Nov
8
2006 Annual Report
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This report is also available as a Word (text) document here.
We are excited about the continuing work of DRUUMM and its Caucses for this year and the years to come. DRUUMM’s leadership continues to grow in significant directions. Our current Steering Committee offers the synergy that stems from the combination of first-time and long standing DRUUMM SC leaders. We are delighted to report that this DRUUMM Steering Committee operated this year with a full leadership body.
This has been our season for regrouping. Our presence and involvement with General Assembly grows from year to year. The trend continues this year (See Programming).
DRUUMM requested a group of white Unitarian Universalists (several of whom had been in our retired White Allies Caucus) to organize to create a formal organization of allies. At an historic meeting in November, 2005, just a few miles from Murray Grove where we were having our annual fall conference, this organization formed. DRUUMM affirmed its existence. Our understanding is that its members are committed to learning effective ways to be accountable to people of color within the UUA by unlearning white privilege and confronting racism in all of its forms. We fully support and wholeheartedly applaud this organization.
Organizational Accomplishments of the Steering Committee include:
• Created a covenant among the DRUUMM SC, DRUUMM, and its member caucuses
• Developed a DRUUMM Newsletter
• The Steering Committee met every three to four weeks via phone conference and in person prior to the annual fall conference held at Murray Grove
• Weekly interact and interface with the UUA’s Identity-Based Ministries Department
• At least twice monthly interact and interface with the UUA’s Youth and Young Adult Offices
• Attend the DRUUMM Annual Leadership Breakfast hosted by UUA President Sinkford at General Assembly
Organizational Accomplishments of DRUUMM include:
• Queers of Color Caucus formed at the DRUUMM Fall Conference. Their listserv is up and running and they meet though online communication. They are sponsoring a luncheon at this summer’s General Assembly 2006, in St. Louis
• Native American/American Indian Council started meeting at the DRUUMM Fall Conference
• DRUUMM YaYA is soaring. They have recently elected new steering committee members. DRUUMM YaYA has also developed and sends to their members’ annual newsletters.
• APIC continues to model excellence in imagination and leadership. They have elected new steering committee members and are thriving. They, too, send bi-annual newsletters to their members.
• Three engaging caucuses: Multi-Racial Caucus, Seminarians of Color, and African Descent have active listservs. Each of the three is doing some outstanding organizing work around General Assembly 2006. (See Programming.).
Programmatic Accomplishments of DRUUMM include:
• Organized the 4th Annual Meeting of DRUUMM at Murray Grove November 3-6, 2005, with close to 50 people attending
• DRUUMM and the newly formed White Allies Organization gathered at the DRUUMM Fall Conference, NOVEMBER, 2006
• Organized a highly visible presence at General Assembly 2005, co-sponsoring two major panels, sponsoring a booth and staffing a Welcome Table for People of Color at Registration
• GA 2005 Featured Programs- “Transracial Adoption Panel” program (120 attendees) and the “Adoptees of Color Post-Panel Gathering” (25 attendees). The program “Creating a Community for People of Color” (100 attendees). The A/PIC sponsored “Tsunami Relief Workshop” with the UUSC (25 attendees).
• Established two new caucuses of DRUUMM at General Assembly 2005. African Descent hosted a Brunch and the Multi-Racial Caucus hosted a Luncheon.
• 2nd Youth of Color Leadership Development Conference. June 17-22, 2005 at First Unitarian Church in Dallas, TX
• “Expressions in Color- A Pre-Opus DRUUMM Young Adult of Color Retreat –August 5-6, 2005 at the Des Moines UU Congregation
• 4th Asian Pacific Islander Caucus Annual Meeting on February 17-19, 2006 at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta
• DRUUMM Youth and Young Adults of Color Spring Summit- March 2nd-5, 2006 in Palatine, IL
Representation by DRUUMM Membership includes
• UUA’s Special Review Commission (SRC). Two members of DRUUMM were invited to serve on the five-member Special Review Commission: Janice Marie Johnson and Hafidha Acuay. President Sinkford and Moderator Gini Courter charged the SRC to review the trajectory of events that lead to incidents of last summer.
• Two members of DRUUMM YaYA were invited to serve on the UUA’s Task Force to and with Youth Ministry: Homer Karvoindes, Rachael Davis, and Jova Vargas
• Participated in the January GA Planning Committee Meeting- Janice Marie Johnson (President)
• Family Matters Task Force- Hope Johnson (Family Network Coordinator)
• Observed meetings of the Diversity of Ministry Team (D0MT) of the UUA
• Enrolled 30 new persons as dues paying members of DRUUMM
• DRUUMM sponsored people to attend General Assembly
• DRUUMM sponsored people to attend District Leadership Schools
Plans for the Year Ahead: DRUUMM 2006-2007 include:
In this new year, we plan to build on what we’ve accomplished this year while continuing to grow and support Unitarian Universalist People of Color
• Hold our annual fall face-to-face Steering Committee meeting prior to the Annual Meeting in November
• Develop and implement strategies for building a strong DRUUMM membership base
• Continuing to establish DRUUMM activities/chapters at the district and local levels
• Build and strengthen our relationships to the UUA, its working groups, staff and continental lay leaders
• Support retreats for multicultural and of color families
• Support our religious professionals of color within the UUA
• Support the development and raise the visibility of lay leaders of color
• Develop our role as an accountability agent within the UUA
• Continue to develop and nurture our relation with LUUNA, Latina/o Unitarian Universalist Networking Association
• Work to develop steady funding and on-going administrative support for DRUUMM and our member caucuses
• Increase the opportunities for participation in ARAO (Anti-racism, Anti-Oppression) training for members
• Support and grow in partnership with the newly formed White Allies Organization including co-sponsoring some events at General Assembly 2006 in St. Louis. Develop our role as an accountability agent with this organization
• Increase equity for DRUUMM events in terms of geographical locations
• Deepen and strengthen relationships between Adults, Youth and Young Adults of Color
• Have a DRUUMM YaYA Gathering/Summit/Conference
• DRUUMM Young Adult or Youth Leadership Development Conference with a service component around Hurricane Katrina.
• Expressions in Color Young Adult Retreat in Denton, Maryland August 12th-13th, 2006
• DRUUMM General Assembly 2006 St. Louis Programs, booth, annual meeting and staffing the POC Welcoming Table during registration, and DRUUMM Leadership Meeting with President Sinkford
• 2006 GA St. Louis Featured Programs: UUA President Rev. Sinkford is hosting a major panel, “Building Interracial, Multicultural Religious Community” sponsored by the GA Planning Committee, with participation by DRUUMM leadership. Multi-Racial Caucus and the GA Planning Committee are sponsoring Matt Kelley’s visionary MAVIN Foundation; the African Descent Caucus is sponsoring a workshop. “Honoring the Music and Stories of a People”; and the Asian and Pacific Islander Caucus is sponsoring a workshop called “Community Response to Hate Crimes: A St. Louis Case Study” featuring panelists from the Anti-Defamation League and the National Conference for Community and Justice.
• 5th Annual DRUUMM Fall Meeting November 10-13, 2006 in the Midwest
• 5th Annual Asian Pacific Islander Caucus Meeting February 16-18, 2006 at All Souls in Washington, DC
Current DRUUMM Caucuses
We are delighted to share the current listing of caucuses: African Descent, Asian/Pacific Islander (A/PIC), Multiracial (Multi-Rac), Native American/American Indian Council, Seminarians of Color, Queers of Color, Youth and Young Adults (YaYA).PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE: WWW.DRUUMM.ORG .
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