By Heather Melton, UTO Staff Officer 

There are several conferences happening this summer, and as UTO begins to head back out into the world, we hope to see you at some of them! 

Episcopal Youth Event is taking place in July in Maryland. Unfortunately, our staff can’t be there in person, but UTO will be well represented. Stop by the Racial Justice and Care of Creation Team booth in the exhibit hall to pick up UTO swag and learn more about the team that UTO is a part of. UTO is also sponsoring milk and cookies one night at EYE so be on the lookout for that fun offering from the amazing EYE design team.

This summer, The Episcopal Church is hosting a conference in Balitmore called “It’s All About Love” that will focus on creation care, racial reconciliation, and evangelism. UTO will be present at this event. Stop by the exhibit hall to sign up for The Great EpisGOpal Race (and get an exclusive piece of swag when you do), pick up UTO materials and giveaways, and chat with our current and incoming UTO Board presidents. We will also be hosting a workshop that covers all aspects of UTO, including the 2024 UTO grant application process. There will be giveaways and raffles at the workshop so be sure to sign up if you’re coming. We’re also using this workshop to test out a template for UTO leaders to use in their dioceses or parishes, so more to come from this event. 

Finally, join us on Saturday, Aug. 26, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern time. This year our training day will take a very different shape as our Board leans into a new structure with three main committees and areas of work: finance and archives, formation and outreach, and grants. Each committee will present a workshop from their area of oversight and work during the training event, in addition to having time to hear updates about UTO and meet the newly elected leaders who are spending the year transitioning into their roles. As always, there will be time to talk, share ideas, and get your questions answered.

This training day is different than ones held in the past. Earlier this year, UTO was invited to share a screening of a documentary on gratitude called “Gratitude Revealed.” You can learn more about the film here. The director of the film, Louie Schwartzberg, is famous for his TED talk on gratitude and work with Oprah Winfrey on her Super Soul Sunday series. Not only will we be watching the film together, but we will also have a question-and-answer session with Schwartzberg about gratitude. This is an amazing opportunity that is not to be missed. The screening will begin at 3 p.m. Eastern time.

As always, you do not need to come to the entire training day—you can come for the workshops you need or want. If you only want to attend the film (or watch it with a small group locally), you can do that as well!