Social Action and You

1. Social Action and You Opportunities to Serve Our Community and Our World A Presentation of the Social Justice Council of The Unitarian Church in Westport

2. Social Justice Council • Supports the congregation's efforts to advocate, educate, organize, serve, and witness for social justice. • Strives toestablish our church as a beacon of social justice in our community. • Focuses on programs in Bridgeport, particularly those aimed at improving the well-being of children.

3. Social Action Committees • Westbridge Coalition • Beardsley School • Global Justice • Amnesty International • Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) • Connecticut Food Bank • Green Sanctuary • Environmental Action Group • Anti-Racism • Heathcare Task Force • Youth Group

4. Social Justice Council • The SJC provides a variety of opportunities for you to be involved inSocial Justice initiatives that interest you, and fit your available time and level of interest. • We offer advocacy options about governmental administrative policy and/or legislation on social justice needs. • We provide information for members and visitors of the Church about the social justice work we are doing. • Learn about our different Committees: • What We Do, And ….. • What You Can Do!

5. Westbridge Coalition What we do: • Fifteen year history of providing volunteers. • Built our first house in partnership with Habitat for Humanity, three other Westport congregations, and Gicela Gutierez with her four children in 2003. • Expanded our Westbridge Coalition, to include 5 churches and 3 synagogues. Completed our second Habitat house in partnership with Bernadette Brown and her four children in 2005. • WB has joined with Rebuilding Together to renovate homes of people in need: elderly, physically and financially - making homes safer, warmer, and more energy efficient while saving families money.

6. Westbridge Coalition What You Can Do: • Join a UCW- Westbridge Coalition Committee: construction, family selection, telephone tree, email announcements, photography, lunches, fundraising, or to coordinate youth participation. • Attend big workday last Saturday in April. • Join other workdays throughout spring-summer ‘08. • Buy a window, door, insulation, programmable thermostat, grab rails, paint, CFL light bulbs, lumber, plumber’s or electrician’s services, etc. for Spring ’08 Fundraiser. • We have many opportunities for you to participate in ways that work for YOU. Contact Sherry Jagerson, sjagers@optonline.net

7. Beardsley School What We Do: • In 2000, the congregation of the Unitarian Church of Westport voted to adopt Beardsley Elementary School, a struggling inner-city public school in Bridgeport, as a Social Action Priority Program. • Since then, our congregation has provided a wide variety of assistance to this school, which serves children in Grades K through 6. • We’ve had a meaningful and tangible impact on the lives of children in this neighboring community, and have developed a very focused, deep, and caring connection with this adopted school and its community.

8. Beardsley School What You Can Do - VOLUNTEER: • Be a Mentor, Tutor, Reader or Book Buddy. • Run a Book Club or a Unitarian Read Aloud Day. • Give an after-school seminar on personal finance or job coaching for parents. • Host or organize social activities that bring school staff and volunteers together. • Organize a special after-school activity for a subject, activity or sport for which you have a passion. • Be a Principal For-A-Day, help build a new playground, or make a child’s Christmas complete. The time commitment varies but we can help you find one that works for you! ContactMary Beth Mollica, MBMollica@aol.com or 557 3247

9. Beardsley School What You Can Do - GIVE: • School supplies and necessities at our Angel Tree. • Backpacks, winter coats, umbrellas, a picnic bench, a garden bench, scholarships for summer school, computers and writing achievement awards. • Scholarships for after-school programs & summer basketball camp. • Funding for anti-violence training for teachers, staff and students. • Donations to meet student, teacher and family needs. • Emergency aid to families and staff in need. • Santa letter responses at Christmas. • Class trips to professional theaters. ContactMary Beth Mollica, MBMollica@aol.com or 557 3247

10. The Global Justice Committee • UU – United Nations Office • Microfinance • Drumbeat for Darfur (a UUSC program) • Every Child is our Child

11. UU-UNOUnitarian Universalist - United Nations Office What We Do: • Promote the goal of a world community with peace, liberty and justice for all, as reflected in the UN Charter. • Encourage congregational participation in projects to support the programs of the UN and the Millennium Development Goals. • Have a voice in global affairs and UN activities, and provide education about how the UN operates.

12. UU-UNO What You Can Do: • Become a member of the UU-UNO and: • Receive the newsletter about our activities. • Attend presentations to NGOs (non-governmental organizations such as the UU-UNO) at the UN. • Support the furthering of our views and values at the UN. • Attend the Intergenerational Seminar each April. • Some from our Youth Group attended the 2007 focusing on Modern Day Slavery. • The 2008 seminar is on “Building a Culture of Peace.” • Support Every Child is Our Child Contact David Vita, david@uuwestport.org or 227-7205 x14

13. Microfinance How it works: • Small loans to extremely poor working women, to help them: • Build small businesses • Break the cycle of poverty • Educate their children • Reinforce their personal dignity. • UU Westport has raised $16,000 and established 4 village banks in Tajikistan. Our donations provide loans to poor working women.

14. Microfinance What you can do: • Learn and share the microfinance message with our youth and community. • Join with other Unitarian congregations in making long-term investments in microfinance. Contact Rosemary Ratcliff, rhratcliff@hotmail.com or Dan McGovern, danmcgovern@sbcglobal.net

15. Drumbeat for Darfur What’s Happening: • The Sudan Government supports armed militias – the “Janjaweed” – that have murdered up to 400,000 people and who terrorize villages in rural Sudan. • More than 500,000 people have fled to neighboring countries and over 6 million have been internally displaced. • Refugees suffer severe hardship & physical risks. • China and other governments have impeded UN action against the Sudan regime.

16. Drumbeat for Darfur What You Can Do: • Participate in demonstrations, rallies, and “teach-in’s” on Darfur. Join the “Save Darfur” coalition. • Contact U.S. and state legislators to demand action: * mandatory UN peace-keeping forces in Darfur, * divest state funds from companies who work with the Sudanese regime. • Raise funds for “Solar Cookers” to provide safe food preparation in the refugee camps. • only $15.00 for one cooker. Contact Denise McConnell, dscvrydd@aol.com

17. Every Child is Our Child What We Do: • Provide education for children who have lost one or both parents to AIDS in Eastern Ghana through a UU-UNO partnership with a local, traditional, community organization - the Queen Mothers Association. • $80 pays for a year’s education, and $800 provides a complete 10 year basic education for a child. Students and their foster families receive free health care as part of the program. What You Can Do: • In Jan 2008 in partnership with our own children, we will begin fundraising and initiate a relationship between our kids and the theQueen Mothers School. Join Us! Contact Stephen Axthelm, saxthelm@optonline.net or 917 602-7844

18. Amnesty International What We Do: • We areworld’s largest grassroots human rights organization, uncovering human rights abuses, freeing prisoners of conscience - those imprisoned for their beliefs, color, ethnic origin, gender, religion or language - provided they have not used or advocated violence, working to abolish torture, secure fair and prompt trials for political prisoners and abolish the death penalty. • AI’s “Urgent Action” program, sends telegrams, e-mails and faxes within hours after the International Secretariat in London issues a call to help those threatened with torture, execution or other human rights abuse. • AI’s Death Penalty Network works to bring about a moratorium on executions in the US and abroad.

19. Amnesty International • What You Can Do: • Write letters each month to government officials on behalf of prisoners of conscience and to protest human rights violations. • Participate in Human Rights Day each year - sending holiday “cards of hope” to prisoners of conscience. • Participate in campaigns that deal with immigrant children held indefinitely in detention centers, racial profiling, and to halt violence against women world-wide. • Attend meeting on the fourth Monday of every month at the Saugatuck Congregational Church in Westport. Contact Dorothy Rich, dorothyrich@sbcglobal.net, call 803-0438 or go to www.aiusa.org

20. UUSCThe Unitarian Universalist Service Committee Founded to help rescue victims of Nazi oppression in Germany, the UUSChas been a powerful voice for human rights since 1939. What We Do: • Work for human rights and social justice through partnerships with grassroots organizations in the US and abroad. • Work to protect civil liberties and democratic processes. • Defend the rights of vulnerable people affected by disasters. • Protect the right to safe, affordable water. • Work to defend and advance worker’s rights, including the right to a living wage.

21. UUSCThe Unitarian Universalist Service Committee What You Can Do: • Support the activities of UUSC through participation in the annual “Guest at Your Table” fundraiser coinciding with the Thanksgiving and Christmas/Chanukah holiday season each year. • Get more information on UUSC, the programs it supports, and actions you can take to support human rights. • Take a trip to New Orleans with the Youth group this spring will be to participate in a UUSC "JustWorks" camp. • Join the UUSC Contact Dorothy Rich, dorothyrich@sbcglobal.net, call 803-0438 or visit: www.uusc.org

22. Connecticut Food Bank What We Do: • We are a private, non-profit organization whose mission is to alleviate hunger. • In Connecticut 8.6% of households are hungry or food insecure. • 75% of households that receive emergency food assistance here live below the poverty line. • The CFB works with corporations and community organizations including our church to solicit, transport, warehouse and distribute donated food. What You Can Do: • On the second Sunday of each month bring food, toiletries, etc. Contact David Vita, david@uuwestport.org or 227-7205 x14

23. Green Sanctuary Committee What we do: • Work to bring the church’s worship and operational practices in line with our commitment to the earth. • Oversee efforts to gain accreditation as a Certified Green Sanctuary Congregation. What you can do: • Attend monthly meetings to decide on steps toward accreditation. • Work on projects to make our buildings and grounds self-sustainable. • Assist in promoting energy-saving initiatives, from light bulb sales, recycling, to clean energy options. Contact Monique Bosch, moniqueb@optonline.net or call 221-1829

24. Environmental Action Group What we do: • Operate in the larger community with a focus on education, regional environmental policy and cooperative ventures with other organizations. What you can do: • Act as a liaison with other environmental organizations in the community. • Plan and execute environmental education programs for children and adults. • Attend monthly meetings to determine how to best affect change in our community. Contact Monique Bosch, moniqueb@optonline.net or call 221-1829

25. Anti-Racism What We Do: • The Anti-Racism Committee reads, talks, and plans steps on our path to becoming an anti-racist congregation. • We help plan and take part in Martin Luther King Sunday. • We attend workshops on Anti-Racism and plan to bring one here. • Individually and collectively we raise awareness. What You Can Do: • Come to our meetings – we’re open and friendly. • Help coordinate our efforts against racism with other groups. Contact Catherine Onyemelukwe, conyemelukwe@gmail.com or 222-0630

26. Healthcare Task Force What We Do: • Educate people in our community about the current state of health care in Connecticut, and in the US. • Examine the possibilities available to us as a voting public. • Stand for the rights of individuals to have access to affordable, quality health care. • Our GOAL is Universal Health Care in Connecticut: Health Care for all. What You Can Do: • Attend monthly meetings (4rd Monday of month) to discuss current health care issues, plan educational community events (e.g. films, etc.), invite speakers & legislators, voice our opinions to legislators, and build a voting bloc. Contact Andy Wittenstein, awitt@optonline.net, 247-4103

27. Our Youth and the SJC What We Do: • The Religious Education program at The Unitarian Church in Westport has a tradition of supporting social justices initiatives in our community and beyond including: • Habitat for Humanity: work on site and in the warehouse • Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition: selling New Year’s luminaries • Beardsley School: Yearly gently used book collection, grounds clean up • Green Sanctuary: car survey, canvas bag project • UUSC: Guest at your Table • Micro finance: raising funds for sponsoring 2 village banks in Tajikastan • UU-UNO Intergenerational Conference in April • Peace marches and rallies/pro choice marches • Meals for local shelter • Beach clean up • Raising funds for ‘Paws’ animal shelter

28. Our Youth and the SJC What You Can Do: Get Your Kids Involved! 2007/2008 Youth Outreach Initiatives • Beardsley Grounds Clean-Up • Youth Services Opportunities Project (November and January) • Gathering signatures for Bill Sinkford’s petition to Congress • Guatemala Fair Trade Sale • Canvas Bag Project • Intergeneration Trip to New Orleans • Toiletry Kits to Shelters • ‘Rebuild Together’- working together with Westbridge Coalition to assist homeowners • UU-UNO Intergenerational Conference (April 2008) Contact Jamie Forbes, Director of Youth Outreach, jamie@uuwestport.org

29. Social Action and You • Numerous and varied Social Justice Initiatives. • Opportunities that can fit your availability and level of interest. • Now you know… What We Do, And … What You Can Do! • Speak to any of us about it - no pressure. Thanks for your Time and Interest!

30. Committee Chairs & Contact Information • Social Justice Director: David Vita, david@uuwestport.org, 227-7205 x14 • Social Justice Council: conyemelukwe@gmail.com, 222-0630 • Habitat for Humanity: Sherry Jagerson, sjagers@optonline.net, 227-7413 • Beardsley School: Mary Beth Mollica, mbmollica@optonline.net, 557-3247 • Global Justice & the UU-UNO: David Vita, david@uuwestport.org, 227-7205 x14 • Micro-finance: Dan McGovern, danmcgovern@sbcglobal.net • Drumbeat for Darfur: Denise Donato McConnell, dscvrydd@aol.com • Every Child is Our Child:Stephen Axthelm,saxthelm@optonline.net , 917 602-7844 • Amnesty International: Dorothy Rich, dorothyrich@sbcglobal.net803-0438 • Unitarian Universalist Service (UUSC): Dorothy Rich, dorothyrich@sbcglobal.net • CT Food Bank:Shari Brennan, gardenbee@optonline.net • Green Sanctuary: Monique Bosch, moniqueb@optonline.net 221-1829 • Environmental Action Group: Monique Bosch, moniqueb@optonline.net 221-1829 • Anti-Racism: Catherine Onyemelukwe, conyemelukwe@gmail.com, 222-0630 • Healtcare Task Force: Andy Wittenstein, awitt@optonline.net247-4103 • Youth: Jamie Forbes, jamie@uuwestport.org, 227-7205