“I have no idea how I made it this far without the BLUU community,” G Williams, Special Projects Admin for Side With Love, expressed.
It’s a sentiment that echoed throughout our week at the 64th UUA General Assembly (GA). From our corner of the Baltimore Convention Center, a Black sacred space built to serve Black people attending the GA, the BLUU Healing Space became a hub for deepening relationships, sharing ideas, for spiritual bonding, and a room away from the busyness of the five-day event. Black people across the diaspora congregated, expressing their joy for being in a soft-safe space—organized by us and for us.
Lena K. Gardner, Executive Director for BLUU, shared, “Our time at General Assembly in Baltimore was a reminder of the importance of gathering together in person. As we think of how BLUU can grow in our service to Black UUs and all seeking spiritual community with us, it is clear a component of that must include consistent in-person gatherings that center joy, community, and worship. It is in that spirit that we continue to build BLUU into a sustainable and life-giving organization in increasingly challenging times.”
BLUU’s Opening Reception welcomed 40 people into Black Sacred Space. We chatted, we laughed, and we danced in preparation for the upcoming days. At our staff Meet ‘N Greet, we discussed a path forward and listened as attendees shared additional support BLUU can offer to Black UUs. Folks gathered in Black Sacred Space again to celebrate Rev. Mykal Slack’s walk in the Service of the Living Tradition, where he was honored as a fellowshipped minister.
The BLUU 10-Year Anniversary party kicked off with our executive director, Lena K. Gardner, giving founding members Leslie Mac and Takiyah Amin, Ph.D. their flowers. We danced the night away in the ballroom surrounded by a community of people who believe in BLUU’s mission. Rev. Mykal cultivated the most sacred gathering with his nourishing words at the BLUU Worship Service, where we wrapped our Black trans and gender-nonconforming friends in love and prayed over their safety. We concluded BLUU’s time at GA with Black Magical Traditions, an intimate gathering for African-derived and traditional religions, hosted by OCB member, Carla Gates.
“The ways we continually love on one another and catch one another, hold fast to joy, move through hard times with grace, live out our Unitarian Universalism as Black people, and turn dreams into actualities will forever rock my world and fill me to overflowing with hope, joy, and love. Our presence at General Assembly this summer was magical and will be a balm for all of us in the weeks and months to come. And what a gift that is,” Rev. Mykal Slack said.
Our time at GA was one for the books! We hope you felt as seen, heard, and celebrated as we did. If you attended BLUU events at GA, please take a few minutes to share your experience in this brief survey.
