| | | | UUs around the country are working hard to help ensure that all of our fellow citizens can safely and securely exercise the right to vote. What a privilege it is to share this work with you. We are now in our final push before the election, and it’s not too late to join in our electoral work. We have created a list and calendar of activities on the UUSJ website to assist you in finding places to do this extremely important work. It includes sending postcards to help disenfranchised voters, engaging and assisting voters in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Wisconsin, and Florida using the latest technologies for phone and text banking, and sending friendly notes and posting on social media to encourage and help others to register and vote. Since last month, our coalition of congregations from UUSJ and the Reeb Project have written 35,000 postcards to voters in Georgia and North Carolina helping them register to vote and providing crucial ballot access information. We have also been calling and texting voters across the country who are vulnerable to voter suppression, and these small actions, done from our homes, are having a tremendous impact. Kelsey Cowger, UUSJ/Reeb Voting [Read More] | | | | | | Indigenous Peoples' Day By Rev. Karen Lee Scrivo, who is the affiliated community justice minister at Paint Branch Unitarian Universalist Church in Adelphi, MD Our Unitarian Universalist faith calls us to fully examine the painful legacy of Christopher Columbus that displaced and disseminated generations of Native Americans and their rich cultures and societies. Our Principles require us to respect and learn from Indigenous Peoples and support their struggles for social justice and religious freedom. This year, many Unitarian Universalists across the country will join with other people of faith and goodwill in celebrating Indigenous Peoples' Day. It changes Columbus Day from a celebration of colonialism into a chance to learn historical truths about the genocide and oppression of Indigenous Peoples in the Americas. It can also inspire us to organize against current injustices and to celebrate Indigenous resistance. [Read More] | | |  | Whose land do you live on? What was done to them? How have you benefited? If you can't answer, find out
click map for an expandable version. | | | | | | | | |  Ask Your Senators to Demand that EPA Address the Unjust Burden of Climate Change and Pollution on Frontline Communities
In October, UUSJ’s Write Here! Write Now! is calling for increased federal funding of environmental justice programs in the Environmental Protection Administration for budget Fiscal Year 2021. Frontline communities battle pollution from power plants and factories and suffer the most from increased floods, wildfires, and heatwaves caused by climate change. This often leads to increased health problems, including COVID-19, due to poor air and water quality, disproportionately impacting low- income communities. Nearly 3,000 communities have lead poisoning levels twice as high as those in Flint, MI during its water crisis. Letters are due by Oct. 15. Join the issue briefing on Monday, Oct. 6, 3-4pm ET via Zoom with a retired EPA attorney who currently leads the Appropriations Team at the Environmental Protection Network. Sign up HERE. Find the handout here. For details: info@UUSJ.org. | |  September Advocacy Urges Senate to Act on Immigrant Support During Pandemic
The Immigration Task Group continues to urge the Senate to include all immigrants in the next COVID relief bill as part of UUSJ’s Write Here! Write Now! campaign. Our Unitarian Universalist Principles compel us to treat all immigrants humanely and fairly, regardless of their legal status. Last month, the Task Group led our WHWN letter-writing campaign and briefings on extending financial relief to immigrants who were not covered in earlier bills that passed. As WHWN letter-writer Merry-K Moos, Community Church of Chapel Hill Unitarian Universalist, NC pointed out: “Large numbers of these immigrants are doing essential work, especially at the hospital, putting their lives and the lives of their loved ones in jeopardy while not receiving any of the supports that others receive during these unprecedented times.” The HEROES Act, passed by the House in May, included COVID-19 testing and financial relief for those immigrants left out of earlier bills. The Senate has yet to pass a new COVID relief bill. Earlier relief bills excluded immigrants without Social Security numbers and their families from any assistance. These immigrants are often among the hardest hit by the coronavirus. [Read More] | | | | | | |  Storytelling for Advocacy Workshop
Saturday, Oct. 10, 1-4pm ET via Zoom
Contact: info@UUSJ.org
Flyer - Register Here
Join us on Oct. 10 for a free Zoom workshop on personal storytelling and effective advocacy, focusing on how your story can create change! Let us help you figure out what to say, how to say it, and how to share it. This free workshop -- led by Natalie Miller-Moore -- is supported by a grant from the UU Funding Program. One of the participants from our last workshop sums it up well. “Storytelling is the best way to persuade legislators to consider your point of view. They are more likely to listen and remember what you said, to see it from your perspective, and they will find it hard to dismiss your story or argue with you.” John Peterson, Accotink UU Church. | | | | Save the Date
Dec. 12, 7:30pm ET
UUSJ 20th Anniversary Did you know that UUSJ is 20 years old in 2020? To help celebrate and to envision the path ahead UUSJ will be holding a special event via Zoom, featuring Congressman Jerry Connolly (D-VA-11), along with award-winning musician and performer Lea Morris, on Dec. 12. Please save the date and expect further details as soon as they become available. Contact: info@UUSJ.org. | | | | | | | Unitarian Universalist News | |  UUA Co-Moderator Elandria Williams Dies at 41
Anyone who has attended General Assembly in recent years knows Elandria Williams, with her sparkling wit and personality and passion for social justice. Elandria, who served as a UUA trustee and then as UUA co-moderator, died unexpectedly on September 23, 2020. A leader at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, E co-founded Knoxville’s Black Lives Matter movement and was an organizer with the Highlander Center. To reflect on Elandria’s contribution to UUism and in particular racial justice we offer her UU World article on community. General Assembly 2020 Videos Now Available Looking for a session from this year’s virtual General Assembly? Most of the sessions are now available on video through the 2020 GA On-Demand Library. In addition to the major GA worship services, business sessions, and reports, the library includes the Ware Lecture, featured speakers, learning stage presentations, and many workshops previously available to GA registrants only. Enjoy and share widely!  Harvest the Power
The UUA, UU Ministry for Earth, and UU the Vote are coming together for an autumn of Voting and Environmental Justice programming. They include Harvest the Power Week of Action (Oct. 21-27); United Nations Sunday: “All in for Climate Justice” (Oct. 25); Fall Harvest Summit & Colonization Teach-Ins (Nov. 29-30). For updates and details click HERE. | | | | | | | | |  UUSJ Opposing Anti-Immigrant Actions
UUSJ is joining forces with Detention Watch Network (DWN) in urging Congress to reduce funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP). The move is part of UUSJ’s commitment to learning from and being guided by the people most impacted by immigrant legislation and regulations.
DWN is a national coalition doing advocacy, grassroots organizing around specific campaigns (abolishing immigrant detention), and strategic communications. Since joining this summer, Immigration Task Group members have attended several meetings. We are outraged by news reports that some women in ICE detention in Georgia have undergone unwanted surgeries and sterilization and that ICE entered church grounds (normally considered sacred space) to detain an undocumented Burmese immigrant whose legal case is pending. Immigration Task Group members and UUSJ are signing interfaith petitions and posting on social media about these disturbing developments. [Read More] | | | | | | | Environmental and Climate Justice | | | | Indigenous Communities and the Fight for Climate Justice Amid the Pandemic
Monday, October 12 (Indigenous Peoples' Day)
7:30pm ET
ZOOM Registration  Glenn Hurowitz will speak with UUSJ about his work highlighting how corporate practices, deforestation, and the ecological devastation on Indigenous communities contribute to respiratory problems and susceptibility to COVID-19.
Glenn Hurowitz, the CEO of Mighty Earth, has led environmental campaigns around the world for many years. He is a globally recognized leader on forests, agriculture, and climate change, and running strategic campaigns. Glenn previously served as Chair of the Forest Heroes campaign, where he successfully secured strict No Deforestation policies from the world’s largest agribusinesses including major palm oil trade companies... See his full bio here.  Climate Change, Our Faith Values, and 2020: A Conversation with Dr. Katharine Hayhoe
“Climate change disproportionately affects the poorest and most vulnerable people in the world, and we are making their lives worse” according to Dr. Hayhoe, who notes that all faiths have similar beliefs about our role in earth stewardship. You can access this inspiring conversation, hosted by Interfaith Power and Light, to learn how to communicate with family and friends about the climate crisis from a position of shared values. Facebook link here, and links to available resources, including her TED talks, here, other resources here, many with ways to empower women and girls on climate change issues. UUSJ's Environmental Action Team Invites Your Participation UUSJ volunteers interested in environmental and climate justice issues are looking at how UUSJ might engage more deeply on these topics beyond the Nov. 3 elections. The Environmental Action Team is exploring climate justice, green jobs, decarbonizing energy, ensuring clean air and water, and collaborating with like-minded faith and other potential partners. If you’re interested in learning more about the group, contact advocacy@uusj.org.  Friday, Nov. 6, 2020
6:00 - 8:30pm ET
Bull Run Unitarian Universalists (VA), UUSJ, and UU Ministry for Earth are co-sponsoring a showing of the award-winning documentary “The Condor and the Eagle.” Come together virtually as people of faith and conscience to watch this documentary, hear from the filmmakers and protagonists, and unite the faith community in the movement for Indigenous rights and climate justice. Contact: Larry Underwood. | | | | | | | | | “What the Flint Water Crisis Cost My Family” At the intersection of environment and economics, many low-income people are victims of policies that put them at health risk, with little chance of remedy in the near term. This heart-breaking story from a Flint, MI. mother and Poor People’s Campaign member, shares what can never be fixed despite a recent financial settlement to the people most directly affected.  Action Steps with the PPC
At the core of the Poor People's Campaign’s Moral Fusion work is a belief UUs hold dear. Building the beloved community calls us to act in solidarity with poor and low-income folks since they suffer most from the interlocking injustices in our society, economy, and government. Looking for ways to get involved? Here are some suggestions from the PPC: - Join faith leaders and faith communities across the country in participating in the M.O.R.E. Faithful Weekend (October 2- 4). The weekend centers on Mobilizing, Organizing, Registering, and Educating People for a Movement that Votes. It envisions people of faith coming together to profess a bold spiritual commitment to our nation's promise to lift up and care for all of creation. Register Here
- Help do M.O.R.E - Mobilize, Organize, Register, and Educate People for a Movement that Votes - by signing up your faith community or other organization for the 1000:1000 Prophetic Pledge
- Become a Poll Monitor or encourage others in your faith community to become a Poll Monitor. We must protect our democracy! Click here to sign up for training!
Survey - The Moral Fusion Work of UUs in the Poor People’s Campaign Many UUs believe that the campaign’s Moral Fusion work requires our participation, regardless of which particular issue calls to our intellectual and spiritual passions. If you share this belief and/or are working with the PPC, please complete this Survey created by the UUA’s PPC Council, to help map engagement. | | | | | | | Defending Our Democracy Task Group The charge this month to UUs and all who care about our country and our democracy is quite clear. We need to vote; we need to encourage others to vote, and we need to help others make their way safely through the somewhat confusing voting process that varies by state. We have created a list and calendar of activities on the UUSJ website to help you find ways to do this extremely important work. It includes sending postcards to help disenfranchised voters, engaging and assisting voters in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Wisconsin, and Florida using the latest technologies for phone and text banking, sending friendly notes, and posting on social media to encourage and help others to register and vote. How to Get Involved
Engaging in Voter Mobilization Thank you for engaging in this work. Our country’s future depends on all of us, and many, many others, doing this successfully. Let’s UU the Vote!! As UU the Vote’s National Organizer Nicole Pressley reminds us: “As we set larger goals of reaching over one million voters before November, we remember that while our denomination’s numbers may be relatively small, our faith and our potential impact is huge. Rooted in a covenant, our power lies in the relationships that extend beyond our walls and our membership rolls.” | | | | | | Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice (UUSJ)
7750 16th St NW, | Washington, District of Columbia 20012
202-600-9132 | info@uusj.org | | | | | | | |
