WES is a partner congregation in this effort to support Rosa and other immigrants. This is an amazing opportunity to make a significant difference in the work around immigration! If you’re interested, you can sign up for the immigration email list to get more info regularly by emailing Ross Wells (rosswells@starpower.net). 

Consider taking the volunteer training, and occasionally working a 4-hour shift to support Rosa, the immigrant in Sanctuary at Cedar Lane. WES has signed up as a partner to Cedar Lane. They need 250 volunteers a month to support Rosa.

The WES people signed up so far are:

• Ross Wells, Point Person For WES
• Beth Baker
• Kristin Hunter
• Susan Runner
• Karen Russell
• Patti Absher
• Judith Johnson
• Gabriela Santamaria

From Our Friends at Cedar Lane UU

Dear partners in faith in the DMV Sanctuary Congregation Network,   As you know, we at Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church have provided physical Sanctuary for Rosa Gutierrez Lopez since December 10. Since then we have set into motion specific protocols and support systems to provide security, hospitality, and comfort for and with Rosa and her family. Your outpourings with offers of generous support have been encouraging. Cedar Laners have been present 24/7 from the beginning. We trained and integrated our close-by partners over the past month. We feel confident in the protocols we have put in place. We are ready to accept all of your offers to provide volunteer support to Rosa in Sanctuary as long as she needs it. To that end, we are offering training for those who are willing to be present and share the responsibilities and delights of walking with Rosa through this extraordinary time. This notice is sent to all who previously attended Sanctuary Support training as well as those who might do so in the future. Please spread the word throughout your congregations and network contacts. It will take about 250 volunteers monthly in shifts to make this effort sustainable. The next TWO volunteer trainings at Cedar Lane will be for our DMV Sanctuary Congregation Network partners. They are the same program offered at two different times for your convenience. Sat., Mar. 2, 9-11 a.m.;   sign in & refreshments at 8:30 a.m. Tue., Mar. 5 (Mardi Gras), 7-9 p.m.;   sign in & refreshments at 6:30 p.m.  REGISTER HERE  Please send all your interested volunteers to this vital and necessary training so we can share what’s required to keep Rosa safe and comfortable. She will participate at each training. Volunteers who are interested in helping our Crew Leaders in the areas of daytime and nighttime companionship, transportation, and weekend/holiday companionship for the children are most needed at this time, but there are opportunities for many different types of participation. Spanish speakers are encouraged to participate. Everyone must be background checked before they can serve and Cedar Lane will execute that process. Each congregation that participates is expected to have a Point Person with whom our Crew Leaders can communicate on a regular basis. Please appoint someone now to serve that role if you haven’t already and encourage them to attend one or both of the trainings. We also ask each congregation to covenant with us in this work. A covenant will be available for signature by your congregation if you are prepared to sign it at the training. Otherwise, it is also attached to this email. Feel free to have the appropriate person sign it and bring it to the training or send it later. If you are so inclined, we would appreciate any donations to Cedar Lane’s Sanctuary fund. You can donate by clicking here and selecting Sanctuary Support in the drop-down menu. Thank you in advance for the various forms of support you have offered and given. Come to learn more about how we all can be a part of the community supporting Rosa! RSVP is critical. Register here. In hope for peace and justice through love, Charlene Belsom Zellmer for the Sanctuary Leadership Group, Immigrant Justice Ministry Team