I joined the Minneapolis Community Environmental Advisory Commission in 2012 as a part of an effort to diversify the commission and refocus it toward public health and community resilience. Another new member was Rochelle, a community activist from North Minneapolis, which has the highest poverty rates and largest concentrations of indigenous people and people of … Continue reading Meleah Houseknecht on Environmental Justice: Using Our UU Principles as a Theological Guide
It continues to be an honor to serve this coming year as Chair of the UUSJ board, accompanied by Rev. Peggy Clarke (New York, NY), Vice-Chair; Chloe Emily Ockey (Fresno, CA), Secretary; and Mariano Vera (Sarasota, FL), Treasurer. Under the first year of UUSJ’s new diverse, national governance structure, we made considerable progress thanks to … Continue reading 2022 Board Chair Message
Is homelessness as intractable as it would seem in this country? Homeless encampments are found at the intersection of widespread poverty and an array of failed federal tax and spend policies. There were over 550,000 homeless individuals in the United States in 2021, the government estimates. Most advocates consider this a significant undercount since it … Continue reading Homelessness
By Elizabeth Mount To begin, to start, to create, to undertake, To grow, to promise, to increase, to generate. All these are our birthright. As we are created, so may we create. The ability and the choice to create is sacred. To withdraw that chance from any person without their permission Would be a violent … Continue reading The Right to Choose
The Democracy Action Team (DAT) is focusing on reforming the Electoral Count Act, after the disappointing Senate filibuster of the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. One measure under consideration – the Electoral Count Modernization Act – does have bipartisan support. It would update and clarify the current 1887-passed law that governs the casting and counting … Continue reading What’s Next For Voting Rights
“It takes deep faith and a lot of hard work to keep a democracy vibrant.” – Rev. Wm. G. Sinkford, Former UUA President “In our religious lives, the democratic process requires trust in the development of each individual conscience—a belief that such development is possible for each of us, as well as a commitment to … Continue reading Devastating Dereliction of Duty
Despite this setback for the John L. Lewis Act, there are some important takeaways from UUSJ’s Democracy Action Team’s collaboration with many national groups pushing for passage of this important legislation The coordinated and collaborative work included hundreds of groups, all with the same goal. It was an important milestone for the broader democracy movement … Continue reading Voter Rights Advocacy Highlights
Charlotte Jones-Carroll, UUSJ Board Chair Private sector corporations are accountable to their owners – usually their shareholders. And governments are accountable to those they govern, usually voters. To whom are non-profit organizations accountable? Some say it is to the stakeholders – anyone with an interest in the non-profit, such as beneficiaries of its services, donors, … Continue reading Thoughts on Moral Owners
PRO Act Expert Opinion Briefing Tuesday, Dec. 7: 7 pmET/ 6pm CT/ 5 pm/MT/ 4 pm PT Register Here Join us to learn more about the PRO Act (Action Alert) and how it protects the right to organize in the workplace and connects to workplace safety and healthcare policies. Guest speakers from the AFL-CIO, Public … Continue reading PRO Act
The Immigration Action Team (IAT) continues meeting with offices of key members of Congress to advocate for immigration rights. This month, the team is working on arranging meetings with Sens. Pat Toomey (R-PA) and Rob Portman (R-OH). In November, the IAT pushed for pathways for citizenship for Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status holders, farm workers, and … Continue reading Listening, Learning, and Discussing Immigration with Senate Staffers
