UUFCC Justice Cluster
Four committees constitute the UUFCC Justice Cluster – the Racial Justice Committee, the Green Sanctuary Committee, the Social Action Committee, and UUJusticePA. The committees collaborate on activities and with the Religious Education (RE) Program. Our goal is “Being a forerunner in the community and beyond for social, racial, and environmental/climate justice, based on UU principles, and to develop a coordinated effort of UUFCC members and friends and partnerships with other congregations and organizations.” For more information, contact Eileen Senn at eileensenn@gmail.com.
Racial Justice Committee
The Racial Justice Committee coordinates efforts to create a more racially just community within the UUFCC, the Centre County region, and beyond. We approach this work through education and activism. Members of the committee provide educational opportunities for UUFCC members and serve as liaisons between the UUFCC and activist racial justice organizations and events outside of the UUFCC.
The Racial Justice Committee provides educational opportunities for UUFCC members, keeps the congregation informed about racial justice issues and actions, organizes the congregation for action on racial justice issues, and leads efforts to make UUFCC’s perspective public. Our members also serve on racial justice organizations outside of the UUFCC.
Meetings are the third Wednesday of each month at 5:30 p.m.
For more information, contact Suzanne Weinstein at sweinstein56@gmail.com or call the office at 814-237-7605.
Green Sanctuary Committee
This committee is charged with calling attention to and actively engaging the UFFCC with the interconnectedness of all life, calling specific attention to the connections among people and the planet.
The UUFCC is a fully accredited Green Sanctuary congregation:
- Accreditation is a formal recognition of our service and dedication to the Earth, grounded in Unitarian Universalism.
- Accreditation work began in 2014 and was completed in 2018
- Read the Accreditation Application
Our purpose is to study, reflect, and act on environmental challenges via:
- Environmental justice and ethics within and beyond our fellowship
- Worship and celebration
- Education and informal learning opportunities for families and individuals
- Sustainable practices in our fellowship, families, and communities.
For more information on Green Sanctuary or to get involved, come to a GS meeting.
Meetings are the first Sunday of each month (when in person) at 11:30 a.m. in Room 2.
Meetings are the first Sunday of each month (when on Zoom) at 12:30 p.m. during the pandemic.
For more information, contact Troy Frank at troyfrank@gmail.com.
For events and resources, go to https://archive.uufcc.com/social-justice/green-sanctuary/
Social Action Committee
For Unitarian Universalists, social justice means taking action. Our Social Action Committee participates in an array of social action efforts in order to lift up and contribute to our communities locally, nationally and internationally.
We welcome more participants to continue to move forward as we celebrate new initiatives!
The SA committee prepares ballots for the midterm and annual meetings to select the First Sunday plate charities. Everyone may nominate an organization, and 12 are selected by the committee for the ballot. We prefer 501c3 charities in good standing.
Two Sunday plate collections are dedicated, one to the Youth Group in the spring and another to UUJusticePA in the fall. The RE children, with guidance from the Youth Group, choose their own charity.
Sue Smith and Peg Dobrinska serve as Board members of Interfaith Human Services of which UUFCC is a long-standing member. Information about IHS can be found here: https://www.interfaithhumanservices.org/. We participate in the annual bell ringing at Meyer Dairy which raises money for the emergency relief fund in of IHS Centre County.
We have ongoing relationships with Habitat for Humanity Out of the Cold, Park Forest Nursery School, and the local chapter of the Prison Society.
Meetings are the third Sunday of the month at 11:30 a.m. in the UUFCC Library. We meet to learn from each other, plan ahead, and touch base with the leaders of our current projects. All friends and members are welcome to attend. Contact Sue Smith at suesmith1288@gmail.com or Peg Dobrinska at mdobrinska413@comcast.net for more information.
UUJusticePA
View an inspiring one-minute video about UUJusticePA at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX2gI_9PJ6I
The Trump administration demonstrated that anger can motivate a lot of people to become politically active. Putting that anger into action can create change. All across the U.S. new candidates emerged, particularly women, and many were successful. In Pa. we may have a Supreme Court that will support an end to gerrymandering. We need to keep pressure on our legislators to do what’s needed to protect our democracy.
In 2020, UU the Vote played a role in the largest voter turnout in Pa. history. More than 40 UUFCC members helped with that effort. https://www.uuthevote.org/
UUFCC is an active member of UUJusticePA (https://uujusticepa.org/), the statewide UU Pennsylvania Legislative Advocacy Network that supports legislative action on a variety of justice issues. The current political trends in Pa. are directly threatening to UU values regarding the rights and dignity of individuals, the democratic process, caring for our environment, and the rights of women and people of color.
We have chosen to advocate for justice on six key issues:
- Economic Justice (Ken Riznyk)
- Environmental Justice (David Roberts)
- Criminal Justice Reform (Peg Dobrinska)
- Preventing Gun Violence in PA (open)
- Reproductive Justice (open)
- Good Governance (Peg Dobrinska)
Each justice task force meets monthly on zoom with UU’s and like-minded friends across Pa. to learn and to strategize. We lobby our legislators, form letter writing campaigns, make phone calls. We attend rallies in our home communities and in Harrisburg to present our ideas based on our UU values.
Many people do not actively participate in politics and many are “persuadable.” We teach techniques to have constructive conversations with potential voters and people with influence. We have more in common if we base our discussions on our values.
UUJusticePA is also aligned with many other advocacy groups. We are not alone in our efforts to create a more just world. We may never see the fruits of our work but it is our turn to continue to inch forward as painfully slow as that may be.
Do you know about Faithify?
Faithify is the crowdfunding resource for all Unitarian Universalists. Faithify not only helps you raise money and fund great ideas, it helps you tell your story. Check the https://faithify.org/website from time to time and assist other UU’s in realizing their dreams. If you want to start your own Faithify fundraising campaign, check with Peg or Ken for some fundraising strategies.
Do you know about the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee?
The UU Service Committee (UUSC) is a non-profit, non-sectarian organization advancing human rights together with an international community of grassroots partners and activists. We focus our work on intersecting roots of injustice to defend rights at risk due to criminalization and systemic oppression of people based on their identity. We support self-determination and defend the rights of people displaced due to climate, conflict, or economic hardships. We respond to humanitarian crises as partners with people whose access to aid is most limited. Go to the https://www.uusc.org/website to learn more, become a member, or make a tax-deductible donation.