Emily Parker

Letter written for NAMI NJ, published with permission.

Remember Hurricane Sandy in NJ, or Katrina in Louisiana in 2005?  Even now with the Pandemic or the war in Ukraine, I always find myself asking during events like these, “what about people with mental health issues, substance use issues, alcoholism?”  Are they getting the care and resources they need?  

Our UU FaithAction NJ Annual Meeting is Saturday, May 14, 10–11:30 AM!  The event is virtual via zoom.

The meeting will feature reports from our task forces, Executive Director, President and Treasurer.  Our Annual Meeting is free and open to the public, and all NJ UUs are encouraged to attend!

Written by Leslie Moran, Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Co-Chair

ERPO is an acronym for Extreme Risk Protection Order. If you have never heard of this new (2019) New Jersey law, do not be surprised or feel uninformed. Many New Jerseyans are unaware of ERPO and how it works in NJ to temporarily restrict someone’s access to guns when they are in crisis. Also called Red Flag laws, this type of court order can be effective in helping to prevent firearm suicides and other gun violence tragedies. But such a law cannot be effective if the public is not informed of its existence. The recent shooting in the Brooklyn subway station is an example of a type of situation that might have been prevented by the red flag law that does indeed exist in NY.

The ground is thawing and life returning to our unique UU gardens across New Jersey!

Bringing together neighbors, feeding the local community or local wildlife, supporting pollinators and restoring the earth—our community gardens affirm and promote life.

This month, we celebrate four congregation’s gardens across the state: Wrangle Brook Community Garden (UU Ocean County), Bountiful Harvest Garden (Central Unitarian), Baptistown Pollinator & Grassland Habitat (UU Hunterdon County), and Ben Jones Community Gardens (the HUUB).

March 11, 2022 

Statement on Proposed Policy on Use of Facial Recognition 

Unitarian Universalists are people of faith—a faith that celebrates the inherent worth and dignity of every person and that works for justice and compassion in the world. As Unitarian Universalists, FaithAction New Jersey confronts systemic injustice and seeks to build a New Jersey that is more compassionate, equitable and just.