The UUSJ Environmental Action Team has adopted priorities for 2021 that call for bold action to address the full scope of the climate crisis. The priorities point to the need for Congress and the Executive Branch to take needed steps to limit greenhouse gas emissions to 1.5 degrees Celsius and reach net-zero emissions by 2050. … Continue reading Environmental & Climate 2021 Priorities
The Democracy Action Team is working on advocacy plans for 2021. After meetings with Senate staffers last month, the Team agreed on its priorities for this year as well as the groups it hopes to partner with. (Find the team’s complete report HERE.) The Team’s priorities focus on: Ensuring fair elections Enabling voters’ participation and … Continue reading Democracy 2021 Priorities
Immigration Justice, New Administration, New Bills With President Biden proposing a bold immigration bill that includes pathways to citizenship, the Immigration Action Team is focusing on the House and Senate committees considering the legislation. The Administration’s proposal includes – among other things – citizenship pathways for all 11 million immigrants here without full legal status. … Continue reading Immigration Justice, New Administration, New Bills
Rev. Ashley Horan is the Organizing Strategy Director of the Unitarian Universalist Association, where she works with a team of faithful organizers and movement builders to ensure the justice work of Unitarian Universalism is spiritually grounded and politically effective. Her charge came at the end of last month’s UUSJ’s 20th Anniversary Celebration. See the story … Continue reading Rev. Ashley Horan Charges UUs to “Make Good Trouble”
Emily Koechlin, UUSJ Board Member Bringing UU values to our efforts, with an even louder and more courageous voice I first became acquainted with UUSJ through the Advocacy Corps. For many years I have been involved in progressive causes, so the UUSJ Advocacy Corps was a perfect fit for me. I looked forward to the … Continue reading Bringing UU values to our efforts, with an even louder and more courageous voice
Although much has occurred in the past three weeks and there are ongoing issues, it’s worth celebrating some important democracy successes. More people voted in the 2020 elections than have ever voted before. This was the direct result of tireless efforts by many, many different and diverse groups around the country, including UU churches and … Continue reading Fred Van Deusen – Reflections on 2020
Chaplain Eleanor Piez, UU Community Minister. Eleanor served as Intern Minister with UUC of Annapolis and UU Legislative Ministry of MD and is currently affiliated with Mt. Vernon Unitarian Church, VA. As a minister, I feel it’s my job to ask continually: How do we advance our noblest spiritual beliefs and commitments? How, each day, do we … Continue reading UUSJ’s presence in the halls of power is important to share and implement our values
Sean McCarthy, Immigration Task Group, UUSJ Board Member, UU Congregation of Rockville I retired in early 2014. I’d had a career in corporate law, but I now wanted to do something that would be of greater benefit to society. When my local bar association put out a call for volunteers to help unaccompanied children … Continue reading I feel like I am helping make a small difference in progress on a difficult social justice problem
Although much has occurred in the past three weeks and there are ongoing issues, it’s worth celebrating some important democracy successes. More people voted in the 2020 elections than have ever voted before. This was the direct result of tireless efforts by many, many different and diverse groups around the country, including UU churches and … Continue reading Reflections on 2020 from Fred Van Deusen, Convener, Defending Our Democracy
David Shilton, Arlington Unitarian Universalist Church I was intrigued one day after services at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington to see people writing letters at tables with big UUSJ signs. Closer inspection revealed that the letters were personal statements about the importance of preventing proposed cuts to the SNAP nutrition program. Putting aside concerns … Continue reading Finding Out That Our UU Voices Matter on Capitol Hill
