JPD Racial Justice Conference - Inclusivity Through Joy and Creativity 

We are happy to invite you to participate in the Joseph Priestley District 10th Annual Racial Justice Conference. This year will be an exciting experience of the arts, inspired by the Jazz Poetry Slams that have taken root at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Sterling, in Virginia.

The arts give us opportunities to invite the wider multicultural and multigenerational community into our sanctuaries. We are hoping that some of you will want to join us in creating a series of Jazz Poetry Slams in the coming year. Learning about this endeavor is one possible gift of attendance at this conference.

In addition, we will celebrate a decade of bringing Unitarian Universalists together through this conference with sincere appreciation to all the lay leaders and ministers who have been a part of the Journey Toward Wholeness (JTW) Transformation Team. The JTW Team was established by the District Board of Trustees in 1999. The team has held the vision of multicultural inclusion, provided opportunities for training and engagement, and engaged their own congregations in cultural transformation. We also thank each of the congregations that served as conference hosts for the last ten years. And lastly, we wish Rev. Dr. Richard Speck well in his retirement and thank him for supporting this event and the team during his fourteen years as Executive Director of the Joseph Priestley District

- Paula Cole Jones, JPD Racial & Social Justice Director

Workshops, Worship, Special Events & Experiences

Registration, Collage, Artists Conversation, Potluck:

Our time together begins creatively on Friday evening, November 7th at 5pm with registration. Come early and enjoy a Collage Making Workshop. Collage your name-tag or collage a larger work. You will be encouraged to let your personal identity, your identity as a Unitarian Universalist, and your vision for justice speak in your art work. At 6:30 the members at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Sterling will provide a “Multicultural Potluck,” and Director of African and African American studies at George Mason, Wendi Manuel Scott will invite us to tour her gallery show, and will speak with us about “Authentic Joy.”

Saturday’s Flow:

On Saturday morning we will gather for breakfast at 8am, then will move into a worship service led by Rev. Leon Dunkley, Rev. Scott Sammler-Michael, and Rev. Anya Sammler-Michael. Worship will ground us in the task for the day - to open creatively to the work of Racial Justice, as we “Sing and Say Ourselves Whole.” Saturday will proceed with presentations, conversations, embodied experience, and of course, lunch and some break time for spiritual deepening.

Poetry, a Grounding Theme:

One theme grounding our time is slam poetry. We will learn from and with the awe inspiring slam poets Regie Cabico and Sarah D. Lawson. Regie is one of the country's leading innovators and pioneers of the poetry slam having won 3 top prizes in National Slams. Bust Magazine ranked him in the 100 Men We Love & The Kenyon Review called him the Lady Gaga of Poetry. Sarah is the founder and slam master of the Beltway Poetry Slam, DC’s premier poetry slam. Other than serving as DC poetry's unofficial hype woman, she teaches writing workshops throughout the city.

Slam Poetry invites poets and participants into a deep engagement with diversity. It entices a creative, emotional and intellectual exchange that disrupts the boundaries that separate us one from another. A Jazz Poetry Slam may serve your community. As we learn from the artists, we will also share how you can bring this project home to your congregation.

Slam with Us:

Please consider staying for our very own Jazz Poetry Slam on Saturday Evening. Bring a poem to share - the Theme is “Come Alive,” from Howard Thurman’s lesson: “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask, what makes you come alive, because what the world needs is people who have come alive. Or stay to simply drink in the inspiration!

Sunday Morning Rock Gospel Worship:

If you have another day to spare, conference attendees are welcome to stay for our Rock Gospel Sunday Morning Worship which will continue to address the themes of our conference.  Worship will begin at 10:30am.

Who:

Your conference planning team feels that this material will serve youth and adults, from 7th grade and above. Younger children can find comfort in childcare.

How to Stay Here

Home Hospitality Information

If you prefer the fellowship of other UU's to a hotel room, or just wish to save some money please be sure to express your interest in Home Hospitality when you register.  Your wishes will be communicated to our hospitality organizer in the Sterling area.  UUCS will make every attempt to satisfy your request.  Donations to our congregation for home hospitality are welcome.

Hotels Within a Mile

(search http://maps.google.com using: “hotels near 22135 Davis Drive, Sterling, VA 20164”)

Residence Inn Dulles Airport at Dulles 28 Centre

45250 Monterey Pl., Dulles, VA 20166

(703) 421-2000

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Sterling – Dulles Airport

21611 Atlantic Blvd., Sterling, VA 20166

(703) 230-0077

Hampton Inn

22700 Holiday Park Dr., Sterling, VA 20166

(703) 537-7800

Best Western Dulles Airport Inn

45440 Holiday Dr.,  Sterling, VA 20166

(703) 471-8300

Holiday Inn Washington-Dulles Intl Airport

45425 Holiday Dr., Dulles, VA 20166

(703) 471-7411

What To Bring and What to Wear

Conference planners are dedicated to making the conference an open and welcoming experience for all. Please bring your most positive self and your willingness to be called and call others into covenant. Meals and snacks, save the dinner on Saturday night are provided, these will include vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options. Relaxed and comfortable clothing is perfect. Note that we will be doing art together on Friday evening.

Full Conference Brochure

Workshop and Events Schedule

Register Now!