UUSM at the Santa Monica MLK Celebration and Involvement Fair on January 19th
Tablers for UUSM handed out 19 UUSM Guides and got three email addresses that were followed up on. In addition to that, they talked with former members that might reconsider coming back, our mid-city neighborhood organization, Emeritus senior classes (who would offer to teach a tailored class at UUSM if we can get 20 sign ups, and we would need to open it up to the community), League of Women Voters who wanted to compare history notes, a Red Cross volunteer who’d spoken at UUSM about emergency preparedness and is open to doing it again, a former city council member, and some of our own members and friends (Jila, Brad and Mary McClanahan, Rebecca Haggerty…).
—Anne Bridgins
Notes from PS&J Meeting on February 15, 2026
“MY FATHER’S NAME” SCREENING ON SUNDAY 02-08
We had 19 attendees, and a good discussion that drew upon responses to the film, questions and suggestions of additional resources for the difficult history the film highlights, and personal reflections. We agree that we can do better with outreach to other community groups and allies for wider awareness and stronger attendance. As this was a short film and there is so much else going on at the moment, we did spend a lot of time on promotion.
RAPID RESPONSE TRAINING
PSJ will host the group for a training in our sanctuary this coming Saturday 02-21 from 11:45AM-2:30PM. Deirdre and Kate M. will attend and help close up after. James will be there in the beginning but not the whole thing due to search committee obligation. Let us know if others would like to be there. There will also likely be future opportunities for UUSM members to get involved in this important work.
CLUE & CLOVERFIELD COMMONS
Many of us are already aware of this plan to transform SM Airport into 75% park and 25% affordable housing. The proposal is moving into the phase where petitions will be available to circulate in order for it to get on the ballot in November, with support from CLUE and other local orgs. We may be able to help at UUSM and beyond. Alison Kendall has been closely involved and will have further updates.
“NO OTHER LAND” SCREENING
Roberta and Kate would like to plan a screening of the Academy Award-winning film co-sponsored with Justice4Palestine LA. Possibly a date in March or early April.
DMRE JESSICA’S PALESTINE BOOK GROUP
Jessica TenHave Place is planning to lead a discussion of Peter Beinart’s “Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning,” partly in connection with our effort to explore having UUSM join the Apartheid Free Communities. There is a possibility of involving Santa Monica Synagogue members in this, though not confirmed. (BTW Cole recommended to us the book “Blind Spot: America and the Palestinians, from Balfour to Trump.”)
UU THE VOTE
Cole and Larry are spearheading together the next phase of UU the Vote. Postcarding will be weekly on Sundays at 9AM under the shade structure, starting in late March.
FISH STARK OF THE AMERICAN HUMANIST ASSOCIATION TO SPEAK AT UUSM IN MARCH
[Not mentioned during the meeting but a subsequent FYI to the group.] Fish Stark, the newish Exec. Director of the American Humanist Association, is coming to deliver a guest sermon at UUSM on March 22nd. Under Fish’s leadership, the AHA has pivoted even more to a focus on resisting the Trump regime’s assault on human rights and standing in opposition to Christian Nationalism. He is a good speaker and effective at communicating humanist values and how they undergird democracy, human rights, and a secular government, as well as their close connection to Unitarian Universalism. The AHA has Unitarian roots going back to the min-20th Century, when it was founded by Unitarian ministers including Edwin Wilson and John Dietrich, but Fish is the first director in a long time to be a UU himself. And he is a UU young adult to boot. Fish also happens to be the son of the late and longtime progressive, anti-war and pro-healthcare congressman from CA, Pete Stark.
—James Witker
