Social Justice

Social Justice Bugle

Social Justice (SJ) is an every day thing here with the congregants of UUCD but we especially honor it on the second week of the month.

• Wednesday, November 9 -the Social Justice Committee at 7 pm at CBS. Please come to a meeting to see how you can get involved. We are working on our plans to serve the Men’s Shelter during the Holiday week and beyond. Support our new chair, Mark Jarrell.
• Sunday, November 13- Social Justice Sunday.
1. Bring your used books and magazines to recycle with others.　
2. Kevin and Christine Coleman are the dedicated SJ religious education teachers. Ask them if you can help them on a SJ Sunday. Kevin has had a very recent surgery- he probably needs a replacement teacher. How about you? Email childrensre@uucd.org
3. On Social Justice Sunday, we give the collection plate to a pre-chosen charity. November’s charity:

U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program – You can bring in new unwrapped toys on Sunday or just bring cash or money (we will cut them a check) to buy toys. The mission is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the local community.

Walt Disney originally designed the iconic "toy train" icon in 1948, during the second year of the annual Marine Corps Reserve "Toys for Tots" drive.

Ever since then, every autumn, big boxes with red toy trains appear here and there around every town in the country to collect toys that are then distributed to needy children who may not get anything for Christmas otherwise. The Marines pass out the toys to children based on need regardless of any other factor in the immediate area where the gifts are given, which means toys donated in Kent County probably stay in Kent County (except in the unusual instance where more are donated than are needed).

The early requests already surpassed last year's numbers. The problem is filling the requests.

The goal is for every child on the list to get "three toys" for Christmas. That number isn't set in stone; if one of the gifts is unusually large, they may get it and a 'stocking stuffer' type item, or if they have a lot of smaller toys, they may get several of them. But that's the target. And, you know Marines, they always aim at the target.

UUCD has been receiving thank you notes from the charities to which we have donated. They are in the Board notebook binder behind the Board minutes. So take some time to read them and see the good cheer that we are passing on.

Dover Men’s Interfaith Shelter (DIMH).

Please come to the SJ Committee Meeting on Wednesday, November 9 at 7. We will be discussing the roll out of our plan for volunteers for our annual turn at DIMH which is the holiday week. Remember if you have ideas for good, tasty inexpensive meals that can feed an army please send to contact@uucd.org.

Molly Keogh is UUCD’s tireless representative on the DIMH board. You can find her there most Thursdays as she is volunteering her services in the field from which she retired, social work and counseling. When you see Molly, please give her a big thank you and maybe buy a raffle ticket.

Quilt Raffle:　 DIMH Volunteer Gerrie Willis has made a gorgeous Golden Opportunities quilt.　 You can buy tickets from Molly Keogh for $5.　 The winning ticket will be drawn at the shelter on December 15.

SHELTER NEEDS: While food is essential to our shelter guests, there are a few other critical needs: boxer shorts, sizes 34 to 38, as are sweatpants in sizes M, L, and XL.

If anyone has a very large (size 4X) dark blue polo shirt, that would also be much appreciated. Used items are fine!

Update:

Interns from Del State and Del Tech continue to help "our guys" find jobs in these tough times.　 Of the 62 guests at the shelter during July, August, and September, 30 had regular employment.　 24 men moved into private housing, and five were successful in obtaining disability income. All are trying to find work.　 Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Grants

A City of Dover block grant will cover utilities and other building expense costs for the year ahead.　 Some of the Delaware State Housing Authority Emergency Shelter Grant funds will also come to DIMH for the coming year.　 These will also cover utility and shelter costs.　 The state Office of Community Services provided a small grant beginning October 1 to assist with essential staffing costs.　 We have only three paid part-time staff, including caseworker Cathi and two alternating night supervisors.

A note from Cathi, the paid caseworker and volunteer extraordinaire:

A student from Wilmington College, who is writing a paper for one of her classes, came to observe and help serve dinner. She visited with some of the men after which she came and asked me if she could come back later to be a volunteer. I welcomed her idea and asked her if the shelter was anything like what she expected? NOT AT ALL was her immediate reply. Like most people, she had this "stereotype" idea. Her whole idea of homeless has changed. She thought she would be nervous but instead felt very comfortable and thought it to be a very warm and loving atmosphere--"like a family". During prayer time she said, "I felt like crying, the men are so grateful and appreciative of all you do for them-- the reason behind the empty chair is really touching. I had an awesome time and thank you for letting me be here. Your shelter has really opened my eyes".

http://doverinterfaithmission.org and click on VIDEO on the left. A professional filmmaker did this very short film

The Unitarian-Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) advances human rights and social justice in the United States and around the world. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the seven Unitarian Universalist principles that affirm the worth, dignity, guide the mission, vision, and human rights of every person. For more information, please go to http://www.uusc.org/

 

UUSC is a very involved committee and hear are some highlights of what they are working on:

1. Civil liberties are human rights Civil liberties are the universal rights and freedoms that protect individuals from abuse by government power. UUSC collaborates with civil liberties organizations and civil society groups working to defend freedom and rights by strengthening individual liberty and democratic processes.
2. Economic Justice- Note blue below are hyperlinks.
• Supporting Workers' Rights
• Advancing the Fair Wage Movement
• Promoting Fair Trade
1. Environmental Justice- Note blue below are hyperlinks.
• Human Right to Water
• Water and Climate Change
• Shareholder Advocacy and Corporate Accountability
1. Human Rights Day (December 10). Work to Prevent Torture Everywhere. Join with the National Religious Campaign against Torture (NRCAT), the Torture Abolition and Survivor Support Coalition (TASSC), UUSC, and Unitarian Universalist congregations. A variety of resources are available: Download postcards, worship materials, videos, and discussion guides you can use to take action and share with your congregation.
2. Rights in humanitarian crises — What does it mean? In disasters and wars, people are not all affected in the same way. Their race, gender, class, religion, political beliefs, ethnicity, and immigration status all deeply influence how they will access the aid provided and whether they will be able to rebuild their lives the way they were.

The UUCD weekly e-news plus a special blast to UUCD members has kept you informed to a small degree on the Occupy movement and UU’s across the nation. Here is another clip.

UUA Board listens & learns at Occupy Boston.

Date of Publication: Monday, October 31, 2011 Media Organization: UU World Magazine-Online

http://www.uuworld.org/news/articles/189546.shtml

File download: UUWorld-UUAboardatOccupyBoston-20111031.pdf

An excerpt:

The trustees of the Unitarian Universalist Association paused from their board work on Saturday, Oct. 22, to visit Occupy Boston, part of a grassroots economic justice movement that is drawing the support of an increasing number of Unitarian Universalists.

In bright yellow "Standing on the Side of Love" T-shirts and sweatshirts, members of the board walked and taxied from the UUA headquarters to the Occupy site in

Dewey Square Park in Boston's Financial District. As they assembled, the Rev. Jake Morrill, trustee from the Southeast District and minister of the Oak Ridge, Tenn., UU Church said, "We are going to listen, learn, and love."

Go to our Facebook page on the website or use this hyperlink if you have not already done so.

"Open Letter of Support for the Occupy Movement" created by the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee. That is by far the largest response the UUSC has ever had to an electronic action, according to Dick Campbell, UUSC spokesman. The letter states in part: "My recognition of the inherent worth of every person compels me to speak out against policies that privilege the demands of corporations over the human rights of people. I support the Occupy movement in its affirmation that protecting workers' rights and ensuring that basic human needs are met must take precedence. All people have a fundamental right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of themselves and their families."

　

Standing on the Side of Love is a public advocacy campaign that seeks to harness love’s power to stop oppression. It is sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Association.

In public debates over immigration, LGBT rights, and more, religious people stand on the side of love and call for respect, inclusion, and compassion.

Through community activism, social networking, and media outreach, people across the nation are equipped to counter fear and make love real in the world.

History: "Standing on the side of love," emerged as a rallying point for people of faith in Massachusetts during their early efforts for fully inclusive marriage, and later during the fight against Proposition 8 in California.

The Standing on the Side of Love Campaign was inspired by the 2008 shooting at Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, which was targeted because they are welcoming to LGBT people and have a liberal stance on many issues.

The Knoxville Community responded with an outpouring of love that inspired the leadership at the Unitarian Universalist Association to launch a campaign that would harness love’s power to challenging exclusion, oppression and violence based on sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, race, religion, or any other identity. Sign up for emails at http://www.standingonthesideoflove.org.

Sunday, November 20th, the Universal Day for Children　

Make a difference in child's life by supporting the UU-UNO's Every Child is our Child (ECOC) Program which funds the education of orphans and vulnerable children in the region of Ghana with the highest HIV/AIDS rate. The ECOC program directly contributes to the United Nations　Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of achieving universal primary education, promoting gender equality and combating HIV/AIDS. For further information on the ECOC Project, visit the UU-UNO's website: http://www.uu-uno.org/what-we-do/ecoc/

• November 25th, 2011 - International Day for the Eliminate of Violence against Women (Sunday, Nov. 20)
• December 10th, 2011 - Human Rights Day (Sunday, Dec. 10) The UU-UNO will be hosting a Youth Conference (or con) in the New York Metro

UU-UNO Updates:

• Since 2009, the UU-UNO has lead a coalition of progressive faith leaders to counter fundamentalist ministers and politicians inflaming homophobic hatred in Uganda. On October 11-12, 2011, 91 faith, secular, academic and media leaders met to construct efforts to end global homophobia and end punitive laws which deprive gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people of employment, education, housing, dignity and of life itself. To Read Executive Director Bruce Knott's take on the conference click HERE and to read News coverage of this event click HERE
• As part of the Climate Change Working Group UU-UNO is leading a social media program, opening their doors to the world and encouraging people to lend their voices to United Nations.
• District December 9th-11th.　 The First Unitarian Universalist Congregational Society of Brooklyn has graciously offered to host this event.

Editor Note:

Craig and Alta Porterfield’s daughter, Aleine Porterfield is one of a team of lawyers who is volunteering their services to the UN Human Rights Council (UU-UNO Exec. Dir. Bruce Knotts is the chair) to document and identify human rights violations. She is working directly with the International Criminal Court and the UN Human Rights Council. (Aleine had volunteered with the UU-UNO during her college years and helped draft a resolution for the UN 2001 summit on children).

　

Please send comments, articles for The Bugle to news@uucd.org or see Alta Porterfield.

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Good-to-know Web sites:

Unitarian Universalist Service Committee uusc.org

Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice uusj.org

Unitarian Universalists—United Nations Office uu-uno.org

Interfaith Power & Light "A Religious Response to Global Warming"