Facing Forward:  Looking Back, Grounding in the Present, and Embracing the Future.

Rev. Sonya Sukalski will reflect on the UU Justice Ministry of California’s (UUJMCA) Young Leaders Project that began in 2008 and now proceeds with Spiritual Activists Leading Together – SALT under a new leader – Maddie Tuning.  What began as a 10 day road trip to assess and engage with California’s water infrastructure and challenges grew into a multi-site 10 month Fellowship for justice making UU young adults that has run several times over the last decade, and continues with a new cohort this Fall.  Rev. Sonya Sukalski and Maddie Tuning will speak.

Rev. Sonya Sukalski is a member of the UUJMCA board.  She learned of UUJMCA in 2005 when on a break during seminary she called all California congregations to engage them in sending valentines urging Gov. Schwarzenegger to support marriage equality.  In 2010 she was hired to help the Young Leaders Project develop and ran the Spiritual Activist Leadership Training (SALT) for young adults aged 18-35 to live into their faith and justice next steps.  Several of our SALT Fellows went on to justice oriented careers including ministry since then.  In 2014 Sonya hiked over 400 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail in Southern and Central California while blogging about water issues (during the drought), and contemplated water sources and such questions as how does one live on 6 litres of water a day.  She is excited to help justice ministries take next steps and work together strategically to deepen our faithful stance in the world.