1. Immigration and Sanctuary Spaces
● COFFEE CHAT THIS SUNDAY – I.C.E and our Role as a
Sanctuary Space
● Read our Sanctuary Resolution of April 9, 2017:
https://uusaratoga.org/justice-inclusion/congregational-resolutions/
2. Unfortunately due to low registration the UU Common Read
(Authentic Selves: Celebrating Trans and Nonbinary People and Their
Families) that was scheduled to begin this Sunday is cancelled and will
be postponed to the fall. Note below the panel discussion offered at Skidmore on
April 22 on the topic however!
3. Social Justice needs a new Chair – or two! Lucy Manning is
stepping down in mid-May as chair of the Team and is eager and willing to share
information about this opportunity. You will have a great team ready and
willing to work which can provide a very rewarding experience. The position can
easily be shared to lessen the workload for one person, please meet with Lucy to
learn how that might happen. lucymnnng@gmail.com
3. Save the Date for Movie Night on May 18
We will view a collection of short films, including animations, from the Climate
Future Film Festival. Check their website for a preview:
https://www.climatefuturefilm.com/host-the-festival/
4. Help Stop the SAVE Act:
● Phone Bank: https://www.mobilize.us/commoncause/event/758610/
● Petition:
https://act.commoncause.org/petitions/tell-congress-reject-the-anti-voter-save
-act/?can_id=eda65290cdebc64c9d5d83d82dc6d1f5&source=mobile_message022825_sms_pet_save-act&mobile_message_referrer=mobile-message_52567
5. Climate Justice Revival
Your Social Justice Team has a sub-group lead by Linda Giancola who is
preparing a worship service on April 27 and other events highlighting activities
for all ages created by Side With Love. Email Linda if you are interested in being
part of the planning team at lkg2370@yahoo.com
6. Weekly Action Updates from Side With Love
https://sidewithlove.org/action-center-updates/2025/4/1/040125-action-centrweekly-updatenbsp
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IN THE COMMUNITY
1. Monday, April 7, 11:00 AM-12:30 PM: Q&A on CBP policies and
rights at the border Webinar sponsored by Immigrant Advocates
Response Collaborative (IARC). Registration here.
2. Monday, April 7, 5:00 – 6:00 pm. Strock Lecture at
Skidmore: When the Ice is Gone. Geologist Paul Bierman’s study of
the last massive melt in Greenland is terribly relevant today. When ice on
Greenland melts, water flows into the ocean, raising sea level as much as 25 feet
and flooding coastal zones around the world. Greenland’s real value is its ice.
Book sale and signing after the lecture. In the Davis Auditorium in
Palamountain Hall, on the Campus of Skidmore College at 815 N Broadway.
3. Wednesday, April 9, Noon: To El Salvador and Beyond:
Third Country Removals, Due Process, and Trump’s Assault on
Rights Webinar sponsored by American Immigration Council.
Registration here.
4. Thursday, April 10, 5:30 pm. Northshire Saratoga: Luna
McDermott, Magdalene Maciag and YouthSquared Let’s Give
Back to Our Earth. The author, illustrator, and their fellow members
of Youth Squared will share their new book, which promotes sustainable living
and shares actionable ideas for environmental advocacy and protection, and
helps families to seek out ways to help the environment and contribute to a
better future for all living things. More info here. Northshire Bookstore is at 424
Broadway.
5. Thursday, April 10, 6:00 pm. a field of bloom and hum on
film. The Personal Is Political at the Tang. The final screening in
the program explores the intertwining of the realm of familial and intimate life
with broader liberatory aspirations. Two films—a documentary feature preceded
by a short—position the family unit as a queer site, radically countering the idea
that queerness is an outside threat to be protected against. More info here. Free
and open to the public. In the Somers Room at Tang Teaching Museum, on the
campus of Skidmore College, 815 N Broadway.
5. Thursday, April 10, 4:00-5:00 PM: Empowering
Communities: Guidance on KYR in Protected Areas
Sponsored by National Immigration Law Center (NILC). Includes live “office
hours.” Register and submit questions here.
6. Friday, April 11, 2:00 PM: Global Climate Strike (local action)
West Capitol Park, Albany. Sponsored by Fridays for Future.
7. Saturday, April 5, 10 AM-2 PM: Saratoga Sustainability Fair
Tisch Center for Integrated Sciences, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs.
Sponsored by Sustainable Saratoga, Skidmore College, and community partners.
Details here.
8. Saturday, April 5: “Hands Off” national mobilization against
federal encroachment
— Albany, 11:00 AM-2:00 PM, Empire State Plaza. Registration here.
— Saratoga Springs, 4:00-5:30 PM: Location disclosed at registration.
9.Attend this Skidmore Event
Please note and share this direct link for registering:
https://sspl.libcal.com/event/13317040…
10. The Saratoga Area Welcome Circle (SAWC) is pleased to
announce that they were assigned a family of 6 from Afghanistan earlier this
week and they just arrived after midnight very early Thursday!
The Mohsini family of 6 consists of Ihsanullah (M) and Shamim (F) and
their children Maihan (M) -8, Azin Sama (F)-4, Shahryar (M)-2 and Hasti (F)
-just 2 weeks old.
Ihsanullah has a bachelor’s degree in agriculture, reads and writes
English proficiently and Shamim has 4 years study in law, speaks a little English.
Ihsan is eager to be self-sufficient and looking for work doing anything. If you
know of any opportunities, please let Lucy Manning know at
lucymnnng@gmail.com ASAP!
They have a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) which has been issued to
Afghan allies of the US, Afghans who worked in Afghanistan for the US
government, and can no longer live in safety in Afghanistan as they are direct
targets of the Taliban. These visa holders are among the few still being allowed
to legally immigrate and arrive with green cards and work authorization.
The refugee family previously assigned had their flight canceled and there
is no current path for them to immigrate to our country. Unfortunately,
information about their present circumstances is not available and we can only
hope and pray for their safety.
11. SARATOGA IMMIGRATION COALITION EMERGENCY
FUND
As “mass deportation” rips workers out of our community and tears
families apart, SIC has re-launched the GoFundMe site to receive donations to
meet immediate needs of our immigrant neighbors, in small amounts, enough to
pay for a month’s rent, weekly groceries, or other daily needs while longer-term
solutions are sought. Referrals come from service providers and faith leaders at
work in the community, who in many cases are already familiar with the
circumstances of those in need. And the fund is designed to serve the
community well known to SIC, primarily Saratoga, Washington and Warren
Counties.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/aid-saratoga-area-immigrants
or search for “Saratoga immigrants” on GoFundMe homepage
https://www.gofundme.com/ .
12. Uncommon Grounds workers announce campaign to
unionize. On Thursday, workers from two locations, Saratoga Springs and
Clifton Park, came together to officially announce the next potential change — a
union campaign. The goal is for this union to aid in improving some health and
safety conditions for the workers, in addition to making sure that wages are
transparent and that besides the open door policy that is present for workers,
there’s accountability and follow-through when issues are brought to
management. Uncommon Workers have teamed up with Workers United in
their efforts to unionize — an organization that has been working to advance
labor laws in America for the past 120 years and notably has been partnering
and working with Starbucks workers across the country as they organize to
address a variety systemic problems such as “short staffing and unpredictable
scheduling; low wages; unaffordable healthcare; harassment; broken
equipment; unfair discipline” according to their website. More in the Saratogian.
Click here for the full announcement! As always so many opportunities and activities to help YOU get involved!