News and Alerts

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Mental Health and Community Crisis

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?  

Statement from the Reproductive Justice Task Force

The Reproductive Justice Task Force of UU FaithAction NJ remains steadfast in our support of all pregnant persons who seek abortion care.
While we have very strong protections here in NJ thanks to the passage of the Reproductive Freedom of Choice Act in January, there is still much work to be done.  We continue to advocate for access to abortion services for all people in NJ, including our undocumented residents.  We also pledge our support in aid of people who may need to travel to NJ to obtain abortion care no longer available in their home states.
Gun Violence Prevention

Do You Know What ERPO Is?

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.

Our ‘Garden State’ Welcomes Spring!

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).

UU FaithAction Statement on Proposed Policy on Use of Facial Recognition

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.

Registration Now Open for the Spring Gala — Embracing Resiliency

This year’s gala will be a multi-platform event hosted in-person by the Unitarian Society of Ridgewood and streaming online via Zoom.

Please join us for this special celebration of our collective resiliency. The evening’s program will include a special presentation by each of our task forces of a micro-grant to a coalition partner in the spirit of collaboration and mutual flourishing. The Gala is a great opportunity to invite your friends to attend and become a part of this important social justice work.

Freedom of Reproductive Choice Act: Call your State Senator and State Assembly representative

The Freedom of Reproductive Choice Act (S49/A6260) was signed into law on January 13, 2022.  This bill—separate from the Reproductive Freedom Act (S3030/A4848)—moves our state forward in protecting rights, but it notably leaves many communities without improved access to abortion and other reproductive healthcare services.

Join the Statewide UU Common Read 📕 “The Social Life of DNA: Race, Reparations, and Reconciliation After the Genome”

Registration is now open for for the six session Common Read of The Social Life of DNA by Alondra Nelson, sponsored by the UUFANJ Reparations Task Force!