Last week, Laura Solomon and I spent a Tuesday morning taking a bus tour of DC–but not the tourist kind. We joined other clergy and lay leaders from the Washington Interfaith Network to visit two public housing projects in DC, and to hear from residents about their experiences. Along with about fifteen other properties in … Continue reading WES Blog — “Don’t Give Up on Us”
The Youth of Ethical Societies (YES) Conference is the American Ethical Union’s annual teen conference for those in 9th-12th grades (ages 14-18). It’s a pivotal experience for many teens as they spend a weekend diving into issues critical to their own big-picture interests and getting to know teens from other Societies. There are opportunities to lead and … Continue reading Annual YES Conference to be Hosted at WES & in DC this Year
From the Washington Interfaith Network Next week, WIN will bring our budget priorities to the table at the Mayor’s Budget Forums. The District’s financial prosperity has created an unprecedented opportunity to invest in housing—by building and preserving affordable units and fighting displacement—and in keeping immigrant families together through legal representation that resists deportation. It’s time to show up and ask … Continue reading From WIN — Mayoral Budget Forums Next Week
From Clergy Intern Laura Solomon I’ve been thinking a lot about hope. The current news cycle seems extra full of anxiety and fear and despair. In my discussions with people everywhere, it seems that many of us are reaching out, trying to find a little extra hope to hold onto. I recently read Active Hope: How to … Continue reading WES Blog — What Else is a Heart For?
In December, the WES Board of Trustees used this blog space to update everyone on our progress towards new policies, specifically those related to ensuring we have a Safe Congregation. This suite of policies builds on the good work the Community Relations Committee did last year creating the Community Relations Pact. This Pact is designed to … Continue reading WES Blog — Progress Report from the WES Board of Trustees
One of the things that happens in my job is people send me an email and say “can you talk?” I never know what the conversation will be about–sometimes it’s a concern they’d like to share, sometimes they’re wanting pastoral support, sometimes they have a book recommendation! I’m happy to have all of those conversations…but … Continue reading WES Blog — If you build it…
Are you looking for an experience that will change your life? Join the WES/Global Connections’ 2020 delegation to El Rodeo, our sister community in El Salvador. Each annual delegation involves cross-cultural and social justice work, exploring lush, green hills and getting to know the amazing people of El Rodeo. The Global Connections team has led … Continue reading El Rodeo Delegation Application Information
Looking for a place to share your writing? Have you always wanted to write but need some extra motivation and support? Do you have a creative product that needs to come out? We are looking for writers and people who want to write to form a supporting, creative, no holds barred writing group. The group … Continue reading A New Writing Group Starting at WES
Greetings from the Music Director Search Team! We wanted to share a little bit about our process (and where we are IN the process), and thank everyone who has offered engagement, ideas, and support so far. As you know, we said goodbye to our 8-year Music Director Bailey Whiteman at the end of September, in … Continue reading WES Blog — “The beat goes on…”
I started as the membership coordinator in the beginning of November and this may be the single most repeated sentence I have heard since arriving. As part of being brand new, my regular task is to learn more about members and visitors. And one of my questions I pose is “What brought you to WES?” … Continue reading WES Blog — “We came to WES for community.”
