OUR || COMMUNITY Social Justice Program Details
| Program Details |
 |
 |
 |
|
Rev. Kate Lore, Social Justice Minister Mission: To coordinate and support the congregation’s efforts to advocate, educate, organize, serve and witness for social action; to establish First Unitarian Church as a beacon for social justice in our community. As Unitarian Universalists, we covenant to work for a democratic, peaceful, equitable, and earth-friendly world. The Social Justice Program seeks to empower church members to make significant changes in our community, whether it be at the local, regional, or national level. Fueled by our shared spiritual values, we have chosen to focus on the work areas listed below. For more information, please contact Social Justice Minister Kate Lore at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Social Justice Council This council, comprised of the leaders of each social justice group, plus three officers and the Social Justice Minister, is charged with overseeing and implementing the social justice program. It also supports and nurtures our collective acts of social witness and the anti-oppression/anti-racism/multicultural work of our church. Contacts: Ann Lechman Su: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Corey Cliffe: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Community for Earth (formerly Seventh Principle Action Group) This very active group is based on our Seventh Principle, “respect for the interdependent web of life of which we are a part.” Recent projects have included the sustainable Green Sanctuary project, the Heart of the Earth Environmental Film Festival, the "First Share" sharing project, and the REAP Pesticide Reduction Pledge Drive. This action group also sponsors speakers and community forums. Contacts: Amanda Trujillo: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Cuba AyUUda This group holds a religious activities license providing legal travel to Cuba for those affiliated with First Unitarian Church. The purpose of these trips is to share Unitarian Universalism, foster citizen diplomacy, create and maintain friendships, bring much needed supplies to Cubans, and keep the struggles of the Cuban people on the radar screen for U.S. Americans. For more information, go to www.cubaayuuda.net or contact: Linda Hunter at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Economic Justice Action Group (EJAG) The Economic Justice Action Group promotes fair and just economic policies and practices for all citizens. Current issues include economic globalization, the balance of economic and corporate power, tax reform and preservation of our democratic process. Activities are both church- and community-based and include: education and research, publication, direct action, and work for campaign finance reform. For more information, go to www.ejag.org. Contacts: Joe Cartino: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; or Jared Gardner: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Freedom for Choice Action Network This group, comprised of both men and women, works to promote and preserve freedom of choice for women and families through education and advocacy for reproductive rights and economic justice. Everyone is welcome to join us. Contact: Betsy Riddell at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Homeless Action Group The mission of this group is to provide outreach and support to groups who are delivering services to homeless people who need assistance. .Activities include overseeing the church's day shelter for homeless families (see below),volunteering with local homelessness agencies, collecting emergency foods and goods for homeless persons and educating our church about the growing homelessness crisis. Thirteen Salmon Family Center: A project of the Homeless Action Group, this day shelter for homeless families operates seven days a week, November thru April. To volunteer, The members of this action group come together to promote awareness and understanding of mental health issues within the church and community. Their goals include: 1) facilitating informed discussion; 2) encouraging actions that foster connection, hope, and fairness; and 3) building awareness of available resources. During the church year, a regular meeting is held the first Sunday of the month, 12-2 p.m. (12-12:30 p.m. for socializing and setup; meeting starts at 12:30 p.m.) in the Channing Room. MHAG members include:
www.mhag.homestead.com Unitarian Pride Unitarian Pride is the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) Group of First Church. The mission of this group is to help our congregation become a “Welcoming Congregation,” to provide outreach to LGBT and questioning youth and adults, and to be a visible presence at coffee hour. Group members organize social activities—both within the congregation and in the greater community—to help LGBT members connect with one another. Contact: Helena Hessle: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. UU Global AIDS Coalition We are Unitarian Universalists united to journey with those impacted by HIV/AIDS. We travel as advocates and educators. We look for partnership. We move with compassion and respect in a multicultural world. We provide education and action options to address the global AIDS epidemic, and also raises funds to support AIDS orphans in Kenya. For more information go to: www.uuglobalaids.org. Contacts: Patricia O’Shea, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Kirsten Carpentier, 503-615-0874. UUs for a Just Economic Society (UUJEC) Unitarian Universalists for a Just Economic Community (UUJEC) was founded in 1994 as a dynamic, independent grassroots affiliate of the UUA. Our mission is to engage, educate, and activate Unitarian Universalists to work for economic justice, recognizing that as people of faith in the struggle for justice, we are supporting and renewing our spiritual lives. Our current focus is challenging corporate dominance. Learn more at: www.uujec.org. Contact Marcia Meyers at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. UU Ministry for Earth (UUMFE) This group is an affiliated group organization of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations (UUA), and is headquartered in the lower level of our Buchan Building. The misssion is to provide UUs and their congregations with organized ways to connect energy, ideas and information about how their lives connect to the Living Earth, environmental justice and future generations. For more information, go to: www.uuministryforearth.org. Contact Barbara Ford at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. UU Service Committee (UUSC) The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee is the human rights arm of our movement. UUSC works to advance justice worldwide by combining human rights education and advocacy in the United States with direct support for grassroots initiatives. Opportunities abound. Join us and help sow the seeds of change. Learn more at: www.uusc.org |
