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FORUM
FORUM PURPOSE STATEMENT
The forum brings together Unitarian Universalists of San Francisco and fellow citizens to gain a deeper understanding of the issues of our time and to hear powerful presentations that both inform and inspire.
Restore the Delta with Morgen Snyder & MacKenzie Owens
Sunday, April 27, 9:30 am, TSK Room and on Zoom.
A light breakfast will be available beginning at 9:00 a.m.
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Restore the Delta (RTD) is a grassroots campaign committed to saving the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta that makes up the east side of the Bay Area. Join us to learn more about the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta’s history surrounding ongoing water diversions, water ownership, and water resolutions. This will focus on the Delta Conveyance Project, which is supported by Gov. Newsom. Also, about general water management regarding the Delta and solutions on how to move towards a healthy estuary for all.
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Morgen Snyder graduated from Illinois State Univ. in 2017 in Political Science and Legal Studies and is now pursuing a master's degree in Environmental Policy Management at UC Davis. Morgen grew up in Naperville, IL, but calls Northern California home. Morgen works as the policy analyst at Restore the Delta and is involved in the Water Conveyance Project at RTD. MacKenzie Owens was born and raised in the East Bay and graduated with a degree in Global Studies and a minor in Human Rights from San Jose State University. She worked as a Climate Water Advocate intern at TD and is the Youth & Outreach Program Manager. MacKenzie co-manages the Climate Water Advocate Program with RTD’s Science Program Manager, collaborating with community partners for youth workforce development.
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You can phone in at +1 669 444 9171. Meeting ID: 978 9063 7981 Passcode: 018034
Is There a Way Out After Gaza's Devastation: A Palestinian Perspective by Khalil Sayegh
Sunday, April 27, 12:15 pm, TSK Room and on Zoom.
A light lunch will be available beginning at 12:15 pm.
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If you intend to come to this event in person, please let us know by Friday, April 25, and email melvinstarks734@yahoo.com so we know how much food to prepare.
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Khalil Sayegh will discuss the impact of war on his life as a Palestinian who lived in Gaza and the West Bank. He will provide insights into the historical roots of Palestinian nationalism and the challenges faced by Palestinians under both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority. He will discuss the impact of settler movements and the ongoing challenges faced by Palestinians in their quest for rights and recognition.
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Mr. Sayegh is co-founder and Executive Director of the Agora Initiative, a non-profit in Washington, DC that advocates for peace in Israel and Palestine, and ending the occupation. He lived most of his life in Gaza and Palestine where he was involved in humanitarian initiatives. Mr. Sayegh attended graduate school at American University in Washington, DC where he now leads the Agora Initiative.
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This presentation is co-sponsored by SF Bay Area Friends of Standing Together and the Human Rights Working Group of UUSF.
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You can phone in at +1 669 444 9171. Meeting ID: 978 0644 0407 Passcode: 732452
May Day & Why We Must Rise Up Now with Claudia de la Cruz
Sunday, May 4, 9:30 am, TSK Room and on Zoom.
A light breakfast will be available beginning at 9:00 a.m.
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While May Day, also known as International Workers’ Day, is celebrated in over 160 countries, the United States is one of the few main countries (with Saudi Arabia, Israel, Japan, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand) that does not recognize the connection to a “Workers’ Day” because of its perceived “socialist and communist attitudes” during the Cold War and to counter the influence and achievements of organized labor movements.
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It is important to acknowledge this May Day history because it shows what organized labor and civil rights groups have achieved in the past and an example of what successes could be possible—now! It is time to rise up again! We observe the daily actions of our country’s current administration: making huge cutbacks to the federal departments of Social Security, Education, Public Health, and Environmental Protection, along with deportations of innocent individuals without legal cause, which is unconstitutional and reminiscent of fascist takeovers in the past. What can we as ordinary citizens do about these autocratic and dangerous moves?
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Claudia de la Cruz is a mother, educator, community organizer, and theologian. Born in 1980 in the South Bronx to immigrant parents from the Dominican Republic, she grew up questioning the prevailing conditions of poverty and oppression, providing her an understanding of working-class consciousness. Claudia has participated in local and international solidarity actions grounded on the principles of liberation theology. She has a master’s degree in social work from Columbia University and an MA in divinity from Union Theological Seminary, served as co-executive director of The People’s Forum of NYC, and as a pastor of Santo Romero de Las Americas Church of the United Church of Christ, doing community organizing from a faith-based perspective. She was the 2024 presidential candidate for the Party for Socialism & Liberation, the Peace & Freedom Party of California, and the Workers Party of South Carolina.
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You can phone in at +1 669 444 9171. Meeting ID: 999 2598 7592 Passcode: 306410
Memoir of a Reluctant Giant with David Strachan & Davi Barker
Sunday, May 11, 9:30 am, TSK Room and on Zoom.
A light breakfast will be available beginning at 9:00 a.m.
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“Memoir of a Reluctant Giant” is the story of a person who struggles to find themselves in a world of confusing messages and rigid binaries. It's also a poignant tale of love, loss, and the courage to live authentically. David invites readers to reconsider their perception of gender, sexuality, and the beautiful diversity of the human experience. Author Davi states, "David came into my life the day I was born. I was named after them. I've written a stack of books, but David's story is unique. They are literally a giant, standing a towering 6' 10" tall. They are also a giant figuratively, as an activist at the center of the struggle for gay, transgender, and intersex equality; the AIDS outbreak; environmental protection; and their fight to stop unnecessary medical interventions on infants with intersex variations."
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Davi Barker (the Ghostwriter) will give an introduction about how he created this memoir. Davi Barker is a writer, artist, and explorer of identity, autonomy, and the forces that shape both. David Strachan (the Giant) will read 2 or 3 passages from this memoir. He has written several articles about his experience having Klinefelter's syndrome and has been an intersex and non-binary activist since 1994.
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You can phone in at +1 669 444 9171. Meeting ID: 933 3115 1327 Passcode: 877246
Nothing About Us Without Us: The Path to True Empowerment with Mwangi Mukami
Sunday, May 18, 9:30 am, TSK Room and on Zoom.
A light breakfast will be available beginning at 9:00 a.m.
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Meaningful social change requires genuine participation from those directly impacted. Advocacy alone is insufficient—you must empower marginalized communities to lead their liberation authentically. In this insightful presentation, Mwangi Mukami explores how true empowerment starts with trust and belief in the leadership of historically excluded groups. Drawing from personal experiences and practical insights, Mwangi demonstrates how transformative leadership emerges when communities are actively involved and genuinely empowered to shape their destinies.
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Mwangi Mukami is an award-winning nonprofit leader empowering historically excluded communities through education, leadership development, and cross-cultural engagement across the San Francisco Bay Area, Nairobi, Kilifi, and Accra. Born in Kenya, Mwangi came to the U.S. through political asylum in 2009. Mwangi serves as the founder and president of the MLIFE Foundation. He previously served as chair of the San Francisco Shelter Monitoring Committee and executive director of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Africa Foundation. To learn more about Mwangi Mukami’s work, please visit MLIFE’s website, mlifefoundation.org.
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You can phone in at +1 669 444 9171. Meeting ID: 995 2774 6491 Passcode: 808159
FORUM VIDEO ARCHIVES
PROGRAMS & EVENTS
Ideas?
To suggest speakers, please fill out the form below. Your input is crucial for creating a diverse and engaging program for members and guests. We value your ideas for future presentations. Questions? Email forum@uusf.org