Farewell, Thank You, & an Invitation! July 22, 2023 [Click HERE for Karen's voice recording of this letter.] Dear ones, We have made such good trouble together and celebrated some joyful times these past 4 years, moving "towards justice, with joy," amid ordinary and extraordinary challenges. Now, MUUSJA’s Board and staff are planning a party to celebrate our leadership transition, welcome several new Board members, and invite the Board-curious to join us. This is from Karen, to say thank you to you all, as we joyfully prepare for Katie Kline to take the lead at MUUSJA as our new Executive Director, starting August 1st, 2023. I am semi-retiring, engaging with 2024 electoral work and neuropsychology consultation, while recommitting to my long-time role as a MUUSJA volunteer, booster, and donor. You will hear more soon from Katie, whom many know already as a MUUSJA spiritual director who has co-led forums on Indigenous and racial justice, reproductive justice, and climate grief, created the “On-line Care Packages” and co-organized Give to the Max Day fundraising, along with MUUSJA metro director Allison Wyeth. Allison, Katie, and I have all in different ways weathered serious family health crises and work challenges recently, and over the past few years together. Speaking for myself -- I cannot imagine a better team of colleagues. And all the while, MUUSJA's Board has held us in love and carried the fire of commitment to our vision and mission. My tenure spanned the pandemic years. The George Floyd and MPD report and Eighth Principle learning circle years. The Line 3/Treaty People years. The legislative Trifecta miracles, accompanied by the nation-wide overturn of Roe, affirmative action, voting rights, LGBTQ+ anti-discrimination rules, and affirmative action policies. Mosque vandalism, yet, unanimous planning board approval to build Minnesota's Muslim cemetery. And you, UU's from Bemidji to Winona, Bismarck to Saint Croix, circling and centering the Twin Cities, showed up for it, in humble solidarity, in witness, in grief, in outrage, with Love. The Minnesota UU Social Justice Alliance is never about any one person, congregation, or region. MUUSJA is about all of us: every UU-affiliated person and friend in Minnesota and many in neighboring states (even a few from as far as Florida, Texas, and California!), every UU congregation and fellowship in our area, allied with statewide multi-faith organizing partners. If you’re reading this -- You are MUUSJA. And we are not alone. I’ve been inspired and energized by the richness of Minnesota’s wildly abundant organizing ecosystem. UU’s show up with our unique voice, embracing pluralism and siding with Love, as valued co-conspirators with partners such as Minnesota Multi-faith Network, Joint Religious Legislative Coalition, Faith Organizing Roundtable, Communities Combating Hate, We Choose Us, Gender Justice, OutFront, Sanctuary State Network, Minnesota Voice, MN Power and Light, Honor the Earth, and more. Nationally, we are supported by and we enrich the work of UU partners including CUUSAN, the Coalition of UU State Action Networks; the UUA Organizing Strategy Team (Side With Love); UU Ministry for Earth; and the international Unitarian Universalist Service Committee and College of Social Justice. Companioning UU’s aligned with this “community of communities” for solidarity, advocacy, and direct service, is joyful work. MUUSJA is in good hands and in good shape, thanks to our strong connections, and the long-term and ongoing commitment from you and your congregations to our shared vision. Please join us, as you are able, to celebrate in September (date/time/place/Zoom links, TBD)! With Love,  Karen Wills
Executive Director |
