As DRUUMM President, I am writing to seek your support for our upcoming DRUUMM Worship & Fundraiser. It will be held on Wednesday, May 19th, 2021 at 8:30pm Eastern. Our theme is Becoming Human, Again and Again. You can view a PDF of this DRUUMM Co-Sponsor Invitation on letterhead here.
I am softened by the requirement of authenticity when entering into DRUUMM sacred spaces. From meetings, to caucuses, to 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:
- Publicly endorse our May 19th event on behalf of your congregation or UU organization, and reshare with your constituency. We will provide additional publicity information and provide visible recognition through our DRUUMM 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 2021. We have received a challenge grant from the Fund for Unitarian Universalism that will match the first $5,000 in donations!
Our DRUUMM Worship & Fundraiser will model our values of intergenerational, multiracial, sacred space. We are delighted to have the Reverend Mitra Rahnema return as our guest preacher.
Rev. Mitra previously served as DRUUMM Vice President, and is the editor of the 2017 book Centering: Navigating Race, Power, and Authenticity in Ministry. She will be joined by Joshua Long, a songwriter and worship leader who is Director of Music Ensembles at the UU Church of Annapolis and Nicole Rumeau who is a soprano who specializes in classical, jazz, and gospel music and sings regularly including at All Souls Unitarian Church in Washington, DC. Joshua is was recently a part of our Sunday Suppers program.
Please let Rev. Joseph our consulting minister know if you are able to support. Thank you for your consideration and continued solidarity. We hope you will personally join us in our virtual congregation, RSVP at bit.ly/may19druumm.
With gratitude,
Ayanna Kafi
DRUUMM President | [email protected]
Rev. Joseph Santos-Lyons
Consulting Minister | [email protected]
