1. Relationship, relationship, relationship. The power of autocrats is rooted in our disconnection and disaffection from our fellow humans. In our congregations we are called not just to double down on loving our neighbors as ourselves, but also to get to know them, so that we can support them and they can support us. Brown talks about how oak trees are safer from storms because their roots reach for each other underground, and get intertwined. Let’s “get proximate” and root in with our vulnerable neighbors and help us all find our strength.
2. Location, location, location. The five-alarm fire is national, but many of the impacts, and the opportunities for resistance, are local. Connecting with local efforts, especially those that are accountable to the communities most impacted, is key. What gifts does your location give you that you can amplify and share? What opportunities does your location give you that you can seize?
3. Be a learning community. Sometimes, when so much is at stake, we can become so fearful about failure that we fail to try new things and learn. Brown reminds us “change is constant” and that what we try is “never a failure, always a lesson.” There is so much we are learning about how to live with integrity in a social-political environment like this one, and so much we are learning about how to claim our own power for collective liberation.
4. Nurture what is life-giving while battling what is death-dealing. This means making space for joy and beauty and celebration even as we march and witness and rage and rise up. I’ve heard many people in targeted groups say “we will not let them steal our joy.” We won’t. In our small congregations series last month, Jennica Davis-Hockett shared a model of Deeper Joy we can all resist with.
5. Practice trauma-informed community care. In an environment where authoritarians manipulate us with fear and shock, the caring component of our religious communities becomes just as important as the prophetic component. We have so many ways to tend one another's hearts, spirits, and souls in community. Being trauma-informed makes us stronger.
6. Show courage and integrity in your work and faith life. Tim Snyder reminds us to never obey in advance (YouTube) and to remember professional ethics (YouTube). This is a time when Unitarian Universalists are called to live out into the commitments of our faith like never before. Whether it’s our newly-articulated shared values, our classic seven principles, or your congregation’s eighth principle, these are anchors for our courage and integrity.

• Zoom on Thursday, May 29th from 7-8 pm PDT, (8pm MDT/ 10pm EDT/ 9pm CDT/ 5pm HDT). 

• April 30, Rev. Dr. Wayne Arnason will present Rehearsal for Reconstruction at 7 pm CT at Unity Church-Unitarian, St. Paul, MN
• May 8, Rev. Lisa Friedman will present To Uplift the Race at 7 pm ET at First Unitarian Church of Rochester, NY.
• May 14, Rev. Dr. Mark Morrison-Reed will present Founders or Followers at 7 pm ET at First Church, Boston, MA. 

• April 10 at 5pm PT / 8pm ET: Housing: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• April 17 at 5pm PT / 8pm ET: Fat Liberation: Building Justice and Inclusion for Larger Bodies 
• April 22 at 5pm PT / 8pm ET: Abolition is Faith Formation 

• Action Center Weekly Updates - We are in a critical moment. Power is being consolidated in the hands of the few, while attacks on democracy, bodily autonomy, and human dignity escalate. But nothing is inevitable. Justice movements are powered by people like you—people who organize, resist, and build a loving and liberated world. That’s why we’re launching the Action Center Weekly Update—a resource to keep you informed, equip you with immediate actions, and help you strengthen your organizing skills. Each Tuesday, find our newest updates at our Action Center as well as the archive of past updates.
• Grounded, Resilient, and Responsible Toolkit - In an era of rising nationalism, racism, transphobia, and patriarchy, faith leaders are called to be unwavering voices for justice. This guide offers practical tools, safety considerations, and strategic insights to help you navigate activism responsibly, stay grounded amidst chaos, respond to urgent threats while sustaining long-term justice work. This living document evolves with the times, equipping us to meet today’s challenges with wisdom and resilience. Download the guide here.

• Spiritual Grounding - Strengthen your heart and spirit for the work ahead.
• Political Analysis - Understand the threats to democracy and justice.
• Collective Action - Organize with others to block anti-democratic forces and build a just and loving world. Register here. 

How is Now What Different from The Gathering?

The Gathering, hosted by Side With Love, is a monthly, open-to-all virtual event designed to provide inspiration, political analysis, and action-oriented training for those committed to justice and democracy. It is recorded, publicly available, and has no breakout groups.

Now What is co-hosted by Side with Love and your Regional Life Staff and offers a tailored experience for congregational leaders. If you wish you could go to The Gathering but find it difficult to add another nighttime commitment, or if you hunger for a focused space to talk through how to apply these ideas in your congregation, this is your space. It is designed specifically for congregational ministers, staff, and board members who need a dedicated environment for congregational application. It is not recorded or publicly available and does have breakout groups.

Not Congregational Staff or Board? Join The Gathering Instead!