One way I promote and live out my Unitarian Universalist values in the world is by being a part of the Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice (UUSJ).

I got to know UUSJ some 15 years ago when one of the members of my congregation received an award for its social justice work. Later, I participated in a UUSJ training but really became more involved a few years ago when UUSJ shifted toward advocacy on Capitol Hill. 

Before retiring in 2012 from a Washington-DC non-profit agency, I was constantly astounded at how many religious groups effectively communicate their social justice  priorities to members of Congress and help shape important legislation. They do this as individual organizations, such as the highly visible Friends Committee on National Legislation or Network Lobby for Catholic Social Justice and being part of coalitions.  

However I never saw Unitarian Universalists organizations participating nor did I encounter them on Capitol Hill during my many visits as executive director of the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs (AFOP). For too long we UUs were essentially missing, or at least hardly visible.  I at least, never saw UUs on Capitol Hill till UUSJ!

That has all changed thanks to UUSJ’s focus on direct advocacy through its volunteer-led Advocacy Corps. Now, many legislative offices know through UUSJ’s Advocacy Corps that UUs are active in promoting major changes such as a just and equitable immigration reform package.

While leading the AFOP, I met hundreds of farmworkers throughout the United States.  Most were undocumented and lived in constant fear of deportation. I learned how devastating our immigration laws and policies are to the lives of these hardworking immigrants and their families. This experience grounds my work with UUSJ on immigration reform. 

Thanks to UUSJ’s Advocacy Corp volunteers, congressional offices also learn about UU values in every visit that we make. As far as I know, no other faith-based advocacy organization has such a deeply volunteer-led approach to doing advocacy. It is something we UUs can be proud of! It is something we hear that others admire. 

Does major legislative changes result? No one knows. But we do know that our voices are heard and our values are represented in the halls of Congress. We also know that Hill staffers hear what UUSJ thinks is important on the policies they are promoting. That’s why I’m actively working with UUSJ on social justice issues I’m passionate about.

In gratitude,

David Strauss

* Please consider making a donation to UUSJ to support our work into 2020 *

 

David Strauss has been a Unitarian Universalist since 1981. He serves on UUSJ’s Board, helps lead its Development Committee and is a member of the Immigration Task Group. Prior to retiring in 2012, Strauss served as Executive Director of the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs,  in Washington, D.C.  This national nonprofit federation provides job-training and other vital services to our nation’s migrant and seasonal farmworkers. David is a former member of the UU Congregation of Rockville and River Road UU Congregation.