You and your passion for social justice, systems change, and dismantling the interlocking injustices of federal policy has kept me going. Especially when the tragedy of this pandemic and the travesty of police violence and racial injustice have put me on my back, psychically, spiritually. Thank you.

Just this week I had another one of those heart-wrenching moments. An immigrant in my social network hinted they are skipping meals. The nanny work has dried up, and funds are tight. First, I thought about what I could do despite the pandemic. Then, what community resources I could gently suggest. Finally, I vowed to continue UUSJ’s work for economic justice and immigration justice. We will need a compassionate and equitable recovery from the pandemic, to correct deficiencies rather than paper them over for the economy.

Yet alongside that profound sorrow and concern, I have joy and tangible proof that when UUs act for social justice we can have an impact. Three MILLION, says UU the Vote! Together we moved three million voters among all our various projects. Thank you. Thank YOU–THANK YOU!

You’ve done fantastic work together, collectively, for which we can all be proud. Sí, Se Puede (Yes, We Can!). We have faith, collectively, we can make the change our nation needs. Pa’lante, Siempre Pa’lante (Forward, Always Forward!).

You’ve shown that UUs are a small-but-mighty voting block, and can move other voters on issues! You can see Kelsey Cowger’s preliminary reporting on our part – the joint Reeb Voting Rights/UUSJ project — and be proud. Be proud too of your UUSJ Defending our Democracy team. They believed to get better social justice outcomes, we needed candidates that support our issues, values, and principles. They leaned into voter mobilization more than a year ago.

And you’ve successfully moved to remote advocacy. We workshopped the power of storytelling in our advocacy, and used it to support demilitarizing the police, reigning in Department of Homeland Security agencies, and funding Environmental Protection Agency programs that focus on environmental justice, among other issues.

Finally, I’m not an individualist. I was raised more of a communitarian, and believe that I do not act alone, that I do not fail alone, that I do not succeed alone. If nothing else, I stand on the shoulders of my progenitors as I look to the horizon and prepare to leap where they dreamed of reaching. More often than not, my community is propelling me forward. This year that community was you.

So while I’m tearful with great frequency because of our nation’s situation, I’m also proud of our collective UU social justice work.  With profound gratitude, despite a broken heart, thank you.

This movement for UU federal advocacy won’t stop, can’t stop. So join us on December 12th at 4pmET, as we envision the path forward and celebrate UUSJ’s 20 years.