The Chicago Area UU Council (CAUUC) Spring Conference will be held on Saturday, April 13 9:00am-2pm and be conducted in-person at the Unitarian Church of Evanston (UCE) and via Zoom video.  There is no fee to attend, but there is a recommended donation of $15 to cover the cost of the event.   

CONFERENCE TOPIC:  Welcoming Congregation Renewal:  The Work of Welcome is Never Done

The UUA Welcoming Congregation program came about in the late 1980s in response to the findings of the Common Vision Planning Committee, a diverse group of clergy and laity that was tasked with collecting information about how welcome and accepted lesbian, gay, and bi-sexual persons felt in their UU congregations.  Since that time, transphobia and gender identity has made its way to the center of politics and legislative agendas with increasing attention by media outlets.  This changed landscape calls UUs and our congregations to renew our commitment to being welcoming.

The conference will include education, advocacy/allyship, and action components in support of our focus:  improving how welcoming we are to people that identify as transgender or non-binary.  We are looking to elevate those voices and create deeper understanding of the lived experiences of the members of this community through keynote addresses, panel discussion with Q&A, and breakout groups.  Come join us to learn, support, and gather momentum in our collective welcoming work!

Keynote Speakers:

Rebecca Kling (she/her) is an educator, organizer, storyteller, and advocate for social change. She is co-author of the book: The Advocate Educator’s Handbook: Creating Schools Where Transgender and Non-Binary Students Thrive. [Copies of the book are available through the event registration site]. Kling served as the community storytelling advocate and director of education programming at the National Center for Transgender Rights, as well as on the leadership team of Harbor Camps, a sleepaway summer camp for trans and non-binary youth. She is also the co-founder of Better World Collaborative, a social impact consulting firm working to combat the recent flood of anti-trans legislation. She lives in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood. 

Kim Frank (she/her) Over the past 15 years Kim has worked with Youth Outlook supporting LGBTQ youth as a Program Coordinator, Youth Leadership Trainer and community educator. Kim served as a high school youth group adviser at Countryside Church UU for over 20 years and was one of three Con Manager’s for the MidWest Region ensuring safe and meaningful Con experiences for youth. Kim is also Chief of Staff at Humboldt Park Health, a safety-net hospital that provides equitable care in the HP community and beyond with their Ambulatory Care program. Kim has a bachelor’s degree in social work from Northeastern University.

TimeTopic
9:00AMOn-site registration and coffee reception
9:30AMWorship service
10:00AMConference welcome and agenda review
10:10AMKim Frank – Keynote 1
10:45AMRebecca Kling – Keynote 2
11:30AMNetworking lunch break (please bring your own lunch)
12:00PMPanel Discussion: Transgender and gender-expansive voices
1:00PMBreakout groups – action & advocacy discussion
1:45PMSharing breakout group learnings
2:00PMConference close

Questions? Contact your local CAUUC representative or Mike Gilley (cauuc@uuchicagoarea.org).

Want a printable PDF flyer to remind you about the event or share with a friend?  Click Here

Click on the link below to complete registration so we can plan for your participation!