Peace and Social Justice Committee

Minutes of Meeting September 22, 2013

Present: Ann Winchester, Brig Johnson, Laura Ackerman, Margarite Spears, Diana Spears, Carrie Lauer, James Witker, Nora Hamilton, Cathie Gentile (Chair), Noah Bray-Ali, and Roberta Frye (Note taker)

1. Nora reported on the progress of our textbook fund for prison inmates, saying we’ve collected more than $750. Cathie will ask Charles if/how we can announce the fund on our website. We discussed whether we should make our fundraising an annual event and perhaps raise our goal. Nora will contact Bob Nash at Coastline College to clarify the price of books and how and where they are bought.

2. Brig reported that he’s still working on his Ralph’s scrip program for A New Way of Life, including the flyer.  He noted that there will be a film festival on mass incarceration at Loyola Marymount Univ. on October 21 and 22.  We agreed that our “Without a Home” film and discussion event with the filmmaker was very successful as was our “Unlikely Friends” film and discussion with the filmmaker.

3. On Rick’s behalf, Cathie proposed that we host an educational discussion on Syria, perhaps starting with a documentary.  We decided that we would do so on Sunday, October 13 after second service in the sanctuary.

4. Cathie reported that the UU Legislative Ministry is hosting a discussion on setting statewide social justice legislative priorities.  The event will be at Neighborhood Church on Saturday, October 5, from 3 to 6 p.m.

5. Roberta reported that our committee will again co-host a program with the ACLU, this one screening the documentary “Two Americas” and having a discussion with the filmmaker.  It will be on Tuesday, October 22, from 7 to 9 p.m. in Forbes Hall.

6. James said that a bill supported by CLUE/L.A. on rights of carwash workers is on the governor’s desk.  He will email us a template of a letter to send to Gov. Brown.

7. Cathie suggested that we host an informational event on the Affordable Care Act.  We can request the help of Abby Arnold who knows quite a bit about it.

8. The Friends of Orange County Detainees’ visitation program has been reinstated!