Bending the Arc Toward Racial Justice

A Justice Team Task Force

The Bending the Arc Toward Racial Justice Task Force works to reduce the effects of white privilege and systemic racism while increasing justice, equity, and compassion, helping UUCM and its members to live their justice values.

“I do not pretend to understand the moral universe: the arc is a long one, [and] my eye reaches but a little ways. I cannot calculate the curve and complete the figure by the experience of sight; … But from what I see I am sure it bends towards justice.”
~ Rev. Theodore Parker (1810-1860), Unitarian Minister

For 2024-25, the Bending the Arc Taskforce meets on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 6:00pm.
*The February 2025 meeting has been moved to Tuesday, February 18 at 6:00pm.

Task Force Initiatives

The Bending the Arc Toward Racial Justice Task Force’s 2025 Strategic Plan has four major initiatives:

Voter Education Campaign
- Partner with Center for Common Ground on off election year get-out-the-vote activities in key states experiencing voter suppression, including sending a minimum of 5,000 postcards
- Join the Get Out the Vote Postcard Club
- Check out the BTA Taskforce’s list of election actions YOU can take
Provide the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) as a tool for individual and
organizational self assessment and growth for building cultural competence
- Recruit a minimum of 20 congregants to take the IDI and create a personal growth plan
- Create a discussion and support group for those taking the IDI
- Provide opportunities for presentation to the congregation about the process of taking the IDI and creating a personal growth plan
Support Local Marginalized Communities
- Participate in MLK and Juneteenth celebrations, Transgender Day of Remembrance, and other BIPOC and other marginalized community events in Nevada County
- Contact each BIPOC and other marginalized communities organizations to ask how we can be of service and offer our availability and resources to help with events that recognize and promote BIPOC and other marginalized community
- Recruit UUCM members to fill requests of service, respond to local events, and participate in acts of public witness
- Keep the congregation informed of the activities of BIPOC organizations and opportunities for public witness through Sunday services, justice events, the e-Chalice, and the Mountain Chalice
Encourage and support courageous conversation among congregants
- Host twice annual congregant conversations on topics concerning racial relations

Be on the lookout for Task Force invitations to learn, grow, connect, witness, and to be of service.

To learn how this Bending the Arc Task Force is organized, about its various roles, definitions, and expectations, read more HERE.

For additional information about the Bending the Arc Toward Racial Justice Task Force, contact Justice@uugrassvalley.org

Background and Resources

Black Lives Mattering and De-centering Whiteness

The Unitarian Universalist Association and Unitarian Universalists across the nation made a commitment several years ago to center the voices of people of color and to de-center whiteness within our institutions. It is long-term, deep, work, and work to which we, too, are committed.

If you are looking for a place to start or to continue your learning, watch for offerings from UUCM’s Bending the Arc Toward Racial Justice Task Force, and draw on some of these resources: