I am inspired by the vision of a just world. It is a world that embraces and perpetuates Unitarian Universalist Principles of dignity, democracy, justice, and interconnectedness. I committed to volunteering for the Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice Advocacy Corps to be a part of making this vision a reality.

The year 2016 marked a turning point in my life. I was beginning to think about retirement and where to find meaningful activities that motivated me on a spiritual and personal level.

One important step I took was joining the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington (UUCA). Nurtured and inspired by new friends, I felt the seeds of social justice activism sprout and grow. In response, I marched  — from the Women’s March, to the People’s Climate March, and the March for Our Lives. Joining like-minded people in public protest helped me feel involved, but it wasn’t enough.

At a 2018 UUCA coffee hour, I stopped by a tabletop display about UUSJ. Having worked with Congress representing the food industry, I was curious about a faith-based advocacy program.

Intrigued enough to give it a try,  a few months later I made my first Advocacy Corps Capitol Hill visit. An experienced lobbyist, I nonetheless felt like the new kid on the block as I put my activism into action from a faith-based, personal witness perspective. Before the end of our first meeting, I was hooked.

As I begin the third year of my work as an AC team member, I see every Capitol Hill visit as an opportunity to bring my vision of a just world closer to reality. I draw strength from taking positive action through this social justice work. In our congressional meetings, our talking points and “asks” are grounded in our UU principles. Speaking from this faith-based platform, we provide decision-makers with a unique perspective that they might not hear otherwise.

My most memorable meeting came when my team met with the office of a Member of Congress who supported the detention of immigrant families.  Having quickly researched the Member’s website on my phone, I was able to point to areas of shared concern during the meeting to help bridge our differences. The result was a productive exchange of views. I can’t say we changed minds but our voices were heard and we opened the door to future dialogue.

The work I do as a UUSJ AC member energizes me to continue working toward my vision of a just world. In the words of Mother Teresa, it may just be “a drop of water in the sea. But after this drop, the sea will never be the same.”

In gratitude,

Jula Kinnaird