Pax, Betsy Brinson and Gordon Davies
The Peace & Social Concerns Committee’s Community-Partner Fundraiser Lunch this month will support BOYS TO MEN: mentoring at-risk teenage boys. Please join us for lunch on Feb. 17th after Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business
1. Transportation needs have increased significantly. In addition to transporting to Northern VA for ICE court hearings, transportation to Midlothian ICE office is needed biweekly for people recently out of detention who wear ankle bracelets. If anyone is interested/able to join the Transportation Circle (of Central VA Sanctuary Network), please contact Sally Gudas at seatide1@gmail.com, and see below for additional information.
2. Being present in a supportive, visible way in the Latinex community is an important part of offering solidarity and assistance. Likewise, speaking Spanish is important in making all the other assistance “user friendly” Sacred Heart Center, among their many excellent services, offers Spanish classes for English speakers. By taking classes at the Center we can both learn Spanish and be present in the community
3. The Thrifty Quaker, a thrifty store run by Midlothian Friends, designated Central VA Sanctuary Network as recipient of their proceeds during the month of May: $4095.55 This took the Sanctuary Fund from $0 to enough money to pay for legal fees, lawyers’ fees, etc. We are really glad that Central Virginia Sanctuary Network’s time and work in building relationships, establishing trust and a finding a good referral pathway, has resulted our being able to help the community more. This translates into significant increase in requests for transportations. Over the last month or two, we have had many requests to transport people to their local bi-weekly ICE check-ins in Midlothian, to lawyer appointment, in addition to the usual transportation to court hearings in Northern VA. If you would like to join this effort, please email Sally Gudas, chair of the Transportation Circle.
TRANSPORTATION TRAINING
What: Training for Volunteers wishing to help with Transportation to legal appointments of Undocumented
Immigrants
When: Training to be held Sunday, July 1st, at 12:30 PM
Where: First Unitarian Universalist Church of Richmond, 1000 Blanton Avenue.
Sally Gudas, Transportation Circle Chair for the Central Virginia Sanctuary Network is facilitating the workshop. Spanish speakers are greatly needed, but we need non-Spanish-speakers as well. Several Friends from our Meeting have been involved in this work and have found it rewarding and helpful to the immigrant clients. Please email or call Sally if you plan to attend: seatide1@gmail.com, (804)399-8342.
The Workcamp committee installed plantings for new homeowner, Sandra, at her home in southside Richmond, on June 2. The mission of this committee is:
The Workcamp Committee at Richmond Friends Meeting seeks to act on the Quaker belief that there is that of God in every person. We believe that working cooperatively can put us in touch with that deeper spirit. We seek to do physical work in the spirit of love. Working with a homeowner, we will devise a plan for the yard. With the homeowner, we will plant shrubs and flowers. We
have found that working together enhances relationships, which is our deeper mission. We believe that working with others in our community has tremendous potential to build relationships and reduce misunderstanding.
Sandra is a new homeowner recommended by HOME (Housing Opportunities Made Equal). Meeting with two committee members, Anne Gray and
Barbara Myers, a week in advance, we planned a small vegetable garden (tomatoes and okra) for Sandra’s sunny back yard and hydrangeas, azalea, and small hollies for the front of her brick house. It was a warm sunny day, and committee members Wendy Wadsworth (co-clerk), Barbara Myers (co-clerk), Anne Gray, Anna Best, Anne Atkins, Carolyn Moul, Mark Perry, Paul Kvam, and Al Best dug up the grass and installed the new plantings. A flat of begonias and a deep covering of mulch provided the finishing touch to the new garden. We had a picnic lunch in the shade and celebrated the new look of Sandra’s yard. Sandra later wrote to us, “I love my lawn. My family, friends, and neighbors have all expressed how beautiful my lawn looks. Thanks sooo much for your hard work and kindness. May God bless you all for being thoughtful and loving neighbors.”
As part of Richmond Friends Meeting’s support and welcome for people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions, the Visibility Coordinators, in collaboration with the Ministry and Worship Committee, have registered for a booth at VA PrideFest 2017. This year, PrideFest will be held Saturday, September 23, 2017, from 12-8 pm on Brown’s Island.
PrideFest is a free, family-friendly event with vendors, food, activities and entertainment, organized and operated by Virginia Pride to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community in Virginia. RFM planning for the event will begin in early September. For more information, contact Diana Cole, Julia Hebner or Jim Thoroman.
You are invited to attend MAY DAY RVA – May 1st, 10:30 am – 8 pm at Abner Clay Park, 200 West Clay Street. New Virginia Majority, Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy (VICPP), Southerners on New Ground (SONG) and other local community groups are sponsoring the “MAY DAY RVA” event in conjunction with similar gatherings throughout the country in support of immigrants, workers, and those who are marginalized.
Schedule of events for the day:
10:30 Interfaith Prayers -Vigilia Interreligiosa
11:00 Community Art Showcase -Demuestro de arte comunitario
12:45 March -Marcha
4:00 Cook out (Abner Clay) -Cena en el parque
6:30 Parade -Desfile
Additional healing spaces will be provided. The whole day is family-inclusive. For additional information, contact Lana Heath de Martinez at lana@virginiainterfaithcenter.org.