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Principles-Mission    Worship Services    Hot Topics

Social Justice Committee

Name of the Group/Committee:  Social Justice Committee

The Group’s/Committee’s Chairperson(s):  Dorri Micocci and Susan Randolph

Ways to Contact the Chairperson(s):  uuse153@sbcglobal.net.  In subject line put:  Social Justice Committee.

Mission of this Group/Committee: 
“When people come together to work on social justice projects, they break the bonds of individualism and isolation that fragment communities.  They make sacred space for one another.  Together they explore the issues that tear at their hearts, and cause them concern for the future.  The issue and the passion can only come from them.  And, together, they partner with others to understand their place in the community, the gifts they bring to the community, and the hopes and dreams of others.  Too many people think that spirituality and social justice are at opposite ends of the continuum, even polarized from one another.  In truth, neither can be fulfilled without the other.”  Rev. Jeanne Lloyd 

 

The Social Justice Committee (SJC) fosters and focuses the passion for social justice among the members and friends of UUS:E by undertaking certain activities itself, and by providing an umbrella forum for the initiation, coordination and lifting up of social justice activities in other groups at UUS:E.  In doing so, we cover the full spectrum of social justice work, including service (S), education (E), witness (W), advocacy (A), community organizing (CO) and transformation (T).

 

Programs, Opportunities, Activities and Work of the Group/Committee:

 

Activities of the Social Justice Committee itself:  The Social Justice Committee (SJC) presents several Sunday services on spiritual aspects of social justice each year, organizes educational presentations every other month on social justice concerns of our local community, and coordinates a monthly film series where you can catch up with movies related to social, economic and environmental justice issues.  Join us for dessert, decaf and a presentation at 6:30 PM in the main room on the second Sunday of alternate months.Our next four presentations are scheduled for December, February, April, June.  Or come share popcorn and a film with us the second Friday of each month at 7PM in the program room.

UUS:E Social Justice Concerns
Report from Committee Sunday

One of the activities the Social Justice Committee undertook as part of Committee Sunday was to survey those who visited our booth about the specific social justice concerns.   The following concerns emerged.

Economic Justice:

• The impact of the inadequate social services in our State on the members of our congregation.
• Stepping up to meet the economic and social service needs of the members of our church.   "Social Justice starts at home—Here at UUS:E."   "We are hypocrites if we do not address the needs and problems of our own membership!  We have working poor here."
• Bringing funds back to social services—it is obvious that churches alone do not understand the full needs of multiple cultures/people systems in our state as well as others—the administration has taken funds out of state systems to fund grants to churches and in so doing has crippled state systems; the services are not distributed to all in need.   We need to address this issue.
• Affordable housing
• Job finding assistance/training low income workers.

Environmental Justice:

• Need to organize rides for people who have poor night vision driving.
• Concerns about people with scent allergies and sensitivities

Anti-Oppression

• Disability civil rights movement—oppression of people with disabilities
• Concerns about oppression of all minority groups in our own congregation
• Concerns about stigma toward mentally ill persons.
• Would like to have announcements of protests or gatherings of solidarity in response to injustice and oppression; it's important for us to know where we can make a difference.

 

Social Justice Groups & Activities Affiliated with UUS:E:

• Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC): [S,E,A, CO, T] UUSC is an independent organization committed to the principle that working with local partners and building a grassroots movement will bring about the most enduring changes for communities in need. UUSC offers outreach, aid and advocacy on domestic and international issues. The Guest at Your Table program, presented during the Thanksgiving season at UUS:E, is a fundraising, educational and membership program of UUSC. Sarah Karstaedt is our UUSC Volunteer Co-Chair and Local Representative. 

• The Greater Hartford Interfaith Coalition for Equity and Justice (GHICEJ): [E, A, CO, W, T] The GHICEJis a coalition of churches from a wide range of denominations that have come together to identify policies and policy changes that would foster greater social equity and to advocate for their passage in the State legislature.  This year GHICEJ is focusing on passing legislative reforms addressing tax, health, and education inequities, immigration law, and working to end violence in inner Hartford. UUS:E is a founding member of GHICEJ and our minister, Rev. Josh Pawelek is on its governing board.  Nancy Parker and Al Benford are our official liaisons with GHICEJ.

• Congregations United for Racial Equality and Justice (CUREJ):  [E, CO, A, T] CUREJ congregations include the three UU congregations in the Greater Hartford region and Bethel AME Church.  Monthly activities and programs bring the four congregations together with the goal of gaining a deeper understanding of each other and our different approaches to worship as well as to address environmental, social, and economic justice issues of mutual concern.  Recent educational presentations have focused on environmental racism. 

• Community Outreach Ministry:[S] The Social Justice and Stewardship Committees jointly sponsor the Community Outreach Ministry which identifies deserving local charitable organizations to which 50% of every Sunday’s collection is contributed.

• Covenant to Care: [S] This statewide organization pairs faith-based communities with social workers from the Department of Children and Families (DCF). Cindy Maury is our liaison. Our congregation provides the children she serves with those extras that make their lives a bit brighter, such as backpacks filled with school supplies in September, and items from their Christmas wish lists.

• Washington School Partnership & STARS Tutoring Program:[S]Volunteers from UUS:E have been helping students from Washington School in Manchester, and Milner School in Hartford, for over a decade. These two schools struggle to educate disadvantaged, often transient children. At Washington School volunteers are engaged as class-room aids, one-on-one tutors, or facilitators for group projects.  Jean Labutis heads up this initiative.  The STARS Tutoring Program works one-on-one with children from the Milner school every Saturday providing homework support, computer literacy skills, and reading and math tutoring.  Diana Creamer and Nancy Pappas coordinate the STARS Tutoring Program. 

              

• Rebuilding Together: Christmas in April: [S]Every April, a volunteer crew is assembled from UUS:E members and friends to repair, repaint, and replant the home of a Manchester resident who otherwise would not be able to afford or undertake the work. 

• Study Groups: [E,T] UUS:E conducts regularly conducts study groups on particular topics, many of which have a social justice orientation.  Three study groups are currently underway with strong social justice substance:  The Anti-racism study group, the Anti-oppression study group, and the voluntary simplicity study group.

• Housing Initiatives: For nearly 20 years, UUS:E has helped to provide affordable housing in Manchester. First we joined other area congregations to form the Manchester Interfaith Social Action Corporation (MISAC), which built 191 units of subsidized housing off North Main Street. These apartments boast a long waiting list and an active tenants’ association. UUS:E is also a founding member of the Manchester Interfaith Corporation (MIC) which purchased and renovated 32 small ranch-style single-family homes that were no longer needed by the military. These homes, located in a very desirable neighborhood, were sold to very low, low and moderate income families. MIC continues to renovate homes in transitional neighborhoods to increase owner-occupancy. Speak to Malcolm Barlow for more information.

Social Justice Groups UUS:E or its members and friends actively engage with

• Connecticut Coalition for Environmental Justice (CCEJ):  [E, A, CO, T] This group advocates against environmental racism.  CUREJ has partnered with CCEJ to promote economic justice in Connecticut.

• One Connecticut (OneCT), formerly the Campaign to Fight Poverty and Build Economic Security:  [E, A, CO]  OneCT, organizes the efforts of over 100 faith-based and social action groups to ensure the passage of legislation that benefits the least powerful and most needy in our society.  

• Love Makes a Family (LMF) is a grass-roots non-profit organization created in 1999 by five organizztions (ACLU of Connecticut; Connecticut Coalition for LGBT Civil Rights; Connecticut Conference; United Church of Christ; Connecticut Women's Education and Legal Fund; Permanent Co0mmission on the Status of Women) to advocate for the civil rights of same-sex couples in Connecticut. Its advocacy efforts include education, grass-roots organizing, and lobbying. LMF was instrumental in the passage of the co-parent adoption law, defeatin a DOMA ("Defense of Marriage") act, passing a bill grantring same-sex couples a short list of rights related to serious illness and death, and passing Connecticut's Civil Union Law.  It continues to advocate for marriage equality for same-sex couples.

 

• Manchester Area Conference of Churches (MACC): MACC is an ecumenical partnership of religious organizations that addresses unmet basic human needs in the greater Manchester community.  Its programs include The Samaritan Shelter, The Shepherd’s Place Soup Kitchen, The Emergency Food Pantry, The Human Needs Fund, The Clothing Store, The Job’s Program, Seasonal Sharing Programs, and Foodshare.  Bring non-parishable food items to our foodshare box in the foyer of the church.  Susan Barlow is our MACC and Foodshare liaison. 

• Cleft Palate Program in Nepal: [S]In the hills of Nepal, most people believe that a cleft palate signifies the child was evil in a previous life.  As a result, many cleft children suffer abuse and neglect.  This program offers free cleft palate repair to children and with it, a life of dignity and hope.  Contact Jennipher Young-Hall for more information. 

• Focus on Canton:  [S, CO] Focus on Canton provides services for Canton citizens in need as well as coordinating other community efforts and providing grants to other community based organizations.  The assistance provided range from helping elderly residents with yard work to providing housing to the temporarily homeless.  Although Focus on Canton is not a religious organization, it was started by six Canton churches in 1997, and was later joined by other civic organizations and non-profits.

• American Association on Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities Religion and Spirituality Division (AAIDD): [S, A, T] The American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities is an interfaith, interdisciplinary association of professional ordained and lay people who journey with persons with developmental disabilities and their families. 

Upcoming Events & On-going Campaigns:

• Greater Hartford Interfaith Coalition for Equity and Justice GHICEJ
  The Greater Hartford Interfaith Coalition for Equity and Justice (GHICEJ) will hold its annual covenanting ceremony on Thursday evening, March 6, at the United Methodist Church of Hartford, 571 Farmington Ave, in the west end of Hartford. Gathering and entertainment begins at 6:30 pm. The formal ceremony begins at 7:00 pm and will run approximately one hour.  

GHICEJ’s covenanting ceremony takes place annually. It is a time when all the member congregations come together and commit to each other—both in terms of participation and financial support—for the coming year. Our own Rev. Josh currently serves as Chairman of GHICEJ. He will lead the service and offer a vision statement for the future of the organization. He will also proudly and publicly thank members of UUS:E who’ve recently made generous financial contributions to GHICEJ to help it through a difficult financial time! For more information contact Rev. Josh at (860) 652-8961 or Nancy Parker at (860) 643-0065.

• East of the River Unitarian Universalists Pulling Together | Quarterly Meeting, Sunday March 9, Unitarian Fellowship of Storrs

Have you heard the word “ERUUPT” at UUS:E but not known what it meant. Well, here is a chance to find out more. ERUUPT refers to East of the River Unitarian Universalists Pulling Together. ERUUPT is a coalition of five Unitarian Universalist congregations who are working together to eventually call or hire two full-time Unitarian Universalist parish ministers. The goal is for these two ministers to provide much needed ministerial services to all five congregations. They would serve each congregation on a part-time basis.

The next ERUUPT meeting takes place on Sunday afternoon, March 9th, from 1:30 to 3:30 PM at the Unitarian Fellowship, 46 Spring Hill Road, Storrs, CT. We will be joined by the Rev. Tracey Robinson Harris of the Unitarian Universalist Association’s Department for Congregational Services. Tracey’s presentation will focus on what ERUUPT needs to do next in order to receive funding from the UUA for this project.
But Tracey Robinson Harris isn’t the only reason to come on March 9th! This is also a wonderful opportunity to meet Unitarian Universalists from other congregations, learn their stories, and hear about their struggles and successes. This is an opportunity to build multi-church liberal religious community! This is an opportunity to have fun!

• Legislature:
  It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. In this year’s legislature, GHICEJ had some successes, and some near successes that didn’t quite get enacted:
• Education:  The 2006-2007 legislature passed record Early Education funding for the next two years. The School Readiness Program will receive a total of $137,728 million dollars. This is an historic increase!
• Immigration:  Both houses passed a bill allowing the children of undocumented immigrants to attend college at the in-state tuition rate (much lower than that for out-of-state students) only to have the bill vetoed by Governor Rell. A big disappointment.
• Taxes:  There was much support for a bill providing an Earned Income Tax Credit for low-income residents in Connecticut, but in the face of a probable veto, this bill did not even come to a vote. Another near-miss after much work and apparent support in the legislature.
• Health Care:  Again, there was support for more comprehensive health care in the legislature but little agreement on a specific plan.

Leadership Training:
Leadership training was held in June and a number of UUS:E members attended. Polly Eggers and Michelle Green, membership and stewardship chairs, respectively, both were excited about the idea of one-on-ones and are considering how doing them would help us stay connected with each other during the coming months.

Strategic Planning:

GHICEJ will begin strategic planning sessions late in the summer to consider how best to become a Social Justice Movement with broad support for justice throughout the state. There will be more about this in the September newsletter.

• Sunday, February 11 at 6:30 P.M. Talk by the Rev. David Nelson.  The Rev. David Nelson will speak on David Korten's book, The Great Turning Point:  From Empire to Earth Community.  The talk is at 7 P.M. with refreshments at 6 :30.  Everyone is welcom at the UUS:E Meetinghous. 

• ICEJ Petition Drive: ICEJ is trying to get 25,000 signatures in favor of the State of CT passing the earned income tax credit for Connecticut taxes.  They are to be presented to the Governor and legislature at the opening of their session on February 1, 2007.  Volunteers are needed to collect signatures.  Contact Mike Winterfield if you’re willing to help. Download the Petition for A State Earned Income Tax Credit.

• FRIDAY NIGHT FILM SERIES!
  Everyone Welcome!

  The Social Justice Committee is sponsoring a film series at UUS:E the second Friday of every month at 7p.m.  This month’s movie will be shown in our main room.  This is your chance to catch up with movies related to social and economic justice issues that you may have heard mentioned on public radio, saw a review of in a magazine, or that flew by you in a university film forum.

  On Friday, November 9th, we will show My War My Story, produced by independent filmmakers Andy Blood and Carol Dykas.  This documentary invites us to see the Iraq war through the eyes of 18 war veterans.  They tell their stories—why they joined up, their service in Iraq, and their challenges returning home—with raw authenticity.  Many of them now oppose the war, but not the military; they have nothing but respect, gratitude, and admiration for their superiors and fellow troops.  Their stories are sure to move you, inspire you, and make you think about the young men who have put their lives at risk in Iraq for our sake in a new light. Their humanity, integrity, and dedication is deeply moving.
             
  Join us for a provocative Friday night at the movies with popcorn, and time for some talk afterwards!  If you will need child care, please contact Susan Randolph, by November 2nd. 

Links Important to this Group:

• Unitarian Universalist Association, UUA:  uua.org. 
• There are many social justice related activities and committees such as the Committee on Social Witness and the Unitarian Universalists for a Just Economic Community.  Search on “social justice”
  
• Unitarian Universalist Service committee: UUSC:  uusc.org
• Love Makes a Family:  lmfct.org
• Greater Hartford Interfaith Coalition for Equity and Justice, GHICEJ: ghicej.org
• One Connecticut

Needs of the Group/Committee:
New Members are always welcome.  We need your passions and ideas for improving our programming.  We also need committee nurturing new members to help with the administrative committee work and members with photographic skills to document our activities. 

Interfaith Coalition Public Meeting
The Greater Hartford Interfaith Coalition Public Meeting this year will be held Thursday, January 23 in Hartford. There will be registration and music (don’t miss this!) from 6 to 7 with the
public meeting from 7 to 9. There will be provision for children as well. More details in the January newsletter.

This is the time when all the behind-the-scenes work that has gone on all year is presented to legislators and other policy-makers to get their cooperation for our agenda. There will a brief video, followed by short presentations by each of the task forces: Equal Opportunities in Education, Tax Reform, Civil Rights for Immigrants, Health Care for all, and Safe Neighborhoods. As always, there will be wonderful music and especially the world premiere of the GHICEJ song! DON’T MISS IT!

Links important to this Committee:

Greater Hartford Interfaith Coalition for Equity and Justice (ICEJ)