BRAVE Communities

Our Second Offering Recipient for April, May, and June 2025 is Great Promise for American Indians

04/17/2025

Each month, Wildflower Church collects a second offering during our worship services to benefit a nonprofit organization whose values align with ours. For the months of April, May, and June 2025, we have selected Great Promise for American Indians as our 2nd Offering recipient. Through donations, attending community events, and volunteering our time in support of the nonprofits who are recipients of our 2nd Offering, we live into our shared UU values (love, justice, equity, transformation, pluralism, interdependence, and generosity) and our church’s mission: Growing spiritually together spreading love, justice, and joy.

The mission of Great Promise for American Indians is to preserve the traditions, heritage, and culture of Native American and Indigenous people, while supporting the health and education of their youth and families. Great Promise does this by providing year round cultural education opportunities to the community through the Moving Moccasins Powwow dance performers, hosting free family friendly culture days and presentations at schools, museums, libraries and weekly workshops at our cultural center.

In 2025, they are proudly hosting the 32nd Annual Austin Powwow and Native American Heritage Festival — the largest one-day event of its kind in the U.S., bringing together more than 15,000 attendees, hundreds of dancers, and over 100 Native artists and food vendors.

Great Promise comes into 2025 with a significant reduction to their funding due to federal cuts to cultural arts programs. To make their family-friendly, and nationally recognized events and programs possible, they rely on community generosity and sponsorships to help cover essential expenses.

Please give as generously as you are able to. Any donation helps! Donations can be made at in-person at Wildflower Church on Sundays, or online (see the Second Offering link on Wildflower Church’s website’s giving page — click the Donate Online button.)

Current Volunteer Opportunities to Serve with GPAI Include:

  • Volunteers at the Austin Powwow for the gates, hospitality area, set up and clean up.
  • Food and beverage donations for volunteers, dancers, and performers
  • Coffee and refreshments for hospitality areas
  • Coverage for security and police officers required for the event
  • DJ services for live music and cultural presentations
  • Raffle items, supplies, and equipment

Love in Action!

Our Relationships Continue: Events and Volunteer Opportunities

There are many ways to be involved with some our Past and Present 2nd Offering Recipient Organizations. What a great opportunity to deepen existing relationships and build new ones (and learn something new!)

Here are some upcoming activities to attend or serve:

  • Saturday, April 19, 9:30 am – 8 pm, Attend or Volunteer at the NAIC Powwow at Travis ECHS
    The Native American Indigenous Collective will hold a Powwow on the campus of our neighbors, Travis Early College High School. This powwow is completely run by students and held off campus because of the lack of University support subsequent to the passage of anti-DEI legislation last Texas legislative session. Volunteer at the Powwow for various logistics throughout the day by completing this form. Donations of water, drinks (non-alcoholic), snacks, or breakfast items at TECHS anytime after 7:30 am on April 19th. (Be sure to look for some familiar faces from Great Promise for American Indians.) Find the Volunteer sign up form here.
  • Sunday, May 4, 1:30 pm to 4 pm, Attend or Volunteer at the BRAVE Communities Connection Event in North Austin
    A Fireside Chat with Rep. Gene Wu, Followed by a K-Pop Dance Experience! This unforgettable gathering brings together Texas House Representative & Democratic Chair Gene Wu (District 137) for a powerful fireside chat on identity, solidarity, and the fight for equity across racial and generational lines. We’ll dive into topics ranging from affirmative action, meritocracy, and the lasting impact of solidarity work – critical conversations that shape our communities and futures. Then, it’s time to let loose and move! 🎶💃🏻🕺🏽 Get ready for a high-energy K-Pop dance session, the perfect way to celebrate AAPI Heritage & Mental Health Awareness Month – helping students de-stress during finals, embracing the global impact of Korean pop culture, and giving us all a chance to shake off the socio-political divisiveness and move in solidarity. Find more event information and registration here. Want to volunteer with BRAVE? Fill out their volunteer interest form.
  • Saturday, May 17, 10 am to 2 pm, Attend Austin Youth River Watch’s Open House in Del Valle
    FREE family event! Come take a hike, participate in outdoor yoga and other activities, while learning about and supporting River Watch! RSVP here.

2nd Offering recipient: BRAVE Communities

01/16/2025

As we continue living out our mission and values, this quarter (January, February, and March 2025) we are focusing our outreach and donations to an organization who uplifts the Beloved Community: BRAVE Communities. You are invited to learn more about them at this link: https://bravecommunities.org/

Their mission is to cultivate BRAVE spaces for people of diverse backgrounds to come together and Build Relationships Awareness Voices and Engagement so we can co-create more just and equitable communities.

Below are programs offered by Brave:

  • BRAVE Young Leaders: Equipping local young people, ages 14-24 year old, with the tools to be agents of change for social good, while creating meaningful connections, and gaining hands-on experience to be community leaders and organizers.
  • BRAVE Communities Connections: Experience powerful, free community-building events with neighbors who want to change the narrative by listening deeply, and connecting with others in a brave space. 
  • Global Social Impact Programs: BRAVE partners with the U.S. Department of State to empower young global leaders, to facilitate their city immersion experience in Austin, for their social innovation programs, fostering leadership and collaboration to address critical community issues worldwide.
  • MakeATXBRAVE Health & Well-Being: Support communities disproportionately impacted by health disparities. From providing meals and resources to tackling food injustice and mental health stigma, this initiative engages young people in learning and advocacy while driving solutions for health equity and climate change.
  • BRAVE Fest: This citywide event unites local underrepresented artists, businesses, nonprofits, and community groups to foster connections across cultures and generations. 

The objectives of our Second Offerings is to deepen our understanding and work with the chosen nonprofit recipient, and to highlight the good work happening in the community outside of our church walls.

Throughout the quarter we will highlight other ways we can engage with BRAVE Communities including opportunities for Wildflowers and friends to volunteer, to learn, to participate in BRAVE programming, and to serve as a sponsor for events held in our Community Room.

MLK Day 2025

01/15/2025

Happy birthday, Dr King!

There are many ways to uplift the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other servant leaders of the Civil Rights Movement as we celebrate this annual day on, not a day off. Below are a few activities from our extended Wildflower community and friends to get involved in this week. (You can also read the Austin Statesman for additional activities and volunteer service projects in our region. Or watch programming from The King Center in Atlanta on YouTube or other platforms.)

Thursday, January 16th, 9 am to 12 pm
Resist! Pre-Inauguration Kingian Nonviolence Workshop

Join Nonviolent Austin for a Kingian Nonviolence workshop to honor MLK’s birth & meet the moment of the upcoming presidential inauguration. Thursday, January 16 · 9am – 12pm CST. Doors at 8:45am at the Carver Library

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/resist-pre-inauguration-kingian-nonviolence-workshop-tickets-1120990214909

Thursday, January 16, 7 PM
TXUUJM Action Hour on Zoom

Join Texas UU Justice Ministry as we take action every week, over Zoom, as a community. We check-in and connect with folks around the state as we make calls to elected officials, write letters to the editor, send emails of appreciate to justice partners, and more. https://txuujm.org/

Sunday, January 19th, 11: 45 am MLK Worship Service at Wildflower

“Revolutionary Dreams” sermon by Simone Monique Barnes. Drawing inspiration from some of the music, poetry, and speeches of the civil rights movement and the liberation era, we’ll think about one of the most revolutionary prophetic dreams of all: normal life.

After the Sunday worship service, spend some time in Beloved Community by engaging in conversations and other moments of connection over popcorn and coffee in the Community Room, as we celebrate the life and legacy of Rev Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Coretta Scott King, and other servant leaders of the civil rights movement and beyond. Encourage a friend or neighbor who needs community this weekend to join us for the service at 11:45 am, or for coffee in the community room from 1 pm

Monday, January 20th MLK March and Festival, 9:30 am to 4 pm
UPDATE: The March is cancelled due to inclement weather. Festival is postponed to February 1st

The Annual Community March celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy while uplifting diversity and multi-culturalism in our city. All are invited to march and celebrate Dr. King’s legacy.

The MLK Community March kicks off on Monday, January 20, 2025 at 9:30 a.m. on the south steps of the State Capitol for a rally.

At the conclusion of the program we will march to Huston-Tillotson University for the MLK Festival, from 11am to 4 pm.

The family friendly festival includes vendors and local musical artists to make this year’s celebration the best ever! Come prepared to have a great time. Marchers are asked to help by bringing can goods or non-perishable food items which will be donated to the Central Texas Food Bank. See the march and festival webpage for guidelines on what to donate. https://mlkcelebration.com/celebration-events/march-and-festival/

Interested in volunteering at the march or festival? Sign up here: https://mlkcelebration.com/volunteer-information/

Monday, January 20th, 2-4PM BRAVE Communities Connection

“MLK’s Dream in Action”. This family-friendly event is a chance for all of us to embody MLK’s values and vision of a beloved community through community conversations, community service, and meaningful connections.

This free event is open to all, but pre-registration is required. Let’s honor Dr. King’s dream by coming together to create the beloved community he envisioned—a community where everyone belongs, and justice and love prevail. Rozco’s Comedy Club, 1805 E 7th St, Austin TX 78702

(Note: The event venue is a very short walk from MLK Festival held at Huston-Tillotson. Festival postponed until February 1.)