COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES

Here are our top picks for joining a broader community in arts, community engagement, and/or social justice – around the state, the region, and the nation.

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THE ARC TOWARD JUSTICE

Michele Norris and Yamiche Alcindor have covered and seen firsthand how the international racial reckoning sparked by George Floyd’s death has impacted our culture, politics, and media.

Learn more and register for online access here.

Tuesday, May 24, 2022; 6:00 PM CT

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CELEBRATING THE LAUNCH OF BODY BECOMING: A PATH TO LIBERATION

Join author Dr. Robyn Henderson-Espinoza for a potluck book event in the Twin Cities. Body Becoming invites readers to “cultivate the body as important in… endeavors to build. more inclusive vision for democracy”.

Bring your favorite dish to share!

In-person and zoom options.

Learn more and register here.

Monday, May 30; 7:00 PM CT

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HAHA WAKPADAN COMMUNITY CELEBRATION

Join Valley Community Presbyterian Church for a day of celebration and education in Golden Valley.

Learn about the Haha Wakpadan / Bassett Creek Oral History Project and celebrate the vibrant traditions of American Indian people who have been connected to the creek for thousands of years.

Learn more here.

June 4, 2022; 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

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RESILIENT YARDS WORKSHOPS

Blue Thumb Workshops offer DIY tactics to make your landscape more resilient to extreme heat, flooding rains, and other challenges of climate change. Better yet, these earth-friendly tactics protect clean water in nearby lakes and streams and provide habitat for pollinators. Learn how to create a plan for your congregation’s yard, as well as tips on managing stormwater, using native pants, rethinking lawns, and more.

$15/scholarships available

See our Great Ideas write up for congregational adaptations.

Learn more and register here.

Workshops begin March 29, 2022

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WELCOMING HOME AFGHAN REFUGEES

Most of our judicatories are sponsoring Afghan refugee welcome. Access your denomination’s resources as follows:

• MN Annual Conference UMC’s UMCOR has numerous ways to support arriving Afghans.
• MN Conference UCC and the Lakes Area Sponsor Circle are seeking sponsoring congregations.
• PC(USA) congregations can work through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA).
• Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service works ecumenically to support families new to the US.
• The MN Council of Churches resettles individuals and families evacuated from Afghanistan.

If your congregation would like to work with a different organization, you might try We Are Alight. Or find further information at the US Department of State’s Sponsor Circle Program for Afghans.