Hello Broadway United Methodist! I'm one of your new interns! My name is Epiphany Paris, though everybody calls me Pip! I am gender nonbinary use they/them pronouns. I am studying to be a Unitarian Universalist minister, and am here because of my interest in interfaith alliances, particularly in working towards social justice.

If you listened to the news this week then you may be aware of the Supreme Court’s decision on abortion in Texas, which takes effect this week, allowing private citizens to sue anyone they even suspect of helping a pregnant person access the services. Two weeks ago we had talked about voting rights under attack! It truly feels like our country has reverted back decades. Lives are at risk and rights are being taken away. I encourage us to let our elected officials know that these are not the right choices for women, persons of color or any minority identity. If you can, donate to organizations that fight against these rules, and/or continue to provide the needed services.

Did you know:

• Almost half the country's population is facing dry conditions. Soil is parched. Mountain snowpacks are producing less water. A warming and drying trend is pushing the nation's two largest reservoirs to record low levels, for the first time since 1930.
• As of August 1st, there were 91 active wildfires raging across the country.
• Extreme rainfall caused floods that washed away centuries-old homes in Europe, triggered landslides in Asia and inundated subways in China, taking the lives of more than 900 people.