In 2010, after belonging to the Unitarian Universalist faith for 30 years, I began to ask if the search for personal spiritual growth was enough. I concluded that belief without work to achieve UU goals lacked real value to me. So I began to look for ways to turn my own beliefs into action. Among … Continue reading Dean Wanderer, Sitting Out is Not My Way
We asked, why UUSJ? I am overwhelmed with racial injustice, the climate crisis, and pandemic fear. I ask myself on what side of history do I want to be on? What do I want to stand for? I put my faith into action with Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice (UUSJ). Ysaye Maria Barnwell wrote, “we are … Continue reading Kelly Perry on What side of history do I want to be on (Why I put my faith into action with UUSJ)
Since we are working virtually this year, we can see measurable results after every action: new voters registered, clicks on our voter information website, mail ballots applied for, commitments to vote. UUs nationwide have made 1.3 million voter contacts this year! We’ve also harnessed the people power in our congregations: we have active electoral organizations … Continue reading Vote2020
By Bennett Minton A series of textbooks written for the fourth, seventh, and 11th grades taught a generation of Virginians our state’s history. Chapter 29 of the seventh-grade edition, titled “How the Negroes Lived Under Slavery,” included these sentences: “A feeling of strong affection existed between masters and slaves in a majority of Virginia homes.” … Continue reading Lies our textbooks told my generation of Virginians about slavery
“One discovers the light in the darkness, that is what darkness is for, but everything in our lives depends on how we bear the light.” James Baldwin As Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice (UUSJ), we are called by our principles to promote social justice and to vehemently oppose unjust, inhumane public policies everywhere. The recent murders … Continue reading Juneteenth 2020: Racial Justice Cannot Wait
And now we add Rayshard Brooks of Atlanta Georgia to the list… The moving protests–in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic have brought together young and old, working and retired, every ethnicity and racial background in the past weeks since the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and Tony McDade. This defining moment … Continue reading Systemic Racism & Poverty
We are in a challenging and difficult time as the COVID-19 crisis has changed our lives and our advocacy. Our hope is that you and your family and friends are staying safe and healthy, and finding ways to support those on the frontline of this pandemic crisis, for the needs of our communities, neighbors, and … Continue reading A Renewed Challenge in the Age of COVID-19 — Building a More Just and Equitable Society
There are many reasons to be deeply troubled by our country’s approach to refugees and asylum seekers and to the millions of our undocumented neighbors. In my case, the unease and outrage caused by immoral policies and actions are more personal because of what they could mean for people I care about. Fortunately, I found … Continue reading Terry Grogan on Immoral Immigration Policies Hit Close to Home (Why I’m Part of UUSJ’s Immigration Task Force)
The Advocacy Corps delivered letters from UUs and a UUSJ message asking House members to decrease spending on immigration enforcement, including ICE raids, detention, deportation and border militarization. The 24 Advocacy Corps volunteers visited 55 offices, held six scheduled meetings and delivered 169 constituent letters as well as a UUSJ message urging reducing detention in … Continue reading July – UUSJ Advocates Keeping Families Together and the Border Crisis
(By Larry Underwood, UUSJ Board member from Bull Run Unitarian Universalists, Manassas, VA) In July I re-visited the Alaska I had lived in for 22 years, when it was largely pristine wilderness. I joined the annual summer tour of Alaska sponsored by four Alaskan UU congregations. I went seeking the beauty, excitement, and wildlife for … Continue reading Can We Keep the Climate Crisis From Becoming A Climate Catastrophe?
