Get Connected to UU & Interfaith Initiatives For Social Justice....

Susan Leslie, Director
Office for Congregational Advocacy and Witness
UUA, Boston, MA

The UUA Office for Congregational Advocacy and Witness and the UUA Washington Office for Advocacy can connect you to national and international social-justice efforts and support your efforts to strengthen congregational social-justice programs. Through our partnerships with UU congregations and interfaith allies, we are increasing the collective UU and interfaith voice in the public-policy arena. We promote UU and interfaith social-justice campaigns and actions with special attention to progressive family values, issues involving separation of church and state, civil liberties, civil rights, and racial justice. We provide a variety of resources to social-action committee members, ministers, and others through:

Newsletters, E-Letters & E-Advocacy for news, resources, and action on a collective national level:

• A monthly Advocacy & Witness Newsletter is sent out in the UUA monthly congregational mailing. It is also posted on www.uua.org/justice.
• Weekly Advocacy-News actions alerts from the Washington Office on legislation.
• Weekly SAC –News (Social Action Chairs and others) bulletins about initiatives, resources, and congregational stories and best practices.
• Monthly JTW-News (Journey Toward Wholeness) about resources and initiatives for anti-racism and anti-oppressive social action.
• Monthly SRI-News (Socially Responsible Investing) about community investing, creating SRI congregational portfolios, shareholder advocacy, and more.
• CBCO-L (Congregation Based Community Organizing)—an interactive list for UUs involved in or considering faith-based community organizing.
• To subscribe to these lists, go to: lists.uua.org/mailman/listinfo.

Workshops:

• District Workshops on advocacy, organizing, and media. Contact social_justice@uua.org .
• Congregational Social Justice Empowerment Workshops for starting or revitalizing congregational social-justice programs. See www.uua.org/programs/justice/ep/.

Resources and Consultation:

• Visit www.uua.org/justice and www.uua.org/uuawo for resources on issues, processes, advocacy tips, organizing strategies, funding, media, and more.
• Write or call us for consultation at social_justice@uua.org .

National Networks on a Variety of Topics including:

• Freedom to Marry, democracy and election reform, comprehensive sexuality education advocacy, women's reproductive health and freedom, defense of civil liberties, and prison reform.
• Information of UU Social Justice Affiliates with networks and resources for congregations.
• See www.uua.org/programs/justice/issues.html.

Congregational Stories and Best Practices:

• Through our e-letters and our Web site, we publicize congregational success stories and best practices. See www.uua.org/programs/justice/congstories.html.
• We host a Share Your Actions Bulletin Board at www.uua.org/programs/forums/index.php?action=vtopic&forum=1.
• Each year we recognize a UU congregation's social-justice efforts with the Bennett Award for Congregational Action on Human Justice and Social Action. See www.uua.org/awards/bennett.html to read about this year's and previous award winners.

2004 Social Justice Bennett Award Winner—Berrien UU Fellowship of St. Joseph MI