, sporting equipment and cosmetics
      • Would like to have Krista come and talk about her experience with for-profit prisons.
      • Could we put together a team to do a dinner for the people in the encampment protesting for the unhoused?
    • Alyssa:  Launee Wolverton: “purses w/ a purpose” possible partner for cosmetics, necessary items and other things for women in need.
    • Jim
      • Develop a program to bring in a speaker to give us perspectives?
        • ask for speaker ideas
  • Next meeting: Under discussion