Minneapolis UUs Focus on Religious Communities Making Social Change

Minneapolis young adults gather together following a successful voter registration drive

Panelists included Pastor Paul Robinson, President, Metro Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing; Sumbal Mahmud, lay leader, Islamic Center of Minnesota (ICM); Peter Nikitas , civil liberties attorney and activist, Jewish Community Action; and Pablo Tapia, Latino leader of ISAIAH, a regional faith-based social change organization. Panelists shared examples of powerful social change work in an interfaith setting.

All of the panelists shared their hope that faithful people can work in coalition and move out of their own particular bias on an issue toward a position where thoughts, hopes and fears can be shared. Rev. Sinkford discussed his hope that we will be able to stand in solidarity with one another, moving past our attachment to our own issues and individualism. He urged UUs to religiously ground their justice work not only in UU principles, but in a deeper faith. Sinkford said that a key priority is to engage citizens in our democracy as our country moves toward a time of faithful decision-making with our upcoming elections.

In a companion event, nearly 150 new voters were registered as part of a Metro UUs Get Out The Vote event held on Saturday, September 18 with President Sinkford in attendance. Organized and led by the Minneapolis Metro UU Social Justice Alliance's Youth & Young Adult Leadership Team, Rev. Sinkford and Rev. Rob Eller-Isaacs, co-minister of Unity Church, Unitarian launched the rally with inspiration and a call to engage the disenfranchised. “Having all voices at the table offers our best hope for saving our democracy and shaping a new direction in this country,” said Sinkford.

Participants felt that call as they knocked on doors or asked, “Are you registered?” in front of grocery stores and other high traffic areas of North and South Minneapolis, and Midway in St. Paul. Every team worked with a customized map, a script, and helpful resource materials.

In the closing celebration and reflection, UUs shared their experiences. Ray West of Unity Church Unitarian in St. Paul said, “I couldn't believe how grateful people were just to be asked to vote.” “I had the honor of registering a 55-year old Hispanic man,” said Dawn Cooley of First Unitarian Society in Minneapolis. “He couldn't speak English, but with a little help from his kids, he realized that he had everything he needed. With great pride, he pulled his Social Security card from his pocket and recorded the numbers on the registration card!” The effort resulted in 310 people registered and empowered and 135 UUs proud to have engaged them.

Further Information:
For more information on Unitarian Universalist involvement in voter registration activities go to Election 2004: A Call to Action.

For assistance with voter education and Get Out the Vote activities, contact Sarah Craft in the UUA Washington Office for Advocacy.

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