What is Intersectionality?

From www.dictionary.com com -“ The theory that the overlap of various social identities, as race, gender, sexuality, and class, contributes to the specific type of systemic oppression and discrimination experienced by an individual.”

From www.meriam-webster.com - “The complex, cumulative way in which the effects of multiple forms of discrimination (such as racism, sexism, and classism) combine, overlap, or intersect, especially in the experiences of marginalized individuals or groups.

Kimberlé Crenshaw introduced the theory of intersectionality, the idea that when it comes to thinking about how inequalities persist, categories like gender, race, and class are best understood as overlapping and mutually constitutive rather than isolated and distinct. — Adia Harvey Wingfield”

From a CNN.com report entitled “‘Intersectionality’ has become a hot-button topic in recent years. Here’s what it means”. Asale Angel-Ajani, director of the women’s and gender studies program at the City College of New York states - “Intersectionality does not imply that this person is more or less oppressed than someone else. Instead, it’s trying to understand how multiple identities can affect how someone experiences the world around them in different ways.”

From en.wikipedia.org - Intersectionality is an analytical framework for understanding how a person's various social and political identities combine to create different modes of discrimination and privilege. Intersectionality identifies multiple factors of advantage and disadvantage.[1] Examples of these factors include gender, caste, sex, race, ethnicity, class, sexuality, religion, disability, weight, and physical appearance.[2] These intersecting and overlapping social identities may be both empowering and oppressing.[3][4]

We each carry a particular array of the various social identities listed in the information above. Looking at our identities through an intersectional lens asks that we consider these factors in combination with each other rather than considering each one in isolation. Our various combinations impact our life experience, our level of privilege or oppression, how we view the world, and how the world views us. For instance an older black female would have a vastly different life experience from a younger white male. Someone with a disability might have trouble finding work. If that person is also Latino would that further affect their ability to find work?

Our 8th Principle calls us to the task of dismantling oppression and building Beloved Community. The tool of Intersectionality gives us the possibility of seeing the different life experiences our unique profiles provide each of us. This broadened understanding has the potential to help improve our ability to engage with those different from ourselves and move further toward the goals of the 8th Principle.

After the Moment for All Ages, we will meet in the Dining Room downstairs for activities.  Weather permitting, we may go outside on the church grounds.

On Sunday June 18th, please join us at Desperate Times Brewery in Carlisle at 4:00 pm for our next monthly Family Happy Hour.  Looking forward to continued connection-building throughout the Summer!  

In faith and service, Lynn Sodora 

Below is our Faith Development Sunday schedule for our children and youth for June: 

June 4:  FLOWER COMMUNION SUNDAY - Multigenerational Service: Join us for our annual Flower Communion worship service in the Sanctuary at 10:30 am.  Bring a flower to share.  Nursery Care will be available from 10:15 - 11:45 am.  

June 11: RE Summer Sundays begins:  We being our Sundays at 10:30 am in the Sanctuary with the congregation.  After the Moment for All Ages, the children and youth will head downstairs for an All-Ages summer activity.

June 11:  Making Seed Balls

June 18:  Exploring Water Justice

June 25:  Creating Book Notes

NURSERY CARE (ages 0-4) every Sunday:  Parents can sign in their babies and toddlers before Service and retrieve them by 11:45 am.  

**Please sign out your young children (up to age 12) from Nursery and RE by 11:45.** This gives parents the opportunity to socialize before pickup, while respecting the Volunteer Teachers' time as well. 

Thank you to all our May volunteers! Primajoy Ramalingam, Gail Black, Max Donnelly, Melissa Mattson, Rev. Chris Kapp, Ryanne Mack, Mrs. Candice Holsinger, Susan Green, Lynn Michels, Rebecca Fratantuono and Kim Stone. Thank you so much for your time and energy! Members of the Congregation are encouraged to volunteer with the Children's RE Program! Please email Lynn Sodora DLFD at re@uucv.net to check in about submitting clearances. 

Your Bursary contributions allow these girls, citizens of one of the world’s poorest countries, to achieve their dreams of an education. $350 dollars provides room and board, school uniforms and supplies, and hygiene materials for one year. Your donations also pay the salaries of the housemothers who mentor the girls throughout the year. Below, you can see our Project Officer, Sonia Assane Sauale, distributing supplies to the Nammaroi girls on her recent visit.

Dianne Dusman and Susan Rimby will be visiting Mozambique in early September to see our program in action. It’s not too late to get in on this opportunity. Travelers should be in excellent health and prepared to rough it. Please contact one of us if you are interested in participating.

And....if you couldn't make it, there are still events with spots available for you to sign up for.  The list of events will be displayed in our Social Hall until they are full or the date has passed.  You can sign up, or contact Pam pam@uucv.net or Cindy cyagood4@gmail.com and ask them to sign up for you. 

Watch for a monthly advertisement of what's coming up next.....

June events:

June 17 $15 1003 Ever been to the fabulous BBs (aka Bents, Bumps and a Bunch of Bargains) in Newburg? If not, here’s your chance to visit this iconic store known for its incredible savings on a huge variety of items. Breakfast will be provided beginning at 8:15 by your guides, Carole and Tom  DeWall At their home. They will then transport you to BBs for a memorable outing, BYORB: Bring our own reusable bags. 7 people

June 25 $15 1006 Join us for an afternoon walk at the park followed by 2 – 5 PM an ice cream social on the deck at the home of Cindy Good and Paula Terry. 10 people. We’ll meet at Spring Meadows Park, located 1 mile from UUCV, at 2 pm.  

UUCV is partnering with RaiseRight for Gift card fundraising, the #1 fundraiser for nonprofit organizations across the U.S. for more than 25 years.  Earn simply by buying gift cards to use for everyday purchases, instead of cash or credit cards.

With RaiseRight, nonprofits and other community-based organizations earn money simply by shopping for their favorite brands—turning daily or weekly purchases into the opportunities that matter for their favorite organizations. 

How to Get Started:

Visit http://uucv.info/raiseright to Sign Up from your computer

Set up your banking or credit card preference.

You can then shop anytime by visiting https://www.raiseright.com/brands and see the daily bonuses and specials which will earn more money for UUCV.  Check the % for each card to see what your donation will be to UUCV….with a very minimal fee to you. 

How to Pay:

When you are done selecting your cards, check out at your shopping cart.  You can pay by your own Credit Card (getting points on your card) or LINK to your bank account

How you Receive your Cards:

• You can choose ecards (which will show up in your wallet on your APP or in your wallet on the main website http://www.raiseright/shop
• You can choose to receive the actual card be sent to your home address
• DO NOT select your card to be sent to the Coordinator….any cards sent to the coordinator will be cancelled and your sale will be VOID

Contact Pam pam@uucv.net if you need help in getting set up or if you have questions about this program.