Social Justice

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" height=3 BGCOLOR="#CC9900" TEXT="#080000"> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=477 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <div> <B> </B></div> <div> <B>SOCIAL JUSTICE</B></div> <div> <B>September 2006</B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>2006 RESPONSIVE RESOLUTION FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2006 ON ANTI-RACIAM AND CLASSISM</B></div> <div> UU Congregational Leaders:</div> <div> In my role as a member of the Board of Trustees and Secretary of the UUA, I am writing to notify congregational ministers and leadership of a resolution passed on June 25, 2006, by the delegates at the General Assembly in St. Louis. The text of this resolution is the following: </div> <div> "Resolved, that the Delegates to General Assembly are charged to work with their congregations to hold at least one program over the next year to address racism or classism, and to report on that program at next year's General Assembly." </div> <div> The bylaws of the UUA (<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Verdana" ><U> http://www.uua.org/administration/bylaws.html#section4.16.</U></FONT>) provide for responsive resolutions in response to a substantive portion of a report delivered at the GA either by an officer of the Association or a committee. The resolution above was moved and passed in response to reports presented by officers at the 2006 GA and the report of the Special Review Commission appointed by the UUA President and Moderator to review the events surrounding the 2005 General Assembly in Fort Worth, Texas ( <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Verdana" ><U>http://www.uua.org/TRUS/apr06/D2a-src.pdf</U></FONT>). Both the relevant 2006 officers' reports and the Special Review Commission report concerned events at the General Assemblies that affected Unitarian Universalist communities of color, especially youth of color. </div> <div> Some of our member congregations have done significant work on issues of racism, classism, and multiculturalism using resources provided by both the UUA and other sources of expertise. If your congregation has done such work, this resolution provides an opportunity to share your efforts and accomplishments with other congregations in your cluster or district so they can benefit from your experience. Resources and suggestions for programs provided by the UUA can be found at <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Verdana" ><U>http://www.uua.org/actions/responsive/06racism/ </U></FONT>.</div> <div> This resolution was not on the GA agenda. It was written by a GA delegate, offered as a responsive resolution, and overwhelmingly supported by the delegates from over 600 UU congregations. I urge you to use this resolution as an opportunity to reflect on how your congregation is engaging with the issues of anti-racism, anti-oppression, and multiculturalism. When delegates representing our congregations gather at 2007 General Assembly in Portland, Oregon, we will have an opportunity to share our experiences in congregationally-based programs on issues of racism and classism. </div> <div> As we approach the first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, we are reminded that racism and classism remain problems in our society that we, as people of faith, are called to address. Our experiences together in community show that we have much work to do to live our UU principles more fully. </div> <div> In Faith,</div> <div> Paul Rickter</div> <div> UUA Secretary</div> <bR> <div> <B>May 2006</B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>VETERANS' ASSISTANCE PROJECT OF THE SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE</B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="63107d40.jpg" border=0 width="263" height="212" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="10" VSPACE="10">As one of the two projects to come out of the UU Social Justice Weekend last fall, the Veterans' Assistance Project has as its goal the provision of support in the way of material goods and services to veterans of limited income. We are doing this by providing transportation to and from the Charleston VA Medical Center for low income Low Country veterans in need of specialty care, such as chemotherapy, dialysis and consultations done only at the main VA centers. Sarah and Rich Lucas, Mike McDonell and Suellen Manning each drive the van one day a month round trip from Savannah to Charleston.</div> <div> Additionally, we four volunteered at the 7<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Verdana" >th</FONT> annual Stand Down Against Homelessness at the North Charleston Armory on April 7<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Verdana" >th</FONT> and 8<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Verdana" >th</FONT>. Sponsored by the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center and Goodwill Industries of Lower South Carolina, a “stand down” is a military term meaning “to cease normal activities and be at rest”. During these 2 days homeless people in the Charleston area are encouraged to “take a break”, come to the Armory, hang out, socialize, eat hamburgers, stock up on necessities and enjoy the friendly atmosphere, as well as to avail themselves of the help offered by different organizations. While <IMG SRC="633eaa50.jpg" border=0 width="234" height="165" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="10" VSPACE="10">many services were geared toward veterans, anyone in need of assistance was welcomed. During the 2 day event, over 200 volunteers assisted more than 2,000 people with medical screenings, job and legal counseling, showers, haircuts, assistance with VA benefits and clothing donations. Volunteers served breakfast and lunch both days, and guided the homeless through several tents behind the armory filled with shoes and boots, undergarments, coats, shirts, pants, sleeping bags, duffel bags and blankets. Toiletries such as soap, shampoo, toothpaste and brushes, as well as playing cards and TicTacs were bagged and given out. Representatives from Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous were on hand as well. </div> <div> "Over the last decade, the VA has made a concerted effort not only to provide services, but to reach out to homeless veterans. It is now in the business of helping to improve its patients' lives, not just attending to their physical well-being”, according to Dr. Florence Hutchinson, acting director of the VA Medical Center.</div> <div> There will be another Stand Down in October and anyone wanting to contribute money, goods or time is welcome to call one of us for details.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>