BLUU Spiritual Communities
Black Sacred Space
Most BLUU worship and spiritual gatherings are Black Sacred Space, meaning created by and solely for Black people. It is important for Black folks to have a place to center ourselves and our spiritual needs in a world that often doesn’t.
BLUU’s Online Worship
Our Black UU community of people of all faith paths and of no faith gathers for online worship every second Sunday of the month at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT. BLUU’s online worship service is Black Sacred Space in its entirety – by and for Black people, with the words and voices of Black folks across the diaspora – and we hope that Black UUs and Black UU-adjacent folks (who share our values) from far and wide will join us! Be on the lookout for additional opportunities to gather throughout the year, including BLUU Movie Nights, community conversations, and online panel discussions.
BLUU Havens: Local BLUU Gatherings
Being in community together as Black UUs is such a gift. It is one of the reasons why BLUU Havens, Black UU social groups, are so valuable to the lives of the people leading and connecting through them. We are extremely grateful to have nine active BLUU Havens across the country! So if you are a Black UU, or a Black person who shares our values of love, justice, and liberation, we hope you’ll connect with a BLUU Haven, if there is one in your area. Check out the list below that includes an email address that will help you connect with folks on the ground.
- BLUUHaven ChicagoLand (IL): [email protected]
- BLUUHaven Cincinnati (OH): [email protected]
* BLUUHaven Cincinnati is inclusive of folks in the Greater Cincinnati/Tri State Area which includes northern Kentucky and southeastern Indiana.
- BLUUHaven Fort Myers (FL): [email protected]
- BLUUHaven Milwaukee (WI): [email protected]
- BLUUHaven Minneapolis (MN): [email protected]
- BLUUHaven Philadelphia (PA): [email protected]
- BLUUHaven Richmond (VA): [email protected]
- BLUUHaven Rockville (MD): [email protected]
- BLUUHaven St. Petersburg (FL): [email protected]
History of BLUU Havens & BLUU Harbors
Everybody wants a place to call home. Many Black UUs have clearly articulated, since long before our existence and up to this very moment, a need for a Unitarian Universalism that offers an unequivocal and unwavering sense of home to Black people who feel held by, or want to be more connected to, Black ancestry, Black love, Black thought, Black artistry, and Black faith. What we want is a Unitarian Universalism that, at EVERY turn, honors, uplifts, and equips our Black Lives. So, the development of BLUU Havens and BLUU Harbors is coming to life!
In June 2020, we launched the process to apply to become established as BLUU Havens, Black UU meet-up groups, and BLUU Harbors, Black UU spiritual communities. These gathering spaces are meant to be Black-led and people-driven. BLUU Havens will be smaller in size and scope, and BLUU Harbors will essentially be the beginnings of Black UU spiritual communities, a deeper, more extensive commitment that will involve educational opportunities for leadership development and sustainability, as well as participation from a host congregation and a willingness to support these efforts in tangible ways.
We are also thrilled to be partnering with the UUA in our efforts to ensure that BLUU Havens and BLUU Harbors are Black-centered, spiritually rich, and socially and culturally inviting places for Black UUs to call home.
To learn more about the plan for BLUU Havens and BLUU Harbors, check out the video from our virtual launch below:
Monday Mediations with Ms. Alice
Join BLUU community member Alice Ocrey (Ms. Alice) for a 30-minute sitting meditation in Black Sacred Space every third Monday of the month.
Applications Coming Soon!
