Social Action is made up of 5 subcommittees: Green Sanctuary, Community Outreach, Welcoming Congregation, (LGBT Rights), UUSC (international issues) and the Social Justice Network (Michigan issues). In addition to serving the subcommittees, Social Action acts as a resource for anyone interested in individual projects or for those who want ideas on how to get involved. The Social Action Committee of uuFarmington typically takes on a monthly service project in addition to ongoing programs. We envision a world free from oppression and injustice, where all can realize their full human rights.
MISSION
The UUCF Social Action Committee’s mission is to promote social justice, equality and compassion among all members of society by participating in local community service, embracing diversity, and supporting worldwide causes.
- Social Justice: We work with other religious congregations, civic, labor and social service organizations and all groups that are seeking to build a more peaceful, just and caring society.
- Service Committees: We foster and support partner relationships with other Unitarian Universalist councils, congregations, orphanages, schools and students worldwide where partnering is sought and welcomed.
- Welcoming Congregation: We celebrate and support the lives, relationships, religious quests, and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, and their families and friends. We are committed to conducting outreach efforts in the LGBT community by promoting the congregation’s welcoming presence in the larger community.
- Outreach: We encourage all church members to be engaged, through their deeds and generosity, in issues of local, national and global concern. We develop and facilitate outreach plans / projects / events in areas of particular interest to our congregation and friends. We provide a forum for a wide range of ideas on issues of concern. We ask church members and friends to actively participate in programs on important social issues.
For more information, contact the chair, Gloria Tweadey at gtweadey@gmail.com
Oakland County Volunteerism
- Volunteer at Gleaners Food Bank packaging and delivering food to homeless shelters and schools
- Meals on Wheels bag collection.
- Provide, prepare and serve dinner at the Ruth Ellis shelter for GBLT youth.
- Support Birmingham Unitarian Church, which supports the South Oakland Shelter, by sheltering and feeding approximately 35 homeless guests
- Volunteering at Barnes and Noble so that 10-20% of proceeds will go to Lost Voices, a program that helps incarcerated youth
- Provide, prepare and serve meals at the Quest to Make a Change (QTMC) homeless shelter in Pontiac Michigan
- Participated in Crop Walk to earn money to provide aid to those in need in our immediate and world community.
- Constructed a deck, brick walkway & fence at the Rebuilding Together home of a handicapped woman. In addition, power washed a deck, did landscaping, repaired fencing and relocated a storage shed.
Political Action and Letter Writing Campaigns
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Participated in letter writing and phone calling campaign to support Microcredit and GAVI.
- Participate in a letter writing campaign about relevant political issues in collaboration with Results.
- Visited Lansing and lobbied on the anti-bullying law meeting with Representative Richard LeBlanc, Rep. Vicki Barnett, Sen. Glenn and Anderson
Metro Detroit Charitable Collections
- Guest at Your Table, an annual campaign which fosters understanding and awareness of UUSC’s human-rights work.
- Lighthouse homeless shelter collection of clothes and other household goods
- Collection to support a Handicapped Children’s Russian Orphanage.
- Collected new and serviceable books that were sent to Afghanistan to promote literacy of Afghan Children
Oakland County Church and Community Clean Up
- MDOT trash pick -up on I-696.
- Collaborate with the Building and Grounds to organize and participate in “Fall in and Volunteer” to refurbish and refresh the building and grounds around UUCF.
- Signed up over 50 volunteers to work on the Rebuilding Together Project.
Social Action Discussions:
- Presented an Earth Day Service with Guest Speaker
- Book discussion, Gay Marriage, Real Life.
- Attended MUUSJN Conference, ”Standing on the Side of Love for Immigration Reform & LGBT Justice”.