LOVE & JUSTICE

As we gather with people we cherish in a place that is our spirit's home, we will consider the relationship between love and justice. As author and meditation teacher Sharon Salzburg reminds us, love is at the root of a radical re-imagining of human relationships in the world. This week will be full of opportunities to connect with one another through music, fellowship and games. We will share conversation and contemplation so we can return to our daily lives feeling inspired and empowered to make the changes we envision and help bend the arc of history toward justice.

Our theme speaker, Cathy O'Neil, will challenge us to think about one of the great impediments to social justice: shame. She will help us understand and explore how shaming serves to justify and perpetuate inequality in our society. In fact, she will illuminate how shame is built into the very algorithms that regulate access to medical, financial and social support. Can we use love and empathy to reduce societal shame and promote equality and justice? How might our own shame keep us from acting on behalf of others?

What better time to deepen our commitment to love and justice than our week together at LOAS II? We look forward to exploring these topics with you!

Eva Cameron is an experienced minister, having served both large and small congregations. Most recently she was called to be the settled minister at the First Universalist Church of Essex, Massachusetts. Previously she had been the minister at Cedar Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in Iowa since 2005. She has also served in congregations in Illinois, Michigan and Oklahoma. She graduated from Meadville Lombard Theological School in 1988.

In addition to her service as a minister, Eva has also served as a Regional Transitions Coach and has provided services for cancer survivors. She has organized a Peacekeepers Corps, chaired the Cedar Valley Interfaith Council and taught Ministerial Formation as an adjunct professor. Eva has organized retreats, been a member of the Blackhawk Evangelical Association, has been a Girl Scouts Cluster Leader and has spoken before the Parliament of World Religions. Eva has a relationship with the UU community in the Kashi Hills of India and has spent time there recently. There is much more to Eva’s resume, and it will be exciting to hear about her adventures as we get to know her.

Eva’s family roots are here in New England, especially in New Hampshire, although she has lived in other parts of the country and grew up in a multi-cultural environment in Chicago. She is single and has grown children as well as a loving Doberman named Sophie. She loves the outdoors, especially fishing, canoeing and hiking. She is open, warm and joyous. Eva believes in a ministry that is collaborative and creative and is built on loving relationships. She draws on the wisdom of all faith traditions and loves to sing.

Yoga
with Darlene Nadeau

Darlene's gentle yoga classes are infused with breath awareness, acceptance, compassion, and mindfulness. She has been teaching yoga since 2005 and integrates yoga traditions from Anusara, Iyengar, and Kripalu yoga studies. Darlene is a Licensed Massage Therapist, Reiki Master, Yoga and Pilates Instructor.

Come experience yoga whether you are a beginner or experienced yogi. You will experience an increase in breath awareness, more range of movement, improve postural alignment, relieve increase immune response, as you learn to relax and release tension, and much more. Darlene enjoys connecting with supporting each person's highest levels of wellness. She has a passion for learning, growing, and thriving. She also delights in art, travel, nature, gardening and dance.

Conversations On Race with Rev. Kimberly Quinn Johnson

We often struggle with meaningful conversations about race and racism in our lives and our communities. This workshop will explore the ways that we participate in structures of race and racism, offering tools for engaging in deeper more authentic reflection and conversation about race. Cultural critic and political activist Rev. Dr. Cornel West says that “Justice is what Love looks like in public.” How does our faith inspire us to embody love and justice in our lives by confronting race and racism?

*We ask that you commit to the entire week of workshops in order to build the trust and vulnerability that will allow us to get the most out of this workshop.

Tile Mosaic Art Workshop with Heather Troyer

The process of creating a mosaic picture can be quiet, precise or random, sentimental, intricate and structured, or big, bulky, and bold. This workshop will allow the participants to create a mosaic out of tile, as well as recycled or otherwise meaningful objects: shells (purchased or brought, symbolic of Star), buttons, seeds, or even special flat objects from home. The finished product can be hung on a wall, used in a garden, or displayed anywhere that color and creativity is needed. Participants will be encouraged to bring light-weight ceramic objects from home that can be smashed into bits and re-worked into a new art form. The pressboard for the base, additional tile, equipment, mastic, grout, and finishing supplies will be provided.

Mosaics are liberating and create an opening for conversation and fellowship as the circle of workers can both focus on a product while using their hands, but also problem solve and coordinate color and shape, as if working a unique puzzle. You don't have to be an artist to create a beautiful mosaic.

Heather Troyer is a lay-artist/veterinarian who actually spends most of her time working on animals and herding her children. She began working with tile mosaics during vet school as a way to clear her mind when she was going crazy from studying. Her desire to use textile art at Star Island began when she attended soap stone carving. The quiet group of workers became some of her closest friends since beginning to attend LOAS II.

Tai Chi Light
with Shelly Psaris

Shelly will be guiding you though the basics of Tai Chi every morning on the tennis courts to help get you energized for the day.

⌛ Daily at 7:30am

Yoga
with Darlene Nadeau

Darlene is offering a Yoga class during the afternoon Starburst period to allow other workshop or youth leaders who would like to experience the Yoga class for themselves, but all are welcome!

⌛ Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday

Summer Snacks
with Anna Henschel and Chris Vann

Join your LOAS II 2020 Chairs Chris and Anna in preparing tasty Social Hour snacks. We'll provide the ingredients and tools, come prepared to roll up your sleeves and get a taste (pun intended) of the catering world - and then share your results with family and friends immediately following. No cooking experience required.

⌛ Sunday

Nature Weaving
with Bromwyn Cotton

In the Starburst we are going to create several outdoor, large collaborative weaving projects that can be added to by everyone throughout the week. They’ll incorporate natural elements from the island with organic fibers. We’ll also learn some weaving techniques for creating smaller, personal projects.

⌛ Monday

Adult Tie Dye
with Jessica Robidoux-Leger, Mike Leger and Toby Dills

When you are choosing which pieces of clothing your kids can bring to Star to Tie Dye, choose a few for yourself as well! Join in the fun that LOAS kids have been enjoying for decades. No experience needed (the three leaders have enough experience to do a Master's Class in Tie Dye)! Bring shirts, shorts, hats, scafves, bandanas, socks or anything else you want to personalize.

⌛ Tuesday

Stories from Hiroshima
with Alan Wiren

Expatriate journalist and old shoaler Alan Wiren will share stories and recordings from a recent trip to an institution in Hiroshima to write an article about their efforts to promote awareness of the atomic bombings that ended World War II

⌛ Wednesday

Henna Tattoos
with Terri Behm

They're back! If you haven't had a henna tattoo yet, this is the year to check them out. If you have, try a new design!

⌛ Wednesday

Shrinky-Dinks
with Bethany Swanson

Join us for a fun and easy craft activity that will allow you to bring home a special memento of your week on Star Island! Draw (or trace) and color in a design of your choosing, which we will bake and magically shrink so that you can use it as a charm, a magnet, a keychain...whatever brings you joy! And the talented Margaret Ladner has even given us access to her Star-themed designs that you can use to draw your own Summer House scene, or rocking chair, or many others. Join us for some 1970’s-inspired fun!

⌛ Thursday