Members and friends of the UU community gathered on November 29 at Cedar Lane UU Church for UUSJ’s bi-annual awards celebration. The event brought together UUs recognizing the outstanding projects and activities at seven different congregations. Since its first Awards Gala in 2007, UUSJ has honored individuals and congregations who are working to build a better world through social justice activities that support UU values. This year’s awards:

• The Collaboration Award presented to Accotink Social Justice Committee, Accotink UU Church
• The Congregational Social Justice Program Award presented to Diana Herriman, Mount Vernon Unitarian Church
• The Emerging Leader Award presented to Heather Wiemer, UU Congregation of Fairfax
• The Environment/Climate Justice Award presented to the Environmental Justice Project of the Peace and Justice Ministry, First Unitarian Church of Baltimore
• The Innovative Social Justice Programming Awardpresented to the All Souls Reeb Project for Voting Rights, All Souls Church, Unitarian
• The Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Ken Shilling, Goodloe Memorial UU Congregation
• The Minister Award presented to Rev. Dr. Linda Olson Peebles, Interim Minister of Accotink UU Church
• The Special Recognition Award (Advocacy)presented to Lavona Grow, UU Church of Arlington

Photos from the event will be posted on UUSJ’s Flickr account as they’re available.