The next Hot Topics event will explore the origins of contemporary racist behavior in the US utilizing excerpts from the acclaimed documentary, "Stamped from the Beginning," based on the book of the same name by Ibram X Kendi. Discussion to follow, facilitated by our Racial Justice Committee.

Please join us for a discussion of James McBride’s The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store (2023). Books can be obtained at Barnes & Noble in State College or over Amazon. Click here for a list of discussion ideas to think about. The discussion will be led by Leslie Brown, who has this to say about the book and its author: Selecting a work of fiction for this venue is out of the ordinary, but the literary genre can show us much about living as a person of color in past and present America. I have read most of McBride’s novels that [...]

What does it mean to commit a "Microaggression"? Last October, we invited Dr. Seria Chatters to give our Board, Racial Justice Committee, and RE teachers a workshop on microaggressions which was deeply insightful and spurred much discussion. Rev. Tracy and Ashley Hamlin are expanding this training and discussion to anyone in our UUFCC congregation with a second workshop based on Seria's material. After this workshop, we will invite Dr. Chatters to come again and follow up on this work. Our goal is to continue deepening our inclusive and welcoming culture at UUFCC. Please let Ashley Hamlin know if you will be [...]

Ann Snowman, Associate Librarian Emerita, once immersed in the halls of academia, will be sharing about ALA censorship data, 1st amendment rights, privacy, the Baileyville Book Banning of 1981, personal censorship, and more. Cathi Alloway (Retired, Schlow Library Director) will share the intellectual freedom challenges she faced during her library career, including controversies about violent and sexual materials, hate group meetings, and Drag Queen Story Hours. You won't want to miss this educational and enlightening journey through their experiences with censorship.