Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church Archives

Election 2018 Community Forum: Liberty and Justice for All

Posted at 9:14 am October 6, 2018
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Submitted photo

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A local faith-led, multiracial and interdenominational coalition of congregations, community organizations, and labor groups will present its vision for East Tennessee to candidates on October 7 from 3-5 p.m. at the University of Tennessee Cox Auditorium on the UT-Knoxville campus.

Through a months-long process of discussion and voting in a series of meetings open to all, the Alliance for Community Transformation of East Tennessee (ACT-ET) has arrived at three specific ways our elected representatives can improve the quality of life in our community:

Provide a path for all Tennessee residents to obtain a valid driver’s license.
Ensure local lending institutions provide equal opportunity to home mortgages for all families.
Increase access to necessary medical treatment for those struggling with opioid dependence.

ACT-ET member organizations include Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church and St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Members of First Christian Church of Oak Ridge, First Presbyterian Church of Oak Ridge, and Oak Valley Baptist Church participated in choosing the issues and planning the public meeting. [Read more…]

Director to discuss how United Way addresses community needs

Posted at 8:01 pm September 26, 2018
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Naomi Asher

Naomi Asher, executive director of the United Way of Anderson County, will speak at Lunch with the League on Tuesday, October 2. She will discuss how the United Way is addressing needs in the community and how United Way agencies work together to help people in need, a press release said.

The meeting will be held from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, which is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

A long-time resident of Oak Ridge, Asher graduated from Oak Ridge High School in 2001. She attended Johnson University, where she graduated with a double major in music and theology. After working in several industries, Asher found her passion for nonprofit work when she served as office manager for CASA of the Tennessee Heartland. She became executive director of CASA in 2010 and received her master’s degree in marketing from King University in 2012.

Asher has served as United Way’s executive director since 2015. [Read more…]

Today: State of city housing to be discussed

Posted at 10:19 am September 18, 2018
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The speaker for Lunch with the League on Tuesday, September 18, will be Anne Dunthorn, commissioner of the Oak Ridge Housing Authority. Her discussion will include current initiatives for middle class families and new initiatives for permanent and rental housing, a press release said.

The meeting will be held from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike, the press release said.

A longtime citizen of Oak Ridge and Anderson County, Dunthorn has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in economics from the University of Tennessee. She has served as business manager and consultant with C F Systems, technical consulting services, since 1977. In the Housing and Urban Development arena, her work has included serving as grant writer, team leader, and developer of multi-family properties for nonprofit organizations that target people with special needs, the press release said. [Read more…]

Faith, community organizations to discuss substance misuse tonight

Posted at 10:26 am July 9, 2018
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Faith leaders and community organizations will discuss substance misuse at a forum in Oak Ridge tonight (Monday, July 9).

“Addiction and recovery impacts all of us, and the interfaith community plays an important role in recovery from substance misuse,” a press release said.

The Oak Ridge Recovery Interfaith Forum will bring together faith leaders and community organizations across Anderson County, the press release said. ASAP of Anderson partnered with the Child Advocacy Center of Anderson County, First United Methodist Church of Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, and United Way of Anderson County to plan and organize the forum.

The forum is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, July 9, at Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge.

Attendees at the forum will learn about: [Read more…]

DA Clark to discuss Neo-Nazism in East Tennessee on Tuesday

Posted at 4:26 pm May 14, 2018
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Dave Clark

Seventh Judicial District Attorney General Dave Clark will discuss Neo-Nazism and the root causes of its rise in East Tennessee on Tuesday, a press release said.

Clark, the DA in Anderson County, will be the speaker at Lunch with the League at noon Tuesday.

His general topic will center on Neo-Nazism, and the root causes of its rise in East Tennessee, the press release said.

The meeting will be held from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike. [Read more…]

Southern Poverty Law Center forums: Fighting hate, teaching tolerance, seeking justice

Posted at 9:51 am May 6, 2018
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Lecia Brooks

There will be two community forums in Oak Ridge this week that will be led by the outreach director of an organization that is dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry and to seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of society, a press release said.

The forums will feature speaker Lecia Brooks, outreach director for the Southern Poverty Law Center. They are scheduled at 2 p.m. Monday, May 7, at the Grove Theater at 123 Randolph Road and 10 a.m., Tuesday, May 8, in the sanctuary of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

The forums are free and open to the public. They are hosted by Women’s Interfaith Dialogue of Oak Ridge.

Brooks leads the Southern Poverty Law Center’s outreach efforts on key initiatives and social justice issues, the press release said. She frequently gives presentations around the country to promote tolerance and diversity, the release said. She also serves as director of the Civil Rights Memorial Center in Montgomery, Alabama, an interpretive center designed to provide its visitors with a deeper understanding of the civil rights movement. [Read more…]

‘Understanding Jerusalem: The Holy City & Why It Matters’ at Lunch with League on Tuesday

Posted at 10:22 am April 29, 2018
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Erin Darby

The speaker for Lunch with the League on Tuesday, May 1, will be Erin Darby, assistant professor of religious studies at the University of Tennessee. Her presentation will introduce attendees to the modern history of Jerusalem and explain its political, cultural, and religious significance, including its role in regional and international conflict. She was scheduled to speak at the January 16 meeting, which was cancelled due to the weather.

The meeting will be held from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, which is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Darby is also co-director of the ‘Ayn Gharandal Archaeological Project in southern Jordan, and she leads the UT Dig Jordan study abroad program. An expert in the archaeology and texts of the Middle East, she has traveled extensively in the region, conducting research in Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Cyprus, and Syria, a press release said. [Read more…]

Agape House ‘Evening of Everything Chocolate’ features chocolate contest on Saturday

Posted at 1:31 pm April 25, 2018
By Kay Brookshire Leave a Comment

Melanie Fillauer, second from right, will join judges Carol Smallridge and Phil Yager for this year’s chocolate contest at the Agape House “An Evening of Everything Chocolate.” Fillauer was last year’s Gold Medal winner. With her, from left, are 2017 judges Jeanne Gorman, the 2016 Gold Medal winner, Oak Ridge City Council member Kelly Callison, and Elaine Graham, owner of Estate Sales Professionals. (Submitted photo)

Amateur dessert chefs are invited to prepare their best chocolate dessert for a culinary contest Saturday, April 28, at “An Evening of Everything Chocolate,” benefitting Agape House of Oak Ridge.

Judges will be Melanie Fillauer, last year’s Gold Medal winner, community volunteer and culinary expert Carol Smallridge, and Anderson County Commissioner Phil Yager.

Those entering should prepare at least eight servings for judges, with any extras available for those attending the event. At least one ingredient must be chocolate, which could be milk, dark or white chocolate, cocoa, syrup, or other form of chocolate. Each contestant may enter up to two desserts.

Prizes will be awarded to the top winners. There is no entry fee, and contestants need not be present to win. Entries should be at the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike, by 6 p.m. April 28. Contestants should fill out a form there with their name, name of dessert, phone number, and e-mail address for each entry. [Read more…]

Holocaust Remembrance Program is Sunday in Oak Ridge

Posted at 3:13 pm April 14, 2018
By Rhonda Bogard Leave a Comment

Mira Kimmelman

There will be a Holocaust Remembrance Program at the Jewish Congregation of Oak Ridge on Sunday.

It’s presented by the Jewish Congregation of Oak Ridge and the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church. The Holocaust Remembrance Service is sponsored by the Oak Ridge Interfaith Partnership, and the public is encouraged to attend, a press release said. The City of Oak Ridge has proclaimed April 15 to be Holocaust Remembrance Day for 2018, the press release said.

The Holocaust Remembrance Program will be held from 3 to 4 p.m. Sunday in the Jewish Congregation of Oak Ridge Sanctuary, which is at 101 West Madison Lane. There will be a candle lighting ceremony, songs, readings by members of both congregations, and prayers, the press release said. [Read more…]

Tonight: Learn about candidates, campaigns at Democratic Women’s Club Meeting

Posted at 11:30 am March 26, 2018
By Kay Brookshire Leave a Comment

Wil Winters

You can learn about campaigning and meet Democratic candidates running for county and state offices in Oak Ridge tonight, a press release said.

“Join the Blue Wave Campaign, learn how volunteers can campaign effectively, and meet the Democratic candidates running for county and state offices,” the press release said.

The meeting starts at 6 p.m. Monday, March 26, at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, which is at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike. The Anderson County Democratic Women’s Club has invited candidates running for any office in Anderson County, from county sheriff to state governor, to attend or send a campaign representative to the meeting, the press release said. [Read more…]

Social justice, sociology of incarceration to be discussed Tuesday

Posted at 4:39 pm March 18, 2018
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Michelle Brown

Social justice and the sociology of incarceration will be discussed at Lunch with the League on Tuesday. The speaker will be Michelle Brown of the University of Tennessee Department of Sociology.

The meeting will be held from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 20, in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, which is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Brown received her B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees from Indiana University and joined the faculty at UT in 2011, a press release said.

“Currently, she studies and advocates for anti-prison and racial justice movements in carceral regimes,” the press release said. “She is particularly interested in the use of rights claims and visual tactics in community and national organizing.” [Read more…]

Borchers to give update on school system & changes on Tuesday

Posted at 1:08 pm March 2, 2018
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Bruce Borchers

Bruce Borchers, superintendent of Oak Ridge Schools, will discuss the state of the Oak Ridge school system during a lunchtime talk on Tuesday.

His presentation is expected to provide an update on the school system and changes that have been implemented since his last address to the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge, a press release said.

The Lunch with the League meeting is scheduled from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 6, in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, which is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Borchers has served as Oak Ridge Schools superintendent since 2013, the press release said. He began his career as an elementary physical education teacher in Sioux City, Iowa. He later worked as an assistant principal and principal in Iowa City and Mankato, Minnesota, and as an associate superintendent of secondary schools for the Anoka-Hennepin, Minnesota, school district, the release said. Prior to coming to Oak Ridge, he was superintendent of the Rockwood (Missouri) School District. [Read more…]