November 29, 2021
Dear Beloveds and Friends of DRUUMM,
As DRUUMM President, I am writing to seek your support for our 2022 DRUUMM Worship & Fundraiser. It will be held on Wednesday, May 4th, 2022 at 8:30pm Eastern with the Reverend B. Tyler Coles of Virginia and musical director Dr. Zanaida Robles of California.
I am softened by the requirement of authenticity when entering into DRUUMM sacred spaces. From meetings, to caucuses, to the General Assembly, my exterior melts when I am in this community space. I am witnessed to my core. But my secret is that my softness, my vulnerability, my truth is where my strength lies. I am strengthened by the rigorous practice of extroverting my authenticity. That means leaning back when I need to hear others’ wisdom. That means leaning forward when I am the expert. And that means remaining vigilant in holding space for the genius that each community member brings and develops in our collaborative, world wide village.
Our Worship & Fundraiser is an opportunity for the wider world of Unitarian Universalism to connect with DRUUMM and be in community together. The Worship is open to everyone while prioritizing space for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. We particularly encourage our DRUUMM members in multiracial families and White antiracist allies to join.
We are at a sensitive moment after an incredibly difficult year of pandemic and loss in our communities. Your witness and solidarity are greatly needed to help us thrive into the future. Our goal is to connect more deeply with our wider Unitarian Universalist community to share DRUUMM’s mission, highlight some of our key activities, and raise funds in support of expanding our chaplain and pastoral care work with Black, Indigenous, and People of Color in Unitarian Universalism. We are reaching out to ask if you would visibility support DRUUMM in one or more ways:
- Co-sponsor our May 4th Public Worship on behalf of your congregation or UU organization, and reshare with your communities. We will provide additional publicity information and provide visible recognition through our worship program guide and DRUUMM communications channels.
- Make an advance pledge for our fundraiser to help us raise $25,000. Already several congregations have offered to make a meaningful gift from their congregational budget, or share part of their Sunday offering plate at some point by December 2022. We request a minimum donation of $100. To become a co-sponsor, please notify DRUUMM Consulting Minister Rev. Joseph Santos-Lyons [email protected] with 1) your organization/congregation name as you would like it to be published, and 2) your planned contribution for 2022, for example a direct donation pledge or promise for an upcoming offering/plate collection by December. We will follow-up regarding donation fulfillment. Deadline: April 30, 2022.
Our DRUUMM Public Worship models our values of intergenerational, multiracial, sacred space.
About our Guest Preacher:
Rev. Tyler Coles (they/he) is native of Roanoke, VA, and the only child of Monica and Terry. Inspired by the good news of Unitarian Universalism, Tyler believes the best of our collective ministry strives towards conjuring “the Beloved Kin-dom on earth as it is in heaven.” They engage this mandate through the work of multi-religious organizing, supporting young adults, and movement chaplaincy. Tyler has served the greater faith as the Young Adult Community Leader of SPARK, Intern Minister of Mount Vernon Unitarian Church, and respectively as a steering committee member of Diverse & Revolutionary Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Ministries (DRUUMM) and the Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism’s (BLUU) Steering Committee for youth ministry. They currently serve as a member of Congregational Life in the Southern Region where they support congregations and communities to be the boldest embodiment of our shared faith in their respective communities.
Please let Rev. Joseph, our consulting minister, know if you are able to support DRUUMM at [email protected]. Thank you for your consideration and continued solidarity. Deadline: April 30, 2022.
With gratitude,
Ayanna Kafi
DRUUMM President
Rev. Joseph Santos-Lyons
Consulting Minister
