Our mission is 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 is committed to empowering church members to keep this covenant. 

We offer a wide array of groups and activities at local, regional, and national levels. There is something for everyone and newcomers are most welcome.

Fueled by our shared spiritual values, we have thus far chosen to focus on the following work areas.

• NEW AA AND AL-ANON GROUPS!
  
• Economic Justice Action Group
  
• Peace Action Group
• Mental Health Action Group
• UUSC
• UU Global AIDS
• UU Community for Earth
• Democracy Action Group
• Freedom for Choice Action Network
• Unitarian Pride Group
• Homeless Action Group
• Unitarian Universalists for a Just Economic Society
• Social Justice Council

For further information and tips from our Social Justice program, click here.

SOCIAL JUSTICE STAFF

Rev. Kate Lore (klore@firstunitarianportland.org), Minister of Social Justice, 503-228-6389, ext. 44.

About Kate Lore:

Kate Lore has been directing the Social Justice program at First Unitarian Church for the past 9 years.  She received her Masters of Divinity from Meadville/Lombard School of Theology at the University of Chicago in June of 2007 and was ordained on October 28, 2007 at First Unitarian.  Kate brings 15 years of church leadership into her ministry and specializes in community organizing, leadership development, conflict resolution and creative networking.

Kate operates on the premise that as members of a spiritual community, we have a moral obligation to act for change.  She seeks to inspire, educate and mobilize our members to confront systems of discrimination and oppression that foster hatred, division and injustice.  In addition, she feels adamantly that each of us must bring our very best selves into this sacred work, for in so doing, we build community, deepen our spiritual lives and generate more goodness in the world. 

Kate’s areas of expertise are varied but include economic justice, legislative advocacy, peace issues, anti-racism training, environmental activism, human rights, grant-writing, spiritual development and organizational planning.  She has two grown sons, two cats, a Honda Civic Hybrid and a new Trek hybrid bicycle.  She loves nature, books, lectures and working with people.