Social Justice
UUs for Social Justice
Working for social justice and a better society
The mission of the Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice is to support Unitarian Universalists and their friends in working together throughout the Chicago area toward social justice and a better society, through education, direct service, and advocacy.
History
Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice (UUSJ) is an Illinois Not-for-Profit Corporation, incorporated in 1990. We have Section 501(c)3 status under the Internal Revenue Code. Since the mid-1990's, we have been an affiliate of the Chicago Area Unitarian Universalist Council. Since our inception we have been an all-volunteer organization.
Task Forces
Most of the work of UUSJ is done in the Task Forces. A Task Force is a collaborative effort developed when a group of people has an issue they would like to work on. To establish and maintain a Task Force, there must be at least five people from at least three Unitarian Universalist congregations who are willing to meet on a regular enough basis to accomplish their goals.
Methods for accomplishing goals include Action Alerts, Order of Service inserts (information bulletins), workshops, education, direct witness, and service projects.
Current task forces are
Environmental Task Force: working on advocacy, environmental education, and encouraging our congregations to qualify as Green Sanctuaries.
Economic Justice and Homelessness Task Force: working through service projects, educational workshops, advocacy, and public witness.
Peace Task Force: developing Action Alerts, engaging in direct witness through participation in Peace Marches, and proposing education about peace-related issues.
What can UUSJ do for you?
Action Alerts
Sign up to receive the Action Alerts as an individual, or share Action Alerts with the congregation. Action Alerts often are in the form of letters to public officials. Sign up
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Order of Service inserts
Educational half-page inserts can be included in the Order of Service for Sunday morning worship services or placed with Social Justice information.
Community Resources
The Economic Justice and Homelessness Task Force shares a handout titled "If you or Someone You know Needs Help." This half-page handout lists community resources that homeless people might find useful. There is one version for Chicago and one for the suburbs.
Home and Hope Booster Grant
The Economic Justice and Homelessness Task Force has arranged a grant to be available for congregational social justice programs who are working with homelessness, either through their own program or in cocoperation with a community program. Members of the various Chicago-area Unitarian Universalist congregations agree to contribute $25 per "Home and Hope Booster Grant" call (there are three per year). The Task Force selects a recipient from applicants, sends out a "call," then gathers the money for the program. More information and an application form is in the section on "Homelessness" on the website.
Workshops
Task Forces have developed several workshops which are available for presentation at churches or community organizations. Members of the Task Forces present the workshops. Workshop topics include
Corporate Personhood
How Well is our Water Wealth?
War and the Economy
The Growing Divide
Data Bases
UUSJ maintaisn databases of Social Justice leaders of the congregations, as well as projects and processes used at Chicago Area UU churches www.uusforsocialjustice.org
To learn about opportunities for participating in Social Justice with Unitarian Universalists (UUSJ) in the Chicagoland area, go to the UUSJ website at www.uusforsocialjustice.org
Contact information:
Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice
1448 E. 52nd St. PM Box 144
Chicago, IL 60615
email
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