PRIDE IN THE PARK: AUGUST 10
This is an important event of solidarity, joy, and radical welcome for our entire community. In a time when hate speech and bills threatening LGBTQ+ rights and identity, shows of community support can be life affirming for those of us who identify as LGBTQIA2S (Lesbian,Gay, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Assexual, 2 Spirit)

 UUCE will be helping in different ways this year at PRIDE. Instead of hosting our own booth,we are assisting the efforts of the PRIDE march, the hospitality station (providing food for staff, volunteers, and food insecure folks), de-escalation team (to counter protestors who are expected to show up to disrupt the event), and the interfaith zone (activities for faith and fun with information about welcoming congregations).

UUCE members do amazing things in our community everyday.
Here is your chance to interact with the community!

Do you deliver Meals on Wheels? Mow your neighbors yard? Write letters to your representatives? Pick up litter?

Take a selfie of yourself putting love at the center (bonus if you’re wearing your Side With Love t-shirt).

The group that had organized this event in past years is not doing it this year.  However,  H.O.N.E.Y., Inc. picked up the ball and will be hosting this event. They need LOTS of VOLUNTEERS!  Let’s help them out to ensure that this year’s observance is successful.

FRIDAY – SUNDAY, MAY 10 – 12, 2024
MCARTHUR COURT, UNIVERSITY OF OREGON
You are invited to the Mother’ Day Weekend Powwow as our May Justice Action organized by the Native American Student Union.

• Friday, May 10, 7 – 11pm, McArthur Court
• Saturday, May 11, 1 – 6pm and 7 -11pm, McArthur Court 
• Sunday, May 12, 1pm
  • Salmon Bake, Many Nations Longhouse

The Powwow is a great event to attend to support the local Indigenous community, learn about an important part of Indigenous culture, and have some family fun. If you would like to volunteer, contact Monique at msamuel7@uoregon.edu.

SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 2024
9AM – 12NOON

Thank you to all who have helped at one of our work parties, attended a training to be a plot monitor, or expressed an interest in helping out! Our next work party is Sat., Apr. 13 from 9:00 a.m. – noon. If you can join us, please RSVP to:
fansustainability@gmail.com.

We will meet in the east wetland on Polk St., to the south of the pickleball courts at 20th Ave.

Here is more information about our Wetlands Enhancement Project and the work party:

On Saturday, April 13 from 9:00 a.m. – noon, volunteers are needed to help with non-native plant removal in the wetlands to the east and west of the Dr. Edwin Coleman Jr. Center at Westmoreland Park. These wet prairie remnants have protected status, with significant native plants including two species with the largest populations anywhere in Eugene.

These wetlands are the site of an ongoing enhancement project sponsored by Friendly Area Neighbors Sustainability Team, Beyond Toxics and Willamette Resources and Education Network (WREN) and coordinated by Parks & Open Space, which provides all the tools.

The goal of the work party is to reduce meadow foxtail and other invasive species, to allow the native plants to flourish.  The tasks are simple and geared for all ages and physical abilities. Parks & Open Space Ecologist Diane Steeck will give a guided tour of the native plants and share data from our Citizen Science project that shows that our work parties are making a difference!

Our Westmoreland Park Wetlands Enhancement Project began in conjunction with the “Willamette Wetlands of the Kalapuya” mural on the Dr. Edwin Coleman Jr. Center.  The mural was painted on the east wall of the Dr. Edwin Coleman Jr. Center because of the significant wet prairies to the east and west of the Center that may have been areas where the Kalapuya gathered native plants.

For more information about the Kalapuya Cultural Project and Wetlands Preservation, see: https://www.friendlyareaneighbors.org/kalapuya-cultural-project-and-wetlands-preservation.html and
https://www.beyondtoxics.org/work/regenerative-ecosystems/kalapuya-wetlands-project/

Let’s get our hands dirty! 🐢 We will be joining with community partner, Friends of Buford Park, to do some ecological restoration. 

UUCE, in partnership with the Refugee Resettlement Coalition of Lane County and the Refugee and Immigrant Services Program (Catholic Community Services), is collecting Welcoming Kits for refugees.  They expect about fifty refugee families this year from Afghanistan, Guatemala, Myanmar, and Venezuela and need Bedding and Cleaning Kits built from a standardized list of items.