Social Justice Committee
The UUFD Social Justice
Committees envision a world community with peace, liberty and justice for
all. We promote social justice locally
and internationally through education, direct service, advocacy and financial
support. We strive to work with other
organizations in the community to leverage our impact.
Education: Over the past 3 years, we have used film (about 20 screenings), forums, newspaper publications and radio interviews, book discussions and Sunday services to educate ourselves and the larger community on topics including immigration reform, LGBT issues, drone warfare, economic justice, racial injustice (“The New Jim Crow” and women/girls (“Half the Sky”). A forum discussion on the lack of local translation services was instrumental in local translators obtaining fee-for-service contracts from healthcare service providers.
Advocacy:
· As an official supporter of the Higher Education Access Alliance, we advocated for over 2 years for State legislation that finally passed and allows undocumented Colorado youth to pay in-state tuition for higher education.
· Through the recommendation of the Social Justice Committee, UUFD petitioned the City for a Community Relations Commission and an expanded smoking ban. Both measures were passed.
· We work on registering voters in marginalized communities.
· Members of UUFD and the UU Fellowship in Pagosa Springs are discussing issues around profiling and unjust punishment in the legal system with government officials.
· Several members of our Fellowship are working with the County to establish living wages.
· UUFD as an organization and most of our members have signed on to the UUSC/UUA Minimum Wage Statement.
Service: UUFD members volunteer with Manna Soup Kitchen, help fill backpacks will food for low income kids to take home, and provide gift packs to mothers and children at the women’s shelter. We provide space to other organizations for programs such as “Know Your Rights” and parenting classes. This winter, homeless families will use our Fellowship Hall for nighttime shelter.
Financial Support: Three financial support programs coordinated by the Social Justice Committee include:
· Share- the-Plate: Share-the-Plate donations are collected during the offertory on the first Sunday of each month and given to a local organization for one year.
· Disaster Relief/Development Fund: Each year the Social Justice Committee selects recipients of this fund. Typically it is split between organizations doing international development work (preferably with a local tie) and disaster relief nationally or internationally.
· Social Justice Community Fund – This fund is from individual Fellowship donors. Its purpose is to: invest in upholding the worth and dignity of marginalized people in our community; provide short term relief and promote long term confidence and self reliance through education and training for underserved individuals; provide funds to local individuals, organizations, or projects who do not otherwise have sufficient resources. Currently, the fund is being used primarily to provide scholarships to GED graduates for post secondary education
Education: Over the past 3 years, we have used film (about 20 screenings), forums, newspaper publications and radio interviews, book discussions and Sunday services to educate ourselves and the larger community on topics including immigration reform, LGBT issues, drone warfare, economic justice, racial injustice (“The New Jim Crow” and women/girls (“Half the Sky”). A forum discussion on the lack of local translation services was instrumental in local translators obtaining fee-for-service contracts from healthcare service providers.
Advocacy:
· As an official supporter of the Higher Education Access Alliance, we advocated for over 2 years for State legislation that finally passed and allows undocumented Colorado youth to pay in-state tuition for higher education.
· Through the recommendation of the Social Justice Committee, UUFD petitioned the City for a Community Relations Commission and an expanded smoking ban. Both measures were passed.
· We work on registering voters in marginalized communities.
· Members of UUFD and the UU Fellowship in Pagosa Springs are discussing issues around profiling and unjust punishment in the legal system with government officials.
· Several members of our Fellowship are working with the County to establish living wages.
· UUFD as an organization and most of our members have signed on to the UUSC/UUA Minimum Wage Statement.
Service: UUFD members volunteer with Manna Soup Kitchen, help fill backpacks will food for low income kids to take home, and provide gift packs to mothers and children at the women’s shelter. We provide space to other organizations for programs such as “Know Your Rights” and parenting classes. This winter, homeless families will use our Fellowship Hall for nighttime shelter.
Financial Support: Three financial support programs coordinated by the Social Justice Committee include:
· Share- the-Plate: Share-the-Plate donations are collected during the offertory on the first Sunday of each month and given to a local organization for one year.
· Disaster Relief/Development Fund: Each year the Social Justice Committee selects recipients of this fund. Typically it is split between organizations doing international development work (preferably with a local tie) and disaster relief nationally or internationally.
· Social Justice Community Fund – This fund is from individual Fellowship donors. Its purpose is to: invest in upholding the worth and dignity of marginalized people in our community; provide short term relief and promote long term confidence and self reliance through education and training for underserved individuals; provide funds to local individuals, organizations, or projects who do not otherwise have sufficient resources. Currently, the fund is being used primarily to provide scholarships to GED graduates for post secondary education
Winter Haven Shelter Project
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UUFD Community Fund
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