We remember and celebrate the life and work of Donald Luke Chery, Jr., affectionately known as Don, in love and justice.
Don was a quiet champion for working across silos in the UU ecosystem and a supporter of our efforts to build a movement for UU advocacy across the federal government and the state of Maryland. He was a founding member of @uulmmd and a steadfast member of UUSJ’s Immigration Action Team.
Don brought a long-term, intersectional, and strategic perspective to bear with Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice , River Road UU Congregation, the UU Legislative Ministry of Maryland , and the UUA’s President’s Council. Don also served as a supporter of the ACLU and CASA among other organizations.
We can’t help but conclude that his perspective was shaped by his training as a hydrologist, his volunteer work, and his active role in our faith tradition.
When asked what motivated him, Don once said, “I believe we need to do this work because of my experience as a federal employee, and visiting El Salvador with our UU youth. We need to do this advocacy, and stick with it. It’s one of the things that matters most in the long run.” He also believed that so many of our social ills were stove-pipe issues, regularly reminding his peers that immigration dynamics touch community, county, state, and federal policy frameworks.
The light of Don’s life shone with reason, compassion, and justice.
We honor him,
UUSJ and UULM-MD
For more about Don, see:
- Charlotte’s reflection
- What CASA said about Don