Table of Contents:

1. Letter To the Task Force for the Consultation on Ministry to and with Youth
   
2. It's Time We Did Even More for Anti-Racism in YRUU!
   
3. Accountability on the Task Force on Ministry to and With Youth
   
4. Encouraging Regions and Districts to Create the Position of
   YRUU Anti-Racism/Anti-Oppression Consultant

Click Here to Refer to the Youth Council 2005 Minutes,
including discussion on these RevolUUtion statements.

To the Task Force for the Consultation on Ministry to and with Youth, to the Unitarian Universalist Association Board of Trustees, and to whomever it might concern:

Youth Council 2005 is concerned regarding the youth voice on the Consultation on Ministry to and with Youth. Several issues have been brought up about the representation of the wide diversity of Unitarian Universalist Youth on the Task Force. People of Color and more specifically Youth of Color as well as Canadian youth and GLBPTQQI youth (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Pansexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex) are institutionally underrepresented. We have attached a RevolUUtion Statement regarding more institutional youth representation on the Task Force. We ask that you recognize the importance of this statement and understand that these historically marginalized groups and our congregations that serve them are affected by the Task Force.

In regards to the surveys the Task Force plans on distributing, Youth Council 2005 voices its concern that the Youth Surveys returned will be few compared to those of other core stakeholders. Therefore, we propose that the surveys be statistically representative of all core stakeholders with no less than 500 surveys received from Youth. To assist in assuring this happens, we encourage intermittent updates and process checks be given by the consultant to the task force concerning the proper receipt of the youth surveys. We charge the Task Force to ensure that youth in all congregations receive this survey and are equally included in all steps of the process.

We are also concerned about youth participation in the congregational and district/regional discussions. We ask the Task Force to put greater emphasis on the importance of youth participation and vocalization in these conversations. We recognize that the brochure regarding the Task Force recommends that youth participate in the congregational and district / regional conversations, but we are concerned that the youth will not be heard over the voices of religious educators, ministers, and other adult voices. Youth Council 2005 in particular strives to ensure that the process and outcome of the Consultation on Ministry to and with Youth really is youth empowering, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive.

Sincerely,
Youth Council 2005

It's time we did even more for Anti-Racism in YRUU!

Sponsors: Siri Larsen, Nora Lindsey, Greg Boyd, Lehna Huie, Jova Vargas, Jennifer Bell, Laurel Newton, Rick Rhoelk, Jazmin Sandos-Rosado, Paul Phillips, Lyn Conley, Al Jensen, Lydia Pelot-Hobbs

Point People: Marissa Guitierrez, Lehna Huie

Primary Aide: Lily Sparks

UU Principle: All of them…
(The inherent worth and dignity of every person; Justice, equity and compassion in human relations; Acceptance of one another and encouragement of spiritual growth; A free and open search for truth and meaning; The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large; The goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all; Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.)

Specific Problem being addressed: Youth of Color have not been receiving the support that they need, and that we (our organization/YRUU and the UUA/our beloved community) should be giving them, both monetarily and in other ways. Part of building a strong and beloved community is responding to the needs of all in the community. As a movement, we have not responded adequately to the needs of Youth of Color. This has kept our spiritual youth movement from being a real and authentic community. Youth of Color continuously and historically have not been given enough support from the UUA/YRUU. It is time to change that.

This resolution proposes that the YFUUD (YRUU Fund for Unitarian Universalist Development) grant money be allocated to Youth of Color programming from this point on. YFUUD Grant money comes from an endowment left to us (YRUU) by LRY (YRUU's predecessor - Liberal Religious Youth). Repurposing this money would be consistent with the purposes of LRY, which cared very much about Anti-Racism/Anti-Oppression work. (get a quote from LRY purposes?)

Hope to Achieve: YFUUD (YRUU Fund for Unitarian Universalist Development) Grant money be repurposed to go Youth of Color programming.

How this will further the principles and visions of YRUU:
Youth of Color are an essential part of the YRUU community. By continuing to not provide the support they need, we're pushing Youth of Color out of YRUU. Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression is at the forefront of our vision. YRUU has made a commitment to work toward becoming an Anti-Racist and Anti-Oppressive organization. It is our imperative to do whatever we can to work further toward that commitment.

These are the goals of YRUU…
-Establish a continental community of youth.
-Provide for worship, celebration and rites of passage.
-Build the Unitarian Universalist movement: it's traditions, membership and heritage.
-Develop personal growth and leadership skills.
-Develop individual social consciousness: be group agents of change and encourage members to be peaceful citizens of the world.
-Develop a communications network.
-Develop educational resources.
-Develop continuity between program levels, from younger to older.
-Foster tolerance, understanding and acceptance of diversity.
-Provide resources for identifying and training program advisors.
-Develop skills in group interaction and relationship building.
-Build a greater understanding between youth and adults.

The sponsors of this resolution believe that none of these goals can happen without a change in the way we currently support Youth of Color.

Short term goals and steps to achieve:
1. Pass this resolution
2. Form a committee of Youth of Color volunteers + at least one Youth Office staff to come together and create a plan for how to distribute the money. POCAC will direct the creation of this committee.

Long term goals and steps to achieve:
3. The formed committee will work with the Youth Office to manage the funding money.

Resources YRUU has that will be used: The YFUUD money

Financial impact: The YFUUD money will be used differently than it has been in the past. Other folks who have applied for the money or plan to apply for it in the future will not have access to it any longer. YRUU, as an organization, will not suffer and financial changes. In fact, our programs and community will benefit greatly as this is a step we can take to move closer to becoming an Anti-Racist and Anti-Oppressive organization.

Evaluation: Each thing that's done with the money will be evaluated by its participants and the committee. Each year's Youth Council will receive a report on what the money was used for the previous year.

Accountability on the Task Force on Ministry to and with Youth

Sponsor: Kat Manker-Seale, Alice Mandt, Brietta O'Leary, Sean Fletcher, Ian Moore

Point Person: Kat Manker- Seale

Primary Aid: Brietta O'Leary

UU principle:

• the inherent worth and dignity of every person,
  
• justice, equity, and compassion in human relations,
  
• acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations,
  
• the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large, and
  
• the goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all.

Specific Problems:
The lack of institutional support and representation for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Pansexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, and Intersex youth, Adults and Youth of Color, and Canadian Youth.

Hopes to Achieve:
Assure institutional representation and support of GLBPTQQI youth, Adults and Youth of Color, and Canadian Youth on the Taskforce on Ministry to and with Youth. Such representation must be interested, qualified, and dedicated to Youth Ministries and their other constituencies.

How this will further the principles and vision of YRUU:
This RevolUUtion statement promotes a goal of YRUU in fostering tolerance, understanding, and acceptance of diversity within YRUU.

How this will further the greater denomination and the world:
This RevolUUtion promotes the Task Force's desired outcome of "anti-racism and anti-oppression work infused within every part of youth ministry, while recognizing that there is not necessarily one way of doing it, and the "right" way depends on individual identity." We feel that if the recommendations of this RevolUUtion are not incorporated into the Consultation's Process, the stated desired outcome of the Consultation cannot be achieved. "For the consultation to be successful it must be measured against and meet the goals of timeliness, youth empowerment, financial viability, anti-racism/ anti-oppression, transparency, collaboration and inclusiveness" (from the brochure entitled "The Consultation on Ministry to and with Youth"). The future of the denomination is based on this RevolUUtion statement. Because the youth are the future members and leaders of our congregations this is important in sustaining and growing our Unitarian Universalist movement with accountability to all its people. Every year less than 1,000 new adults join UUA congregations (UUA congregations grow by 1 % every year). 2,00-3,000 youth bridge out of UU youth programs and a large amount of those youth do not stay involved after bridging. Forty percent of people who identify as UU in the USA are youth and sixy percent are adults. The total membership of all CUC congregations is 5,000 people [Stats from a 2004 UUA Growth Survey--source pending].

Short Term Goals and Steps to Achieve:

Change the structure of the body of the Taskforce as follows:

• Add one Canadian Youth accountable to the CUC and Canadian youth
  
• Add one GLBPTQQI youth accountable to GLBPTQQI UU youth and Interweave
  
• Add an additional youth of color who is a member of and accountable to DRUUMM
  
• Specify one of the adult positions to be a member of and accountable to DRUUMM
  
• The aforementioned people must be interested, qualified and dedicated to Youth Ministries and their other constituencies.

Steps to Achieve:
Contact other stakeholder organizations for support. Request that those organizations send letters to the co-conveners of the Taskforce in our support.

Local and district/regional resources: None.

Long-term goals and steps to achieve:
Strive to create an accountability structure that holds its accountability to the core stakeholders, which in turn will help ensure that the Consultation Process upholds the anti-oppressive, antiracist, and multicultural visions of the UUA.

Local and district people: None.

Resources YRUU has that will be used: None.

Changes that will be needed in our policies and procedures or bylaws: None.

Organization or books that can be used: None.

Financial impact to the Taskforce: The cost of adding three positions.

Evaluation: None.

Encouraging Regions and Districts to Create the Position of YRUU Anti-Racism/Anti-Oppression Consultant

Sponsor: Gregory Boyd
Co-sponsors: Dylan Uscher
Primary Aides: YCRs, Regional and District SACs

What is a YRUU AR/AO Consultant?
It's a new cost-free role that can be the future of Anti-Racism/Anti-Oppression work in YRUU. The role would be at least one (in the future a consultant core/corps may be a possibility) highly trained and/or qualified youth who would see to it that Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression workshops and activities happen at all regional/district events.

What are the roles of a YRUU AR/AO Consultant?
The roles as are:
" To work with regional/district SACs to ensure AR/AO at events
" To work with YCRs in order to ensure AR/AO information flow
" To work with regional/district SACs and YCRs and other qualified folx to ensure that race-based and other identity-based caucusing happens at all regional/district events
" To encourage anti-racist/anti-oppressive transformation in regions/districts
" To foster and develop a common analysis of race, racism and oppression in the United States of America and in our YRUU and CUC/UUA communities
" To encourage acceptance and understanding of YRUU/C*UUYAN Foundational Definitions of racism and oppression
" To develop anti-racist/anti-oppressive leadership within youth groups and regions/districts instead of solely on the continental level of YRUU
" To work with SACs, YCRs and youth group leadership as point and resource people to ensure that the ongoing struggle to end racism and oppression in our society continues in youth groups and the greater society
" To ensure that YRUUers hear the call to join the struggle for group liberation
" To imbue YRUUers with self-regenerative anti-racist/anti-oppressive change through activities, time for self-reflection, praxis (reflection through dialogue), and caucusing as a political tool for organizing

Isn't all this the job of my regional/district SAC?
Well, if you are amazing enough to have AR/AO written into the job description of your SAC, then yes, and y'all are AHHHMAYZING! However, SACs are chronically undersupported on all levels of YRUU with their access to resources relating to the way YRUU does AR/AO work. And with the new Anti-Racism Trainer-Organizer Program (ARTOP) Collective, they may also be un- or underqualified to ensure that AR/AO work is instituted properly and in ways that values the struggles of all peoples-oppressed and oppressor groups. SACs need support from more places than just the YRUU Social Justice Training or the Youth Office of the UUA, they need to be supported in their regions/districts and geographical areas by youth who are highly trained and/or qualified to offer that support on a regular basis.

Amendments
1. To Be Developed: An AR/AO accredidation program approved by Youth Council, DRUUMM YaYA, DRUUMM, ARTOP, and White Allies groups to be proposed at the next Youth Council. Until an AR/AO accredidation program is approved, ARTOP Trainers are the people considered highly trained and qualified for the AR/AO Consultant Position.

Point People: Sean Jones, Nan Moore, Al Jensen.

2. Resources should be developed by the Youth Office especially for this position, to be distributed in a handbook/manual, electronically and in hard-copy, based on individual needs, to AR/AO Consultants.

3. Recommendation of ways to fulfill the position of AR/AO Consultant Position:
- Member should be on YAC/DYSC/RYSC
- Member should be either a Young Adult or, preferably, a Youth.

4. This doesn't reduce the need of SACs to have Anti-Racism training; it iust increases their support. It's reccomended that SACs also support AR/AO Consultants by becoming as trained and qualified as they are able to in AR/AO work.

5. Financial Impact will be limited to the distribution of hardcopy handbooks/manuals.