Social Justice

 Purpose

The UUFD Social Justice Committee envisions a world community with peace, liberty and justice for all.  We promote Social Justice locally and internationally through

 Meeting Schedule

We generally meet from Noon until 1 PM on the 3rd Sunday of each month (check event calendar above to confirm)

 Members

Our members currently number 35, over a third of the UUFD membership.  Several members belong to other churches.  We continually seek new members and collaboration with other organizations leverage our impact.  Committee Co-Chairs are Maureen Maliszewski (maliszewskimaureen@yahoo.com) and Karen Roberts (lotusasana@yahoo.com).

 Current Priorities/Needs

  • Compassionate Comprehensive Immigration Reform
  • Reproductive Justice
  • GLBT issues
  • Drone Warfare 
  • Economic Justice
  • Economic support and development

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ELECTIONS 2012.... UUFD GETS OUT THE VOTE

“Registering people to vote lets people know that they matter to us.  This is an act of faith”  (http://www.uua.org.liberty/electionreform/118480.shtml).

The UUFD Social Justice Committee received a grant from the Unitarian Universalist Association to “Get-Out-the-Vote” for the 2012 elections. Our goal was to have volunteers from UUFD and the minority community to work together to register, educate and mobilize voters in local minority communities.  Through the $1000 grant and local donations totaling $500, we were able to provide $500 stipends to three low income individuals who each volunteered at least 60 hours.

Fifteen volunteers from UUFD and many volunteers from the community worked together to register at least 212 voters. We knocked on 245 doors in Ignacio, to notify people who had been taken off the active voter registration list.  For people who were at home, we were able to register them on the spot or give them a website so they could register online. If people were not at home, we left information for them on how to activate their registration.  We also called 70 “inactive” Ignacio residents by phone.

Volunteers also worked with our partner, CIRC (Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition) who had 41 tabling events for voter registration, educational forums in the community and phone banks to encourage people to get to the polls.

Besides the actual work we did, we got to know each other and our neighbors better.  And, we have learned lessons that will help us be even more effective in the next elections.  Again, thanks for the great work.  You have made a difference.

Maureen Maliszewski

Chair, UUFD Social Justice Committee