Journey Well – Social Justice Team – 31 October 2025

 

Boo! Happy Halloween y Feliz Dia de los Muertos!

 

Engaging more Fully With “Good Troublemakers” in Saratoga Springs

 

“the most important thing an individual can do, is be a little less of an individual and join together with others in movements large enough to make change.” – Bill McKibben

 

Our town offers a rich spectrum of activists, artists, working toward our goal of equality and justice for all.  Journey Well informs us weekly of current events of interest to our UU hearts and minds.  The Social Justice Team section of “JW” draws heavily from connections with many allies and partners. Mark serves on the Board of Our Lodge Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit, (not to be confused with the Frederick Allen Elks Lodge on Beekman Street). OLF’s vision statement can be viewed here: https://www.ourlodgefoundation.org/our-vision  including The Six Steps of Social Change. To implement Step 1, “Information Gathering” Our Foundation created and maintains a webpage called Civic Connex https://www.ourlodgefoundation.org/quick-clicks to guide concerned citizens and social activists to what’s happening in Saratoga Springs and our region.

 

For example: An exciting Seed Our Souls Sustainability Showcase will occur in Albany next Sunday, November 9, from 1:00 – 6:00 p.m. when artists, activists, and educators of color will present multiple intriguing workshops. OLF and the organizers  will post a detailed Publicity Packet on Civic Connex early next week – stay tuned!

 

Please review Civic Connex and share questions, comments, and suggestions with Mark (OLF Board Member): 518-316-9740 19abrican@gmail.com or  ourlodgefoundation.org@gmail.com .

 

Franklin Community Center Volunteer Opportunities – Message from Julianna Luciano, Volunteer Coordinator:

 

Since we last spoke, our plans have shifted a little for volunteer options for our holiday program, so we won’t be able to host a large group on-site this year (most likely – that could change again!)

 

At this time, we are asking for groups to consider becoming donors for our holiday program. Here are a few different ways that could be done:

• Host A Donation Drive: We are always in need of toys, pajamas, clothes, etc for our holiday program. We can provide you with a list of needed items and you can do a collection for them, and then drop them off at FCC
• Kit Packing: If you’d like to still include a volunteer aspect, you could purchase items in bulk and pack them into kits as a group at your location. We have a few different options for this, including teen hygiene kits or art kits. The kits would then be added to kids’ bags before the families pick them up, or would be available in the Holiday Shop for families to select from
• Sponsor Families: We are in great need of donors willing to sponsor multiple children so that we can assign them to families. We don’t like to split up siblings to multiple donors, to ensure all siblings receive gifts of similar qualities/quantities, so having donors willing to cover multiple kids is a huge help. If you’re interested in this option, your group would be given kids’ lists and you all could shop for the items together

Sign-up Sheet in the sanctuary, contact Mark: 518-316-9740 19abrican@gmail.com

 

MLK Saratoga’s next planning meeting for MLK 2026 Celebration Weekend will be held on Wednesday, November 5, at 6:30, at the Presbyterian United Church of Christ (PUCC) 24 Circular Street, in the Nolan House Parlor.

 

That’s all for now.

Cheers,

Mark

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