Two Year End Events: Tomorrow and Dec. 13th
Voting Ends November 30th!
Only a Few More Days to Help Just Communities Win $50,000!
Exciting Opportunity for Just Communities....and you can help!
As you know, Just Communities has recently been nominated by Montecito Bank and Trust to be one of 8 local non-profits that are in the running to be the beneficiary of the 2013 Santa Barbara Triathlon.
The winner will receive all the proceeds from theevent - possibly as much as $50,000!
But we need your help! Simply click the link belowby November 30th to cast your vote.
*No spam, no further commitment.
VOTE
Share with Your Friends!
In order to win, we'll need as much help as we can get! Just Communities is a local grassroots organization so help our chances of winning by sharing this email with your friends.
Make sure to tell them that by voting, they will receive no spam emails and they will be helping to create a more just community on the Central Coast!
Just Communities' Board Member Releases New Book
Beyond Surviving: Book Signing, Reading, and Celebration
Join the author (and Just Communities Board Member), Dr. Joshua Moon Johnson, for a reading, signing, and celebration of his new book, Beyond Surviving: From Religious Oppression to Queer Activism.
Beyond Surviving engages readers in the experiences of Christian students in same-sex relationships; these empowering stories share challenges, tragedy, and eventually triumph as a new generation of leaders evolved.
Thursday, November 29 at 7:00 PM at Gallery 27 (Located at 27 East Cota, Santa Barbara, CA).
All profits from the event's book sales will benefit local high school Gay-Straight Alliance organizations through the work of Just Communities and the Pacific Pride Foundation.
What others are saying:
"Everyone who reads Beyond Surviving will be inspired to push for their communities to be more welcoming and inclusive for all."
Michael D. Young, Ph.D., Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, UCSB
"This book is filled with stories of healing and reconciliation. As I reflect on my own journey, it is good to see that everyday we are becoming increasingly aware of the need to heal and reconcile our sexuality and faith at a very young age. May we all embrace continual healing as we read this incredible work."
Rev. Samuel R. Offer, Unity Fellowship Church, Baltimore
Vice President, Washington Consulting Group
"Beyond Surviving provides hope that we as an LGBTQ community can heal and embrace religion and spirituality as an important aspect of holistic well-being."
Raja Bhattar, Director, LGBT Campus Resource Center, UCLA
5TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS:CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAYS SEASON AS ONE COMMUNITY
Join us for a unique and interactive celebration of:
the African American Celebration of Kwanzaa
the Buddhist Celebration of Enlightenment Day
the Catholic Christmas tradition from Mexico
of Las Posadas
the Christian Celebration of Christmas
the Hindu Celebration of Diwali
the Islamic tradition of Eid al-Adha
the Jewish Celebration of Hanukkah
Evening moderated by:
Anti-Defamation League & Just Communities
FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS:
CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAY SEASON AS ONE COMMUNITY
Thursday, December 13, 2012
6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Faulkner Gallery at the Santa Barbara Public Library
40 East Anapamu Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
An Event for the Entire Family
RSVP to: aborg-marks@adl.org or 805.564-6670
(helpful but not required)
Institute for Equity in Education (IEE) 2012Follow-Up
As in previous years, theInstitute for Equity in Education 2012 did not end on the last day of the 5-day residential summer retreat. It continues through the school year in elementary, junior high, and high schools in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. IEE graduates are implementing, revising, and refining their Action Plans to achieve the goals they set during IEE.
Several of this year's Action Plans address school connectedness. IEE graduates are inviting parents to Friday events to build relationships between students, parents, and teachers. They are connecting with their students, colleagues, and parents using the strategies of Constructivist Listening and the "Head, Hearts, & Hands" of learning. They are talking with Just Communities about bringing the Family Dialogue program to their schools.
IEE graduates are working to improve academic achievement by addressing the 4 R's (Relationships, Relevance, Rigor, and Racial Justice) whileparticipating in Santa Barbara Unified School District's pilot of Restorative Approaches. They are helping students create positive academic narratives by training UCSB undergraduate students to mentor San Marcos High School students who are at risk of dropping out.
IEE graduates are implementing Action Plans that address culturally proficiency by conducting inventories of "Mirrors & Windows" in their schools and classrooms and checking for who is represented in the curriculum. They have invited Just Communities to help in student discussions about internalized racism high school students.
Just Communities will continue to support our IEEgraduates in their efforts to create equitable and effective schools for all students in our community.
Jack Rivas
I have been a supporter of Just communities because I believe in the work that they do in creating safe spaces, a more equitable Central Coast and asking us to really look within ourselves to define our values and beliefs. Moreover, they ask individuals and organizations to examine themselves and create the type of world that will promote change for the betterment of all.
