Uncategorized – Page 17 – Unitarian Universalist FaithAction NJ

ACTION ALERT: Tell Gov. Christie to Support Prison Phone Justice

by UU FA OfficeAugust 31, 2016

S1880/A1419 passed both houses of the NJ legislature on June 27. The vote was 57-21 in the Assembly and 35-2 in the Senate. This bill passed both houses in January of this year (S1771/A4576) with votes of 47-22 with 1 abstention in the Assembly and 36-0 in the Senate but was pocket vetoed by the Governor. The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee reported favorably with amendments on June 6, 2016. The legislation caps interstate and intrastate rates at 11 cents per minute and international calls at 25 cents, and bans commissions, or kickbacks, on calls currently at 50% to 70% in some New Jersey jails. Commissions drive up costs for families with loved ones in jail or prison.
In October, 2015 the FCC voted to drastically lower prison phone rates. Under these rules, a 15-minute prison phone call that used to cost up to $17 will be just $1.65. (View the fact sheet) Some families with loved ones incarcerated at a distance spend $20,000 on phone bills during a prison sentence. A recent study found that more than one in three families with a member in prison go into debt due to the cost of phone calls and visits. For children who know their incarcerated parents only through phone calls the new rates will be life-altering. Studies have shown that regular phone communication drastically reduces a prisoner’s risk of recidivism.

The substitute prohibits a State department, county, or private correctional facility from accepting or receiving a commission or any other payment from the telephone service provider based upon an amount the provider billed for telephone calls made by inmates in the correctional facility. The substitute also requires the Department of Corrections (DOC), the counties, and private correctional facilities to make available a prepaid or collect call system, or a combination of the two, for telephone services. Under a prepaid or “debit” system, funds may be deposited into an inmate account in order to pay for telephone calls, as long as the department, county, or private correctional facility is not required to provide for or administer that prepaid system. The provider of the inmate telephone service, as an additional means of payment, is to permit the recipient of inmate collect calls to establish an account with that provider in order to deposit funds for advance payment of those collect calls.

Now we need Governor Christie to sign the bill. Please write or call the governor’s office, (609)292 6000, today and urge him to sign S1880/A1419.

Laurice Grae-Hauck is the Outreach Coordinator of the Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of NJ.

Gifts of Justice

by UU FA OfficeAugust 29, 2016

UU Voter Registration Workshop on September 8

by UU FA OfficeAugust 29, 2016

every v te counts!(1)

The presidential election season is in full swing, and we at the Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of NJ want to give congregations the tools they need to ensure that our 5th UU principle, “the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large” is ready come November!

Planned Parenthood Action Fund of NJ and the League of Women Voters are teaming up to bring UU leaders an opportunity to learn how to run voter registration drives at their congregations this Fall. This training will discuss NJ voter laws, materials, and how to conduct voter registration drives that fall within 501c3 guidelines and are non-partisan. Voting is one of the most important ways to access the political process and our elected officials make important decisions that can impact our future. Ensure your congregation’s members’ voices are heard and they are represented this election by learning how to organize a voter registration drive at your congregation.

Why learn to organize a voter registration drive at your congregation?

60% of people living at or below the Federal Poverty Level are not registered to vote.
Low-income residents, minorities, and women are disenfranchised and underrepresented in elections.
There is a growing gap between those who do and don’t vote, which threatens the democratic process.
Join us at the Unitarian Society in East Brunswick on Thursday, September 8 at 7:00 p.m. for this free workshop and put our faith into action!

Issues Conference with Chris Crass

by UU FA OfficeAugust 7, 2016

Download the registration packet

REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS MONDAY, OCTOBER 10!

Turn your FAITH into ACTION!

Saturday, October 15, 2016 3:00 p.m.

Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, 21 Normandy Heights Rd, Morristown, NJ

Anyone interested in the work of Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of NJ is encouraged to attend. We will identify UULMNJ focus issues for the coming year for each of our task forces: economic justice, reproductive justice, criminal justice reform, immigration reform, environmental justice, and gun violence prevention. You will have an opportunity to meet with justice leaders from other New Jersey Congregations while learning how to mobilize UULMNJ in your home congregation!

This year we welcome a very special guest, Chris Crass, as our keynote speaker. Chris is a longtime organizer, educator, and writer working to build powerful working class-based, feminist, multiracial movements for collective liberation. He gives talks and leads workshops on campuses and with communities and congregations around the U.S. and Canada, to help support grassroots activists efforts. He balances family with his public political work and believes they are deeply interconnected, as both are about working to bring our vision and values into the world. Chris is a Unitarian Universalist and works with faith-based communities to help build up the spiritual Left.

In 2000 he was a co-founder of the Colours of Resistance network, which served as a think tank and clearinghouse of anti-racist feminist analysis and tools for activists in the U.S. and Canada. After Sept. 11th, 2001, he helped to found the Heads Up Collective which brought together a cadre of white anti-racist organizers to build up the multiracial Left in the San Francisco, Bay Area through alliances between the majority white anti-war movement and locally-based economic and racial justice struggles in communities of color. He was also a member of the Against Patriarchy Men’s Group that supported men in developing their feminist analysis and their feminist leadership.

He has written widely about anti-racist and social justice organizing, lessons from women of color feminism, and strategies to build visionary movements. His essays have been translated into half a dozen languages, taught in hundreds of classrooms, and included in over a dozen anthologies including Globalize Liberation: How to Uproot the System and Build a Better World, On the Road to Healing: An Anthology for Men Ending Sexism, and We Have Not Been Moved: Resisting Racism and Militarism in 21st Century America. Towards Collective Liberation: Anti-Racist Organizing, Feminist Praxis, and Movement Building Strategy and his latest book, Towards the “Other America”: Anti-Racist Resources for White People Taking Action for Black Lives Matter, are available on Amazon.

Join Our Exploratory Racial Justice and Local Policing Group

by UU FA OfficeJuly 28, 2016

More than thirty UUs from multiple congregations across New Jersey joined our “crisis call” Tuesday, July 26. Following the ongoing police violence against people of color, and the beginning of a violent backlash against police officers, the UU Legislative Ministry called for a faith-rooted policing initiative deeply rooted in our UU commitment to justice, equity and a desire to end the structural effects of 250 years of racism. Participants included mothers of police officers, Legislative Ministry task forces chairs, ministers and congregants from Summit, Montclair, Monmouth County, Palisades, Princeton, Washington Crossing, Morristown, Ridgewood, Paramus, Somerset Hills, Hunterdon County, and Plainfield.

Callers shared ideas that ranged from minority law enforcement hires in municipalities and more cultural training opportunities for police, to showing up when events and rallies are planned and moving forward with legislation with a racial justice impact. Many want to reach out to Black Lives Matter organizers and other racial justice groups to see how we can best support the work they are already doing. Others site the need to don our traditional yellow shirts and show up with love. The sentiment that every caller shared is that something has to change.

We are heartened by this response. We are forming an exploratory Racial Justice and Local Policing group to think about how to move from outrage to local, congregation-based and legislation-supported action.

If you are interested in joining this effort, please be in touch with our Executive Director, Rev. Rob Gregson at ExecDir@UULMNJ.org.

You may also wish to explore some of the following links that were shared on the 26th as additional resources:
www.newarkpolicereform.org/
www.freedomnow.movementforblacklives.org/
www.standingonthesideoflove.org/racial-justice/

Many New Jersey towns will be a part of the National Night Out Against Crime on Tuesday, August 2. To find an event near you, visit www.visitnj.org/nj-events/national-night-out-against-crime.

To find out what other congregations are doing to support racial justice, visithttp://uulmnj.org/racial-justice-congregations/
We hope you will join us to help save lives here in New Jersey, and to spread what we learn about local policing and racial justice to other UUs across the country.

A New Jersey Unitarian Universalist Response to the Latest Examples of Police Brutality Against African Americans

by UU FA OfficeJuly 7, 2016

Dear Friends,

Many of us here in New Jersey have already seen the headlines, probably multiple times. Perhaps you watched the emotionally wrenching videos of police in Baton Rouge and Falcon Heights, Minnesota shooting black men–to death–with no clear probable cause or justification. And have thought, “Again?? How is this possible?!”

The facts on these individual cases will continue to come forth. What is clear beyond any reasonable doubt–and has been for some time now–is that black Americans are being shot and killed, out of any possible proportion or rational response, by the very people charged to protect American life and liberty.

We are neighbors, living in the same state, and we are Unitarian Univeralists. We are called to shout and mourn, to lament what is happening to our brothers and sisters privately and in our worship. We are also called to “give them garlands instead of ashes” in the words of the well-loved hymn.

We see and honor and curse over the ashes. And then we reach for the garlands, for our children, for the future we build together. Here are some suggestions for mourning our murdered African-American dead–and too many have been murdered, make no mistake–and for rising up, singing.

1) Reach out to local black organizing groups and churches.

As called for this week by the Black Lives UU (BLUU) national organizing group, as an initial step we can at the very least offer our buildings and meeting space as sanctuaries and gathering points for African-American organizers and volunteers. Follow this linkfor more information–including tips on how white allies can best help and inadvertently hurt during such a traumatizing moment in time.

Or, to contribute to Black Lives Matter directly you can do so here.

2) Ask your minister or worship coordinator to include a lament at the start of the service next Sunday. We ask for prayers and words of mourning and calls for atonement during this time in the wilderness, when white Americans struggle to own their history and combat the long effects of institutional racism while people of color too often struggle simply to survive.

3) Contact your person in NJ state and national government to keep the focus on police training, accountability and transparency.
Don’t think senators, assembly people, town mayors or police chiefs will pay attention to your call or email? Think again. At the very least, THEY COUNT. Let’s get our voices heard and keep the heat on elected officials to halt police violence against people of color.

4) Find out who is working on the UU Black Lives Matter! movement in your congregation and see how you can pitch in. Most likely there is someone, or even a group, that has committed themselves to doing the soul-growing work of confronting institutionalized racism within the context of our First UU Principle, “The inherent worth and dignity of every person.’

5) Join us: the UULMNJ, the voice for social justice action and long term reform in your home state.

That’s us, the UU Legislative Ministry of New Jersey. We have an active and effective Criminal Justice Task Force and are at the forefront of UU groups using the lens of institutionalized racism to work for comprehensive and lasting immigration, reproductive and environmental justice, gun violence prevention and reform, among others.

We are with you at this wrenching time. We have been working hard for years now, and will continue to do so to ensure that, someday, the killings in Ferguson, Waller TX, Baltimore, Baton Rouge and too many other places will stop. I hope you find the resolve to do something in your congregation and your life to bring garlands instead of ashes. Let us know how we can help.

In faith and abiding hope,
Rev. Rob Gregson

A Reflection on the Orlando Shootings

by UU FA OfficeJune 14, 2016

Along with everyone else, my heart is heavy as I watch coverage of the Orlando shootings. On one level I am excruciatingly saddened by the aftermath. My heart breaks as I think of those fifty families and what they must be going through; as I think of those who must feel grateful, as odd as that sounds, that their loved ones were only wounded; as I think of the existing trauma for those who got out alive, physically unharmed, as they continuously relive the events of the night. And my heart is heavy for the LGBTQ community. Simply knowing that by gathering and celebrating life together can create a target for those who hate must instill tremendous fear.

My heart is heavy for the Muslim community, who once again is blamed in total for the acts of a lone, deranged terrorist.

In the midst of the horror, however, arises the human spirit – the invincible human spirit with the capacity to love in the face of hate, to extend a hand in the face of fear, and to live compassionately in the face of abhorrent acts. Our faith calls us to rise above the horror, to raise up the sanctity of life as we mourn the loss of young lives. Our faith calls us to raise up the right of all to openly love whom they love. As we denounce the violence in Orlando, let us cling to all that is loving and fair and decent and just in our world. It is the greatest protection we have.

In Faith,

Rev. Craig

Meet Our New Executive Director!

by UU FA OfficeMay 9, 2016

Rob intro

We are pleased to announce our incoming (and first ever full-time!) Executive Director, Rev. Rob Gregson! Rev. Gregson’s first day of service with the Legislative Ministry will be on July 5. We look forward to an exciting future for the UULMNJ with Rev. Gregson at the helm!

The Rev. Rob Gregson comes to the Executive Director position of the UU Legislative Ministry of New Jersey with years of experience in the fields of nonprofit management, social justice activism and the liberal ministry. A 1990 graduate of Amherst College, Rev. Gregson received his Masters of Divinity in 1999 from Harvard Divinity School. He worked for 3 years in the early 1990s in the Dept. of Social Justice/Office of LBGT Concerns at the Unitarian Universalist Association in Boston MA, a year as the first full-time interfaith chaplain at the Boston Alzheimer’s Center, and seven years as parish minister at the First UU Fellowship of Baptistown (Hunterdon County, NJ).

Rev. Gregson’s most recent professional experience was to serve as co-founder and first Executive Director of SimpleGifts: Unitarian Centre for Social Action in East London, United Kingdom. This innovative program, located in an area with the highest child poverty rate in the UK and facing intense public scrutiny as a majority Muslim immigrant community, served over 150+ children, parents, elders and recent immigrants each week through innovative after school parent/child clubs, Community Cohesion senior hot lunches, teen service groups, free English as A Second Language (ESL) programs and a Mums and Toddlers social enterprise initiative.

Writes Rev. Gregson, “I look forward to working alongside the many talented volunteers and affiliated UU congregations who make up the Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of New Jersey. I inherit a social justice ministry in the Garden State that is at once daring and forgiving, pastoral and prophetic, where the joy of being together in our congregations is also informed by our concern for the poor and all those living life on the margins. I invite you to join with me and many others as we raise our voices in Trenton and across the state in service to the larger mission of bringing ever more hope, ever more joy and ever more justice into this corner of the world we call ‘home.’”

Rev. Gregson and his two children make their home in South Orange, NJ.

Help us ensure Rob’s success by contributing to and sharing our Faithify campaign, “Growing Justice & Equality in New Jersey” today! We need $100 more dollars to make it to $2,000 and have until May 31 to raise the needed $8,000!

Get Faithified for Progressive Public Policy

by UU FA OfficeMay 2, 2016

Thank you for raising yUUr voice in support of worht and dignity for all New Jerseyans! Together we can set a path for a new life for our re-entering citizens.

Share your commitment to protecting our planet by donating to UULMNJ’s first ever crowdfunding campaign then share your gift with friends on Facebook and Twitter with a message: “I just gave to UULMNJ to ensure that progressive public policies are a priority in New Jersey. Can you give a gift in honor of Criminal Justice Reform?”

Learn more about our first Faithify Campaign below.

FAITHIFY is a crowdfunding site where passionate people FOLLOW, SHARE, and FUND Unitarian Universalist ministries.

FAITHIFY’s purpose is to:

Inspire a culture of innovation that extends the reach of UU values
Lower the walls between existing congregation
Ignite ministries in new venues, formats, and communities
Bridge geographic and generational borders using 21st century technologies
Help passionate individuals invest directly in ministries that excite them
Help ministry innovators reach a passionate public

“We envision a people with renewed faith and a Unitarian Universalism that is more connected, relevant, and vibrant.”

The success of a Faithify campaign is entirely dependent on the energy and excitement behind it. NOW is the time to think about and get excited by the passion that drives you to be an active part of the UU Legislative Ministry of NJ.

Did you know that one in three online donations is made through peer-to-peer fundraising? P2P fundraising is great for smaller non-profits for several reasons. It eliminates the trust issue. It takes a long time to cultivate a relationship with a supporter and potential donor. Your friends and family already know and love you. They trust that if you are dedicated to a cause that it is worthy of their time of resources. You’re not asking them to make a major donation, put to make a gift in your honor.

Peer fundraising also gets around the lack of resources in a small organization. With only two part-time staff we can only reach so far, but by activating our 1000 emails subscribers and 700 Facebook and Twitter followers we can successfully reach thousands of people!

Do you not have a social networking account? Now’s the time to get active. For those not active online this may be an even more powerful way to say “HEY! This is important to me!” It’s easy, go to the UULMNJ page and click “share”. Not only is social media revolutionizing justice advocacy, its a great was to keep in touch with children and grandchildren (you can thank us later). It’s easy to setup and use. You can ask someone to help you set up your account and find people in your network or you can visit this great online tutorial for seniors.

Faithify is an all-or-nothing funding platform.

All-or-nothing funding means that projects are only funded if they reach or surpass 100% of their funding goal within the duration of their campaign. No funds will be collected from donors unless the goal is reached.

All-or-nothing funding has a number of advantages:

It’s less risk for everyone. If you need $5,000 but only raise $1,000 the project will not work.
It motivates. If people want to see a project come to life, they’re going to spread the word.
It works. Projects either make their goal or find little support. There’s little in-between.

So now that you know about Faithify, how do you engage and help UULMNJ have a successful campaign? We’ve come up with an easy four step plan.

Create a personal story:

Why do you support UULMNJ? What cause is nearest to your heart? Do you have a personal story to share about why this issue is so important to you? Family member in prison? Housing crisis? Healthcare issue?

Reach out to friends and family, NOT JUST UUs:

Send an email ask to your friends and family members who are likely to donate because they care about you, not the organization. You’ll be provided with basic language. You fill in the specifics. Faithify and You(1)

GET SOCIAL:

Do you have a Facebook or Twitter account? Write a short blurb asking your friends to give up a cup of coffee or a beer (you know your friends) in support of social justice. Ask them to share it, too.

Ask your friends why they care about social justice. Ask them to share a personal story about why they support UULMNJ. Pictures are worth a thousand words! Give the organization faces and souls to connect with.

Talk about it! Bring up UULMNJ’s first Faithify campaign in conversations. It’s pledge season in most congregations so you’re already talking about money. Why not talk about this great way for UUs to give back to causes that are important to them.

Stay active! Share updates, donations, issues and more.

Earth Day and Faithify!

by UU FA OfficeApril 19, 2016

Thank you for raising yUUr voice in support of renewable energies! Together we can slow the effects of climate change.

Share your commitment to protecting our planet by donating to UULMNJ’s first ever crowdfunding campaign then share your gift with friends on Facebook and Twitter with a message: “I just gave to UULMNJ to ensure that progressive environmental protections are a priority in New Jersey. Can you give a gift in honor of Earth Day?”