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UUJO April 2020 News

COVID-19 Information

We are placing COVID-19 resources at the top of the UUJO Newsletter this month because accurate information is critical and these three sources carry authoritative information.

World Health Organization – Rolling Updates on COVID-19

Note each daily situation report has its own URL so find the most recent report on this page.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – COVID-19 Situation Briefing Situation in the U.S.

Journal of the American Medical Association Network – COVID-19

Interactive Map of Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases by Johns Hopkins CSSE

Clinical Information

UUJO Spring Gathering-Voter Advocacy and UU
Saturday, April 25
9:30 am – 12:00 noon live streamed on Zoom

Typical Ohio adult voter turnout sits at just 29th in the nation – barely over 50%.

Join fellow Ohioans to talk about how we UU the Vote, engage with others to increase registration, support voter turn out as well as protect our future elections. We will talk about the current Ohio Primary and our November election.

Please register at: https://actionnetwork.org/events/uujo-spring-gathering/

UUJO welcomes the following presenters online:
Susan Leslie – speaking about “UU The Vote” and how congregations can organize to register people. Director of UUA Office of Advocacy and Witness in Boston.

Rev. Dr. Susan Smith – speaking about Election Protection and how we can work together in Ohio to help protect us all from voter suppression. Director of Crazy Faith Ministries in Columbus and Communications Coordinator of Samuel Dewitt Proctor Conference.

Maria Bruno – speaking on the nuts and bolts of voter registration in Ohio and past and present trends. Director of Ohio Votes in Columbus.

After the presentation you are invited to remain on the call to ask questions and discuss next steps.

Please register at: https://actionnetwork.org/events/uujo-spring-gathering/

Zoom Meeting Information
https://zoom.us/j/3909831611
Meeting ID: 390 983 1611

Or Dial by your location
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 390 983 1611.

Webinar: Ohio Legislative Update

Wednesday, April 22
7:00 – 8:15 pm
Join Rev. Joan VanBecelaere, Executive Director of UUJO, Tadd Pinkston of Pinkston Law and other guests to discuss what is happening this month in the Ohio Statehouse We discuss updates on key legislation, including the fight against COVID-19, voting rights, criminal justice reform, and more. The discussions can be very lively.

Please register for UUJO webinars to receive notice of new webinars, reminders and easy-click Zoom online connection information. 

You can register HERE or at: https://actionnetwork.org/events/uujo-webinars

Or use Zoom Meeting Information
https://zoom.us/j/3909831611
Meeting ID: 390 983 1611

Or Dial by your location
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 390 983 1611.

Ohio: No In-Person Primary Voting

New Deadline for Postmarked Ballots is April 27

The Ohio Senate and House unanimously determined that the final deadline for Absentee Ballot voting in the 2020 Ohio Primary is April 28.  See: https://www.ohiosos.gov/

• The legislature noted that this is not a rescheduling of the election per se. Rather, it is an extension of the deadline for Absentee Ballots for the March 17 election.  
• Ohioans who already cast primary ballots are good and will have their votes counted. Those who did not vote early will now have the rest of March and April to cast Absentee Ballots.  See www.Vote411.org for info about the election issues.
• There will be no in-person voting for this primary election, though exceptions are being made in certain cases for disabled voters and those without access to the postal system.  People without access to postal system or with disabilities, should call their Board of Elections for in-person voting.
• Only voters who were registered and eligible to vote on March 17 may cast an Absentee Ballot.
• Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose will be sending a postcard to all Ohioans informing them of this voting process and how they can cast ballots.

The time window is very short!  So it is imperative that you request an Absentee Ballot and send it back as soon as possible. And help neighbors and friends apply for a Ballot.  You can even print out a Ballot application form and give it to them. Send in your ballot application by April 22. to get it in time to turn around to be POSTMARKED by April 27. 

Please check with family and friends to make sure they know about Absentee Ballots.
Congregations, please use a text or email list or phone tree to notify all your congregants. We know from experience that many people do not understand the Ohio Absentee Ballot process.
Here are the basics about Absentee Ballots:

• You will have to request an Absentee Ballot from your respective counties’ Boards of Elections.
• The request form is available online. You can fill it out and print, then send it to your county Board of Elections.  See the form and instructions at: https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/absentee-ballot/
• Or you can request an application form by phone and have it mailed to you. Once completed, you mail the application back to your county Board of Elections.
• You can find contact, phone and mailing information for all 88 Ohio county Boards of Elections offices here. Or at: https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/elections-officials/county-boards-of-elections-directory/
• Once you are approved as an absentee voter, you will receive a blank Absentee Ballot in the mail.
• Fill out your Ballot and then mail it back or drop it off at your Board of Elections office. Some counties have Drop Boxes for this so you can drop off a completed Ballot up till 7:30 pm April 28.  But check with your local Board of Elections first.
• If mailed, it must be officially postmarked by the post office by April 27 to count.  That means if you are mailing your completed ballot from home, you need to send it in by April 24. You can physically take it to the post office during business  hours on April 27.

As you might imagine, there are a lot of different organizations trying to challenge this process through the courts. And we will send out any news from these actions. The lawsuits are needed to make sure that we don’t have this problem again in the future.

Right now, for this Primary, the process is to send in an Absentee Ballot request as soon as possible and return the completed Ballot as soon as it arrives.  

Please use all available networks to inform your family, friends, and congregants about this Absentee Ballot process for the 2020 Ohio Primary Election.  Please see the graphic below for a little tutorial on how to fill out the Absentee Ballot Request form.

Caring for Immigrant Families 

The Cbus Immigrant Transit Assistance group (the bus greeters) and Simakovsky Law have been working with UU Justice Ohio about ways we can respond to the virus crisis in Columbus, knowing that certain marginalized populations will be hit much harder than others.

We are most concerned about the undocumented population since many of them work in hospitality and food service. And because of their status, they won’t have any access to the public benefits or basic support networks that State of Ohio and the U.S. Congress have created.  

The need is great and growing.

To meet this need, Simakovsky Law offices in downtown Columbus will be collecting non-perishable food donations and UUJO will be facilitating online financial donations aimed at serving the undocumented population in Central Ohio.

Physical donations can be dropped off Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm at Simakovsky Law 460 E Main St Columbus, Ohio 43215. There will be a donation box right outside of our door (inside the building).
Requested supplies include:
beans
rice
canned items
corn tortillas or masa harina
diapers
baby formula
potatoes
pasta
bread
Maria cookies
instant coffee
paper products, like toilet paper

Monetary donations will be used to purchase wholesale supplies on the list and other necessary items as needs rise.

Monetary donations can be made at: https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/cbus-immigrant/
Or send a check to:
UUJO, PO Box 980, Worthington, OH 43085— and note “Immigrant” in the memo line.

Simakovsky Law is following all of the CDC guidelines as well as directives from the Columbus Health Department. They will remain open as long as it is safe and legal to do so.

Please consider duplicating this program in your city!   If you have any questions, please call Simakovsky Law at (614) 695-4605 or email Lauren at lauren@simakovskylaw.com. Or contact Rev Joan Van Becelaere with UUJO at info@uujo.org.

Ohio Poor People’s Campaign News

Thursday, April 2, 1:00 pm EST: National Union of the Homeless Online Press Call and Teach-In: Homeless, Not Helpless! How the unsheltered are organizing to survive the coronavirus. Speakers include Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis and local leaders of the National Union of the Homeless. Join by video: https://zoom.us/j/163022305; Join by audio: 16465588656,,163022305#

Thursday, April 2, 8:30pm EST: April Policy Webinar. This webinar will be focused on better understanding our demands around COVID-19, how the recent legislation passed in Congress does and doesn’t meet those demands, and how our communities are being impacted by the global pandemic. Click here to register.

 The People’s Forum started a weekly series and they are available on youtube as well. We highly recommend these webinars and calls. We have come to know these people who are the experts and long time workers in these fields of study. They offer their leadership, guidance and inspiration.

 If you have not heard, the April 23rd event in Dayton has been canceled. In its place there will be a Mass Meeting every month until June. We must adapt to our new situations. One of the first adaptions is that June 20th will be a digitized event. In order to facilitate all of this, there is a wealth of knowledge out there that is being shared. Please feel free to share these opportunities with your communities. If at any time you need support accessing these webinars resources, please reach out.

In this moment, it is more important than ever that white people join anti-racist efforts. As we practice “social distancing” we must not isolate ourselves from the needs of our community. We can break our silence, move into action, and support people in our communities to do the same. Here are 5 ways you can show up powerfully that will contribute to winning the things we all need, now and for the long haul.

Join a group or deepen your commitment to one.

Everyone “looking out only for themselves” is what got us into this situation, and only together can we create the solutions we need. Now more than ever, we must work together to force systemic change. Join your local SURJ chapter or other groups in your community that push systems (like the local, state and federal government) to protect and care for the most vulnerable, especially in these times

Support efforts in your community to get people out of jails and detention centers, and to stop local police from issuing new citations, incarcerating people pre-trial, and re-incarcerating people for probation/parole violations. Sign up for SURJ’s action updates on how you can take action from your home on these issues. Follow organizations that are leading on this issue, and find the groups in your community such as Color of Change, Dignity and Power Now, Justice LA, and Women on the Rise. If you’re a member of a group that doesn’t usually focus on these issues, bring them to their attention and encourage them to make these actions a priority. Here’s just one take on why this is so important.

Interrupt racist stories about who is to blame.

Push back on people who use coded or racist language to talk about this moment. Specifically, when you hear people use the phrases “Chinese virus,” “Wuhan virus” and “Kung flu,” have a respectful and clear conversation about the racist and factually incorrect nature of this harmful scapegoating. Check out these stories about the increase in hate crimes against people of Asian descent here, here and here. Where we get our news is important. It shifts the frame of the issues. Pay attention to progressive-leaning news sources rather than only the corporate news media. Some examples include Democracy Now and the Irresistible Podcast. Seek out articles written by disabled & Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous and People of Color activists in your community.

Fight to protect our elections. Events across the country are being cancelled or postponed, and in many locations, governments are implementing “shelter in place” recommendations or requirements. As a result, many states are taking measures to postpone elections rather than finding creative ways, like mail-in ballots, to ensure our democratic freedom while protecting public health. Meanwhile, the upcoming election still needs our attention. We still need to mobilize millions of voters across the country to vote against Trump. You can help by getting involved in your local progressive campaigns and/or calling and texting white voters in Georgia and Pennsylvania with SURJ. A simple first step is to take the Collect Our Cousins Pledge.   If you are part of a local SURJ chapter, encourage members of your chapter to sign on to the Commitment Form.

Participate in a mutual aid project or fund.

If you are able, donate money to a mutual-aid fund or initiate mutual aid with your immediate neighbors. Mutual-aid funds link people with resources to those who need resources during a crisis. This can help cover costs of rent, medication, food, and other needs for people who lack a safety net. If you have a surplus of food or hygiene supplies, donate to a mutual aid group, food pantry, or a community organization that is distributing goods to vulnerable people in your community. (Please be sure that they NEED what you have – don’t assume!). Practice mutual aid by reaching out to three people on your street. Give them your contact info and let them know you can call each other to ask for help with groceries, prescriptions, etc. Here’s a template if you need a starting point. Join with local grassroots organizations led by people of color for mutual aid in your area or follow your local SURJ chapter for ideas.nge the text.

Ohio Justice Events
Compiled by Kathy Maloney

Get Ready! Earth Day Strikes GO Virtual
From April 22 to 24, young people and adults will come together for a three-day live stream event focused on climate action. Earth Day Live is a 72-hour live stream and online mobilization that aims to engage people across the country and the world in collective action to protect their climate and communities. The live stream will include training sessions, performances, and appearances to keep people engaged, informed, and inspired, with speakers including celebrities, politicians, scientists, and youth activists.
Learn more about Earth Day Live earthdaylive2020.org
In the meantime, the youth climate strike movement is hosting a Social Community (SoCo) webinar series.

Join Communities of Care Network

The Creating Communities of Care Network was born out of convenings in 2018 & 2019, where grassroots activists, organizers, and leaders came together to broaden the definition of harm reduction to mean not just making drug use safer, but also tackling head-on the racist damage created by the conventional criminal justice system, and to reduce mass incarceration and mass criminalization across the board. And those groups were committed to not only ending the harm, but also building the positive future we collectively envision; thus, Creating Communities of Care. We will be meeting more in person throughout the end of 2019 to build trusting and strategic relationships across issue areas, geography, race, background, and all kinds of difference. We are stronger when we don’t let the purveyors of punishment divide us! Start by joining this email list and get connected to really good people real soon! Got questions before you join? Contact Avery Martens (averysurj@gmail.com).

Gathering Together While Apart with Priya Parker

April 3, Noon – 1 PM CDT

Online gathering featuring acclaimed author and facilitator Priya Parker, “Gathering Together While Apart” will discuss our sudden shift away from in-person gatherings, exploring how we can create intimate, meaningful opportunities for connection during this unpredictable time.

During this hour-long conversation, Priya will share creative, real-life examples of people convening while #TogetherApart. She will invite participants to think through how to be intentional, effective gatherers who create magic between people during a time of social distance.

 Whether planning online worship services, a virtual family Seder, or an upcoming staff retreat, learning the Art of “Gathering Together While Apart” is one of many ways we can work together to prevent a loneliness boom during the coming months.

Register at: https://www.trifaith.org/gathering-together-apart

 Climate Action Roundtable

April 8, 8 PM – 9 PM

The UU Climate Action Roundtable is a monthly opportunity for Unitarian Universalist CATs, activists, and friends to come together online or by phone for conversation about spiritual resources, current events, stories, questions and struggles, and calls for action and solidarity towards climate justice.

Calls take place the second Wednesday of each month at 8pm Eastern/5pm Pacific. You can join by phone or web (Zoom.us); by yourself or with others in your congregation.  Sign up to join the Climate Action Roundtable mailing list and get dial-in information for the next call.

https://www.uumfe.org/get-involved/climate-action-network/

 As Long as Grass Grows

Book Discussion with Author Dina Gilio-Whitaker

April 9, 7:30 PM

ONLINE: Join the Environmental Justice Practitioners Network (EJPN) webinar on April 9 for a special book discussion of “As Long as Grass Grows: The Indigenous Fight for Environmental Justice, from Colonization to Standing Rock,” with author Dina Gilio-Whitaker.

 Gilio-Whitaker (Colville Confederated Tribes) is the policy director and a senior research associate at the Center for World Indigenous Studies and teaches American Indian Studies at California State University San Marcos. Gilio-Whitaker will be attending the UUA General Assembly, June 24-28, in Providence, RI, and providing a keynote address on Sunday, June 28.

RSVP at: https://forms.gle/JJRyhf1qKNeDL5gZ9

  CCJ Net Tours

April 14, 7 PM

 Get a live tour of the CreateClimateJustice.net (CCJnet) platform with CCJnet’s Outreach Specialist Diane Brooks. This is a great way to learn how to navigate and fully utilize the site. These calls will be held monthly, every 2nd Tuesday at 7 pm Eastern. 

 Join the meeting at: https://zoom.us/j/529900948 

 Feeding the Multitude: Lunch and Learn Webinar Series

Topic: Health Equity
April 16, Noon – 1 PM

 The Ohio Council of Churches has launched a lunch-and-learn webinar series called, “Feeding the Multitude.” This interactive webinar series will be held via Zoom the 3rd Thursday of each month from noon to 1 PM.

The series aims to:

 • Deepen your knowledge on social justice issues;

• Help you to stay current with state and national discussions on policy that impacts us all;

• Hear from subject-matter experts who will share innovative ideas and solutions;

• Learn more about how to engage in advocacy work;

• Receive concrete skills and strategies to mobilize your congregation.

 To participate in this free webinar series, you must register. Visit ohiocouncilofchurches.nationbuilder.com/events to learn more.

CONTACT: Brandi Slaughter · bslaughter@ohcouncilchs.org · 614.372.8010

All In for Climate Justice
April 16 – 18
Online events will be available. Watch for more information at UUFME.org.

UU-UNO Intergenerational Spring Seminar

April 17 – 19

The UU Office at the United Nations and 2020 Planning Committee have made the decision to move this year’s Intergenerational Spring Seminar to a virtual event rather than an in-person one, due to the current threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The programming in this virtual gathering will be different from what we could do in person, and it presents us with an exciting opportunity to explore how to be in relationship and learn together what it means to be “All In for Climate Justice,” even when we can’t be in the same room. The virtual event will take place April 17-19. Registration is open through April 9.

Details at: https://bit.ly/2Jwf1GU.

Calls to Action

Abortion Care Packages with the Ohio Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
Abortion access doesn’t begin or end at making sure someone can get an abortion. It is creating a community of love and support for all pregnancy needs and decisions; it is busting stigma and supporting someone on their whole journey. Help provide community care by building Abortion Care Packages with your faith community or student group. To learn more and to sign up, visit abortioncarepackage.org. 

Climate Action Week April 17-26

Join Faith Climate Action Week – the nationwide movement of people of faith and conscience acting on climate April 17-26 – by creatively using your digital networks and the Faith Climate Action Week resources to make your love visible.
Download the free Faith Climate Action Week kit here.

This year’s theme is “Love Made Visible: Engaging in Sacred Activism” to protect the people we love who are most impacted by climate change. The kit includes a Sacred Activism guide on the importance of people of faith taking part in civic engagement, suggestions for activism challenges, and a Sacred Activism Art Guide to create eye-catching banners and placards with faith-based messaging.

Go virtual with your Sacred Activism event by encouraging members of your congregation to post pictures of themselves with their placards with the moral call to act on climate to social media during Faith Climate Action Week using the hashtag #FaithClimateActionWeek and tag @interfaithpowerandlight. Find suggestions for messages and images from IPL leaders from across the nation in the kit.
Download the kit here.

Syringe Access in Licking County
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tell us that syringe access programs are associated with an estimated 50% reduction in HIV and Hepatitis C transmissions. New users of these programs are five times more likely to enter drug treatment than those who don’t use the programs. As people of faith, we know that God loves people who use drugs. We also know that syringe access programs make our communities safer and healthier. Let’s show our love by demanding an end to the ban in Licking County. Contact Blyth at bbarnow@faithinpubliclife.org for more info.

Tell GM, Toyota, and Fiat Chrysler CEOs to stand up for clean cars at: https://bit.ly/39v2vlD.

Social Justice News

 Breakthrough Solar System Uses Recycled Aluminum to Store Energy—Without Batteries

Good News Network

 A taste of Mexico and a splash of social justice

Record-Courier

 E.P.A., Citing Coronavirus, Drastically Relaxes Rules for Polluters

New York Times

 Cleveland Cavaliers visit prison to listen, learn and gain understanding about social justice and living behind bars

Cleveland.com

 Ohio ACLU visits Oxford during 100th anniversary tour

The Miami Student