Here is a statement of commitment to promote the rejection by the U.S. and other countries of Haiti due to racism. Today Haiti is in the worst situation it has been since 1804 when it abolished slavery. Frederick Douglass, as an abolitionist had to work hard on Haiti. And there is, unfortunately, a lot of racism in the U.S.
“If, by a true statement of facts and a fair deduction from them, I shall in any degree promote a better understanding of what Haiti is, and create a higher appreciation of her merits and services to the world; and especially, if I can promote a more friendly feeling for her in this country and at the same time give to Haiti herself a friendly hint as to what is hopefully and justly expected of her by her friends, and by the civilized world, my object and purpose will have been accomplished.” – Frederick Douglass

Tom Luce (he/him)

Now 87, born in Barre, Vermont, I chose to go to the Catholic seminary in 1956 and one of my classmates was Max Dominique, a Haitian from a leadership family, the reason why I chose to go to Haiti in 2004. In 2000, I joined my hometown UU Church, First Church Unitarian, Barre, Vt., because they were the only church supporting the same-sex marriage law.
After retiring from teaching French and Spanish in my hometown and moving with wife, Judy, to Berkeley in 2005, I, as a member of Oakland UU, began working in 2006 with BFUU’s Cynthia Johnson on the “Declaration of Peace”, a national campaign for stopping the Iraq war that was proposed at the GA in Louisville Kentucky as an AIW in 2006. Soon after, I joined BFUU and have continued to be supportive.
Because of my relationship with my wife, I participate in a local Catholic parish, St. Columba, Oakland, where I was asked to develop an international service program, HopeForHaiti:Education/HHE, in 2010 since I had already developed some community based groups in Port-Au-Prince. This group has survived and is in its 15th year providing school for a total of 1,000+ students in the inner-city communities of Martissant and Grand Ravine.

We meet in person at 1924 Cedar Street and on Zoom for Worship Services on Sundays at 10:30 AM. If you’d like to attend via Zoom, please email worshiponline@bfuu.org for the meeting ID and link. You can also stream the service live and catch the replay on BFUU’s Youtube channel.