Community Care and Connection
Welcome to our Community Care and Connection page, where we highlight ways to care for and connect with fellow Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington congregants. This space serves as a bulletin page that will be updated based on need.
Skills Workshop and Q&A with Red-Leaning Braver Angels on Verifiable Elections
Braver Angels Indiana’s Blue State Coordinator is UUCB’s own Miles Eddy. He has invited his Red Leaning counterpart, William Ellis from Ellettsville, to co-present to the UU Humanist group about verifiable elections in October and everyone is invited for a Q&A. In these polarized times, where we lack basic understanding of why people on the other political side hold their beliefs, we are tempted to regard our own side as principled and the other side as self-interested, and we often lack the skills for listening carefully. In preparation for disagreements on this topic, Miles invites everyone to first attend a skills workshop.
So at 11am on Saturday September 5, 2026, Miles will host the Braver Angels workshop “Skills for Disagreeing Better” at the Southwest Branch of the Monroe County Public Library in Bloomington, Indiana. This two-hour in-person workshop teaches better skills for sharing viewpoints in a way the other person might hear — even if they disagree. RSVP is requested at www.BraverAngels.org/indiana. Questions? Miles Eddy at meddy@BraverAngels.org
Partita: An Evening with Barbara Kingsolver
Join Pulitzer Prize-winning author Barbara Kingsolver for an evening of readings, questions, and musical performances by Jacobs School of Music pianist Susan Tsai to celebrate the release of her brand-new novel Partita. Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray will introduce Barbara and moderate the Q&A. Tickets went on sale to the public on Friday, Aug 28 at 10 AM EST
Traveling University
The Traveling University is back up and running! Future events include Scott Russell Sanders, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of English, speaking on Common Wealth: Living in a Shared World (Sunday, September 20, 2-3:30pm, First Presbyterian Church, Paoli) and Ellen Ketterson, Distinguished Professor Emerita of Biology, presenting on The Ordinary Extraordinary Junco: What One Bird Can Teach (Sunday, September 27, 2-3:30pm, here at UUCB). Travelinguniv.org
Women Writing for (a) Change Series
Andrea Sterling and Li Meuser co-created a course this fall/winter called Our Radical Imaginations: Exploring Self, The Collective, and Possibilities through Liberatory Writing, featuring black women, queer, and radical liberatory authors. Click here to register.
Congratulations to Women Writing for (a) Change!
Women Writing for (a) Change, Bloomington was just named 2026 Indiana Literary Champion in recognition of its transformative community writing circles, outreach programs, and decades-long dedication to nurturing authentic creative voices across the region. Congratulations to Women Writing staff, including Creative Director, Mary Beth O’Brien, and Registrar, Denise Breeden-Ost, and all the many UUCB members who have been a part of the organization as staff, volunteers, board members, facilitators, and participants. The impact of this organization ripples throughout our church and Bloomington community.
Free Parenting Support from Indiana University's Because You Matter Program
Looking for practical strategies to support your child and strengthen family relationships? Indiana University's Because You Matter program is offering a free, six-week asynchronous parenting workshop designed to help caregivers manage challenging behaviors, build positive parent-child interactions, and create a more supportive home environment. The program provides evidence-based tools and techniques that you can complete on your own schedule.
Because You Matter also offers free telehealth mental health counseling for individuals seeking additional support. If you'd like to speak with someone, we're here to help.
Contact us today:
BYM@iu.edu
317-278-3016 (call only; no text messaging available)
